By Laura Milligan

Though the general Google site is often touted as the number one search engine online, college students sometimes need more specific tools to help them uncover quality information on the Web that they can use for class projects, research papers, and even job and apartment searches. This list features a huge variety of search engines that can be useful to students, including tools that find photos, sound effects, summer internships, health and medical information, reference guides, and a lot more.

Extracurricular

Search blogs, games and even forum postings for non school-related information and fun.

1. Bloglines: The search engine on Bloglines can find "billions of articles" and posts going back to 2003 from blogs, comics and more.
2. FindSounds: Web workers and procrastinating students can use this search to find sound effects in all kinds of file formats, channels and resolutions.
3. Nicado: This free search helps you find e-mail addresses and phone numbers for old friends and out-of-touch family members.
4. Omgili: Type in a subject or keyword to find forum posts and discussions on the Web on the same topic.

Quick Answer Guides

Head to these search engines when you have a specific question that needs to be answered quickly.

6. Answers.com: Type in your question to this search box or answer other users’ questions about politics, automotive issues, TV shows and pop culture, health, technology and more.
7. AskMeNow: Use this site to do a quick Wikipedia search from your mobile phone.
8. Lexxe: Type in your question to this search engine, which pulls answers from its database of URLs added by users.
9. Powerset: Powerset is another question and answer search engine that searches Wikipedia articles
10. AskWiki Beta: This semantic search engine finds answers to your questions in Wikipedia articles.

City Guides and Travel

Get to know your college town a little better, or plan a vacation or study abroad trip with these search engines.

11. Google Local: Many don’t realize that this popular site is also a search engine. Find local businesses and addresses here.
12. MSN City Guides: Click on a city to get started or type in a general location or activity to let this search engine find fun things for you to do in your area.
13. Aardvark Travel: This site helps you in "sniffing out travel sites from around the world." Browse by location, type of vacation, travel activity, flights, hotels and other topics.
14. Kayak.com: This aggregate travel search engine finds the lowest air fares, cruise vacations, car rentals and hotel stays available through the Web that match your travel requests.
15. Ask City: Search special events, entertainment guides and maps for your city on this site.
16. Mobissimo: Search MobiDeals or enter in your travel information to let this site find attractive airline tickets, hotel reservations and car rentals.
17. Trabber.com: Trabber.com searches 31 different websites to bring up cheap flights based on the schedule you submit.
18. Local Search Guide: This mega search engine connects you to local maps and directions, businesses, phone numbers, movie times and weather information.
19. Search.Travel: This beta search engine finds information on travel deals and transportation, events and activities to do in the location you search, and more.

Shopping Search Engines

Find customer reviews, product information and shopping sites with these search engines.

20. MySimon: This fun site lists shopping specials and gift ideas for holidays, and it lets you search within a specific category or conduct a general search.
21. Shopzilla: Shopzilla is super easy to use. Enter in the keywords or product description for the item you’re shopping for, or browse the categories on the right, to bring up results from online retailers like Amazon.com.
22. DealTime: DealTime is a comparison shopping search engine that has information on flowers and gifts, computers and technology, home and garden items, cars, music and movies, sports equipment and a lot more.
23. Google Product Search: "Search for stuff to buy" on the Google Product Search, which connects you to everything from beauty and fashion items to DIY home improvement shopping to gifts and furniture.
24. Kelkoo: Shop by category or answer the search question "What are you shopping for?" to find product information and deals on all kinds of items. You can also search by brand or store to narrow down the search.
25. PriceGrabber.com: Conduct an advanced search by shopping different categories or type in exactly what you’re looking for on PriceGrabber.com.
26. MSN Shopping: This comprehensive site lets you first browse by category to narrow your search or type in keywords to bring up something more specific.
27. ePublicEye: This online shopping search engine specializes in finding safe, positively reviewed e-commerce sites. It also offers information on safe online shopping tips and online scams.
28. BizRate: Compare prices of clothing items, household appliances, gifts, accessories, technology and more when you use this search engine.

