Sep
29
Are You Talking To Me?
by Shachar Pesis | 1 Comment
Trailer Addict - Trailer and movie fans will find that Trailer Addict is quite a comprehensive resource. If a trailer exists, you probably will find it here. Why do I need it, I can find all trailers on YouTube? Well I am also a big fan of YouTube. However, a site which is dedicated only to trailers is a great feature. Before visiting the theaters, renting a DVD or demanding a movie. I view the trailer and related clips. In addition, I enrich my specific movie knowledge by reading the short movie description. When I reach a point in which I have nothing on my mind, I visit the Trailer Addict- Movie Database, this definitely helps me find a movie or just a way to waste some time. I have taken the liberty of recommending you some of my faves: Fight Club, The Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild, hope you like them. Do you want more movie related sites? check our Entertainment page, I Heart Movies or TrailerSpy.
MyDebates - The Internet has a great impact on all aspects of life, including politics. I find it quite surprising that MySpace which is mostly related with young users (according to Quantcast 29% of MySpace users aren’t eligible of voting) has teamed up with the CPD (Commission on Presidential Debates) and offers an interactive online presidential debate. If you are young or old you will find this platform as an informative tool. Try participating by taking a quiz, commenting or hosting a discussion. You can also view the debates live. If you feel more info is required, you can check previous Weekly Faves (YouChoose, Google Vote and Campaign Game) all dealing with the upcoming presidential election.
Slacker Uprising - Michael Moore sees himself as an influencer with a mission of changing the world, making it a better place. Recent movies include Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 911. No surprise he decided that his new movie, Slacker Uprising, will be distributed free of charge. In his own words “This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans. The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November.” Michael offers it for free, won’t you watch it? won’t you vote? For voting registration, visit Rock the Vote (featured this week on our Weekly Faves).
vLane - vLane helps consumers make more informed vehicle purchasing decisions by offering automotive search tools that provide independent and objective information for new and used car shoppers. In addition, you can find reviews, comparisons, polls and local vehicle classifieds from across the web. This isn’t your typical car buying site, it feels more like a game, however, I found it very useful. So, are you looking for a Porsche or maybe a Cadillac?
Akinator - Akinator is a genius, I am serious! Akinator is the genie that reads your mind, the genie asks you 10-15 questions about a famous character (alive, dead or fictional) and at the end you almost always will receive the following announcement “Great, guessed right one more time! I love playing with you!“. Basically it is a nice development of Artificial Intelligence. I tried it numerous time and pushed my luck with trying not so famous characters, however he’s good, yep very good. Are you talking to me?
Charlie Rose - Emmy award winning journalist Charlie Rose has been praised as “one of America’s premier interviewers.” He is the host of Charlie Rose, the nightly PBS program that engages America’s best thinkers, writers, politicians, athletes, entertainers, business leaders, scientists and other newsmakers. The video archive is excellent and includes an impressive list of people that visited Charlie’s oak table. I found an interesting show back from 2001, Charlie interviewing Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Do you think Charlie should be added to our TV- Talk FaveLine? I believe there is a place, also Charlie believes - “I believe that there is a place in the spectrum of television for really good conversation, if it is informed, spirited, soulful.”
Uptake - There are so many travel sites, which one is right for me? If you already know exactly what you want to book, you should be on sites such as Orbitz, Travelocity or Expedia. If you have a range of options in mind but shopping around for the lowest price, you should try Kayak, Vayama or Farecast. If you want to read a review, read a blog, or skim trip journals, you’ll want to visit TripAdvisor. If you need help deciding what to book, where to go, where to stay, or what to do, in these cases you would like to check UpTake. UpTake will help you make informed decisions about what best fits you, based on your travel preferences. Still confused? Try finding your travel needs on our travel section.
