Like most people, my life is now full of images. Yes, I’ve got kids and that generally means we take a picture at every possible conceivable milestone ("OMG! He twitched his mouth and looked a bit like Elvis – where’s the camera!"), but like most people I also like to take pictures when I’m out and about.

There’s no shortage of ways to share these day-to-day moments that I capture, but easily one of the most noticeable at the moment, and one of our favourites, is Instagram. If you’re on Twitter, you probably see people linking to their Instagram pictures all the time. Its retro, one-touch effects make drab images look super stylish and sharing is a doddle.

But at photopile.me they’ve taken the idea one step further and devised a way for you to see all your images in a kind of online album.

Type in your Instagram details and within seconds you’ll see all your efforts laid out in front of you.

We like.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Photopile originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Not content with unleashing the Android version of its popular browser, Google has also found time this week to reveal the 17th stable iteration of Google Chrome for your desktop.

Yep, Google Chrome 17 is here - about three and a half years since the first version came flooding out of Mountain View. That's some rapid release cycle.

But, rather than being a boring update concerned with debugging and behind the scenes developer changes, Chrome 17 does pack some cool new features that will make your browsing swishier ?- including prerendering of web-pages when you type into the omnibox based on your web history and habits.

"When I visit my favourite sandwich shop, I always order the same thing: a chicken cashew salad sandwich on whole wheat (it’s awesome)," explains Chrome software engineer No? Lutz.

"Now, the owners know what I want as soon as I walk in the door. Which means they can start making it before I say a word. Which means I get my sandwich faster.

"Chrome now does the same thing. Except not with sandwiches. When you start typing in the omnibox and the URL autocompletes to a site you’re very likely to visit, Chrome will prerender the page, so it will appear faster - sometimes, even instantly - as soon as you hit Enter."

Chrome 17 also gives extra protection from cyber nasties, with added security to protect you from downloading malicious software.

Google Chrome is growing its market share at an incredible pace and is on course to overtake Microsoft's Internet Explorer this year. StatCounter reports that Chrome is now the browser of choice for more than one in four web surfers (27 per cent) and that IE is losing its dominance daily. Microsoft's once undisputed king still holds more than a third (38 per cent) of the market share - but this is way down on its 70 per cent share back in 2008.

You can get in on the revolution by downloading Chrome 17 now. It's free, of course.

Read

Tags: Software Google Chrome Chrome Google Browsers

Google Chrome 17 guesses your desires originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:14:00 +0000

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview, ie, the first time that Joe and Joanna Public will be able to take Microsoft's new baby for a spin, will go live on 29 February.

The launch date has been confirmed courtesy of a Mobile World Congress invite which is set for the leap-year extra day at 3pm Spanish time. Microsoft had promised a February launch for the platform and so it seems it will keep to its word.

Over in Vegas at CES, Pocket-lint was given its strongest indication yet that Microsoft will launch Windows 8 in October.

Discussing the launch time frame during a briefing and demo session of the next-gen OS, Janelle Poole, director of public relations of the Windows Business Group, said:?"We haven't talked about the release date and we generally don't. We are talking milestone to milestone, so for us right now we're talking about the next milestone being the consumer preview happening in late February.?

"One of the things that I think is a good guideline though, is we've always said that Windows releases come round about every three years and this year will be three years in October since we launched Windows 7. So I think that's a good guideline to consider."

October has long been touted as the month that the Metro UI-tastic platform will land, but this was the biggest hint that we had been given so far.

Pocket-lint will, of course, be out in Barcelona in force covering all the MWC news as it breaks so be sure to check back during the show for comprehensive coverage.

Tags: Software Microsoft Windows 8 Operating Systems

Windows 8 Consumer Preview goes live 29 February originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:36:00 +0000

The days when most people would willingly let a total stranger into their home are long gone.

Isn’t that a sad statement? Absolutely. Is it true? Almost certainly.

But not completely. Because if you take a look at www.airbnb.com you’ll find a whole network of people who are prepared to share their homes with strangers. For a fee admittedly, but it’s still quite a gesture.

Some do it to help pay the bills. Others do it to meet new people from all over the world. Some just want to share their homes with others.

Regardless of the hosts’ reasons, if you’re travelling somewhere on a budget, this is one way to find a comfortable, safe and affordable place to stay.

It’s a simple, almost utopian idea that could only really ever be brought to life online and it’s left us with a slightly warm fuzzy feeling and an itch to pack our bags and go and see some more of the world in a slightly different way.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Air BNB originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

For some people, looking beautiful is an effortless affair. A quick flick of a hairbrush, a smidgeon of something that smells nice and then they get on with their day.

But, for most people (and I absolutely, wholeheartedly include myself in this) it takes a little bit of work and a lot of experimentation when it comes to the right lotions, potions and miracle products.

At www.glossybox.com some of that experimentation might have just got a little bit easier.

For a tenner a month, they’ll send you a box of new stuff to try – all of it tailored to the profile that you give them when you register.

They’ve recently started their range for men, so this is really is a great way for all of us to try out some new stuff and spoil ourselves a little bit.

If your regime needs a refresher, this is a good place to start.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Glossy Box originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

In these times of financial uncertainty, I for one have been tightening my belt. At least I have in a metaphorical sense. You see, I love my food. So, in our house, rather than cut out all the good stuff, we’re just being a lot more selective about what we buy and where we buy it.

We’ve gradually reduced our dependence on supermarkets: fruit and veg from the farm shop, meat from the butcher, etc.

If you’ve done something similar, this might be for you, simply because www.loveyourlarder.com is about the best site we’ve seen for finding all those artisan foodie treats, without having to spend all your spare time trawling the farmers' markets and organic shops.

It might all sound a bit middle class and chunky sweaters, but we’ve found that by buying better, less often, we’re eating more healthily and enjoying our food even more.

We even manage to save money because we no longer waste any food.

This is a great place to stock up on some romantic treats too...

Tags: Online WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Love Your Larder originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Here’s one to gratuitously leave on screen when the other half stumbles across your laptop (not something most people will be in the habit of doing, so we hear…)

What with Valentine’s Day around the corner and all that, they might be looking for gift ideas.

If they really love you, they might wonder why you were looking at www.red5.co.uk and take note.

They might actually click on the handy “Gifts for Him” or “Gifts for Her” links to find that special something for their special someone.

Or, they could just get lost in a site full of all kinds of brilliantly weird and wonderful gadgets, gizmos and techie works of art, just like we did.

UK readers might recognise the name from the small chain of shops now spanning the country, but no matter where you live, you can stock up on some (not so) romantic gifts regardless.

Go on treat yourself, just in case they don’t take the hint…

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Red5 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Skype 5.8 for Windows has landed, complete with an all-new HD video calling option.

The updated software now supports 1080p video, meaning that - if you have a Full HD webcam such as the Logitech c920 - you'll be able to video chat with your pals in high-definition. Better have a go at those black-heads then...

You'll need a 2Mbps upload and download speed to jet a judder-free experience mind.

The other big addition is group screen share, which allows Skypers to broadcast their entire screens (or a single app window) with their contacts during conference calls. Handy for things like photo presentations and group collaborating. You'll need Skype Premium to make use of this feature.

Other additions in Skype 5.8 include video calling to your Facebook pals, even if they aren't on Skype, and a push-to-talk feature so you can set up hotkeys for muting your microphone. There's also a new Facebook contact hide option for offline pals and Bing toolbar integration.

Skype 5.8 for Windows is free and is available now.

Tags: Software Skype VoIP

Skype 5.8 for Windows dials in 1080p HD calling originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:45:00 +0000

To anybody living in the UK at the moment, the notion of “a single Government” anything is a fanciful one.

We have a collation where the right hand doesn’t seem to know what the one in the middle is doing, if you get my tortured, politically anatomical metaphor.

These days, ask Downing Street a question and you’re likely to get an opinion, a printable comment and a strategy, only to receive a diametrically opposed set of all three an hour later.

So, to see www.gov.uk opening its virtual doors is a breath of (hopefully) fresh air.

This is the proposed replacement for the Direct.gov website, which is where you go to find out anything you need to know about how this country is run. Or at least that’s the theory.

The difference with this beta trial site is that it’s massive simplified, with a single search box that will hopefully get you straight to what you’re looking for.

Most refreshing though is an overt request for feedback and help to shape what this site might become.

So have a look and let them know what you think. You could see this as a form if democracy in action, which has to be a good thing.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Gov.uk originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

We like to think we’re men of the world here at Pocket-lint. We’ve been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and taken the pictures on the latest umpteen-megapixel digital camera.

So when the boss sent us all a link to ?www.zooborns.com, there were few raised eyebrows. Had he lost the plot? Was this some kind of test?