Business

Business students and those interested in staying current on business news and trends can take advantage of these niche search engines to help them prepare for class and life after graduation.

29. Bloomberg: Bloomberg.com connects you to business news through its search engine, breaking news articles and market data updates.
30. ThomasNet: ThomasNet’s dedication to "connecting industry" results in this broad search tool, which lets users browse categories including products and services, as well as search for specific companies or brands.
31. IFACnet: Accountants can use this search engine for industry news and "access to global resources and information."
32. Nexis: LexisNexis users can use this business search to find legal resources, industry news and information about other professionals and organizations.
33. Business.com: Entrepreneurs and business students can browse categories like software, startup, transportation, jobs, office management, real estate and health care to "quickly find anything for [their] business" and find a job.

Academic and Reference

Find reliable and authoritative sites here to help you with homework and class projects.

35. Librarian’s Internet Index: This site brings together "websites you can trust," on subjects like media, law, communications, consumer research, health and more.
36. Scirus: This scientific search engine claims to be "the most comprehensive scientific research tool on the web" and indexes over 450 million science-related resources.
37. Google Scholar: Search journal articles, abstracts, academic papers and bibliographies, and other scholarly publications here.
38. Intute: Social Sciences: This division of the online search tool Intute connects you to quality information about government policy, geography, law, economics, anthropology, business management, social welfare, psychology, politics, women’s studies and more.
39. CiteSteer: Computer science and IT students can use this "scientific literature digital library."
40. Online Journals Search Engine: Find indexed science materials and resources on this site.
41. Google Books: Search classic literature, non-fiction books, poetry, short stories and other books at Google Books.
42. Research Crawler: Type in your keywords in the general search box or use the Research Quick Links to find articles, textbooks, RSS feeds, podcasts and more to help you with your project or paper.
43. Translation Crawler: This directory has sites indexed for sign language, education, interpreting and more.

Social Media and People

User-generated content and user-driven sites like these often result in more relevant search results for you.

44. wink: wink is "where people find people." Search by location, name, interests, school or any other category to help you reach old friends and family members.
45. Sproose: This user-driven site can perform a Web search or video search.
46. similicio.us: Discover similar sites when you copy/paste a URL into this search engine.

Multisearch

These search engines offer more than just ordinary searches. Enjoy using features like shared searches, saved memory and specific search options.

47. Trexy: Trexy can help you "blaze search trails" by saving your search memory, share your searches with the Trexy community, and add a TrailBar button to your toolbar for fast searches.
48. MsFreckles: MsFreckles can search the entire Internet or just pages from the UK. You can also filter your search by file type, search several sites at once, only search through certain domains, search only blogs, or choose other advanced options.
49. Clusty: Use Clusty to search the Web, news sites, images, Wikipedia or blogs.

TV, Video and Radio

Look up video clips for class presentations or discover new radio sites and web streams through these search tools.

50. veoh: Find millions of online videos by searching this site.
51. blinx: blinx digs into the Web to find "over 26 million hours of video" and bring up relevant results.
52. ZippyVideos: This beta search engine is also a media sharing site, so you can upload your own videos as well as search for others.
53. Radio-Locator: Search for over 10,000 different radio stations and 2,500 web streams from radio stations all over the world.
54. Pandia Radio Search: This massive search site offers a radio search too.
55. Radio Directory: The radio directory search on this site can connect you to radio stations’ web sites and radio information from all over.
56. altavista: Use this video search to find MPEG, Quicktime, Avi, Windows Media, Real, Flash and many other types of videos.
57. Truveo: Truveo lets you search for videos from different web sites. You can also browse categories like Most Viewed Today and Highest Rated.
58. Snipp.TV: Find video and audio content from this easy-to-use beta search engine.

Medical Students and Health Search

This list will not only help medical students research authoritative journals and publications, college students wanting to do more than just Google their symptoms can find health advice and medical resources by using these search engines.