NonSociety - Julia, Meghan and Mary are an online version of Sex and the City. I never met a woman (and most men - they just don’t admit it) that don’t adore the mythical TV series. Just like on the TV show, the online girls share their personal NYC life with us - in this case, it is real. They update pictures and short comments on a daily basis. As a blogger, among others, I know how hard it is updating constantly. Don’t underestimate them, the Internet is growing rapidly everyday, and these three gorgeous ladies might be the next real Sex and the City. The thing I like the most about them, is that they seem to be true with their users and don’t mind showing real life moments, like Mary Drunk or Julia Believing. I hope they will fulfill my faith in them. I am following them on twitter. And you?
Ark - If you are looking for extraordinary animation - you have reached the right place. This short animation film has been created by super talented animators called Grzegorza and Marcin. I am not going to plot the story as it is better seen without a preview. Enjoy!
Connect4 - Connect Four is a two-player classic board game in which the players take turns in dropping discs into a vertical grid with the objective of getting four of one’s own discs in a line. I used to play it a lot (offline) as a child, it was yellow, blue, black and red). Hope you like the online version.
Sep
22
All We Need Is Just A Little Patience
by Shachar Pesis | 1 Comment
PopEater - Wikipedia defines Entertainment as “Entertainment is an activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience (although in the case of a computer game the “audience” may be only one person). The audience may participate in the entertainment passively as in watching opera, or actively as in computer games.” So as ‘the audience‘ you have many online resources to choose from. Will PopEater join your daily Entertainment dose? I think it is worth checking, especially This Week In Pop Culture History section, it is a piece of the best Entertainment nostalgia.
Cavalcade - Seth, which is the Creator and Executive producer of the animated series Family Guy and American Dad has collaborated with Google in order to create 50 short funny animated videos. My fave is: Super Mario. I just wish they would have less BK ads, it is ok that it’s sponsored, however, I don’t need to be reminded of it before each video - I can see the banners.
The Economist - These days we are experiencing one of Wall Street’s worst nightmares. People are panicked. People are worried. People are stressed. Please calm down, everything will be all right. Trust me, all we need is just a little patience. If my words aren’t comforting , try reading The Economist. The Economist is known for its solid research, good writing and truly international perspective, it is definitely worth anyone’s time. Check The Last Resort and Wall Street’s Bad Dream, do you find it comforting?
Project Report - In partnership with YouTube, the Pulitzer Center presents Project: Report, a journalism contest (made possible by Sony VAIO & Intel) intended for non-professional, aspiring journalists to tell stories that might not otherwise be told. In each of the three rounds, reporters will be given an assignment to complete. Winners of each round will receive technology prizes from Sony VAIO & Intel, and the grand prize winner will be granted a $10,000 journalism fellowship with the Pulitzer Center to report on a story abroad. Check the official rules, maybe you will become the next Charlie Rose.
My Love Calculator - MyLoveCalculator, just like any other love calculator, tries to give you a score on your love compatibility with another person. In order to calculate your love compatibility the site requires that you enter full name and date of birth of both lovers. I checked it thoroughly and the name doesn’t really matter, you will get the same results regardless to what you enter as names, therefore the key factor is DOB. To sum it up, this tool is a nice astrology tool which bases it results by sign compatibilities. I found it as quite accurate (based on my personal past love experience), however, I wouldn’t base a relationship with someone upon it. I have taken the liberty of checking Brad Pitt’s love compatibility with Angelina Jolie Voight VS Jennifer Joanna Aniston. Ain’t it funny?
Please Dress Me - Why do we wear T-shirts? It is simply the ultimate dress item. It is comfortable, relatively cheap and it is a great way to express yourself (Vote or Die). Buying a T-shirt is one of the easiest apparel buys, just choose your size and most of the chances you will be satisfied with it, it isn’t like buying boots online, who can buy boots without trying them out? However, searching for a T-shirt with a specific theme can be quite frustrating, there simply is a vast amount of T-shirts out there. PleaseDressMe is based exactly on this problem, no more sifting through multiple websites, just search your theme and you will be featured with many choices. The T-shirt results are usually quite accurate and include a nice variety. I searched Che Guevara’s T-shirt and was presented with only 3 options. It doesn’t seem rational to me. BTW Why Do People Wear Che Guevara T-shirts?