But then it happened. It was slow at first, and then it ravaged the office like the most virulent of infections.

We’d got a nasty does of the exotic cutes.

Can’t speak for everybody, but it was definitely the wolf cubs that got me (I’ll now be rooting for the other side when I go to see The Grey).

It’s a gratuitous “ahh” moment all round this one, but it does have a serious educational role to play too.

If you want to get kids interested in nature, show them some pictures of cute furry things online and they’re sure to learn fast.

And yes, I know that works for other, more common areas of online biology too, but this is a family site…

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Zoo Borns originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Apple has released a new update, 10.7.3, to its Mac OS X Lion operating system on Wednesday.

The new 10.7.3 update is recommended for all OS X Lion users and includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac says Apple.

According to Cupertino, fixes include addressing issues when using smart cards to log into OS X, resolving issues authenticating with directory services, and addressing compatibility issues with Windows file sharing.

The update also adds Catalan, Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian language support.

The update also resolves a Wi-Fi connection issue when waking from sleep (something one of Pocket-lint's Mac was having problems with), and other too boring to mention bugs and issues.

The update also adds RAW support for a range of new cameras recently released including the new Compact System Camera offerings from Nikon.

The new cameras are the Canon PowerShot S100, the Nikon 1 J1, the Nikon 1 V1, Nikon COOLPIX P7100, Olympus PEN E-PL1s, Olympus PEN E-PL3, Olympus PEN E-PM1, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ150, Sony Alpha NEX-5N, Sony Alpha SLT-A65, and Sony Alpha SLT-A77.

The new update weighing in at a rather hefty 730.6MB is available via the software update option on your Mac.

?

?

Read

Tags: Software Mac software Mac OS X Apple Cameras

Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 update released, fixes bugs, adds RAW support for new cameras originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:19:00 +0000

I think it was Boxing Day, or maybe even late on Christmas Day, when it was first mentioned.

“Where are we going on holiday next year…?”

There was a moment’s silence, then an involuntary shudder, then I made some excuses about waiting to see how work pans out, checking the best deals, waiting and seeing, etc, etc.

But now it’s looming larger on the horizon and Mrs H is taking no more excuses. I need to get something booked.

Travelling with kids can be fraught with myriad perils as you navigate your way through supplementary charges, seating arrangements on planes, hire cars that will fit all your luggage and of course there’s all your luggage in its own right (just how much stuff do these little people really need?)

It’s a mission. And it used to be a lonely one.

But now there’s ?www.takethefamily.com, a site for somebody like me who needs a bit of guidance when trying to get the whole Hughes clan to somewhere nice for a week or two.

Clear, no-nonsense advice and a search engine that won’t spit out any nasty surprises, and naturally, kids of all ages are catered for.

This will take some of the sting out of the summer holiday, that’s for sure.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Take the Family originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Microsoft has unleashed Office 15 into a technical preview; the next generation of its inter-related desktop office solutions.

Don't worry, you haven't just emerged from a coma after three years and missed out on all the speadsheet-based fun that Office 2013 and Office 2014 would no doubt have provided - Office 15 is just a codename.

We think it is labelled-so because it's the 15th version of Office. Wikipedia already has 15 listed but we're going to pretend that one of those didn't really exist and then our theory fits.

A select group of customers will be given access to the platform, one which will pack a plethora of task-based products. A public testing period will kick off in the summer - by which time you can also have the public beta release of Windows 8 up an running on your PC (it's out next month). It will be like computing in 2013, but in 2012. Not as exciting as the plot of Back To The Future but still impressive time bending nevertheless.

"Office 15 is the most ambitious undertaking yet for the Office Division," said PJ Hough, CVP of development, Microsoft Office Division. "With Office 15, for the first time ever, we will simultaneously update our cloud services, servers, and mobile and PC clients for Office, Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, Project, and Visio.?

"Quite simply, Office 15 will help people work, collaborate, and communicate smarter and faster than ever before."

Read

Tags: Software Microsoft Office 15 Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office 15 technical preview kicks-off originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:43:12 +0000

Much like yesterday’s Website of the Day, this is one of those brilliantly simple ideas, brilliantly executed.

Meet the Wonderbag, an eco-cooking idea that is changing lives and could help to change the planet.

It’s staggeringly simple, and based on a seemingly long-lost traditional method of cooking. You heat up your pot of food on the stove, but as soon as it’s boiled, you take it off the stove, drop into a Wonderbag and then leave it to finish cooking. It’s all done through the residual heat of the pot and its contents.

The bottom line is that you don't need any more energy, and that’s a life changing saving, especially in the developing world where this clever idea has really taken off.

They reckon that using one of these can reduce the average family’s energy consumption by 30 per cent. That’s quite something, and although it’s not really aimed at your average household in the developed world, with energy costs soaring, it might prove an appetising addition to your kitchen.

We love this idea and will be ordering ours from nb-wonderbag.com.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Wonderbag originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

If the statement “one size fits all” has ever seemed a little ridiculous, you’d be right. It’s not true for hats, it’s not true for T-shirts, and when it comes to the humble condom it couldn’t be less true, or potentially more dangerous.

It’s impossible to know exactly how many unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted?infections?are due to condoms splitting, falling off, or being ripped off in the heat of the moment because they "just don’t feel right".

All that’s a thing of the past now, with www.theyfit.com, a new site which sells custom fit condoms.

Don’t panic chaps, you won’t have to slap your old fella out for somebody to measure, you do everything in the privacy of your own home with the patented, printable FitKit. Simply print and cut out the template then follow the simple instructions to work out your size.

At ?6.99 for six, they’re good value and if you don’t get the size quite right first time, your next order is half price.

I wish I could tell you that mine wouldn’t fit through the letterbox, but they actually arrived in a very discreet package. Hey ho...

Stay safe people.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: They Fit originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

A truly astonishing statistic surfaced this week: every second of every day, an hour of video footage is uploaded to YouTube.

Just think about that for a few seconds. It’s almost impossible to imagine, or visualise just how much is being committed to film every single day.

The world has gone crazy for collecting every aspect of daily life, from cats pulling funny faces to the latest civil unrest in some war-torn corner of the globe.

Thankfully, www.onehourpersecond.com is now here to help us all out by animating what that statistic actually equates to.

As you travel through the timeline, the examples get more and more bizarre, and at one point, a bit like the ever-expanding universe we live in, I was actually sure whether it was going to end.

This is perfect for a Friday, and perfect too for arming yourself with all kinds of brilliant pub-time facts ands figures to impress your mates.

Tags: Online WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: One Hour Per Second originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Back in December HP finally made up its mind on the fate of webOS, stating that it would make the mobile operating system open source in the hope that it will live on by being used by companies looking for an alternative to Android or Windows Phone 7.

That ambition has now become a step closer to reality as the computer giant has detailed the roadmap for the platform that will eventually become known as Open webOS 1.0.

It all kicks off now with the release of a new generation of Enyo framework - an open source JavaScript lightweight app framework that supports WebKit, which allows developers to distribute their Enyo-based webOS apps across other platforms.

This will be expanded to Enyo 2.0 and 2.1 by April meaning the "write once, run anywhere" ethos will extend further; from mobile devices to desktop web browsers including Chrome, IE9, Firefox, and Safari. Open webOS 1.0 will hit officialdom by September.

"HP is bringing the innovation of the webOS platform to the open source community," said Bill Veghte, executive vice president and chief strategy officer of HP. "This is a decisive step toward meeting our goal of accelerating the platform's development and ensuring that its benefits will be delivered to the entire ecosystem of web applications."

It's certainly a far cry from completely ditching the one-time Palm platform, which looked on the cards not too long ago.

Whether the damage has already been done by HP in permanently damaging the reputation webOS remains to be seen though....

Read

Tags: Phones Tablets Software HP Open webOS webOS

HP Open webOS set for September launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:29:00 +0000

A bit of added value today as we bring you not one, but two websites of the day. The first, rosskempfolds.tumblr.com was trending on Twitter this week, and seemingly within minutes we also had kempfolds.blogspot.com.

Now isn’t that just exactly why we all love the internet? Two sites, doing exactly the same utterly pointless, yet brilliantly juvenile thing. And isn’t that just why we love social media? Without it, we might never have known about them. There was some tweeting about who was doing it first, but that soon settled when credit was given where it was due.

And all these two sites do is present a stream of pictures of TV “hard man” Ross Kemp, folded into weird and wonderful gurning portraits.

You wouldn’t think one face could be folded so many entertaining ways, but Kemp seems to have the features to carry it off.

Like I said: pointless, but very, very funny.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Fold Ross Kemp originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

There’s a song in your head right now, isn’t there? You know there is. It’s been there a few days. No matter what else you listen to, it keeps creeping back into your consciousness, quietly at first then with increasing enthusiasm.

