Beth Kay (Wolfstar): May 2008 Archives

My top five wacky websites for internet users

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 30, 2008 10:28 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

man babies 2

Whenever I'm browsing the internet during the ad break in friends or whilst I'm waiting for my unlimited downloads in iTunes, I like to have a look at the wonderful world of wacky websites that there are out there in the World Wide Web for us lucky internet users. Now don't get me wrong, I mean good, clean fun. For example I recently came across a blog which was entirely dedicated to tracks of people singing Disney songs.

So I thought I would put together a list of my top five weird websites to fill your ad breaks or if you need something to do on a lonely week night:
 

1. Wild recipes - I came across this site after a conversation about the weird foods that I love but other people are disgusted by (for example by love for beans and tuna mayonnaise mixed together in a bowl). This site is dedicated to the weirdest food people actually eat. If you have a dish you love eating but your family and friends think it's repulsive, this is your chance to share it with the world...

 

2. Who' dating who - For all those in need of pointless celebrity love gossip. This site is a rundown of who has dated who in the world of the famous with some great then and now shots to make us believe that we will one day turn into the next Angelina Jolie. There's also a who's wearing what section to help us get our daily fashion fix too.

 

3. The Institute of silly and meaningless sayings - I never realised just how stupid some of our sayings were until I had a look at the database that these guys have created. A weird website but I great way to kill a spare hour when you feel like doing something pointless.

something

4. Something Store - This is one of my favourites. I came across this on the Shiny Shiny blog. This site lets you spend $10 on... well something. That's right, users don't know what they're actually going to get. All you do is pay the $10 and you will be sent a mystery item in the post. It could range from an Amazon giftcard to a pair of jeans.

man babies

5. Man Babies - Another gem from Shiny Shiny. This site is absolutely hilarious. It isn't rocket science but it sure will make you laugh. The site is basically made up of photos where man and baby heads have been switched to create the silliest photos ever. I know what you're thinking... simple minds... but I challenge you to look without laughing!

10 signs you're addicted to the internet

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 28, 2008 4:14 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

addicted to the internet I was browsing through one of my favourite blogs, shiny shiny, when I came across this hilarious list of 10 signs that you might be addicted to the internet. It is written by Susi Weaser and details her internet addiction symptoms. With many of us spending all day glued to the internet both at work and at home, I thought this list was very fitting and am slightly embarrassed to admit that I am also guilty of doing some of these things…

1. Getting Beta invites for things you don't remember signing up for
"Congratulations! You've been let in early for this Beta Beta First Stage Feedback Trial!" The chances are, if I didn't get accepted within 20 minutes of signing up I've forgotten about why I wanted to try it out so bad. I am that fickle.

2. Dreaming about blogging
Last night, I dreamt about repeatedly trying to change to code for an image. This ranks right up there with dreaming about hoovering and dreaming about waiting for a bus in interest stakes.

3. 3am phone checks
I now routinely wake up at 3am, and it seems as good a time as any to check what people have emailed, twittered and facebooked whilst I've been asleep. Conducive to a good night's sleep? No. Ensures I don't miss anything? Yes.

4. 7am phone checks
The same process gets repeated at 7am, just after I hit snooze for the last time. This time, I also check the weather to ensure I'm not caught in a flip flops/torrential downpour situation.

5. Twittering whilst in a queue
Queues now seem like the ideal opportunity to twitter, which often leads to me getting to the front of the queue too quickly. The good news is, I've yet to invite the person behind me to skip ahead so I can finish my terribly witty 145 character twit. But that day is inevitable.

6. Trying to recruit friends and family
I get terribly frustrated with people who don't spend all their time on the internet. It was the Best. Thing. Ever when the world and his dog got obsessed with Facebook - finally, everyone was on the same (web) page. I just don't understand why my mother has no interest in an RSS reader. Surely her life would benefit from it?

7. Drunk emailing
I used to just have to worry about the drink and dialling. Now? Now I have to check back over the emails I sent after I've been out drinking. In my alcohol haze I've justified it by the fact that emails are free, and I can keep in contact with those in different time zones. On the flip side of that, I'm emailing nonsensical and badly spelt messages to people who are only midway through their day, and inevitably, sober. Bad news.

