Andy chats about the latest technology and interesting websites each week with Nerissa Pace on the "Talking back the night" radio show, heard across Australia.

 

Top 3 Websites

http://www.doctorsnotestore.com.au/

Costing less than some doctor's fees, an authentic-looking copy of a medical certificate, containing your local GP's name and practice,

can be bought for $40 over the web.

The Australian Medical Association of course has warned that those who used the notes could be committing fraud.

http://www.meebo.com

This is a handy website which lets you sign into and use your instant messaging accounts from any computer. Great if you are travelling and want to log in and chat to friends with your Yahoo, MSN, aim or Google talk account...and handy if your workplace blocks use of the software versions of these instant messaging programs.

http://www.ourlittletreasure.com.au

If you're at home with young kids then this site is a must visit!

It's full of hundreds of activities not only to keep your kids busy, but to start the learning process and help develop basic motor and language skills....you can even put a weekly or daily planner together so you can plan ahead.
Again...very handy if you have young kids at home...especially with the 'cooking with kids' section.

Olympics on next week - watch on your mobile phone, Record on TIVO AND play the video game

With the 2008 Beijing Olympics kicking off next Friday plenty of people will have their eyes glued to the TV and the web watching ceremonites and their favourite events...but there are more ways to get into the spirit.

Firstly Telstra NextG Mobile users can, for a small subscription fee, view live video and highlights packages on their mobile handset...and you can even get reminders sent to you so you don't miss the events that you're keen to see.

More info on that can be found at www.Olympics.telstra.com

Also another way to make sure you don't miss a thing, TIVO, the digital video recorder service that's a household name in the U.S, has finally been released in Australia.

Unlike the U.S, TIVO isn't a subscription based service here, instead you'll pay 699 dollars for the device and you can start recording your favourite TV shows...it will even record shows it thinks you may like, based on viewing habits.

...and finally, the official video game of the 2008 Beijing Olympics has also just been released.

It's simply called "Beijing 2008" and is on Playstation 3, XBox360 and PC formats. The game lets you play through 38 official events in the 11 official olympic venues

so everything from Swimming and track events to Archery, Judo and Table Tennis!

The game even has an online mode so you can compete against other real people anywhere in the world...that should really make it feel competative!

You can track down "Beijing 2008" the official video game at your local video game store.

Back next week thanks to AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

 
This website I'lll put in the catagory of 'Potentially useful, but untested". It claims to show you a shortcut to making an elevator ride go faster and gives you a simple visual guide to making sure you get an express ride from your floor to your destination.

http://snipurl.com/girltalk
You'll also have to follow the link on my website to get to the following destination easily...it's a humourous look at translating what women say into what they really mean.

Mobile phone manners
The reason I couldn't make it onto the show last week (sorry about that) was becuase I was over in the U.S last week attending a convention in Los Angeles...and the whole week I was there one really annoying thing kept coming up...the way people use their mobile phones.

I understand that different cultures use technology differently...however in my opinion, the average mobile phone user that I came across had absolutely no understanding of mobile phone ettiquette...something that I could consider global.

I'm mostly talking about people who don't think twice about having a personal and very loud conversation that other's can clearly listen to...also people who will, while mid conversation with you, take out their phone to check their messages...just plain rude...but they don't see that.
1. Use silent mode - If your phone does need to be on and you're out for dinner or in a meeting, put in on silent or vibrate mode... then if a call or message comes in, excuse yourself and step away or out of the room to take it.

2. When asked to switch your mobile phone off...switch if off! - There are still places where you will be asked not to use a mobile phone...like in a movie theatre on a plane. Best that you switch if off before you go in...and don't turn it on until you've left the venue or the airline says it's ok.

3. Keep your voice down - Yes we can all hear you, but maybe we don't want to. If you're in a small or crowded space, those loud conversations are a quick way to upset people around you.

 

Top 3 websites

www.worldwidetelescope.org

The night sky comes to your computer...this is free to use and amazing to see!

www.nukingthefridge.com
You may have heard the term "Jumping the shark"...well this is the updated phrase "Nuking the Fridge" which refers to an event so unbelieveable in a TV Show or movie that it is seenas a device for reviving something that might otherwise be a bit tired or old.

www.befunky.com
Make a photo of yourself into a cartoon with a few mouse clicks!

Mobile phones making popcorn - hoax

Can you really make popcorn using your mobile phone?

Well according to one of the popular videos being shared around online at the moment you can! It goes a group of people placing their mobile handsets in a formation around a few corn kernels on a table...then they call each mobile from another phone...and after a few rings...presto...popcorn.

The video suggests that the mobiles are emitting enough radiation to make the corn pop...however as entertaining as it is...the video and others that replicate it is a hoax.

The corn is actually being popped by using parts of a disassembled microwave placed under the table...something I don't recommend you try yourself.

Back next week thanks to AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

AVG is tough on threats - easy on you! Buy the AVG Internet Security 3 Pack that covers 3 computers for two years for just $123.95 at http://www.avg.com.au/

 

Top 3 websites

www.howtolaybricks.com.au
This website was sent in by a listener who created the website.
It's an instructional online video aimed mostly at diy people wanting to have a go at laying bricks.

http://www.whosyounger.com/
Can you guess which celebrity is younger just by looking at the photograph? Try this quiz and see how far you can get. I think they should make it a bit more challenging. Tom Cruise or George Bush? Come on, anyone can guess that one.

https://www.donotcall.gov.au/
Time to stop those telmarketing calls!

Choosing Internet security software

I spoke to Jamie about choosing a good program to protect your computer from 'net nasties...here are the basic things to look out for.

* Stick to a well known brand (AVG, McAfee, Norton Symantec are all reputable brands)

* Think about how many computers you need to protect (You can buy versions of some software that will cover more than one computer)
* Compare prices for ongoing yearly subscriptions

* Ask if the software comes with local technical support.

Back next week thanks to AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

AVG is tough on threats - easy on you! Buy the AVG Internet Security 3 Pack that covers 3 computers for two years for just $123.95 at http://www.avg.com.au/