Wambie

Wambie

With a plethora of great gadgets and tech available, girls these days are into much more than just dolls and dressing up.

Wambie.com is a young girls' paradise, as it is all pink and sparkly, with horoscopes, games, stories and even a spattering of celebrity gossip.

It fulfils my dress-up desires with a high-tech remake of the classic game where you dress up paper dolls by folding paper clothes over their bodies.

This really is a very stereotypically girly girl site, with its cooking and skill games, so not one for the tomboys.

But if your little one loves princesses and fashion and cooking and makeup she will have a ball.

The only downside for me is the abundance of adverts, but I guess the site's creators are entitled to earn money for its upkeep.

Somehow you do not even need to register to play, plus they do not actually interfere with the gameplay at all.

InternetShout

InternetShout

There are lots of things on the internet to shout about, so if you are the kind of person who likes to make a noise, get yourself along to Internetshout.com. This is a chat site where you make make as much of a hullabaloo as you like.

Users are encouraged to have an open conversation on any subject they care to post about on the site.

The difference is that voice, rather than text, is used as the medium of communication. It can be either recorded through the website or uploaded from your hard drive as an MP3.

So you will need a microphone to record your comments yourself, but this will have to be done in an MP3 format.

But if you do not mind running the site's little application, the in-built record feature is perfectly easy to use.

You can even preview your recording and start over again before you make the post live.

There are categories listed on the left, and you can post your own topic or reply to someone else.

It is great fun listening to the conversations that are building up, but beware that not all the conversations may be to your taste.

Transmissions From Beyond

Transmissions From Beyond

If you like science fiction and fantasy stories then this particular podcast should be right up your street.

Transmissionsfrombeyond.com is the podcasting home of TTA Press, who publish various magazines and books in this category.

The company offer on this site free downloads of various short stories from their publications, read by the author.

As well as being able to listen to the podcasts, you can download them individually to listen to on the move on your portable media player.

Or subscribe using one of the popular feed methods described in the Receive Our Podcasts section.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome

I have been trying out Google's Chrome web browser, and I am so far really impressed.

The Google design team's influence can be seen in the browser's simple, efficient and super-fast features.

Plus it has some nice little features to save you from clicking your mouse too often.

Downloading and installing is fast, as the software recognises which browser you use and does the importing of bookmarks and settings for you.

The browser window itself is crisp and clear. Check out the getting started page for a full run down of the features.

Searching has been highly streamlined and typing anything in the address bar offers up webpages and search terms to apply to your default browser.

It even highlights pages you have visited previously that contain those words.

Something else I like is the frequently visited pages feature, which appears whenever you open a new tab.

It shows all the pages you visit a lot laid out in thumbnail format so it is super easy to find your way to your favourites.

Blogthings

Blogthings

In the festive spirit, you can find some fancy baubles to adorn your blog with at blogthings.com.

You can also find on the site a vast collection of quizzes and curiosities to add to your online soapbox.

Have a little fun by doing a quiz to tell you what your nose says about your personality, or perhaps try a seasonal quiz to find out what kind of Halloween or Christmas treat you are.

Just pick the quiz you like, answer a few simple questions and you will be returned an answer which you can post with the MySpace or Facebook links. Or post the results on any website or blog you like.

The post will also invite visitors to your own site to take the test themselves.

Evernote.com

Evernote.com

I am always coming across useful little bits of information as I surf the web. The trouble with that is I spend a good deal of time trying to remember where I saw them later on.

Where was that great site with cheap flights to Scotland? Where did I see that amazing face cream on sale so cheaply? Well not any more, thanks to Evernote.com

This useful little tool will really help you keep on top of things. It is available for Windows, Macs and mobiles.

You will need to register first, then just head to the download page for instructions on what to do next. Once installed you can save up to 40 megabytes of new clips each month using the free account - which should be plenty if you are not storing lots of high resolution images.

When you see something you want to make a note of, just highlight it and click the green elephant head icon Evernote has embedded in your browser. Clicking this icon with nothing selected will place the whole page in there. There is a nice little movie explaining more of the features on the website's homepage.

Now when you go to check your notes in the software you will find it all there - text, pics and even links - making following up on that information as easy as can be.

http://www.realfiles.net/link/8d09130c

qik.com

qik.com

Have you been at a family event, like a wedding or birthday party, and thought to yourself: I wish so-and-so could be here? Well, now they can, as long as you have a mobile videophone.

It is really simple to sign up to this ingenious website. Just pop your mobile number in, and everything you need to stream live video to the net, will be sent to your phone.

It is still fairly new so the list of supported phones is modest but growing. Check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for more information.

If your phone works, you can start streaming video straight away to the qik site, or even direct it to a Twitter account.

Capture all those magical moments and send them out live on the internet to your loved ones around the world. Streams are recorded and stored in your profile section so you can look at them time and again.

But do remember that others can watch them too, unless you choose to make them private.