8. Photo sharing overload
It used to be a case of taking photos, leaving the film to languish in a drawer for 2 years, printing and finally stuffing in an album. Now, I take photos and baulk at the prospect of having to name them all, upload them to three of four different places and then tag them. It's the kind of thing that makes me wish I still had siblings who would perform mind-numbingly boring tasks for £2 a throw.

9. Laptop TV time
I watched The Apprentice three times last week. Why? Well, because each time I sat down I turned on my laptop and got to the end of the programme I realised I'd spent so much time going through my RSS feeds I'd completely missed everything up until 'You're Fired'.

10. Holidaying on the internet
I'm off on holiday in no less than 67 hours, and the world, as it were, is my oyster. So, where am I off to? A tropical beach? An adventure packed trek? Nope, I'm off to San Francisco, the mecca for those with an internet addiction. The highlight of my trip will clearly be blogerati spotting. L-O-S-E-R

Don’t worry Susi, you’re not alone. I think it’s time we started up an internet users anonymous before it all gets too much…

Miro Magic: A new video application for Internet users

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 23, 2008 5:14 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

miro_logo My colleague Beth Jones recently wrote a post on Miro, a new and slick video application for internet users. Miro is a free application that allows you to store your favourite internet videos for example podcasts and video RSS feeds, all you need is a fast, reliable internet connection.

Miro, developed by the Participatory Culture Foundation, is totally free to download and unlike the small screen size found on its competitor’s sites, Miro allows videos to be viewed in high quality, full screen mode. The way Miro stores and manages videos is a highlight of the application, creating a library (similar to itunes) which holds your videos for five days unless you specify for it to be held for longer. This automatic flushing of the videos stops the library from clogging up - this is particularly useful when using the automatic grab function which saves all of the videos from your favourite channels.

Some of the features available on Miro include: access to the Miro guide (a directory of channels which you can subscribe to); online video search; your local video library; new content which has completed downloading but which you haven’t yet watched; and a view of what’s currently being downloaded. You can also subscribe to your favourite ‘channels’ (Channels are Miro’s name for RSS feeds) allowing new videos to automatically be downloaded into your account and you can also make playlists of your favourite clips.

Steve O'Hear, editor of last100 has some useful tips on using Miro and a review of the application on his blog, which any new Miro user should check out.

Everyone's a DJ with Internet netcasting

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 20, 2008 3:09 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

kitty-dj What with social media websites enabling us to tell the world about ourselves umpteen different ways, it came as no surprise to find that there are dozens of websites offering downloadable software to create your very own radio station. And why not? It's simple to set up, and everyone loves their 15 minutes of fame!

In the very basic sense, all you need to make a live broadcast or a podcast is an audio file and an Internet connection (fast broadband is also a major plus) - but downloading additional software offers more flexibility and sound quality. I came across some very good websites offering radio and podcast services, and once you choose which software to use there is also an abundance of information on the web about the process of setting up an online radio station, and it really does seem quite simple.

Live365.com offers free, high-capacity streaming and MP3 netcasting, alongside a great help and information package if you purchase the software. That’s the catch – it’s not free. However, if you are serious about your station/Podcasting , it is a worthwhile investment as it the worlds largest online radio network and you get a lot for your money.

However, if it’s free software you’re looking for, Gcast.com offers simple downloadable software that doesn’t overcomplicate things and confuse the user with audio jargon. Gcast automatically generates an RSS feed for your broadcast, offers a useful playlist facility and allows your audio to be embedded your (or anyone else’s if they wish!) website. Other free websites worth looking into are Peercast.org and Shoutcast.com, both offering similar services. And if you’re really serious about your sound, download the free editing package ‘Audacity’ to tweak your recording before going live.

Happy Broadcasting!

The top girlie games in the world of gaming

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 16, 2008 4:57 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

41GRLVCixjL__AA280_ The computer gaming industry is undoubtedly male dominated with stereotypical ‘boy games’, consisting of gore and fighting, or involves competing with other gamers from across the globe via high speed broadband but where does that leave us girls? We want pink and sparkly things and thanks to the likes of the Nintendo Wii and DS there are more and more games on the market to satisfy our girlie taste buds. Here I will review my top four games at the minute:

1) Wii Fit. Chris previously posted about this but I thought I would tell it from a ladies point of view. Ok so it’s not a technically a game but it’s a gaming console and it’s fun. This new gadget which has just been launched consists of a plastic board with sensors to detect the pressure exerted. There are four different categories of exercise to choose from: yoga, balance, aerobics and strength training. This handy device means you can exercise in a fun way without leaving the comfort of your living room. Admittedly, you could get just as good a work out from a usual exercise video but this virtual reality version is a lot more fun.