Causecast - People want to do good, want to be inspired, and want to inspire others to join them in giving back. Causecast empowers people who want to make changes by getting involved. Actions can make a powerful difference whether you donate time or money, promote or attend an event, or just spread the word. Check how you can Take Action.
Animals Save the Planet - Animal Planet UK has teamed up with the makers of Wallace & Gromit to produce a series of 10 short clay animation films that demonstrate how everyone can make a difference by changing to a greener lifestyle. The site is aimed to kids. I think it is as efficient for grownups. Humor usually expresses better than plain boring facts. Be Green!
eatPES - Don’t let the ugly outdated interface fool you. This is highly innovative stop animation, it is simply BRILLIANT. Please check Roof Sex (NSFWׁ) and Western Spaghetti. These videos are hilarious.
Light-Bot - Do you consider yourself as logical, as a person that plans a few steps in advance? If you answered Yes than this game will test your true abilities. Control the robot by giving it commands. Be a programmer!
Sep
15
Track Hurricanes!
by Shachar Pesis | 1 Comment
ffwd - ffwd is based on our common behavior of flipping through TV channels with a remote control. The result is a personal remote control for web videos that is as simple as channel surfing but more powerful as the internet is almost endless and TV isn’t - well everybody knows that web video will eventually kill the TV star one day. ffwd has concluded videos from various sites, such as: Hulu, Comedy Central, YouTube, MySpaceTV and much more. Using these sites as a huge DB lets you pick TV shows, web video channels, and topics you’re interested in and then ffwd will provide you with constant related videos. This is HUGE. It is endless hours of streaming videos. Unfortunately subscription is mandatory, however, it is worth it. After subscribing make sure you check the browse channels section - you will enjoy the vast amount of channels under your nose. If fixed channels bores you, you can always create your own channel based on your personal preferences or simply follow someone who has already created a cool channel.
Blah Girls - Backed by Ashton Kutcher, Blah Girls is a gossip site that features a group of animated (SouthPark resemblance) teenage girls who provide opinions on what’s going on in the world of entertainment. The animated characters blah blah about current celeb news and is updated with new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Blah Girls isn’t suitable for kids as the characters smoke pot and bitch around.
Stormpulse - If you’re into storm watching and tracking hurricanes, this is one of the best interactive sites on the web, you can find most of the same information from the National Weather Service. However, Stormpulse presents it in a way that is easier to interpret and more interesting to use. You can map a storm track, access satellite information, read about the storm’s life cycle, grab info from Wikipedia, view hurricane photos posted on flickr and much more. For a detailed guide check review of features.
Wine Library TV - Wine Library TV is considered one of the best online wine educators. It is hosted passionately by Gary Vaynerchuk which key goals are twofold: “First, I want people to try different wines. How can you have a fave if you only know a few? Second, I tell people to trust their palates. If a wine appeals to your palate, then it’s a good choice. Don’t feel pressured to like popular brands or what experts recommend. Buy what ‘brings the thunder’ for you.” He even reviews Champagne, don’t you simply love Champagne. Additional wine related sites that have been featured previously on our Weekly Faves include: NoseWine and Snooth. Drink responsibly (not wine but still related).
Tweegee - Tweegee is a Web Portal for Tweens (kids aged 7-15) which offers them a complete world of internet resources to create, share and have fun with. It’s a one-stop site which provides Tweens with a safe and integrated ability to take full ownership of their online activities, to create their own complete personal web sites, communicate via web based email and organizer, engage in rich multiplayer games, read news most relevant to them, author their own articles and much more. Read The Birth of Google as it is presented to kids.