I’m not talking about that “last thing I heard before I left the house this morning” annoying track that’s stuck in your brain for no good reason (usually the theme tune to Postman Pat in my case). You can get rid of that as soon as you plug in your headphones for the morning commute.

No, this is that song that you’ve heard somewhere that’s become your new internal anthem. Your current favourite. Your new "jam".

Up until now, the only way to share it was by grabbing anybody you know and trying to sing it to them. But the lovely people at thisismyjam.com have found a better way.

Sign in with your Twitter or Facebook details and they’ll immediately find anybody you know who’s a member, which at the moment is the only way to get into this invite-only beta version.

If you’re in luck, you’ll soon be sharing your jams and seeing what everybody else's are too.

It’s a great new way to find new music, and old forgotten favourites, and we reckon this could be huge when it comes out of testing.

One to watch. Or listen to. Oh, you know what I mean...

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: This Is My Jam originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

First up, a confession. I don't come into this experiment as a member of the anti-Apple brigade. Not completely.

I love my iPhone and, while it's not exactly essential, I have a good relationship with my original iPad too (although I should point out that I also have much love for my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1).

But I'm a PC. Not because I'm a nerdy looking chap like David Mitchell or John Hodgman (I am, but that's irrelevant) but because I settled down with Windows when I was young. I made a commitment and I've stayed faithful ever since. Windows was my first love and will always be an important part of my life.

But recently I've had longings. Longings and impure thoughts. I blame the new MacBook Airs with their svelte figures and their alluring aluminium finish. Or maybe it's the giant displays of the 27-inch iMacs glowing from the window of the Apple Store. Either way, confession (via Outlook email, of course) to his holiness Bill Gates hasn't stemmed my cravings or my desire to taste the forbidden fruit.

It may just be a mid-life OS crisis but I cannot be stopped. I need to try Mac OS X now, at least for 7 days, or I'll always wonder..."What if?"

Day 1

Instantly I regret my decision. As Ross commented when Rachel asked him in Friends whether he'd enjoyed his one night stand; “Nobody likes change”. It's all just so different. Sure, it looks swish and I seem to have stumbled on to a few motion gestures that will no doubt be useful but everything is just so....different.

Copying and pasting is a ball-ache, for example. I'd heard that the control key was relatively useless on a Mac and that you had to use the command key instead, but try explaining that to my ageing fingers and their muscle memory that have spent years mastering Windows short-cuts.

And where's the bloody hash-tag key? How am I supposed to keep my tens of Twitter followers entertained without a witty hash-tag? And I can't find the delete key either and the @ symbol and the speech mark symbols are the wrong way round. Arrrrggghh. This is all just wrong. And don't even get me started on my right-click troubles.

But I've done it now. I've strayed from the path of Microsoft and my beloved Windows. I've cheated and feel like I've been suckered in like a jet-lagged businessman after a drunken night with an exotic hooker.

Day 2

Okay, so I'm starting to come to terms with what I've done. And I don't feel so bad. Sure, I'd diverged from the Windows route but wasn't I entitled to? Didn't Windows owe me big time after remaining loyal, even through the Vista d?b-cle? Sure it did. If anything, years of neglect had pushed me into this.

And you know what? I'm starting to get a taste for it. The changes aren't so so hard to get used to. And the gestures, once I'd found the built-in video based tutorials, seem to be coming in incredibly handy. I know that there was uproar when Lion brought in natural scrolling but, as an iPhone and iPad user coming new to the game, I have to say it's incredibly intuitive.

I also love the dock; the ease of personalising what apps are on quick offer and how folders are displayed. Although I'm not sure why every program that I minimise has to appear on it – where's a taskbar when you need one? I know that I could probably turn this setting off but I'm far too busy for that. And where do programs go when you click the X? Why don't they just bloomin' close?

The first port of call is syncing my Dropbox. I need my digital shizzle, you see? So a quick visit to the Dropbox website, an even quicker download, and I'm away. Or am I? I can't see anything happening once I double click the downloaded installation program. A check on the dock shows nothing. Is anything bloody happening here?

Finally, I remember Mission Control (three finger fun for a bird’s-eye view of all your open windows and apps)?and sure enough there's a Dropbox window open saying that I have to drag the icon to the Application folder to install. What the heck? I've already committed to a double click on the installation program icon, surely it knows what I want – it's taking me for a fool here.

And it's not the first time either. I searched around for ages to find the top level of my system's properties and devices. The kind of stuff you'd usually find under My Computer on a Windows PC. I just want to see the size of the hard-drive for Pete's sake. Finally, I found the folder options that allow me to see what I want to see – it's all turned off by default.

A Mac is idiot proof, that's for sure, and I'm no idiot. At least when it comes to computing. Sure, I'd been lured in by its pulchritudinous presentation and had been slightly shallow by thinking it was cooler, hipper and less embarrassing than Windows, but I am a man who has built a tower PC in the past from scratch and installed Linux on it. Linux! That makes me a certified geek in anyone's book and I demand Mac shows me some respect and stops hiding things from me.

Day 3

I'm too impatient to try and tame the Lion by myself. It took me years to perfect my Windows handling and I haven't got the time nor the energy to master another OS alone. So I sign up for an Apple Store One to One session. Kill me.

One to Ones are available for any new Mac purchaser who signs up for a ?79 membership when they first buy their new Apple toy. The amount of lessons you have is unlimited for a year, although the Geniuses in Store only really want to see your ugly mug once a day. They'll teach you anything from turning your Mac on, to advanced photo and video editing (on native Apple apps of course).

Adrian is my guide and I tell him exactly what I need. (i.e. to not look like a novice). Within about half an hour, I'm on fire. I'm gesturing like Tom Cruise in Minority Report, I'm creating new desktop spaces for different tasks and I'm basically falling in love. Not with Adrian, you understand (a fine looking chap nonetheless) but with Mac OS X. Adrian has shown me the geek respect I deserve and has taught me how to completely de-idiot proof my Mac; switching on all the admin settings I need to get tweaking. If I mess it up now, it will be of my own doing and I'm comfortable with that.

On the way home from the Apple Store, I decide to get busy trying to rename the home folder on my Mac (it had been in the hands of a colleague previously with a ridiculous name - you know the chap). I found I had to mess around with a Terminal and use command prompts. No wonder they idiot proof these things – it was like my Linux days all over again.

Day 4

Big meeting today in town to do some serious CES planning. And by serious I mean meeting up with the other Vegas bound Pocket-linters to discuss what parties to go to and that Dennys would be our breakfast meeting point.

The bossman, a devout Mac disciple, arrives first and sees me working away (checking Facebook) on my new Mac. What follows is an eye opening 10 minutes where he teaches me the ways of image editing in Mac OS X, or rather, the ways of sitting back and letting Mac OS X edit all your images for you. ImageWell and iPhoto are going to be lifesavers come show time in Vegas.

Day 5

On the plane for 11 hours without Wi-Fi, CES bound, so I decide to get to know the inner workings of my Mac even more closely. I find that all the usual Windows device and system management tools are there but often hidden in strange and mysterious places. I've given up on the home folder renaming, by the way. It's too much hassle.

One aspect I did enjoy while I was offline so long was the ability to check my emails using the Mail app. I'd synced it up when I was online at the airport and was able to breeze through the hundreds of invites to visit PR client's “brilliant” new innovations at CES. I know, I could have done this on a Windows PC using Outlook but, come on, have you ever actually used Outlook? It's horrific.

I also messed around with some of the media apps that don't require a web connection such as iPhoto, iMovie and iTunes. The latter is on a par with its Windows equivalent, i.e. horrible – but iPhoto and iMovie have some great features. It's also brilliant how seamlessly the native Apple apps interact with each other. It's almost as if Apple would rather you didn't leave its high-walled garden....

Day 6

Busy day at CES; Acer press conference and CES Unveiled. This means a tonne of pictures to edit and chuck into the Pocket-lint back-end. We shoot at maximum resolution to give us plenty of scope to crop pictures to highlight the new tech's features and that means a lot of editing before you see the final images on the site. Usually, I'd be on Photoshop or simply Paint.net on a Windows PC and, while I'm quite a well oiled machine with those applications after editing thousands of pictures for the site, I can honestly say that, on my first attempt at doing it on a Mac, it was much quicker.

Preview on a Mac, including the brilliant space-bar snap-up, is fantastic for getting rid of dodgy shots, as well as basic cropping; iPhoto is fantastic for auto-fixing (very handy given the artificial light that plagues CES) as well as resizing, dropping the exposure and sharpening, and ImageWell is brilliant for batch resizing.

To begin with, I must admit that I struggled with locating different programs, apps and folders that I needed open to work, but once I'd got in the swing of using Mission Control, multiple desktops and, crucially, hot-corners – there was no stopping me.

