What's Good On The Web » reviews

Make wishes come true

editor — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:23:09 +0000

We all know that sites like Amazon have built up strong sales by people creating and sending “wish lists” but these are generally aimed at just listing the product that you would like rather than identifying the price point you want to buy at. A new website called Zeezaw has been developed aimed at helping Amazon customers match their wishes to the price they want to pay.

About The Website
Zeezaw is a unique service that allows users to access friend’s and family’s ‘wish lists’ by simply having a note of their e-mail address. Anyone can make up a ‘wish list’ – this is simply a record of anything they would really like to receive as a gift. All you do is type into Zeezaw how much you ARE prepared to pay and as soon as that item comes within your budget, you are immediately sent an e-mail from the Zeezaw team and then you are then just a couple of clicks away from buying something they really want and you can afford.

What We Think
Having played around with the site a little bit we think the Zeezaw service works pretty well. It lets you know when prices drop and can help you save quite a bit of money when you are shopping on Amazon.

If your are looking for discounts on Amazon shopping we suggest you take a look at Zeezaw for more information.

Free help with marketing your business

editor — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:10:42 +0000

With the prospect of the recession continuing and unemployment possibly increasing the number of small businesses launching is growing each week with more people wanting control over their lives running their own business. The problem is many of these startups fail because they miss one vital aspect of their business – how to take it to market. With that in mind we’ve been hunting for some websites that give clear and concise advice on how to develop a business marketing plan and found Marketingdonut which we thought we’d review for you.

About The Site
The Marketingdonut website is a clear and concise resource for all things marketing. It covers subject areas from developing a marketing strategy through to PR and does so in a way which does not alienate the reader. We found that looking through the website you could follow it step by step and develop an effective marketing strategy that anyone would be proud of without spending a fortune on marketing agencies.

What We Think

Marketingdonut aims to provide a true resource for startup businesses and we think that it is both well written and clear so it has to be a must read for any business.

If you are thinking of starting your own business or have done so and don’t know what to do next we’d suggest you follow the link to Marketingdonut, a free marketing advice website.

Find Shopping Deals Online

editor — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:46:18 +0000

We all know that walking down the high street you can always find a shop with a sale on or offers in the window but where do you go online?

Over the past few years there has been a growth in shopping discount code websites pointing Internet users towards the “best deals” online with either free delivery or discounts so we thought we’d put together a quick website review of one them, ShoppingVouchers.

About The Site
At first glance you can quickly see what ShoppingVouchers is all about, discount offers and sales that are available online at major retailers. By digging a little deeper into the site we quickly found that they are different from other discount code websites. The site is packed with other information such as two for one deals, money saving guides. They have also added quite a bit of extra functionality that you don’t get from their competitors; this includes the ability to connect with your Facebook profile so that you can share deals with friends and family; the addition of automated alerts that send you the deals you may be interested in based on your browsing habits; and finally a more topical blog with seasonal discounts and offers.

What We Think
ShoppingVouchers is a well laid out site with plenty on it, if you are a big online shopper there are some good discounts to be had and the ability to share deals is very useful. We’ve added the site to our top rated list for August as we think What’s Good On The Web readers will find it very useful.

To find out more about discount codes and offers take a look at ShoppingVouchers.

Join the Kindness Campaign

editor — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:45:29 +0000

Although not a website review we thought it would be well worth mentioning this website as it’s a good idea and we hope all UK Internet users get behind it – Kindness Day UK.

Have you ever noticed that people just look the other way when someone is in trouble or don’t want to get involved. Well like many of us one group of individuals want to make the UK a better place (Even if it is for just one day)

We’d like you all to go and visit Kindnessdayuk and show your support for the campaign. It’s a novel idea and you never know, if you do a kind thing others may do the same for you.

Please take a minute to Bookmark November 13^th in your calendar and also visit the KindnessdayUK website.

Advice on Meetings

editor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:22:26 +0000

Over one third of a business day can be wasted in meetings and with companies looking at improving efficiencies one of the key factors in improving staff productivity could be to plan your meetings more effectively. One site that looks to help managers and businesses improve meeting efficiency is Meetingtalk which we’ve done a quick review of below.

