Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Free iPod Content

Where to start

Apple's iTunes is your first stop. Think of iTunes as a convenient distribution jukebox. Though many podcasters have their own websites, iTunes makes finding new material easier than searching the whole web -- just browse iTunes' podcast categories to see what's available.

Want more? Find a podcaster you like, and follow the links in their blogrolls. Or browse the podcast directories:

Odeo
Podcast Alley
Podsafe Music Network
Yahoo Podcast Search

Video and enhanced podcasts

Enhanced podcasts can be viewed in iTunes and on the color iPod and the nano (the audio will play on earlier iPods, but they won't display images, of course). Video requires a brand new iPod, but most video clips will appear in the iTunes Video menu, and can be played in iTunes and added to any playlist.

Education
  • NASA's Ask an Astronomer videos. A NASA astronomer answers questions from kids, like "Do the stars really move?" Clever animations illustrate the tricky concepts, providing educational fun for kids (and this reviewer, too). Subscribe on iTunes.
  • The FrenchPodClass. Sebastien, a native French speaker living in the United States, uses audio, video and surprisingly helpful PDFs to give one reviewer optimistic ideas about New Year's resolutions. For example, see Lesson 1 audio (PDF review) and Lesson 22 video (PDF review). Subscribe on iTunes.
Travel
Sports

  • YOGAmazing Video Podcast. A tiny personal trainer in your iPod is just right for a short break at work or an impromptu workout at the park. Try out Episode 13, Yoga for Depression. Subscribe on iTunes.
  • The 64mm Vlog. Fans will enjoy watching other skateboarders ride in these simple, personal videos, like Girls on Ramps. Subscribe on iTunes.
  • NBA Video Podcasts. Baseball lovers will enjoy the official NBA videocast. Subscribe on iTunes.
Food
  • Tuscany Pod Travels TV. A group of Italians who podcast video tours at Tuscany.PodTravels.tv also create charming cooking lessons like this one, Pappardelle Noodles with Duck.
  • KCRW Arts & Culture: Good Food Podcast. Santa Monica College radio's enthusiastic foodie podcast interviews top chefs and features their recipes. It also offers tips about seasonal produce to look for at the market, at least in California. It's enough to make you hungry. Sample "Chocolate Desserts; Ethnic Sides; Vegan Fusion; Swedish Christmas; The Richest Fruitcake; Hanukkah." Subscribe on iTunes.
  • Winecast. In Winecast, wine lover Tim Elliott shares interesting stories about varietals and growing regions, tasting notes and reviews of wines he buys at local markets. Here's his Winecast 47 about Beaujolais Nouveau.
Tech

+dwebb

Free Online File Storage

If you’ve ever had to send large files and don’t have access to FTP, or the person you’re sending to doesn’t, this type of service is a fantastic resource.

here is a list of file services that are absolutely free and require no e-mail registration to use. Included in the list are file size limits, download limits and the amount of time the file remains on the server for download.

Top 15 Services

SendOver
File Size Limit: 2GB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 7 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 7 days)
URL: http://www.sendover.com

FileFactory
File Size Limit: 1.5GB
Download Limit: 25 Downloads
File Life: 7 Days
URL: http://www.filefactory.com

MegaShares
File Size Limit: 1.5GB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 25 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 25 days)
URL: http://www.megashares.com

SendSpace
File Size Limit: 1.2GB
Download Limit: download bandwidth limit of 100GB
File Life: 14 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 14 days)
URL: http://www.sendspace.com

YouSendIt
File Size Limit: 1GB
Download Limit: 25 Downloads
File Life: 7 Days
URL: http://www.yousendit.com

TransferBigFiles
File Size Limit: 1GB
Download Limit: 20 Downloads
File Life: 5 Days
URL: http://www.transferbigfiles.com

zUpload
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 30 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 30 days)
URL: http://www.zupload.com

Spread-It
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 14 Days
URL: http://www.spread-it.com

FileFactory
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 15 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 15 days)
URL: http://www.filefactory.com

mooload
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 30 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 30 days)
URL: http://www.mooload.com

CyberUpload
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 7 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 7 days)
URL: http://www.cyberupload.com

Uploading
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 30 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 30 days)
URL: http://www.uploading.com

Snaggys
File Size Limit: 500MB
Download Limit: 999 Downloads
File Life: 15 Days
URL: http://www.snaggys.com

Bigupload
File Size Limit: 300MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 30 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 30 days)
URL: http://www.bigupload.com

RapidUpload
File Size Limit: 300MB
Download Limit: Unlimited
File Life: 30 Days (Deleted only if there is no download activity in 30 days)
URL: http://www.rapidupload.com

+dwebb

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Merry Christmas


Well It is time once again to celebrate the Chistmas Spirit. I wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday, God Bless you and your family!!!


+dwebb

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

DIY FM Transmitter

This Simple circuit can be used to transmit any audio signal. It is basically the same as a Griffin iTrip. There is an inductor/capacitor oscillator that can be changed to change the transmitted frequency. It has a home made inductor, and a trimmer capacitor which can be changed to change the frequency.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Pantone To Hex Colour Chart

This is a great web design tool. I don't know how many times I have wanted to replicate a color from a printed piece for the web, and had to go into photoshop or another graphics program to convert the color into the proper Hex code. Which isn't a huge deal, but this site makes it a whole lot easier. Colours should be tested across different platforms, operating systems, browsers and versions to ensure colour is reliable displayed in typical viewing environments, since not all systems are the same.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Finding Toll Free Numbers With Google

OK, here's a secret "the man" doesn't want you to know. Some companies have a toll-free number that's buried deep on their website -- but it would take like a thousand clicks to find it, and these days, who has the time? One way to get to it more quickly is to search Google for the company name and the phrase "customer support." Like this: Apple Customer Support.

An even trickier way to get at hard-to-reach customer support phone numbers is to search for the company name and the standard toll-free prefixes. That'll dig up some real gems. For example, "[company name] 800 OR 877 OR 888 OR 866". Give it a whirl -- and here's to less holiday stress.

+dwebb

Using Google As A Free Proxy

What's the purpose for Google as a proxy? We often use office/school/university connections, usually those services are set to provide more safety, blocking the access to undesidered web sites (the "black list"). What you can do now is use Google translator service (language tools) as a proxy to bypass the restrictions set for our connection!

You just need to type the following URL:

http://www.google.com/translate?langpair=en|en&u=www.blockedsite.com
(www.blockedsite.com stands for the URL you need to go to...)

What you'll get is the translation (english to english!) of the page you want to see... your connection is directed to a google.com page so this page won't be blocked (would be blocked only with google.com on the black list), no matter what's the content.

+dwebb

Find free courses with OpenCourseWare Finder

The OpenCourseWare Finder organizes and lists open (read:free) university courses with materials that you can access online.

Currently the OpenCourseWare Finder is listing results from five universities like MIT and Tufts.

Check it out here.

+dwebb