Overview
The internet offers a vast and neverending expanse of links, websites, information, tools, games, images and crap. Sometimes sifting through it all can seem like a daunting task, but hidden underneath the layers of twaddle and blather are websites of gold, which offer incredibly helpful services, are easy to visit and are absolutely free.
Here are some you might not know about, but should.
screenr.com
Take a movie of your desktop (hopefully something a little more interesting than actually just your desktop) with screenr.com and then upload it straight to Facebook, Twitter, your own website or YouTube. Screencasts are made easy with this nifty little site - all you have to do is choose a frame, press record and all your speech and actions on screen will be recorded.
printwhatyoulike.com
If you've ever been annoyed by trying to print tickets or pages of info or boarding passes because you get all the menus and unwanted clutter around the page as well, then this is a site for you. Simply select an area you want to print, isolate it and then this address enables you to print that and only that.
pdfescape.com
The frustration of not being able to easily edit pdf documents or fill out forms online can now be abated thanks to pdfescape.com. What always seemed like it should be to simple now actually is simple (and also free!).
dabbleboard.com
This online whiteboard is not only incredibly handy, but it's also just a whole lot of fun. If you're not the neatest drawer in the world, never fear because your solution is here. Dabbleboard cleanly draws shapes and lines much neater than your mouse draws them as it detects basic shapes. It also allows you to write text or import any images or documents of your own. You can easily share your masterpiece with others or even edit your brainstorms together at the same time.
wetransfer.com
Simply head to wetransfer.com, attach documents up to 2GB, put in an email address of who you want to send it to, plus a message then hit transfer.
homestyler.com
Homestyler allows you to design your dream home by dragging and dropping rooms, windows and doors. Decked out with real-world brands and products, you can visualize your design in 3D and then share it with friends and family.
wordle.net
Quickly summarise and creatively visualise large pieces of text with Wordle using word clouds. The automatic generator highlights more prominent words and allows you to change the layout and colour schemes to suit your own tastes.
aviary.com
If you are familiar with audio editing software Protools or Audacity but don't have access to them at home, then you'll want to take note of this internet address. Aviary.com allows you to record, edit and share audio online and all for free. You can customise your audio by trimming, looping or reversing tracks as well as using pitch change, reverb delay, fade in or out and much much more.
scribblemaps.com
The opportunities are endless on this fantastic site, which pretty much offers exactly what it's name implies - scribbling on maps. You can draw routes with visible distances, highlight areas, draw lines, add images or text, and place markers. And it's all based on the easily navigable application that we know and love, Google Maps.
office.com
Office.com allows you to download templates and images to use on all your Microsoft Office applications. It also provides training and video demos on how to use Office 2010 and Office Mobile.