About The Site
Meetingtalk is a practical advice type website with a number of articles on meetings on it from setting the agenda to taking minutes. The articles are pretty clear and give some very useful tips about time management which should help any manager save some time.

What We Think
At the moment the site is very basic with only a few articles on it but they are adding to it regularly and having spoken to the guys behind the site they are hoping to have an “Ask the expert” section soon included which should get some debates going.

For ways to save time in your business take a look at meetingtalk.co.uk

Planning to Move Overseas

editor — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:31:12 +0000

With jobs hard to find at the moment many people are looking at taking their skills overseas but if you are already settled one of the major challenges can be how to move your home and family. Getting good practical advice and support can be very difficult for the move so one of the leading overseas movers, Crown Relocation, have come up with a website that helps people plan their move called Moveoverseas.

About The Site
Moveoverseas is designed to give people thinking about moving overseas a guide to the process from where you could go, to the likely costs associated with the move. As part of the site they have created an area called My Move which enables you to put together a personal planner for your move to help remember all the things you need to which is very well put together and helps take a great deal of stress away from the process.

What We Think
Although Moveoverseas is mainly aimed at selling the Crown Relocation service the site does have some very useful information and the My Move section is very well thought out. At WhatsGoodOnTheWeb we’d recommend anyone who is thinking of moving overseas to take a look at the website as it’s advice is clear and could give you a very good guide to the process.

For more information about Moveoverseas please visit the website.

Supporting Mums In Business

editor — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:10:49 +0000

Last week I read an article that said there were thousands of new businesses starting each month due to the recession but it forgot to mention how many women want to return to work after having children but don’t want to go back to the same job. Looking around the Internet we’ve found a number of websites that are aimed at these aspiring entrepreneurs but many of them are aiming to sell a service rather than offer real practical advice and support.

When we came across Mumsclub we therefore couldn’t resist writing a review as it is one of the best websites out there offering practical advice as well as hints and tips on how to set up your own business.

About The Site
Aimed at aspiring female entrepreneurs the Mumsclub website has lots of information, articles and easy to follow guides on how to decide on a business idea, develop the concept and market it, as well as making it work with an already busy schedule. The information is provided free of charge and also has some great inspirational success stories about other women who have set up their own businesses after having children.

As the majority of the information, guides and advice is given for free it means that even a casual visitor can get a great deal from Mumsclub. In addition there are member forums and discussion areas where users can share ideas to help their own businesses take off.

For those who want some help in promoting their business there is small subscription of £60 per year which gives access to exclusive forums as well as information on media requests and a listing on the Mumsclub marketplace which is very good value.

What We Think
Mumsclub is a very well laid out site that gives a great deal of free information to the visitor which is something we fully support at WhatsGoodOnTheWeb. Content is well written and clear and the writers really know their subject.

We’d say that Mumsclub is one of the best sites on the web for Women who are looking at setting up their own business and to be honest even if you are not a Mum this is a great site for some really good advice (Dads take note.)

Visit the Mumsclub Website after you have read the review

Struggling to find the right baby gift?

editor — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:50:06 +0000

Every time another friend has a baby we struggle to get a present. We’ve given away everything from picture frames to cuddly toys so when we were told about Littlelilypad at WhatsGoodOnTheWeb we thought it would be worthwhile giving it a quick website review …. especially as one of us is currently hunting for that elusive first birthday gift.

About The Site
Littlelilypad has been set up by a mother who has faced the problem of trying to find something unique as a present for her friends. It’s not the type of site that sells any old thing, but rather gifts that are slightly different. These can include everything from personalised canvases to musical bears.

The structure of the site means that it is very easy to navigate around with different sections including gifts for newborns, for boys and for girls as well as a neat little area with gift ideas for parents.

What We Think
Because the site lists gifts that are slightly more unique there is not a massive range but this is actually a benefit because it means that a user does not waste time looking at rubbish. They have selected the range carefully and we think that this will attract quite a few customers.

