#36

updated: 12-03-06

1. Start Ease - The Start menu in Windows is a pretty good program launcher but it easily gets cluttered, making it difficult to navigate. On more than one occasion I've found myself going from menu to menu looking for a specific program without success. StartEase is an application launcher that solves this navigation problem by putting just your programs into an A-to-Z menu structure. In addition, you can easily search for programs. As soon as you start typing in the search box you'll see a list of matching programs that gets progressively smaller the more you type, narrowing the results.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2064897,00.asp

2. Bplans.com - http://www.bplans.com

BPlans is a resource for the would-be entrepreneur, providing solutions to help build and grow a business. You will find tons of practical business advice and tips, along with more than 60 free sample business plans.

3. Annoyances.org - http://www.annoyances.org

Windows Annoyances—sounds redundant, right? Not so! This site is actually antiannoyance. Sound better now? With helpful answers and forums for Microsoft operating systems from Windows 95 through Windows Vista, Annoyances.org takes the d'oh! out of Windows.

4. GetNetWise - http://www.getnetwise.com

GetNetWise is dedicated to educating Internet users on how to keep themselves and their PCs safe. The site offers tips and video tutorials that teach you how to protect your privacy and keep your system clean of harmful malware. It also includes sections with information specific to kids and teens, so your whole family can be safe and savvy surfers.

5. QuoteDB - http://www.quotedb.com

"Life is ours to be spent, not to be saved," said author D.H. Lawrence. So make sure you spend your time at QuoteDB. You'll find a database of over 4,000 famous quotations in 60 categories, from Dave Barry and Hunter S. Thompson to Emily Dickinson and Leonardo da Vinci. Get your daily fix with the Quote of the Day, peruse recently added quotes, or add quotes to your Web site with the Quote Generator.

6. Webopedia - http://www.webopedia.com

Don't know the difference between SEO and SOE? Point your browser to Webopedia and look it up for yourself. Webopedia is a free online dictionary specializing in the alphabet soup of techie jargon. And click on Did You Know? to access a large collection of tips and articles for computer users of all skill levels.

7. About - http://www.about.com

More practical than a typical reference site and more reliable and consistent than Wikipedia, About.com has a boatload of articles on a wide range of topics, and the whole project is overseen by a panel of expert contributors. It's easy to spend hours browsing the site and finding answers to questions you've always (or never) had.

8. The Internet Public Library - http://www.ipl.org

The IPL is the first public library for the Internet community. It has a huge collection of Web resources split into several broad categories, as well as the full text of over 20,000 books, available for free. And if you can't find what you're looking for, IPL's free "Ask a Question" service lets you ask its trained global staff, who will find the sources you need.

Librarians' Internet Index Librarians' Internet Index - http://www.lii.org

Librarians' Internet Index is a publicly funded content portal and weekly newsletter that points to an extensive collection of quality sites covering a variety of topics. You can read the newsletter by e-mail, RSS, or on its Web page, which also has a searchable database of over 20,000 entries organized into 14 main topics and nearly 300 related topics, all maintained by a stable of librarians.

9. blinkx.tv - http://www.blinkx.com

With over 4 million hours of TV and video content, blinkx.tv is the place to go for the latest news, entertainment, and humor clips circulating around the Web. But blinkx.tv isn't your typical search engine. It's fine-tuned to help you filter your searches, with a relevance slider to hone your search down to the exact clip you're looking for.

10. Ad-free Internet Radio Guide - http://www.viddiradioplayer.com/

• Over 1250 pre tuned internet radio stations from all across the world in one small program.
• Stream info such as artist and name of song and quality of stream.
• Direct linking to amazon.com's database for more info about the artist/song.
• Direct linking to the radio stations webpage.
• Add/remove your favourite web radio stations to your own personal favorite list.
• Automatic database updating to prevent dead links. (just click the about screen)
• Skin support, customize the look of the player the way you like.
• No browser required.
• And the best part ? It's all 100% FREE