BallroomDancers.com

BallroomDancers.com

Ballroom dancing is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in the UK just now, thanks to televisions shows like Strictly Come Dancing, where celebrities battle it out on the dance floor. If you want to waltz your way through life, or do a little foxtrot after work, take a look at BallroomDancers.com.

This website is stuffed to the seams with videos stepping you, quite literally, through the moves. Use the navigation panel on the left to open the dance styles.

Each dance has an overview of the foot placings, a text description of both the male and female role in the dance, and then a video to help you piece it all together.

Once you click the video icon, you will need to choose between a Flash or Quicktime player before watching the no-nonsense films. Watch them again and again until you get the hang of it.

The website is simple and easy to navigate, and without many frills, so you will have to save the artistic impressions for the dance floor

Eye on Earth

Eye on Earth

A visit to www.eyeonearth.eu is a must if you are planning on taking a beach trip to anywhere in the EU. It will help you find your way to the cleanest spots in Europe.

Made by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the website allows users to check the EU water quality ratings for over 21,000 swimming spots in beaches, rivers and lakes around Europe.

It is laid out in a familiar click and zoom map style, so it is really easy to find the watery spot you are heading to marked on the map. You can switch between a graphical and satellite image version of the map by clicking between Road and Ariel.

The flags on the map represent either the EEA rating, or a user vote. See the key on the left for the options.

Once you zoom right in, you will see a tiny satellite picture of the location together with an option to leave your own vote.

As time goes by, this site should build into a really nice resource for beach lovers everywhere looking for a clean and safe spot to swim.

Symmetry Explorer

Symmetry Explorer

At symmetry.sytes.org you can take the images from any web page and creating a symmetrical work of art.

The website uses an image searcher, so query a keyword or phrase of your choosing, to enjoy a selection of symmetrical images. Try clicking some of their suggested links if you lack inspiration.

These images can make a work of art out of the most unlikely objects. Click the link under the pair of pictures to see the original source image.

The only thing the website lacks is a link to go back and try another search. You will have to use the back button on your browser or enter the address again. But that is just a minor distraction from what is a fascinating journey.

The Virtual Cave

The Virtual Cave

I tried potholing once and was terrified to be squeezing myself into sunken crevices of rock with no light, with plenty of green slime under my hands and knees.

I vowed I would never take another trip underground, but I have changed my mind, virtually of course.

At goodearthgraphics.com/vitcave you will be able to uncover the many dark and damp mysteries of the world of caves. Plus, you do not need to don a jumpsuit and headlamp in order to enjoy them.

Keen caver and photographer Dave Bunnell has amassed this vast collection of information and pictures from his 35-odd years of experience underground. The site is split into four key sections covering the different underworld realms.

When taking a virtual tour in pictures and words, you can find sights like the incredibly cool glacier caves in Alaska and Nepal show, and some hot and steaming action inside lava tubes.

COLOURlovers

COLOURlovers

Colours have a big influence on people. You might not realise it, but colours can affect your appetite, mood and energy levels. Advertisers, marketers and designers spend a lot of time and money devising new palettes to appeal.

COLOURlovers is an online resource where you can find inspiration and talk openly about your love of colours with like-minded people.

Whether you are designing your website, considering re-decorating your home, or are a professional in need of a little inspiration - there are literally hundreds of colour palettes and patterns for you to view and download.

The trends tab at the top of the site is interesting, as it picks up on current trends in magazine and website design, which could help you keep up to date and have your design work looking 100% in style.

And if you are the creative type you can even add your own colours and palettes to the database.

Will It Blend?

Will It Blend?

I have no idea what inspired the makers of Will It Blend? But one thing I do know for sure is that you should definitely not try this at home.

The basis of this website is will stuff blend? By that, we mean what will happen if you put something in a blender and hit the on button. We are not talking oranges and whipped cream here - we know they blend - but how about a Rubik's cube, a sports ball or even an iPhone?

Crazy but true, these guys have blended them all and I watched the videos with nail-biting suspense. I particularly like the glow sticks blend for a bit of in-the-dark drama.

There is actually a Try This at Home section too for safe blends, like making chicken soup and grinding your own coffee beans. It is a bizarre collection of videos that I find strangely appealing. Amazing what you can find on the internet.

Irrepressible.info

Irrepressible.info

At irrepressible.info you can find out about amnesty international's campaign to ensure that the world wide web remains a bastion of free speech and expression.

The website states that the internet is a new frontier in the struggle for human rights. It claims governments, with the help of some of the biggest IT companies in the world, are cracking down online freedom.

You can read all about their claims and see how to take action yourself on this clean and simple website.

It is up to you to make up your mind about what you read, and if you choose to sign up and pledge your support, you will be joining more than 80,000 others.

Reading Test

Reading Test

Have you heard about the theory that the brain can make sense of a passage of text with the letters all jumbled up? This works as long as the first and last letters are in place.