Day 7

Something big happened today. It may not sound like much but it could well be the final nail in the coffin for me and Windows. I turned off the right click option that I set originally and settled instead for a simple double finger tap for the extra options usually afforded by the starboard push. It just feels right.

If that makes me a fully fledged fanboy, then so be it. Nothing really feels weird or different anymore, it just feels easier.

Monday was a super-hectic day in Vegas (press day) and so that meant getting stories up quickly. Without doubt, I was able to work quicker on a Mac than I ever have done with a Windows PC – and I'm still a noob don't forget.?And yes, I'm also aware that I've now become one of those Mac bores that I used to loathe.

Final Cut

Although my Apple fling looks like turning into a full-blown relationship, there will always be room in my heart for my original, my first love, Windows.

I'll still see it at weekends (when I need to use dodgy East European software to run dodgy East European streams of the football) and maybe, if it dolls itself up nice and has a bit of work done then I may come crawling back. Windows 8 could be just the shot in the arm that our relationship needs to get us back on track. Something new to reignite the old spark.

Until then, I'm afraid I belong to Apple and have signed myself up for yet another arm of its ever expanding reach. It might have started as 7 days but this whirlwind romance has turned into something bigger than I'd expected, something more intense. I'm just not sure how to explain it to Windows...

Tags: Software Mac OS X Apple Apple MacBook Air Features 7 days Windows Microsoft

7 days living with....the other computer (Apple Mac OS X) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Once upon a time, I would have done just about anything for a fiver. Don’t panic, I’m not hinting at a past full of vice and petty crime, but when I was growing up, ?5 was considered a sizeable amount of money.

It’s not any more, obviously. In fact, these days, you’re doing well in city centre bars if you can get a single drink for that price, let alone a whole round.

So, at www.fivesquids.co.uk it’s quite surprising to see what people will still do for a fiver.

Many of these people are small businesses, trying to make a name and offering their services at knockdown prices to get a good reputation.

Other people are just chancing their arm and having a bit of a laugh, and possibly even making a few quid.

We love this idea. It’s a great way to make your mark in a crowded market and it’s fun seeing just what some people will actually offer.

Still no movement on my “clean and iron all my shirts” request, but fingers crossed…

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Five Squids originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

We featured Star Wars Uncut as our Website of the Day here on Pocket-lint back in August 2010 and have been following its progress ever since. Now, the crowd-sourced project has been completed and is ready to be watched in its entirety; all two hours and four minutes of it.

Star Wars Uncut is the brainchild of Casey Pugh who, along with video editor?Aaron Valdez and?Bryan Pugh (sound design/mixing) undertook the mindnumbingly insane task of remaking the whole of Star Wars IV: A New Hope using fan-made material.

Casey cut the original movie into 15 second chunks and invited submissions from anybody who wished to film, animate or, generally, recreate their favourite bit. The Star Wars Uncut team have then stitched the entire film together using these crowd-sourced elements, and the end result is staggering.

So, if you have a couple of hours spare and fancy watching a familiar yet totally refreshing version of A New Hope, here is Star Wars Uncut: Director's Cut in all its glory - starting with the best use of Twitter we've seen yet...

Read

Tags: Online Internet Websites Software Star Wars Star Wars Uncut

Star Wars Uncut finished - the entire movie remade by fans (video) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:05:15 +0000

Your average smartphone is a clever little gadget (hence the name). They've become our music players, our cameras, our organisers. They even make phone calls!

It doesn't matter which brand you go for, they all make our lives more fun, faster and generally just a bit easier to manage. But they all have one common enemy – the elements.

Yes, you can clad your prize possession in a chunky rubber case to keep the worst of it at bay, but it does tend to alter the aesthetics a little bit, doesn’t it?

But now, courtesy of? www.liquipel.com you can get your phone waterproofed and nobody will notice the difference.

Liquipel works by coating the entire phone, inside and out, with a water repellant “nano” coating. Once coated, they claim your phone will even work when fully submerged (although I won’t be trying that just yet…).

You have to send your phone to them, and it currently costs $59 US, but that’s surely a small price to pay when you consider the alternative.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Liquipel originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

If you're still using an old iPhone, or an old iPod touch, and you're jealous of all your fanboy friends revelling in the iOS 5 goodies then help could be at hand.

The Whited00r 5.1 mod apparently plays nicely with all generations of the iPod touch and is compatible with any iPhone from the 3G onwards.

Whited00r is customised version of the real deal and brings multitasking, reminders, an iCloud like feature (powered by Dropbox), home-screen folders, Newsstand and custom home-screen backgrounds to ancient iDevices.

You'll no longer have access to the App Store and there's no Notification Center on board, but beggars can't be choosers after all.

According to its makers, Whited00r is the biggest community about iOS modding and firmware cooking in the world and it has a pledge not to use cracked software.

"Installing Whited00r you will get a fully optimised device, just in a few minutes, with a simple restore of your iPhone or iPod Touch," it says. "Your device will be fast and productive again. Whited00r is the best solution for your Apple device, both for power and inexperienced users."

As always with modding, air some caution as you're taking matters out of official hands. You can download Whited00r 5.1 now.

Read

Tags: Phones Software iOS 5 Jailbreak iPhone iPod Touch

iOS 5 on your old iPhone or iPod touch...kind of originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

Is it just me, or is January 2012 the longest month in recorded existence? Christmas seems like aeons ago, the weather has turned Baltic and just about everybody seems to have kicked the booze, stubbed out the smokes and is now eating salad, muesli and lentils with a self-righteous grimace on their face (probably due to their mild inward panic about where the nearest serviceable toilet is). What’s happened to the world?

We need a laugh. Something that will remind us that we need to lighten up a bit.

Thank goodness then for www.thepoke.co.uk a “news” site with an eye for sabotaging the headlines and a tongue firmly in its cheek. This should help us all through these difficult early weeks of the new year.

It’s cut from similar cloth to the Daily Mash and with apps, YouTube channels, Twitter feeds and Facebook pages to keep you updated, you’ll never have to stray too far without a timely reminder that life’s too short to take all that seriously.

Tags: Online WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: The Poke originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” It’s as true now as it was when Keats first wrote that in the 19th Century. But these days we all want more. Our attention spans are shorter and we find inspiration in different things. Lots of different, beautiful things.

If you’re somebody who needs to surround yourself with beautiful things, kuvva.com can help.

They’ve signed up some of the word’s best artists and illustrators to create, as they say themselves, “visual awesomeness” for us to brighten up our digital lives.

With Kuvva, you can have a gorgeous new wallpaper delivered to you every day of the week, for your desktop and Twitter homepage.

Create an account and you can set up favourites for your own personal stream of visual loveliness.

And if you’re a designer, artist or illustrator looking for a new outlet with a truly global reach, they’re always on the lookout for new talent too.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Kuvva originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Apple could be about to launch a new platform for for digital textbooks, which it hopes will bring an innovative method for students to interact with the subject matter and all linked to the iTunes platform making it very easy to access. All to be revealed at this Thursday's Apple education event.

The WSJ mentions that Apple has been working with McGraw-Hill publishers for best part of a year in the lead up to the event.

Importantly, this will also possibly be coupled with a new tool for creating educational ebooks. The tools available for doing this at present, in the form of iWork, at times being a rather clumsy application. The new software should make ebook creation far simpler and has been described as a Garageband for ebooks, according to Ars Technica.

In order to make this possible Apple has implemented the EPUB 3 standard, although the different standard may mean that sharing content between platforms is more difficult, it should make for an easier way for developers to create interesting interactive content for ebooks.

So the news could be two-fold: a new platform in which to access a huge variety of educational and highly interactive content; and a new, easy way of creating said content, which will ensure that there's a ready supply of developers willing to work on the new platform. This model has served Apple very well in the past.

This kind of interactive ebook learning could have some very positive effects on learning in the classroom and help bring otherwise stale subject matter to life. However, there are possibly a few concerns with this move.

The first is that when bringing any standard into the classroom we have to be aware that students will be learning through that particular standard, in this case through an Apple product, so it is important that they have other platforms to work with so they don't get locked into the Apple ecosystem - something Apple would no doubt want. Having your product in the classroom is a sure fire way to create brand loyalty when that person grows up. Just look at Windows.

Also, it's important to remember that it is the teacher's job to educate and create an environment in which students can be excited about a given topic, so over reliance on a tablet to do this for you isn't always a good thing.

We'll be bringing you all the news on Thursday.

Read

Tags: Apple ebooks iPad Software Rumours

Apple to digitise classroom with 'Garageband for ebooks' originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:18:00 +0000

Sending high-res photos, home video, or any other data-hungry bits and pieces isn't really practical over email, so if you routinely have to send large files, there are probably a few names you might be familiar with when it comes to free, online solutions.