Green Daily - We know that this big ball we live on is facing environmental challenges like never before. So how do we connect the dots between our consumer lifestyle and environmental responsibility? I am glad you asked. You can start with Green Daily - A nice, typical blog (with a hip, slightly humorous attitude) about keeping the planet as crap-free as possible so we can use it longer. Want more? Check our previous Green posts.
How Stuff Works Videos - From car engines to search engines, from cell phones to stem cells and thousands of subjects in between. HowStuffWorks has it covered. No topic is too big or too small for them. In addition to comprehensive articles, helpful graphics and informative videos walk you through every topic clearly, simply and objectively. AllMyFaves have decided to direct you straight to the video section because we are visual people and we think that visualizing things is the best. BTW the most viewed video on the site is A Computer Tour, isn’t it astonishing, who uses computers these days ;-).
Retro Thing - Retro Thing is a vintage response to sites like Gizmodo and Endgadget, which provide a daily onslaught of dozens of almost identical mobile phones, computers and shiny gadgets. Vintage devices are often available for a tiny fraction of what they sold for new and they still offer hours of fun. So are you thinking of reuniting with your Commodore 64.
Dirty Car Art - When the dust gets thick on cars, Scott Wade uses it as a canvas to create temporary works of art. The site features a nice gallery of images that were painted directly using dirt. No simple “wash me!” here, these are portraits, landscapes, and whimsical scenes. Probably the most ephemeral and dusty art you’ll ever see. Don’t you simply love creative people?
World Wars - The target of world wars is to take over all of the territories. Similar to risk or dice wars. Why real wars couldn’t be as simple or maybe it is the same, maybe someone is just rolling the dice and by so deciding if to attack or not.
Sep
8
Want To Make a Difference?
by Shachar Pesis | Leave a Comment
Mygazines - Mygazines offers you a friendly intuitive platform for reading your fave magazines online. The site is broken down into 3 types: Magazines, Articles and Mygazines. Magazines are full issues, find your fave or discover a new one. I discovered Harvard Business Review, I was quite surprised as I never imagined that Harvard would publish a magazine, it turns out it is quite interesting and not boring as I expected. Articles - Every magazine has many articles, instead of having to sift through many magazines, you can simply search the articles directly. An article that caught my attention is Social Networking Is Not a Business - If you are into business models and monetization, this would be an excellent reading for you, if not - do you own search. Mygazines - So what are you to do with all these articles you like? Archive them into your own personal magazine arranged just the way you like it. And if you feel it is good enough, share it with your friends or with the AllMyFaves Team. We love interesting stuff.
Kidmondo - Kidmondo is a comprehensive online baby journal (track development, keep a diary, indicate important milestones, add photos and videos) that allows parents to chronicle their child’s life. In addition it offers the ability to turn your online journal into a beautifully printed `Kidbook‘. Pricing for the Kidbook begins at $28.00 for a softcover book. I personally think it could have been a bit cheaper, as with MyPublisher you can receive a hardcover for 29.80$. It doesn’t really matter which service you choose, just do it. I think that in our digital world, keeping touchable prints of your loved ones is a must, it is for ever.
YouChoose - The presidential race is heating up, Sarah Palin has definitely spiced things up. YouTube has created a page which is dedicated solely to the last candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. I actually think it’s really cool YouTube hosts it, it is nicely in order and you have the chance to vote or respond. Let the fun begin, just remember that this circus show is limited, it ends November 4.
ESPN College Football - The 2008 NCAA football season, or in other words the college football season, began on August 28, 2008. Progresses through the season and will conclude with the National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009. If college football is your cup of tea, then the ESPN college coverage is your cup.
Protect The Human - Protect The Human has probably been designed by some smart people, they understood that in order to create awareness, a good cause is not enough. Marketing, as much as it sounds absurd, is essential. The guys behind Protect The Human took the boring display of Amnesty and gave it a lift up, now it is displayed in a young and hip format. The content is still disturbing, however, by displaying it correctly it seems to be more effective. Do you want to know what is really happening in the world? Do you want to make a difference? For a start check Caught in the Crossfire.