Overall the site is well laid out and easy to use. We’re pretty sure that the range will continue to grow so there will be very little chance of just buying the same gift all the time. We’d recommend anyone who is looking for a unique baby gift to visit Littlelilypad.

Visit the Littlelilypad website

Custom Bikes Without the Cost

editor — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:02:32 +0000

For most people cycling is a summer pursuit aimed at getting a bit of extra exercise without pushing themselves too hard. The problem is that for most of us we do not want a super expensive bike that costs thousands of pounds just something that is functional and will get us from A to B without breaking and not costing the earth. That’s why when What’sGoodOnTheWeb heard about MyVelo we thought we’d give it a quick review.

About the Site
MyVelo aims to get custom bikes to people without the hassle of oversell, they don’t offer top of the range mountain bikes just simple, practical bikes that can be used for leisure or getting to work and back. As a customer you can select the colour you want your frame, handlebars or seat to be but won’t be asked what style brakes and gears because for most of us we just don’t want that.

Set up by a bunch of guys that understand what most people are looking for when they go to buy a bike your custom bike can be picked up from the MyVelo store or delivered to your home for just £375. The bikes are functional and are great for riding in your local park or just getting to work.

What we think
We think MyVelo will be very successful, they don’t try to oversell and they give you the ability to get a custom bike at the fraction of the cost of putting one together yourself. The website itself is very clear and easy to use and there are no hidden extras. In addition you can take advantage of the government Cycle to Work Scheme and can save significantly on the cost of your bike.

Visit the MyVelo Website

Gossip as it happens

editor — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:32:41 +0000

There are lots of gossip and celebrity websites out there so here at What’s Good On The Web we thought we would tell you about one of our favourites from the USA – Jezebel.com.

The site is very much as you would expect, celebrity gossip and pictures as well as some lifestyle features. Obviously not a patch on Perez Hilton (and definetly not as bitchy!!) the site offers light relief to a normal mundane day.

If you are looking for the latest gossip on Jordan or Big Brother, sorry, this is not the site for you …… unless that’s what you are after. We hope you enjoy it.

Have a good holiday

editor — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:20:10 +0000

At WhatsGoodOnTheWeb we recently asked people to tell us about websites they would recommend anyone who is going away this year to use and we had lots of responses which is always great. Many of the sites we have been asked to review are independent sites that rate everything from the quality of the accomodation through to how good the food is, many of which rely on you the user giving them information and writing reviews.

One of the websites we have decided to give a quick review of is the Checksafetyfirst.com site – it aims to give travellers security about where they are travelling to and reviews hotels and resorts individually based on over 250 criteria including food hygiene and safety which is very thorough.

If you are a first time traveller or have previously been unwell whilst you have been away we’d suggest that you take a look at the site and read some of the reviews.

The downside of the site is that it only lists hotels and resorts that have been individually verified by Health and Safety inspectors so there are only about 1500 to look at at the moment but the list is growing all the time.

If you’re hotel is not listed don’t worry as Checksafetyfirst work with travel operators to ensure their hotels are to the highest standards.

You may also want to read some of the advice and tips for travellers to make sure you have a great time.

Support your local shops

editor — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:10:00 +0000

Many people don’t realise that in their very own neighbourhoods there are some excellent food suppliers that are hidden away in side streets or just off the beaten path. That’s why when WhatsGoodOnTheWeb was told about Foodado.com we thought we had to have a look around the website and put together a quick review.

Based in London, Foodado isn’t just an online retailer of food (like so many others!) they are actually a place that brings local suppliers into contact with local people very much like the old style cooperative giving shoppers greater choice than just the large supermarkets and at the same time helping to maintain local businesses.

The site is ideal for people who are looking for things that are slightly different (not just a tin of beans) from fresh ground coffee through to speciality cheeses and sauces which does make it very different. One of the things we liked about the site is that on some of the products there are recipe ideas so if you like the sound of something but don’t know what to do with it all the answers are on the site.