If you haven’t already, add www.wetransfer.com to the list.

This is one of the simplest ways to send large volumes of stuff we’ve come across and you don’t even need to register with them. Just upload your stuff, tell it where to go and the job’s done.

With a size limit of 2GB, and no restriction when it comes to the number of files, this service makes some of its competitors look positively miserly.

They’re upfront about how they can offer this service for free too: those fancy wallpapers you see while you’re uploading your files are all paid-for advertising and you can even download them if you see something you really like.

There are other ways to do this kind of thing, but this one could be our new favourite.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: We Transfer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

If the internet has done one thing above all others, it’s made things so much faster. Getting your fix of just about anything is now just a few clicks away, and news is no exception to that. Far from it.

And if the events of 2011 taught us one thing above all others, it’s that the truth cannot be contained any more. People found ever more inventive ways to circumvent authoritarian regimes to get their stories heard through social networking, so all of a sudden every newsroom on the planet was keeping one eye on the wires and the other on social media. The speed with which local events became global stories was unprecedented.

At www.newswhip.com you can keep track of what news is trending on the web, so you won’t have to go cross-eyed trying to keep up.

This is a quick, clean and efficient way to see what’s being shared worldwide, and we’re all firm fans already.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: News Whip originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Skype has announced its 5.5 beta update for Mac which delivers a few new features as well as a host of tweaks.

These include improvements to the call UI and tweaks to the call quality; Skype also says that its looked into the stabilisation of its service and it should now be nice and steady.

A video call option has also been added, whereby on receiving a call you can decide whether to accept incoming calls with or without video. Skype says that the improvements made to its Skype Call, "allows Mac users to easily mute their microphone, send video, share their screen, send files and even add more people during a call".

Frequent users are encouraged to make the the download before feeding back to Skype on any room for improvement. Any issues can be fed back to Support Network or on Skype's public issue tracker.

Read

Tags: Skype VoIP Skype for Mac Software Updates

Skype for Mac 5.5 beta update brings calling UI improvements originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:50:00 +0000

Kindle has announced its new "Send to Kindle" software for the PC which attempts to make it super-easy to send PC files to your Kindle.

This has been possible previously using your Send-to-Kindle email address, but that involves a little messing around.?

The Send to Kindle plugin solves this by offering quick file transfers. On its blog, Amazon says that:?"From Windows Explorer, simply right-click on one or more documents and choose Send to Kindle. From any other Windows application that can print, select Print and choose Send to Kindle" making it really simple to move those files to your portable device for reading later.

You'll also get the usual benefits that the Kindle brings, so you can archive documents and download them to your device when you need them. You'll also get syncing, just as you do with Kindle books: "Your last page read along with bookmarks, notes and highlights are automatically synchronised for your documents (with the exception of PDFs) across your Kindle devices and supported Kindle reading apps."

Supported document formats include: DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP and PDF.

You can download the new Send to Kindle plugin here on Amazon.com.?

As mentioned there is no Mac support yet, but expect it to come along soon enough.

Tags: Software eBook readers Kindle Amazon Kindle

New 'Send to Kindle': Non-book PC files to your Amazon ereader originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:59:00 +0000

Things might be looking a bit bleak on the high street for HMV, but that’s not denting their enthusiasm for supporting new music one bit, if The Next Big Thing is anything to go by.

It’s a short season of gigs at HMV venues up and down the UK, showcasing the best new acts. These are the names and faces that will be adorning the glossy covers of music media in the near future and this is a chance to see them up close and personal before they start filling stadiums all over the world. It could be the only chance you get to see them for a tenner too.

We hope it’s initiatives like this that will keep HMV going long after the season ends, but with the recession biting and online competition stiffening, it’s not going to be easy. We wish them luck.

Get your tickets at ?hmv.com/hmvweb/navigate.do?pPageID=4771.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Next Big Thing originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Over in Vegas at CES, Pocket-lint has been given its strongest indication yet that Microsoft will launch Windows 8 in October 2012.

Discussing the launch time frame during a briefing and demo session of the next-gen OS Janelle Poole, director of public relations of the Windows Business Group, said:

"We haven't talked about the release date and we generally don't. We are talking milestone to milestone, so for us right now we're talking about the next milestone being the consumer preview happening in late February.?

"One of the things that I think is a good guideline though is we've always said that Windows releases come round about every three years and this year will be three years in October since we launched Windows 7. So I think that's a good guideline to consider."

October has long been touted as the month that the Metro UI-tastic platform will land, but this is the biggest hint that we've been given so far.

You'll remember that, at the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo in May last year, Microsoft CEO?Steve Ballmer?announced that the next version of Windows would be released the following year.

“And yet, as we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming," he said.?

During the?Acer press conference at the Vegas expo, its CEO J.T. Wang?stated that Windows 8 machines would be landing later on this year. "When the next generation of Windows launches, in the second half [of 2012], we will launch another wave of Ultrabook products," he said.

Exciting stuff from Microsoft then with plenty to look forward too.

Tags: Software Windows 8 Microsoft CES2012

Windows 8 set for October 2012 launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Most people will by now have heard that there’s a bit of a do happening in London in 2012.

The legendary cynicism of the locals is slowly turning to pride and even, dare I say it, excitement, as the games approach and one by one the facilities are opened on time (not something we’re used to over here, that bit…).

And our beloved Boris (Jim Henson is alive and well and running the Mayor of London) has set up this handy website to let the world know just what’s in store for 2012, because the Olympics are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s happening in our nation’s capital.

At www.molpresents.com you can sign up for alerts that will keep you in the loop on what’s happening in London over the course of the next 12 months and it’s already got plenty to whet the appetite if you’re heading to our fair city in this Olympic year.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: MoL Presents originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

It's a good blog that stands above the crowd and catches our attention, but when we caught wind of thatsnerdalicious.com we made tracks straight for it.

A blog that celebrates the geekier side of gastronomy, this is where a love of tech and a love of food are deliciously combined, with postings revealing some of the weirder and more wonderful culinary delights from around the world.

It was the Darth Vader burger that first drew us in (soon trumped by the Chewbacca burger) but on further inspection we saw the monkey banana peeler for the hopelessly lazy and realised we’d found some kindred spirits. Not surprising when you discover that these are the people behind fashionablygeek.com and cubiclebot.com too.

So that’s actually three Websites of the Day for the price of one today. Think of it as our January sale...

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: That?s Nerdalicious! originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Adobe has announced a new, beta, version of Lightroom. The pre-release software is a preview of Lightroom 4, which will arrive at an, as yet, unspecified time this year. Everyone can try the beta, it's available right now to download from Adobe's labs site.

Adobe Lightroom is one of the most popular tools amongst professional photographers. It offers powerful batch processing tools that take a lot of the tedium out of photo management and manipulation. It's well suited to those who have huge libraries and who need to make adjustments to a lot of pictures, and keep settings for use later.

The new beta software adds some interesting features. For example, geo-tagging is emphasised. This works in two ways. If your photos have GPS data embedded, then it's simple to search for photos based on where they were taken. If you're using a camera without GPS, then you can grab a batch of photos, and simply drag them on to a Google map to tag them with location data. Very helpful, and very easy to locate images you took in specific places.

Adobe was also keen to point out that GPS data can easily be removed on exports - there's a simple tickbox that does it. This is great if you want to share photos, but don't want everyone knowing where you took them. And that's important when you consider the tight integration of Facebook and Flickr too. These social networks can now be used easier than ever, so stripping potentially very personal information is a must.

Video is also given a boost too. Now, you can adjust clips with settings you've made for photos. Not all can be applied in their entirety - there are tweaks you can make to photos, but not video - but for some adjustments, this is superb. For example, a tweaked switch from colour to black and white is simple. The original video is untouched, of course, and you can see the effect in real-time as a preview.

Print previews are also an interesting advance. Now, you can save paper and ink costs by getting an on-screen preview of what will come out of your printer. In the example shown to us, areas that were outside of the printable colour or gamma range showed up bright red. This means you can tweak images to fit inside the capabilities of your printer. Printed results should look a lot better thanks to this mode.

Also new are "books" which allow you to create and preview photographic books. Adobe has done a deal with Blurb, to make it a one-click process to print a book and have it posted to you. Costs are all estimated as you're building your book too, so there won't be any upsets when you reach the checkout.

Overall, Adobe claims that it has simplified the image adjustment tools. Even so, it says that the software is more powerful than ever before while being easier to use, and less daunting for the average Joe.

Tags: Software Adobe Adobe Lightroom Adobe Lightroom 4

Adobe Lightroom 4 beta intros better geo-tagging, video and books originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

In the developed world, there are certain things many of us take for granted. Running water, wireless broadband and a Starbucks very fifty feet are just a few examples, and 24-hour rolling news is yet another. But do we ever think twice about what all those news channel tell us while we're sipping our skinny soya lattes?

