MakeUseOf.com: “Cool Websites and Tools [February 13th]” plus 6 more |  |
- Cool Websites and Tools [February 13th]
- Thank You To MakeUseOf Friends!
- How Do You Keep Track Of Your Passwords? [MakeUseOf Poll]
- The 5 Best Sites To Download Music From Commercials You Liked
- Hot Tech Deals [Feb 13th]
- 10 Free MP3 Albums To Download [Sound Sunday]
- How To Check If Someone Is Stealing Your WiFi – And What You Can Do About It
| Cool Websites and Tools [February 13th] Posted: 13 Feb 2011 07:31 PM PST
These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed. Hey Facebookers, make sure to check out MakeUseOf page on Facebook. Over 24,000 fans already!
    
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| Thank You To MakeUseOf Friends! Posted: 13 Feb 2011 06:31 PM PST
Thank you, guys! Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
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| How Do You Keep Track Of Your Passwords? [MakeUseOf Poll] Posted: 13 Feb 2011 05:30 PM PST
We collected 243 votes and the division was incredibly close: 38% might read their partner’s email; 34% would never read their partner’s email; while 28% would definitely read their partner’s email. Full results and this week's poll after the jump.
This week's poll question is: How Do You Keep Track Of Your Passwords? There are so many different password managers out there. Often people new to the concept have no idea which one to trust. So, let’s help them decide. Which password manager do you use? No doubt you tried a few password managers before you settled on your favourite. Let us know why your choice is the best in the comments! Do you like MakeUseOf articles? Don’t forget to share our articles with others! It’s really important to us.
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| The 5 Best Sites To Download Music From Commercials You Liked Posted: 13 Feb 2011 02:31 PM PST
If you hear a song in an ad that you like, there are several ways to go about finding out what it is, and downloading it. The easiest way nowadays is to use an app like Shazam or Soundhound, but that’s not to say there aren’t other ways. Before Shazam hit the app stores, googling lyrics was the easiest way to go. That said, where advertising in particular is concerned, there are a few other resources you can turn to, especially if the song doesn’t contain any lyrics. What’s That Tune?The UK based site, What’s That Tune?, is the go-to site for music from commercials seen on UK and Irish television. With over 3,000 ads in their database, you can search for specific ads, browse an A to Z list of the ads, or browse those most recently added to the database.
Search results are accompanied by the company name, product, artist, year of release, and links to purchase the MP3 from Amazon or watch the video on YouTube. Surprisingly, the song titles are often left out, but can be found through the Amazon links.
Find That SongFind That Song is a site similar to What’s That Tune? but instead is not limited to UK/Irish ads. Search for specific ads, or browse their database. Advertisements are accompanied by a YouTube video of the ad, along with the artist and song title, and an iTunes link to purchase the MP3.
SplendAdSome of the ads on Find That Song are actually not directly available on the site, but rather redirect to the advertisement database, SplendAd, another great resource for information and links. SplendAd features YouTube videos of the ads, and links to download the MP3s from Amazon.
SquidooSquidoo is a site that is sitting on a wealth of information, so why wouldn’t music used in TV commercials be included in their list? The Squidoo Lens dedicated to the topic is divided into three sections – the most recent ads, ads displayed by product categories, and lastly classic ads, all accessible from the menu at the top of the page.
Not only do you get to find out the name of the song, in some cases you can also watch the ad itself on YouTube, and in all cases, download the MP3 from iTunes. The Squidoo format is not entirely user friendly and can feel a little clunky. In the case of products with more than one ad, you will have to do a bit of digging yourself , beyond the Squidoo Lens, to find out if that’s the song you’re looking for. YouTubeIt goes without saying that you could always go straight to the source, YouTube to discover the song you’re looking for.
Search for the ad by the product, and often in the description or comments you’ll be able to discover the name of the song and artist. If you want to download the audio directly from YouTube, take a look at some of the suggestions listed here. WikipediaOn the other hand, if you’re curious about the opposite, and want to know if one of your favourite songs has ever been used in a commercial, a good place to look is Wikipedia. Looking up the song or artist that you’re curious about, under the “In Popular Culture” section, you can find out what ads the song has appeared in.
How do you discover and download music from commercials? Let us know in the comments. Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras.
