Make your own music

Create that special tune with these cool sites. Some of them have more features then others.


Incredibox - Drag a beat , tune or melody onto the singer to have them create your track. Great fun and really cool way of producing a unique sound..

Button Beats - Create some great tunes with a simple on screen keyboard. Using your computer keyboard you'll be punching out those tunes in no time. If the piano isn't your scene, you can choose from a range of guitars and even a drum machine. 

Soundation - Your very own sounds studio in your browser. Choose from a range of free sounds and drag them into your studio and piece together your tracks. So far seems to be my favourite. You can spend hours creating some awesome sounds.

Music Creator (Roc) - A simple beat machine style of creating some tunes. Seems fairly basic but simple and fun to use. You can add in various beats and sounds from a range of instruments and export for use in the aviary audio editor or even as a ring ton

Music Shake - Another simple and very basic music creation tool. Limited to the amount of instruments and flexibility with tunes, but still interesting and fund.

Music Streaming

Streaming music is becoming more and more popular with access to Internet radio stations , or even streams that play music based on your mood.

Check out these sites to find one thats right for you. Note that some sites may have geo restrictions :-



AUPEO - Provides a full catalogue of streaming music, from various artists and genres. You can choose to stream music based on artist, featured or even choose a genre based station that plays all your favourite hits from that genre. Pop , rock , 80's its all here.

Every Ones Mixtape - Remember the days of tape. When you had to record all your songs from the radio and dub them together onto that ultimate mix tape. This site tries to digitize that mix tape period in our lives, with some grouping of tape mixes. Simply choose the mix tape you wish to play and off it goes. I simply love the animation of the moving tape as its playing.

Music Discovery - Choose the music that meets the way you feel, Slide the mouse over the mood squares to  hear the music, click to lock it in.

Music Tonic - Simply search for the artist you desire and listen to the tracks of your choice.

8 Tracks - Great little site, that allows you to find some great music mixes. You can select a genre based mix from the front page , or click a hashtag to discover some new music for your ears.

We are hunted (Discovery) - A different way to find music that you may enjoy. Listen to several tracks and either skip or click like. The web site then builds a customized play list based on what you are interested in.

Music Roamer - Another way to discover new music on-line. You can enter an artist or even a keyword to find various artist. Double click an artist to branch our into similar artists. Doesn't seem to offer the entire song, but still a good way to find some new music.

The Sixtyone - Get introduced to new artists. Displays photo's on each artist with some bibliography information. Great way to find some new tunes.

Stereo Mood - Another site that lets you discover new music as well as play to your mood. Search for an artist or just click the mood or style of music your after.

Mood Stream - Another site that allows you to stream music based on your mood. It also runs a slideshow in the background of Getty Images pics.

Search Engines with a difference

Sick of Google, can't find the answers you need,  How about trying these search engines for a difference.

In no particular order :-

1. Meta Glossary - Search for definitions or meaning of words. Like a constantly updating dictionary.

2. PopURLs - Not really a search engine, but does offer a way of finding what it trending across the web. A list of sites from around the web are aggregated together with links to popular stories, articles or videos.

3. Joongel - Still uses most of the mainstream search engines, but allows you to easily switch your search results with a toolbar like function. Google seems the default, but shows the different results available when using different search engines.

4. Similar Site Search - The name says it all. Find sites the are similar to what your after. Enter a website URL to find similar topic related sites.

5. Top Site - Search for the top 10 sites on the net related to a particular topic. Don't know who rates the sites, but give it a try anyway.

6. A-Z Mp3s - Search for those tracks that you just can't find anywhere else.

7. Duck Duck Go - Search with a difference, instant answers and great results.

8. Tune Find - Ever been watching a movie and wanted to know what the soundtrack was, then Tune Find is the search engine for soundtracks from TV and Movies.

9. Download Stuff - Download Any stuff allows you to search for files, movies, ebooks and the like.

10. Router Passwords - Need to search for the default router password for your device. Then look no further.

11. spezify - Type a word or phrase and be presented with a graphical search result.

12. Blekko - Another search engine with a difference, can also be used to search for images.

File Transfers / Sharing

Need to transfer something over the net, and FTP is just dragging you down. How about giving these guys a go. Some of these solutions are web based whilst some utilise an app.

(In no particular order)

1. Just Beam It - Transfer files by dragging into your browser, then provide recipient with a link and download will commence. (Web based)

2. DropBox - File Sharing in the Cloud. Drop files into your public space and share them with other drop box users. I'm sure non drop box account holders can also view the public files via the website. (Uses the Dopbox app)

http://db.tt/SvN201iD

3. Drop Send - A very easy way to transfer files. Enter email address of recipient and drop the file. The recipient then receives an email with a link to collect the file. You also receive an email when the file has been collected. Seems it may have a limited free use. (Web Based)

4. KickSend - Appears to be more positioned for sharing images and videos. But still a fast way of transferring or sharing.

5. Wetransfer - A very simple web based file transfer site. Simply enter email addresses and drop file and your on your way. Up to 2GB in size and its free, but a more commercial option is available.

6. You Send it - Another simple file transfer web based app. Allows a certain amount of transfers for free.

7. LeapFILE - A more commercial secure file transfer site. Only the sender needs an account, so your customers would be able to download files easily.

8. Rapid Share - A very common file sharing website. Offers some for a cost, but some advertiser pay options.

9. You Convert - Not just a file conversion web app , but also offers file transfer.

10. Files over Miles - A direct P2P file transfer web app using your web browser.

So many different options out there and to many to list them all.

Need to relax

Sometimes you just want to close your eyes for a moment and think of a better place. Well for some of us this can be easier said then done, however with Calm.com you can at least get as close to the real thing without leaving the room.

Simply choose the soothing imagery and be taken away with the realistic sounds of gentle waterfalls, rolling meadows with animal sounds.

To relax even further you can choose the 2 minute calming session, where a calm voice relaxes you with breathing and places you into a sense of calm.

Why not check it out...

http://www.calm.com

Twitter Monitoring

So how do you like your twitter. With many apps around these days sometimes you just want a plain simple web site that gives the information you need.

How about checking out monitter

A simple no nonsense live twitter filter, allows you to specify a key word and have all related posts display to your screen. Add multiple columns to display multiple results at once. Ability to pause the incoming tweets so you can read them if they are coming in to fast.

Monitor Environmental issues around the world.

Came across a website that collects and displays data related to world environmental events and plots them in Google Maps : - rsoe.hu

Seems very interesting to be able to monitor climate events , earthquakes , storms and the like on a world scale.

At the time I viewed the site , there was a Heat Wave in Japan, and a Tropical Cyclone over Taiwan.