Around the globe, most state broadcasters are influenced, to a greater or lesser degree, by the ruling parties. Private news organisations famously have their own agendas and so figuring out what’s actually happening can prove a bit tricky.

A potential antidote to this can be found at therealnews.com, a US-based news site which aims to be completely independent and to represent the little people.

It makes interesting reading, particularly when you compare it to some of the other US networks' coverage, and whether you like the approach or not, it’s certainly one way of getting a bit of balance into the rolling news coverage that we’re bombarded with.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: The Real News originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:59:00 +0000

Over the past couple of years, science has seemingly become the new rock ‘n’ roll, with superstars like Brian Cox and Richard Dawkins commanding huge audiences and high-profile headlines. We’ve even had comedy embracing the inner geek in all of us, with the likes of Dara O’Briain and Robin Ince celebrating their scientific roots and getting big laughs while doing it.

So, we reckon the Royal Institute’s new online channel at richannel.org could be attracting a wider audience than it might have once upon a time.

It’s a collection of scientific videos, including the famous RI Christmas Lectures, which this year took a long hard and surprisingly entertaining look at the human brain.

If you’ve had your interest in science piqued by its headlong march into the mainstream, this is a good place to bone up on some basics or explore some more in-depth areas.

Lab coats are not required, just a curious nature and a few minutes of surfing time.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: The RI Channel originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Google?has announced that the latest update to its Chrome browser will try and guess what website you are going to visit next by loading it while you type the URL.

In a move to try and get you the webpages you visit even quicker than before, the browser will use a series of pointers to start loading your next website before you complete the address.

"To get you where you want to go even faster, Chrome will now start loading some webpages in the background, even before you’ve finished typing the URL in the omnibox. If the URL auto-completes to a site you’re very likely to visit, Chrome will begin to prerender the page. Prerendering reduces the time between when you hit Enter and when you see your fully-loaded web page - in some cases, the web page appears instantly," says Posted by Dominic Hamon, Software Engineer and self professed "Speed Demon" at Google.

It should, hopes Google, mean that the web seems even faster to access.

The new?Google Chrome?browser update, available in public beta, also tries to enhance your browsing on the security side of things with Google stating that Chrome now includes expanded functionality to analyse executable files (such as ".exe" and ".msi" files) that you download to check for nefarious elements to the files.

If a file you download is known to be bad, or is hosted on a website that hosts a relatively high percentage of malicious downloads, Chrome will warn you that the file appears to be malicious and that you should discard it.

The new update is available now.

Read

Tags: Software PC software Mac software Browsers Google Google Chrome

Google Chrome browser to predict what you want to visit next originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:41:00 +0000

As we’ve said before here at Pocket-Lint, the comic strip has had something of a revival in recent times, with big screen adaptations dominating the summer blockbuster release schedule and graphic novels becoming the new bestsellers. Prices for rare old comics are going crazy too, so it’s encouraging to see the art form coming of age at soul-reaper.com.

This is a “scroll book” coded in HTML5 and we think it looks stunning. As you scroll down, the story moves with you and the illustrations are top notch. Or, you can switch the “couch mode” on and watch the action unfold automatically.

Sign up to follow the story as it develops and you can keep up to date with the dark, post-apocalyptic tale of Alex, the eponymous hero and mankind’s last hope, on Facebook too.

We can’t wait to see where this one goes, and we reckon it could be the start of a new chapter for the comic strip.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Soul Reaper originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Texting is, let’s face it, so last year. As 2011 drew to a close, even the mainstream media was rife with talk of instant messaging services like BlackBerry Messenger and iMessage – services that allow people to stay in touch, in real-time, on their smartphones – often for free.

For 2012, along comes kik.com. It’s exactly the same thing, only it’s cross-platform so it doesn’t matter what phones your mates have, you can get the same instant, always-on conversation style with everybody in your address book. And with the service running as part of your data plan or over Wi-Fi, it won’t cost you the earth.

The app is available for all smartphones and there are also other apps that will “kik” too, so you can share the stuff you like with the people you love.

Early days for this, but it’s taking off steadily and could be the next name bandied around the mainstream media when social media inevitably comes to the fore again.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Kik originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Losing your digital camera is a trauma. Not only is there the expense, but there’s the loss of any images you’ve not yet had the chance to download.

But technology is at hand to help with at least trying to reunite you with your kit, even if the pictures are gone forever.

Metadata in your images can help trace your camera when it goes astray by comparing the EXIF info in your shots with pictures uploaded onto the internet. Whoever ends up with your camera, whether they’re an unwitting buyer or a low-life thieving rascal, is quite likely to upload their own images to social networks or picture sharing sites.

If they do, this site can find them and alert you to the fact that your camera is back in circulation.

It’s a clever use of information that many people don’t even realise is there, and www.stolencamerafinder.com has had some great successes in reuniting snappers with their lost kit recently.

Tags: Online WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Stolen Camera Finder originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

If Santa’s been kind, and we sincerely hope he has, you might find www.wrap.org.uk of interest. That’s assuming the fat man in the red suit has dropped a sackload of groovy new gadgets and gizmos down your chimney, of course.

WRAP is an organisation that supports all kinds of recycling, but there’s a special focus on electrical items at the moment, as they know how many people have their personal tech upgraded at Christmas.

There is all kinds of advice here, whether you’re an individual or somebody who works or manages waste and recycling.

From here you can find your local facilities and organisations that will help you dispose of your unwanted goods in a sustainable, ethical and economical way.

This is a great way to start the new year, by getting rid of the old to make way for the new. And you’ll get that lovely fuzzy feeling knowing that you haven’t been topping up your local landfill.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: WRAP originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

I’m not quite sure what was in the turkey curry I just demolished, but I appear to have entered an entirely new online realm, judging by what I’ve seen at www.ro.me.

This is not an online guide to the Italian capital, but an online exploration of somebody's ?vivid imagination, in the form of an interactive film called 3 Dreams of Black made by Chris Milk and “some friends at Google”.

This is essentially a showcase of what can be done to create stunning visuals in a browser, using WebGL, a clever little bit of HTML5 that lets you create amazing graphics without users needing a plugin.

This film is a totally immersive experience, with music by Danger Mouse, Daniel Luppi and Norah Jones, and as you travel through the dreamscape you can use the cursor to explore the bits that catch your eye.

This is next generation stuff and we’ve spent ages playing with it.

We reckon you might too.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Ro.me originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

It’s potentially a big year for comic fans, with the much-anticipated big screen releases of a new Ghost Rider film, The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, and even a new Dredd in the offing.

For those who grew up reading these stories, it’s an exciting time. For those who didn’t, it might be time to bone up on your superheroes and get some reading done. That way you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. Especially if the movie-makers get it wrong in the eyes of the diehard fans.

At www.comicconnect.com you’ll find a comprehensive online marketplace for comics from all eras.

For the classic titles, you’ll need more than a few pennies, but even if you don’t want to spend too much you’ll find a wide range of titles that will give you enough of a taster for the genre.

Comics are becoming more and more collectable, with some rarities changing hands for astronomical sums, so you could treat this as a serious creative investment.

This is a US-based site, but they ship worldwide.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Comic Connect originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

As we approach year-end, images and reminders of what happened over the past 12 months bombard us from every angle.

Still one of the most shocking for us is the UK rioting, which brought chaos and devastation to the streets of our major cities over three nights in August.?But amidst all that was some of the most uplifting news footage we’ve seen in a long while.

Those armies of people taking to their streets with brooms, mops and buckets, to clean up after the rampaging hordes and reclaim their neighbourhoods, gave us hope that we haven’t all become selfish, money-grabbing hermits.

This is an ethos borne out by yoursquaremile.co.uk too, as local people get together online (just like the broomstick army did using Twitter and Facebook) to make their local communities better places.

The projects set up range from youth festivals to gardening schemes, but all of them have the sole aim of making the local areas better places to live.

We reckon this is perfect for a New Year’s resolution or two, so take a look and get involved with your community if you can.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Your Square Mile originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

If you've spent way too much time trawling round the high street shops this festive season, then www.bouf.com might appeal to you.

You won’t find the same old stuff, from the same old labels here. At Bouf you’ll find unique, even quirky, home wares and gifts for anybody who doesn't like to surround themselves with the same stuff that everybody else has.

The best bit about the site is that it’s a true marketplace, more than just a retailer. If you’re designer or maker of things that you think might fit in here, you can apply to become a seller. That means that most of this stuff is coming direct from source, so that “you won’t see this anywhere else” angle is true most of the time.