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| Posted: 13 Feb 2011 12:30 PM PST
For more fresh hot deals, visit our Hot Tech Deals page, which is constantly updated.
Image credit: Modified from Svengraph’s icon set Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
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| 10 Free MP3 Albums To Download [Sound Sunday] Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:30 AM PST
Whether you’re a loyal reader, a passer-by, or a musician, I’m all ears for your opinions and suggestions. I rely heavily on what I find and fortunately, there is no shortage of great free music out there. However, I’m thankful for being approached with new material that you enjoy and would like to see featured. Questions, suggestions, feedback? Leave a comment or eMail me [tina at makeuseof dot com]. If you happen to be in the US, be sure to get the free Oh My Heart mp3 single from R.E.M. via Amazon. Tinoras – SelftitledGenre: electronica, ambient, breakcore, chiptune Irish lad Anto McCarthy, also known as Tinoras, Reece, Placid, or Anto, is a musician and founding member of Placid Recordings. The label is dedicated to producing ‘interesting and original electronic music’. Tinoras’ work itself fits this description perfectly. The selftitled album is a rich and original mix of sounds. Tinoras is a free download from Bandcamp. Mike Flowerz – Perception The MixtapeGenre: christian, gospel, pop, soul, mixtape Mike Flowerz is a singer and performer from New York. He affectionately calls his sound Gospop, for it is a cross between Pop and Gospel. In the past Mike has toured with the Harlem Gospel Choir. Perception The Mixtape is a free download from Bandcamp. Mike Flowerz MySpace and Homepage. Jamaal Jones – One Beat At A TimeGenre: experimental, beats, instrumental, hip hop This 36-track instrumental album was inspired by Jay Dee’s Another Beach beat CD. Jamaal Jones relies on his friend Hypedog to promote his music. Hence, he doesn’t seem to have his own homepage or social network representation. Download One Beat At A Time free from Bandcamp. Hypedog Homepage. E-Fluent – A Trip Upstate Vol. 2Genre: hip hop E-Fluent started releasing albums in 2010. A Trip Upstate Vol. 2 already is his fourth full length album. It “finds him at a crossroads with both his music and his soul, making the album his deepest and most personal reflection to date.” It’s hip hop with a smooth sound and groovy melodies. A Trip Upstate Vol. 2 is a free download from Bandcamp. E-Fluent MySpace. she’s themorning and thenight – i speak the truth : part oneGenre: indie, acoustic, folk, rock This album promises to be the first of a four part album. The band that appears to be obsessed with lower case spelling writes: “the idea is to create something that flows into each new part, while constantly evolving and changing at a pace that is recognizable, but not overwhelming.” The first part is promising enough. Let’s see what it evolves into. Download i speak the truth : part one free from Bandcamp. she’s themorning and thenight MySpace and Homepage. Anthony Ruptak – SelftitledGenre: alternative, independent, folk Anthony writes: “I am a writer and a musician and really nothing more.” I will leave it at that and add that his selftitled album shows. Anthony composes folk melodies with a cheerful melancholy and a happy ending. Download the album Anthony Ruptak free of charge from Bandcamp. Anthony Ruptak MySpace and Facebook. Take No Glory – Wake Me UpGenre: alternative, pop, rock, christian
Wake Me Up can be downloaded free and one song at a time from Take No Glory’s Homepage. Take No Glory MySpace and Homepage. Nate Fowler – Wherever You GoGenre: christian, rock, pop Self-taught musician Nate Fowler started his musical career with a blast. At age 17 he went on an eight week music tour of South America, playing drums and percussion for a band affiliated with Youth With A Mission. With the same band he also toured West India before he began writing his own songs and recording his sophomore EP. Wherever You Go is a free download from NoiseTrade. Nate Fowler MySpace and Homepage. Courrier – A Violent Flame SamplerGenre: christian, alternative, rock From their Facebook page: “Like a new wind in an often dry and monotonous music "business," Courrier's music is refreshing indeed. With a penchant for melody in the likes of alternative-rock bands like Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, and Radiohead, Courrier writes songs as soothing as they are sincere. It is in this duality that Courrier finds their message. In the beauty of existence and the pain of experience, lead singer Austin Jones' voice even reflects the honeyed grit of reality, while the ascending harmonies and radiant guitars anthem the intimate.” The A Violent Flame Sampler can be downloaded for free from NoiseTrade. Courrier MySpace and Homepage. Tangram – Mos QuataerGenre: ambient, electronica, new wave, downtempo, instrumental Over the months, Tangram has become an institution here on Sound Sunday. Péter Fabók's latest album Mos Quataer, released on February 11th, is nothing short of brilliant! If you like Daft Punk and their recent TRON Legacy soundtrack (epic!), you will definitely appreciate Tangram! Mos Quataer is a name your price download from Bandcamp. Please donate generously. Previous Tangram albums shared on Sound Sunday include Tepidarium, Micropolis, Flow, and Docosanoid. If this wasn’t enough, browse past editions of Sound Sunday. If you have suggestions, questions, or feedback, feel free to get in touch with me [tina at makeuseof dot com]. You can also use the comments below. Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