FAIL Blog - A site full of stuff gone wrong. I am quite sure some of the pictures are manipulated, but it still is funny and definitely worth the visit. Someone had to catalog the huge amounts of ‘failure’ in this world. This is one of my faves, I couldn’t understand if I am welcomed or banned. For additional daily LOL check our new Humor Faveline.
Fivehumans -FiveHumans is a cause related entity - raising awareness to awful diseases that many people are too afraid or embarrassed to discuss. In addition, FiveHumans intend to donate as much money as possible to their not-for-profit partners. They have designated a charitable organization for every cause they support, which will receive a donation equal to 10% of the sale price of any related product. The shirts are well designed and as mentioned, are for a good cause. So, why not buy one or even two. Do you know what is the number one killer in the US?
SHOWstudio - SHOWstudio is based on the belief that showing the entire creative process, from conception to completion, is beneficial for the artist, the audience and the art itself. SHOWstudio delivers live fashion creation, as it happens, 24 hours per day.
Humanclock - Humanclock shows a photograph of the current time, with the photo changing every minute of the day (all 1,440 occurring minutes on Earth). Thus, you end up with a rotating picture clock sorta deal. Don’t skip this site, this is a genius idea.
Mr. Bounce - An enjoyable game with a simple concept. Bounce the ball along your platform, adjust the height of the ceiling, and collect all the neon-glowing balls in order to advance to the next level.
Sep
3
Google Picasa Scares the S#%t Out of Me
by Roy Pessis | 15 Comments
At the moment of writing this, Google Chrome is all the hype around the net. Though, at the same day that Google Chrome launched, Google also launched a new version of their popular Picasa and PicasaWebAlbums. Which is considered as one of the top destination for image uploading on the Internet. I don’t believe that the launch of this two services together happened by a chance. Google knew that all the hype will be around the new Google browser. No one seems to mention anything thoughtful regarding the new face recognition that they launched.
First, I would like to introduce you to the new service. When you login to your Picasa web account. You get an option at the right bar of the screen to perform name tagging. Which at first seems to be harmless. We all know the face tagging done on Facebook. In which you personally recognize your friends and tag them with a name, thus, an algorithm isn’t used to scan additional pictures.
Google Picasa is different. When selecting the name tag option, you receive a message stating that you have to wait for about half an hour until all your pictures are processed. Once processed, you will be able to view all your loved ones grouped together in a beautiful way which only Google can provide. So slick and simple.
(Click image to enlarge)
So what scares me… You’re asking? Well, Google’s main business model is through advertising. Google controls most of the Internet advertising market, it’s their main business and frankly they perform it unexceptionally. In addition, Google is also trying to infiltrate the old-school media TV and Newspapers. (You can read more about it here and here).
Did you ever stop and think what will happen if Google will find a way to show us ads on our daily routine. On our way to work, while shopping or just hanging out with friends at a local bar.
I think that the day which Google will shows us ads on the streets is closer than we think. Now, that they are able to recognize our faces. All they need is a camera to recognize us on the street. Oh, guess what!? They already have it!
What will happen when Google will have all the information about us? Isn’t that too much power for one company?
When Gmail started reading our mail and showing us relevant ads. There was a big privacy fuss around the issue. Now, when it comes to recognizing us in person, it seems as if no one is raising up these issues.
At first, Tagging yourself on Picasa seems harmless, but think about what will happen ten years from today. Privacy won’t exist when stepping out of your home.
I am a big Google fanboy. I even believe that I will try their new tagging option because I am way too curious. I also believe in Google’s moto - “Don’t be evil”. Though, we have to raise these issues before it is too late. We should have control over our privacy.
Am I just being paranoid or is this our future?
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