On this website you can read the classic bit of text that describes the theory. You have probably seen it as a viral, as I think this one did the rounds a year or so ago.

Well, now some clever spark has created an engine where you can test out the theory on any site you like. Just plug the URL in the box provided and see how it works.

Horsesmouth

http://www.horsesmouth.co.uk/

Starting a new job or college course can be a daunting experience, especially if you are moving into an entirely new field.

Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who has been there before, and that is the premise of horsesmouth.co.uk.

This social enterprise website is all about connecting people up to mentors who can guide them through the trials and tribulations they will face.

You can either become a mentor and pass on your pearls of wisdom, or you seek the support of an understanding person who knows what you are going through.

There are almost 5,000 mentors registered with the site covering subjects as wide-ranging as family and relationships to vocational training and choosing a career. But if you cannot find a mentor on your subject, the website invites you to send out a call for help.

You can scan the website's categories, or scroll through the available mentors to read their profiles. To contact a mentor you will need to register, which requires a mobile number for them to send a verification code to.

The service is only available in certain countries, but there is a good global coverage.

Great american novel

http://www.greatamericannovel.com/

One internet phenomenon I got into recently are Digital Epistolary Novels. These are stories told through a series of documents like e-mails, instant messages and other electronic communications.

On this website, you will be able to download and read Intimacies by Eric Brown, who is a former English professor and computer geek.

There is nothing to install. Just click the executable file to launch the book and you will be presented with a somewhat familiar-looking interface through which you access these fictitious communications.

It feels a bit voyeuristic reading someone else's e-mails in such a blatant way, but it is a really interesting way to unfold a story, despite the somewhat simple look of the interface.

The character development in this novel really works for me and I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

Talking Pets

www.talkingpets.org

Have you ever wished your pet could talk? Well my cat can, and I am sure yours can too.

Talkingpets.org houses a fun little widget that allows you to upload a picture of your treasured pet and make a fun talking postcard to send on to friends and family.

Just choose a picture, re-size and add an appropriate mouth. Then you can either type an original message or use one of the pre-loaded passages of text. The voice will change depending on which name you choose.

The voices are a bit scary to say the least, but it is a fun way to send a personal message. And you can even add your creation to your Facebook profile to amuse visitors with a funny message.

A MESSAGE FROM EARTH

http://www.amessagefromearth.com

Is there anybody out there? I mean of course life on other planets, in other galaxies, and solar systems far into the night sky. Many believe it is impossible for us to be the only sentient life forms in the vastness of the universe, and so the users of Bebo have sent out a message.

The users at amessagefromearth.com created messages, 500 were chosen and then beamed out into space on 9th October 2008. Their target destination was a planet 20.5 light years away, which has a sun not unlike our own. Scientists believe it could support life of a similar kind to Earth.

The messages will travel at the speed of light, passing the moon in just 1.7 seconds. They will leave our own solar system within seven hours, and finally reach their destination in the spring of 2029.

Once you have watched the movies to find out about this fascinating, interstellar project, point your browser at bebo.com/amessagefromearth. Here you can browse through the messages that were chosen, and track the progress of the transmission as it is beamed towards its destination. The big question is - will we get a reply?

Get Safe Online

http://www.getsafeonline.org/

There is always something new and interesting to do on the internet, but some people worry about safety, and quite rightly too. The world wide web gives those with malicious intent a territory without boundaries to work in. But it is incredibly easy to close the door on them if you follow a few basic safety rules.

Getsafeonline.org tackles this thorny issue in a really palatable style without mess, fuss, or drama. It gives you straight-forward advice and tips about keeping your PC out of the hands of thieves and fraudsters.

A good place to start is the top ten safety tips link on the front page of the website which takes you to a 10-minute guide for beginners. I really like that they have separated the guide into PC, MAC and Linux, as the three operating systems are quite different and deserve to be handled in different ways.

There is advice for home and business users here, plus a handy test to see how safety savvy you are. Look under the highlights section for topic-specific articles, such as online dating and social networking sites like Facebook and Bebo.

JibJab

http://sendables.jibjab.com/

I love sending e-cards, especially ones you can personalise with your own unique touches, and hopefully make your loved ones laugh when they receive them.

At sendables.jibjab.com you will find a huge amount of brilliant cards that you can put your own pictures into.

Want to star in your own action movie? Fancy a 70s-style groove across the dance floor? Or maybe you want to take a starring role in the hugely popular High School Musical? There are some cards using political satire as well, but these are easily avoided, if they are not your style.

There are plenty of choices marked as free if you do not want to pay.

Once you have found a card you want to send, just click to personalise and then upload a photo from your hard drive. You can re-size the image and re-set the crop points so that the faces are perfectly cut out. Finally, click and drag the face into place and you are ready to watch and send your card.

You will need to register before you can send the card. But when you return to the site on the same PC, the faces you have cut out previously will remain in place for you to use again, even if you did not register yet.