We love this stuff, and we only wish we’d seen it before Christmas so we could’ve done our shopping here.

Worth bookmarking regardless, as it’s a great place to shop for gifts for all occasions.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Bouf originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

If Santa’s sack proved less than fruitful for you this year, and you’ve been left staring at the same old gaming titles on your shelf, fear not. We have a free online solution to help you fend off any seasonal boredom.

At www.rocketgames.com you’ll find a whole raft of Flash games to while away the time between Christmas and New Year, especially if you’re stuck in an office somewhere because your boss thinks Ebeneezer Scrooge is a role model.

There’s a few old favourites here, like Plants vs Zombies, City Drifters and the obligatory suite of Angry Birds titles, as wells as a few even we haven’t seen before. There’s fighting games, sports games, flight simulators and the random weirdness you’d expect from a Flash game archive.

In all, this is a great way to avoid doing any actual work, or avoiding having to eat yet another stale mince pie.

Enjoy.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Rocket Games originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Back in October, Pure, the radio specialist, officially announced Pure Music; a streaming service that sees it going head-to-head with Spotify. Although you won't hear a Pure employee mention the S word, the similarities are obvious and it is impossible not to compare the two. Pure, however is keen to stress that its music streaming platform is built for an already existing ecosystem. That ecosystem is, of course, the numerous internet radio devices that bear the Pure name, as well as its online “Lounge” portal and its mobile app offerings too.

Building on the success of last year's FlowSongs platform, Pure Music has again teamed-up with 7Digital to offer access to its extensive catalogue, but this time around it doesn't require users to pay for individual downloads.

For ?4.99 a month Pure Music offers unlimited streaming across multiple devices. There's a web-based player on the Lounge website, mobile apps (iOS available now, Android coming soon) and, of course, the service is available on all eight of the company's internet connected radios.

One differentiating factor from Spotify is the tagging service, introduced with FlowSongs. This means that when listening to the radio, if you hear a tune you like, you can tag it and then explore the artist and stream their music. It worked well FlowSongs too, which scored a very respectable 8/10 in our review. The tagging service works almost flawlessly, which isn't surprising as it's all Shazam-powered and, with Pure Music, makes for an easy playlist creating tool.

The streaming service works on 3G and Wi-Fi and there are no limits to the amount of devices that you can hook-up to your account. Pure will be monitoring IP addresses though, so you won't be able to share an account with your buddies.

The main event – the desktop player

Looks-wise, the web player looks a bit like Spotify's paler cousin; with a white and grey theme going on. All of the usual ingredients are there, like playlists, recommendations, the ability to share tracks via social networks, email and so on.

In terms of navigating around the client, you're looking at the same point and click based fun that you're probably already accustomed to with the wealth of music players out there now. If you see an artist name that you like click it, and you'll get top tracks, singles, albums and so on. There are recommendation tools on-board too, for similar artists and genres. There's artwork where available and where not, a silhouette of a band looking suspiciously like Oasis. No bios as of yet, but hey – there's always Wikipedia for that type of nonsense.

The front page has a few banners and tiles trying to lure you into certain sections: top tracks of the year, Christmas songs, movie soundtracks, highlighted albums and so forth, and there's also sections for best selling artists and personal recommendations. From within these sections you are still afforded the usual array of options, such as adding tunes to playlists, sharing them or, if available, buying them. Once a song is purchased, or even just added to a playlist – you'll be able to access these on your Pure devices and apps.

There's nothing new about Pure Music's UI and nothing too revolutionary about what's on offer. But it does the job and is a decent standalone browser-based music player which, essentially, works well as a slave to get the tunes you want on your Pure radios and via apps.

The Music

Of the 15 million songs available on the 7Digital-provided catalogue, Pure states that "the vast majority" are streamable and that licensing deals will extend the offerings over time. We didn't have many issues in not being able to find artists that we wanted; we did a test of around 50 artists from a wide genre and time-frame and the majority were all present and correct. However, we must stress here that we've been testing a preview version of the platform and the availability of songs to stream, download or both may differ when Pure Music goes live.

For now, the songs are purchased as DRM-free MP3s encoded at 320kbps that you can move to any computer or MP3 player, and 128kbps MP3 files for streaming. The platform is set to evolve though; we're told that a lossless format will arrive along with launches in more countries - for now it's UK-only.

On Pure radios and the apps

If you've got a Pure radio this is where the fun starts. Because, as well as the old FlowSongs tagging service, and the playback of songs that you've paid for - you can now access Pure Music so long as you cough up your monthly fee.

Yes, it's clunky as hell trying to find anyone using a Pure radio's control options (even on the touchscreen of the Pure Sensia) but if you've already created playlists using the desktop client then you're away.

The mobile apps (iPhone tested) work in much the same way, although it is much easier to find artists, albums and particular tracks obviously. AirPlay worked without an issue as well, although there's no caching, as per Spotify's app, so you'll always need a data connection to stream your music.

Verdict:

It's impossible not to compare Pure Music to Spotify. As much as the company wishes that we wouldn't, and, as such, it's impossible not to mark the digital radio specialist's effort down a touch on the few aspects where it falls a bit short.

Pure Music isn't solely a music streaming service, but that's certainly a large part of it, and as such, it would be nice to see the streams at a better quality than 128kpbs MP3s. Spotify, as a comparison, uses the Ogg Vorbis format for streaming at three quality ratings; q3 (96 kbps), q5 (160 kbps) and q9 (320 kbps) with the top level available for Premium users. As mentioned, there is talk that the quality of the platform's streams would improve over time and we hope this is the case.

The next aspect where the service falls a bit short of its Scandinavian rival is the usability of desktop client. Sure, Pure Music's web based platform is easy enough to use, but the fact that it's web browser-based does mean it comes with certain limitations. You can't carry on streaming a song, for example, and browse for more tunes without the song being cut mid-flow as the page refreshes - although there is a pop-out player to work around this. And if your browser crashes thanks to another rogue tab, it can bring down the whole show.

However, those slight faults shouldn't take away from what is a brilliant service, especially if you're already using Pure's internet radios. The ecosystem, and the fact that you can access and stream tracks on any of your Pure web-connected devices and apps, means that, for half the price you pay for your Spotify subscription, you're getting incredible value for money. Searching for artists and tracks using your Pure radio's interface and controls may be a painful affair, but the fact that you can chuck over playlists from your browser and access your tagged and purchased tracks instantly means that you never really have to do this anyway.

Pure Music definitely has a whiff of “work in progress” about it, but it's still a fantastic platform that will perhaps appeal to first-time streamers, especially those already on-board the Pure bandwagon, rather than tempting existing Spotify fanatics.

Pure Music is due to go live before 2011 is finished, we'd thoroughly recommend that you take it for a spin.

Tags: Software music apps Music streaming Pure Pure Music

Pure Music originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

It’s one of life’s universal certainties: at Christmas, when you might actually find you have a bit more time to sit down, put your feet up and watch a bit of telly, there is never, ever, anything decent on.

You’d be forgiven for thinking about straying online to find something to watch, and movieclips.com is a good place to find inspiration.

As its name might suggest, it’s a site devoted to trailers, best bits and other movie shorts, so when you can’t decide what to rent or download, it’s a great pace to dip your toes in the cinematic waters to see what appeals to you.

You can search by theme, director, actor, mood, composer – just about anything that might help dictate what you end up watching in full.

From Hollywood classics, through independent hidden gems to the latest blockbuster releases, if you can’t find something worth watching here, you might as well give up and read that book your Aunty Janet sent you for Christmas…

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Movieclips originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

If you’re heading off into the boonies to spend time with your nearest and dearest for Christmas, but still haven’t actually received all their gifts, fear not. You’ve still got time to do something about it. Well, you probably haven’t really, but we’ve got something that might help in future.

We’ve all heard the tales of couriers leaving parcels in wheelie bins “for safe keeping” and packages being put in a deserted alleyways because it “looked secure”. Yeah, right.

But at my.bybox.com you can rent a secure electronic locker for all your parcels to go to, then pick them up at your convenience. With over 400 locations nationwide, there should be one somewhere near most of our UK readers.

It’s certainly a good way to make sure you never miss another parcel and this is certainly a greener way to get stuff shipped around – once you remove all the to-ing and fro-ing the couriers’ big, thirsty vans do with missed drops, this all starts to make sense.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: My ByBox originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

We talked food waste the other day, and it got us all talking about our shopping, cooking and eating habits. As we chatted, uk.foodie.fm came up in the conversation.

It’s sort of a "Facebook for food" (but not quite, as you can still link to the world’s favourite social network from it) and aims to help you “eat well” and “shop smart” by sharing your foodie tips with like-minded gastronauts and gourmets.

