Useful Web sites
Microsoft updates MSN.com
Microsoft is giving a new look to its Web portal MSN.com. Computerworld reports:
Microsoft plans to start rolling out a redesigned MSN.com on Wednesday in the U.S., the first major update for the page in more than 10 years.
Frequent visitors to the site will immediately notice one major change: The new page has only [...]
Free movies on the Web
Although there are very popular commercial services like Netflix that provide movies for downloading or streaming, there are also sites with free movies. MakeUseOf recently reviewed three sites:
Internet Archive
Classic Cinema Online
Archive Classic Movies
MakeUseOf also has a free PDF, The Internet Guide for the Movie Addict:
This entirely free PDF production will show you anything you’ve ever [...]
New file extension site
Nir Sofer is one of those public-spirited programmers who provides useful, free utilities for the PC community. Recently he also announced a site for getting information about file extensions. The site allows you to find out which Windows software can open a specific file extension.
Attenborough nature films online
The naturalist David Attenborough has been making excellent TV programs for BBC for years. Now his selection of 50 of his most memorable natural history moments is available on the Web. A description of some of the material is at this BBC blog.
Free eBooks
Do you like to read or download books in digital format? Maybe you have a Kindle but then maybe you prefer free books. For free books, here is a TechSupportAlert site with a list of 193 sites that legally offer free books (eBooks) for download or for online viewing.
Outstanding free security list
“Gizmo” Richards has long been a source for excellent advice on free security software. His TechSupportAlert site has a new list of the best security software of all types, almost all of it free. The only problem with the list is that it is so comprehensive that it may be a little overwhelming. For those [...]
Another way to get your answers
The Internet is full of information, some good, some bad. Periodically, I mention sites for getting answers to your questions (for example, in this post). Here are some more recommendations, this time from Webware, which recommends Ask Me Help Desk and Amazon’s Askville.
Anybody tried these?
List of interesting sites
There are many lists of favorite sites on the Web and each has its own character. Every now and then I post one that’s a little different. PC Plus magazine has a list at TechRadar called 95 websites you should totally bookmark today. I am unfamiliar with a great many of those listed and would [...]
How to check if an external site is down
Sometimes when you try to open a Web page, nothing happens or you get an error message. The problem could be on your end but very often it’s trouble at the the Web site. So how can you tell? Assuming you haven’t lost Internet service entirely, you can try down for everyone or just me. [...]
64-bit software
If you are soon going to buy a new PC, you may end up with a 64-bit version (X64) of Windows 7. (If the system comes with 4 or more GB of RAM, then you’ve got a 64-bit system.) Although a lot of 32-bit software runs just fine on a 64-bit system, you’ll get the [...]
Famous libraries and museums
The Internet provides us with access to many things all over the globe. No longer do we have to travel to faraway places to use the resources of great collections like the British Museum. We’re just a click or two away from many famous institutions. Here are a few:
Library of Congress
The Smithsonian Institute
The British Museum
The [...]