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| How To Check If Someone Is Stealing Your WiFi – And What You Can Do About It Posted: 13 Feb 2011 09:30 AM PST
Check the devices associated with your routerThis method is 100% guaranteed to see any devices registered on your network, but not every router contains this valuable info. Log in to your router by typing it’s IP address directly into the browser address bar. In most setups, either http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 should work, or it may be written on the router itself, along with the username and password you need to log in with. If you can’t find a password anywhere, and don’t remember changing it, then check the database of default passwords here, or phone your ISP (assuming they gave you the device). Once logged in, look around a section called Attached Devices or Device List. On DD-WRT flashed routers, this is under the Status -> Wireless screen. You will find a list of all the IP addresses currently being used.
On my standard Virgin Media router, I found a list under the IP filtering section.
Of course, not all your devices will have helpful names, so you’ll need to figure out the IP address of each computer and WiFi device you own in order to cross-check them against the list. I covered how to find your IP address a few days ago when I showed you how to control your torrent client from your mobile. Don’t forget that an iPhone or Android phone will also have it’s own IP address if it’s using your WiFi, so you’ll need to account for those too. Track Them Down PhysicallyThis may be taking it a little far, but running the MoocherHunter live CD tracking suite will enable you physically hunt them down by triangulating network signals. Scary stuff, indeed. You’ll a directional antenna for this to work best. What to do about itBasic Security – Stop using WEPAny router purchased in the last 5 years or so should be able to support a more secure authentication protocol, so log in to your router again and find the Wireless Settings screen. Change the security options to either WPA or WPA2. WPA2 is more secure, but I find it’s incompatible with some of the devices on my network so I chose the option that allows for both. Don’t choose the Enterprise option as it is designed for companies with authentication servers. When choosing your password, make sure it is at least 15 characters long, includes upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation.
There are some other methods that people will typically advise you to take, but put simply – they don’t work: Hiding your SSID: You can hide your network name so it won’t be seen, but freely available hacking tools such as Backtrack will reveal them instantly. IP filtering: This blocks out a specific IP, but changing IP is as simple as refreshing the connection. MAC filtering: More secure since it blocks a device via the unique hardware address that is given out when it’s manufactured, but again, anyone trying to steal your WiFi can easily “spoof” their MAC address. Funny – Turn their internet upside downFor anyone with a spare PC or who doesn’t mind messing with the command line, you could create an open WiFi network specifically for these freeloaders, and run everything through a Linux proxy. The proxy can setup to cut directly into their internet stream, and one interesting outcome is that you can turn all their images upside down.
Profit – Run a paid WiFi portalIf you install the open source DD-WRT, you can run a paid WiFi Hotspot portal. Set your own rates, never worry about payment processing (they handle everything), then just collect your check if someone has used your hotspot – you’ll get 75% of the money paid. Remember, you’ll need to live in a big city for this to be viable with lots of potential customers. I’ll look at this option more at a later date to show you exactly how you can set one up if you’re interested.
Conclusion:So your WiFi is feeling a little sluggish? The truth is that someone probably isn’t stealing your WiFi. More likely your computer is running slowly, or your router needs rebooting. You could also try boosting the WiFi signal. Oh, and let us know in the comments if you’ve found people stealing your WiFi before, or have any amusing WiFi stories to tell. Image Credit: ShutterStock Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
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