2) The Sims 2. The last time I played on The Sims was when the first edition came out in 2000 but after some research I’m amazed at how the game has evolved and developed. This strategic life simulation game lets you create and control the lives of your Sims, finding them jobs and relationships and it is sure to have you addicted to your computers for hours.

3) SingStar. This is a game for PS2/3 which is like a karaoke system, allowing you to sing to your favourite artists along to their actual videos, giving you an overall singing score at the end of great of awful. This would be a great game for a party or just for those budding pop stars out there. There is even a High School Musical version where you can sing along to all the songs from the film, which is my personal favourite.

4) Nintendo DS Big Brain academy. This game tests your memory, quick thinking, analysis and identification skills whist also being fun. Not exactly gripping excitement, but definitely a fun chill out acitvitity when you’ve used all your energy on the WiiFit and sang your heart out on the SingStar. This game would be beneficial to any age of audience not just the young and this can be put to test by competitions with friends in the academy, Granny vs Grandson perhaps?

imeem - A social network for sharing music on the internet

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 14, 2008 5:09 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

imeem-logo When it comes to social networks on the internet, Facebook, MySpace and Bebo automatically spring to mind. But whilst I was doing some research on social networking sites for my top ten social networks, I came across a new site that I thought was rather cool.

imeem, is the name of this find and it definitely features in my pick of the bunch and should be a big hit amongst most music lovers. The site is based around sharing music and video playlists, alongside the usual community functions such as messaging facilities, groups, photo sharing that can be found on most social networks.

What makes this site stand out from the others is the fact that you can create playlists on your profile and share them with your friends. So if you are interested in Rock or Jazz music, you can click on the relevant button and see what songs people have got on their profiles. imeem lets you listen to the track (most of the time the whole song but on occasions it’s just a preview) and download it if you like it and add it to your imeem playlist. You can also share videos in the same manner. You can interact with others with similar music tastes and find out about the latest tunes that are taking the music industry by storm.

Another great application that imeem offers is the events section, where upcoming tours by artists and bands are featured, allowing users to see who is touring, when and where so you never miss a good gig. It even updates you with events happening in your area and at local venues. You can search by artist, venue or show.

I think it’s great, particularly for finding music that is less mainstream or discovering new artists but almost everything on this site is music related so if you’re not a music fan then I don’t really think this one is for you. However if you are I strongly advise you to check it out.

How to look good surfing the internet

By
Beth Kay (Wolfstar)
on May 7, 2008 3:04 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Surfing the internet has never looked so good... again. Following on from my post on the most chic and funky laptops around, the time has come to see what accessories are out there to jazz up your computer for internet surfing fun, with a little help from the girls at Shiny Shiny.

LIFE006800_01_L 1. Happy Alien mini speakers – If you are ever having a bad day, these speakers will cheer you right up. They’re perfect for watching your favourite YouTube videos or listening to the latest music downloads.

2. Rolling Laptop Bag – Is walking to work and back with your laptop on your arm becoming a real pain in the shoulder? Well fear no more, Clark and Mayfield have come up with this stylish laptop bag with wheels for your convenience which can cart around a 17-inch laptop with accessories.

3. Now this one is not strictly for your broadband needs but it makes your fingers  look oh so cool when typing on your keypad and searching on the internet. This solid silver keyboard key ring from Manuel Bozzi is the perfect accessory for you tech-loving girls out there.

4 Bendy Keyboard in neon pink – Desks at work can be so boring! So why not swap your regular keyboard for this neon pink flexible key board? It’s also waterproof for those who eat and drink at their desks and are partial to the occasional spillage.

p2045ex1 5. The MSN i-buddy is great for MSN messenger users who spend a lot of time on the internet. The little USB MSN fairy will react in its own unique little way each time there is some kind of activity for example when a contact comes online or you receive an instant message and its under £15.00!

 

 

 

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