As is always the case with the internet, no matter what your tastes, fetishes or foibles, there’s likely to be somebody out there who shares your passion and will want to chat about it. With this you can share your favourite recipes, plan your meals and do your shopping with the mobile app and maybe even discover some new flavours and experiences (and don’t worry, we’re still talking about food…)

This is a successful Finnish enterprise that is reaching out to the UK and we reckon it could prove popular, especially if it helps us get the most out of our food.

Now if somebody on here can let me know how to make the perfect Christmas pudding, I'm laughing...

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Foodie.FM originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

The phrase “try before you buy” is something most people look for before making any significant purchase.

You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it. You wouldn’t move in to a new house without having a good look round. You wouldn’t even buy a new pair of shoes without pacing up and down the shoe shop a couple of times.

But with gadgets, apps and games, often you’ve only got a review to go on. We know our reviews are the best around, but there’s still no guarantee you’re going to love to product we’re talking about without you actually laying your hands on it.

For games, there’s nothing worse than believing the hype, buying the next big thing and then getting it home to find the whole thing a bit underwhelming.

At www.gaikai.com you can try the biggest and best games before you shell out, and as it’s supported by some of the biggest names in the gaming industry, this is no low-grade dodgy pirate copy you’re playing – it’s the real deal.

It's free, high-quality gaming in the browser of your choice.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Gaikai originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

As we enter the home straight in the annual race to the limits of excess that Christmas has become, it’s perhaps a good time to stop and take stock of some of the things that many of us will be taking for granted at the weekend.

A table full of gloriously gluttonous food is a fine tradition, but how many of us spare a thought for those who perhaps won’t have such a seasonal spread to look forward to.

What’s even more sobering is the sheer volume of perfectly edible food that is considered unfit for sale or consumption and is simply thrown away. It's a scandal. But thankfully, organisations like www.fareshare.org.uk are trying to do something about it.

Their mission is twofold: they want to tackle food poverty and they want to put stop to the millions (yes, millions) of tonnes of food waste we produce every year.

It’s a noble mission and while we don’t want to put a downer on the festivities, we urge you two think about what you buy, what you eat, and what you consider fit for nowhere but the bin.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Fare Share originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

BlackBerry App World 3.1 has arrived in RIM lovers' lives - bringing with it a nifty new addition whereby rather than forking out for apps using your own hard earned money, you can request that your pals buy them for you.

The "Request Gift" feature is a sure way to save pennies, whilst at the same time creating a tight persona for yourself and annoying your BBM buddies as well. The option to send a gift request shows up alongside the traditional "Buy" option - you can of course still cough up yourself using the usual methods.

BlackBerry App World 3.1 also adds the function to filter "adult" or "mature" content. We're not sure what the difference between the two is - give us a few days to do some thorough investigation and we'll let you know.

The filtering is "an industry standard content rating system which is designed to give users the ability to restrict content of specific ratings". So it's handy for parents to stop their little 'uns looking at things that they shouldn't.

Finally, the updated app centre allows Wi-Fi only app downloading - a treat Android and iOS users have always had - meaning "where there’s Wi-Fi, you can now stay connected to BlackBerry App World and grab new apps and updates any time". Woop indeed.

BlackBerry owners will be receiving an upgrade notification over the next few days. If you can’t wait, you can manually download now.

Read

Tags: BlackBerry BlackBerry App World BlackBerry App World 3 Software Apps BlackBerry apps

BlackBerry App World 3.1 comes bearing gifts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:45:00 +0000

With the British press still being put through the mangle on a daily basis, keeping an eye on the front pages of the newspapers has proved an interesting exercise in recent weeks.

Some have been screaming about injustice and wrongdoing. Some have seemed to ignore what’s right in front of their noses and have stuck to tried and tested storylines to muddle their way through the storm.

We’re not saying anything one way or another (mainly because we haven’t seen or heard from our lawyer since the Christmas party!), but the current scrutiny of investigative journalism and the methods deployed in its name is certainly polarising the editorial approaches of the fourth estate, if nothing else.

If you want to see just how different the front pages can be, then look no further than www.frontpagestoday.co.uk.

It’s like a virtual newsstand, giving you a glimpse of what’s on offer from each title, with handy links to their online portals if you choose to explore further, and with titles from all over the globe, this is a fascinating insight into world events.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Front Pages Today originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Every cosmopolitan city on the planet has its "creative quarter". That place where all the new media types gather to dream up the "next big thing" while wearing pointy shoes, skinny jeans and pork pie hats, as their single speed bikes hang from the office walls like the artworks they probably think they are.

In London, it's Hoxton that is one such epicentre of agency types with last names for first names and asymmetrical haircuts.

Once upon a time, and not that long ago, you could've bought an entire building for thruppence ha'penny. These days a bottle of imported lager in one of Hoxton's bars will have you upping the limit on your credit card mid-session.

It's not much of a surprise that many people find the whole place a bit of a laugh, and www.hohohoxton.com illustrates the point quite festively.

It's good-natured mockery with a seasonal twist, as “the trendiest Santa in Hoxton” records a seasonal greeting for people you suggest.

This will ring true for many, no matter where you live. Everybody knows somewhere like Hoxton.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Hohohoxton originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Google's Chrome browser already does it, but now Microsoft Internet Explorer browser is to offer automatic updates so users don't have to bother wondering whether they have the latest update or not.

"Today we are sharing our plan to automatically upgrade Windows customers to the latest version of Internet Explorer available for their PC," the company detailed on the Windows Team Blog. "This is an important step in helping to move the Web forward. We will start in January for customers in Australia and Brazil who have turned on automatic updating via Windows Update. Similar to our release of IE9 earlier this year, we will take a measured approach, scaling up over time."

Microsoft say the reason for the move is to make sure that users are using the latest, and therefore safest version of the company's browser rather than have the situation as it is at the moment whereby a number of users are still on the rather old IE6.

However acknowledging that being on the new frontier of web surfing isn't for everyone, Microsoft has confirmed that you will be able to opt out of the option to get your updates when they are available.

"While the benefits of upgrading are numerous, we recognise that some organisations and individuals may want to opt-out and set their own upgrade pace. One of the things we’re committed to as we move to auto updates is striking the right balance for consumers and enterprises - getting consumers the most up-to-date version of their browser while allowing enterprises to update their browsers on their schedule."

Read

Tags: Software PC software Browsers Internet Explorer Internet Explorer 9

Internet Explorer to automatically update in future originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:13:00 +0000

Five years ago, if somebody had told you that the future was in little bits of software you could give away for free, or for just a nominal fee, they'd probably have laughed in your face.

Then came the iPhone and all that changed.

Apple recently passed the 18 billion downloads mark. That's a hell of a lot of little bits of software and that doesn't even touch the total, when you consider Android, BlackBerry and every other app-based platform out there.

So it's become a developer’s world, but that doesn't mean all the ideas have been developed. Far from it, if hippodile.com is to be believed.This is a clever crowd-sourcing app engine, where people pitch their ideas for new apps and, if enough people vote for it, a team of developers will turn it into a reality.

We love this and reckon quite a few of these suggests will be hitting the app store of choice sometime soon.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Hippodile originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

There's not much that's more frustrating, especially at this time of year, than getting home from a hard day's work to find a little card on your doormat telling you that you've missed that all-important delivery of your Mum's present, or your new party frock.

"Free delivery" from online retailers often means you get what you pay for: a basic service that will have you traipsing off to a godforsaken industrial estate on Saturday morning to stand in a queue while somebody rummages although the thousands of other parcels which have been stockpiled at the depot.

Cue www.waitingin.com, a service aimed at people who are prepared to pay for getting their goods when they want them.

Through this service you can get somebody to sit in your home while you're out, waiting for your deliveries.

It's not cheap (?60 doesn't go far these days, but it's still a lot to pay somebody for, effectively, just sitting around for half a day) but if you've shelled out for something special for Christmas, you might think it's worth the extra to make sure you get everything you've ordered on time.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Waiting In originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Boom, bang, pow! One way to grab people’s attention is to make a very loud noise whenever you can. It’s one of the basic principles behind advertising.

Not quite so easy to do online, but Old Spice, the smellies-for-men brand that time forgot, have found another way to make a noise - in their own unique fashion.

A couple of years ago, they introduced us to Old Spice Man. Remember him? He rode horses and spouted things that made you look bad in front of your wife or girlfriend (or both!)

Well, this time he's back to make amends by giving you something that every man really wants to see. Lots of things being blown up – all you need to do is hit the button. Or at least get his (unnecessarily muscley) arm to do it for you, at devastatingexplosions.com.

As the great man himself says: “Do you like explosions? Of course you do. I feel stupid for even asking such a preposterous question. Here you go. Happy Holidays, The Old Spice Man”

Quite.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY: Devastating Explosions originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000