Each of the food producers are independent and Foodado take a commission from the sale which does not cost the customer anything extra and best of all most of the retailers offer free delivery if you spend over a certain amount. We think that the Foodado idea is a great one and we hope it will help many of the smaller food retailers access a whole new market through the Internet

Foodado say that they are going to be adding offers and rewards to the website in the future and lets hope it continues to grow so they can offer the service across the UK. This is definitely a site to watch for in the future.

Find out what your computer is really doing

editor — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:47:00 +0000

There is loads of software applications and websites on the Internet that offer you the ability to scan your computer for viruses and other problems and unfortunately many of these are used by spammers and pirates to try and get you to download a piece of software that then costs you a fortune to get rid of.

That’s why when WhatsGoodOnTheWeb were told about www.processlibrary.com we were a little bit suspicious but thought some of our readers may be interested if we check out the site before they visit it.

What we found was a very well organised web site that basically offers two functions – the first is a simple look up so that you can identify what is happening on your computer by entering the name of the file you want to check out and the second is a downloadable application that does the same thing but runs in the background so you can check on your PC at any time.

We tried the application on an old computer which we knew had a virus and we found it very useful as it highlighted the processes that were not supposed to be there – we’d say that www.processlibrary.com is a very good testing tool and useful if you think your PC has a problem.

All in all the application and the lookup are very good, the website is clear and does not try to sell something you don’t need. If you are unsure of what your PC is doing we’d recommend trying the lookup functionality as it may save you a lot of time and effort in the future.

If you have any comments on Processlibrary please let us know.

Free, Fun Nature Trail Maps

editor — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:50:53 +0000

Britain’s countryside is the best in the World and when WhatsGoodOnTheWeb came across naturedetectives.org.uk we thought we had to give it a quick website review. The site has been set up by the Woodland Trust to provide parents and teachers maps and guides of their local woodlands.

If you are looking for something to do with your children this Summer the site is a perfect place to start. Visiting your local woods is free and on a nice Summers day there is so much to see and do. All you need to do is visit the site and use the map to select where your nearest woodland is, this takes you to the Woodland Trust website, and there is more detail as well as some photos of each of the woods.

In addition you can download and take with you activity packs that will entertain even the youngest of visitors which we think is a great idea and are also very educational.

We give naturedetectives.org.uk a big thumbs up especially as it reminds us of our nature studies classes from school !!!

Share Documents Online

editor — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:10:49 +0000

Over the past few years there has been a growth in the number of websites that allow you to upload and share documents online the most notable of which is Google. The problem with many of them is that to actually use them all participants need to register and log in.

Here at What’s Good On The Web we use a site called drop.io so we thought we better do a review for you as it is a really good way to share documents without the hassle of having to register.

The process is simple, visit the site and create a drop, you then upload the files you want to share and the system sends you a URL and a password – you then just need to send the links onto others. If you are based in the USA you can also conference call others in the group. The final thing is that after 24 hours the data is deleted so there is no need to worry about your documents getting to the wrong people.

We think drop.io is very useful if you are trying to share data with remote workers or run through a training seminar. Give it a go – you can even share your holiday snaps through the site.

Green Power – The way forward

editor — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:13:56 +0000

Next time you are in the office take a look and see how many hand held devices are on charge. In our office just now we have three mobiles as well as the trusty digital camera and an iPod plugged in all using power when they probably don’t need to.

That’s why when WhatsGoodOnTheWeb was asked to take a look at the Powerfreakz 2500solar portable charger we jumped at the chance. Basically this is a solar charging station for your mobile or ipod, it comes with all the relevant adaptors so you can plug it in to practically anything.

The cost of the charger is about £49.99 which is a little pricey when you can just plug your phone in the wall but this does not account for how much it costs to charge a mobile. We found an article online that said it costs up to 8 pence a time to charge a mobile so every year your mobile costs you about £30 to charge.

If you use the Powerfreakz 2500every day you could save a small fortune and don’t forget that by using a solar charger you are also helping the environment so we think this is an essential item for every travellers kitbag.

Watch TV Online – Anywhere

editor — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:38:40 +0000

Many people take laptops on holiday with them so they can keep up to date with emails, surf the web or keep up with their favourite TV shows or watch a film or two online.

