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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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