This is fine if you are in the UK but here at What’s Good On The Web we are quite well travelled individuals so many of our holidays are overseas. This causes quite a few problems especially as we were not aware that most online TV services are geo blocked meaning that they can’t be watched outside of the country that they are hosted in (BBC iplayer is a good example).

Having searched the web to see if there is a way of overcoming the problem we eventually found that apart from a few very dodgy software applications there was no way around geo blocking. That’s until we came across Blinkx.com. Now this site does not overcome geo blocking but it enables you to visit one site to search for films or TV programmes that are available where you are.

The Blinkx system is very simple – just enter film or TV programme you are looking for and it will see if it available wherever you are in the World. We tested the site for Harry Potter Films and were able to watch them online.

Next time you are off on holiday and you are going to take your laptop with you make sure you bookmark Blinkx – it will save you hours frustration. We’ve added Blinkx to our Top Rated sites for July as it’s a must have for the summer holidays.

Sporty Data Protection

editor — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:05:46 +0000

So you’ve got put all your music onto your PC, stored all your digital photos to your desktop and saved that all important CV but what will you do if it gets stolen or you manage to drop a cup of coffee on it? Generally speaking you would have a problem but What’s Good On The Web have been asked to review a new range of toughened external hard drives from Freecom that we think are pretty good.

Designed to be toughened against general knocks, spills and drops the Toughdrive Sport is probably the ideal solution for anyone who happens to be a little clumsy and is looking for data security and backup without having to spend a small fortune. We are not sure you’d carry it everywhere with you but it is a handy size so easy to store.

The drives come in a range of very impressive sizes from 250 GB up to a massive 640 GB which is more than enough to store everything you need to backup those, in addition they come with built in encryption so if you manage to misplace the drive anybody who finds it can’t get hold of your personal data.

We’re not going to give you the technical specs because you can read them all on the Freecom website suffice it to say this German engineered external hard drive is all that you would expect – tough, well designed and actually looks pretty cool. Yes, the top of the range device is a bit pricey at over £110 but for piece of mind and data security you probably cant do better.

To ensure your data stays safe at all times it is recommended that you backup data to an external hard drive such as the Toughdrive sport and store it in a separate location.

The Hidden History of Wales

editor — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:38:39 +0000

At What’s Good On The Web we come across lots of new and interesting websites every day, some of which have been put together purely to make money ,where as others have been created by people with a real passion for their subject.

MysteriesofWales is one such website, put together by a local North Wales artist the site outlines some of the ancient history and folklore surrounding one of the nicest parts of the UK, North Wales. Every year thousands of holidaymakers make their way to the region to enjoy the mountains and the seaside yet very few people know the history.

We took just a few minutes to look around the site but the collection of History and mysteries for the region is astounding. Admittedly the site itself is mainly words but it has been well written and thought out.

If you are off to North Wales this summer we’d suggest you check out mysteriesofwales.com, a very informative website that could be very useful if you are looking for something different to do when you are in the area.

Travel Guides and More

editor — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:07:55 +0000

Every September the media is always full of travel horror stories from building sites to travel companies going bust so doing your research before you go anywhere is now more important than ever.

Simonseeks is one of a number of websites that now offer essential travel guides for anyone looking at travelling but unlike the other sites the guides focus on the area rather than a specific hotel or apartment complex which we think makes all the difference so that why we decided to give it a quick review.

Just by spending a few minutes on Simonseeks you can find out some pretty good information, from what to see whilst you are away through to where to eat. The Guides are well written by both the editorial staff and also users, and unlike a few other sites we could mention the copy is not saturated with search engine keywords.

We particularly enjoyed reading the Joan Collins Guide to St Tropez and a number of other celebrity guides on the site.

Simonseeks make their money from promoting the hotels and travel companies that service the specific areas but this is very much soft selling. Developed by the guys behind moneysupermarket and travelsupermarket we really like Simonseeks.comand would recommend any WhatsGoodOnTheWeb reader to take a look at it before they go away this summer.