59. Entrez: Search life sciences publications and research materials here.
60. PubMed: This search tool is sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
61. Healia: Healia claims to be "your guide to healthy decisions." Search the Web, PubMed, or the Clinical Trials option.
62. PubGene: Find biology and genetics materials by searching this tool.
63. Healthline: With Healthline, you can "search the Web’s best health sites." Browse topics like ADD/ADHD, heart disease, depression or allergies, or type in your own symptoms.
64. OmniMedicalSearch.com: This site has been named a Top 5 Medical Search Engine by About.com and is lauded by The Washington Post. Search the Web, images or forums to get connected to quality health and medical information.
65. MedNets: Medical students can try out this tool, which searches databases, journals, books, jobs and medical societies. You can also customize the engine for your particular field, like internal medicine, dentistry, family medicine, nursing, pulmonary and others.
66. American Hospital Directory: Find a nearby hospital fast by typing in your telephone area code, zip code, city or state.
67. DrKoop.com: Research your symptoms, access a health encylopedia, or take advantage of the Web search engine powered by Healthline to find all kinds of health information.
68. MedicineNet: This organized search engine displays your results according to different categories, like News, Symptoms, Procedures and Tests, and Medications, so you can quickly find the most relevant results.

Law Students

Law students gain access to court rulings, history and political sciences resources, and other law material here.

69. MegaLaw.com: Here, you can "look up law sites on the web" without having to search multiple times.
70. FindLaw: Find attorneys and answers to your law questions by searching here.
71. History Crawler: Find history references and more on this site.
72. Meta-Index for U.S. Legal Research: Search judicial opinions, federal regulation, legislation and more on this site.
73. World Law: Search opinions, news legislation, lawyers and law libraries from all over the world.
74. CataLaw: This search engine can find information and resources about all types of law, including consumer law, sexual harassment cases, family law, banking, criminal law, cyber rights and much more.

Metasearch and Megasearch Engines

The following search engines work extra hard to bring you information from other search engines at the same time, including Google, Yahoo!, MSN, and others.

75. Dogpile: Find information from "all the best search engines" here.
76. Excite: This metasearch engine also shows you the latest sports scores, stock ticker, featured games and videos, and more.
77. Mamma: Mamma is "the mother of all search engines," and she can search the Web, news, images, video and the Yellow Pages.
78. HotBot: This search engine can pull information and material from Yahoo!, IyGO.com, and MSN.
79. MetaCrawler: "Search the search engines" with MetaCrawler, a tool that lets you search filtered, family-friendly material or access unfiltered results.
80. Info.com: Info.com retrieves information from Google, Yahoo!, LiveSearch, About.com and Ask. You can also choose to search the Web, Research, News, Images, Video, and other options.
81. Myriad Search: This search engine searches four different engines, but only if you want it to. You can choose to require information from a particular engine or exclude the engine altogether.

Photos, Images and Visual Search Engines

Make your search a more visual experience by checking out these tools.

82. Kart00: This visual metasearch engine displays results like a map with mini preview images of the sites themselves.
83. Grokker: Grokker searches Wikipedia, Yahoo! and Amazon Books, and then displays your results in an outline view or a map view.
84. Picsearch: Use Picsearch when you need to add images to a project or presentation.
85. Fagan Finder: This site outlines different search engines, photo sharing sites or stock photography sites so that you can find everything from clip art to medical images to photoblogs.
86. Netvue: Netvue is a no-frills image search engine that brings up animation, graphics and photos.

News Searches

College students need to stay current on business, technology, cultural and political news, so use these search engines to guide you through homework discussions, projects and more.

87. News Lookup: Find news stories from all over the world, or just search a particular country or news topic.
88. Google News: On this site, you can "browse 4,500 news sources" for up-to-the-minute information.
89. AlltheWeb: Use the News search tool on this site to find relevant stories from newspapers, TV stations and other news sites.
90. Yahoo! News: Search sports, entertainment, business, technology, world and U.S. news here.
91. Ananova: In addition to providing a comprehensive news search, this site also posts the day’s top headlines on the front page.

Jobs and Real Estate

Turn to these search engines to help you with your search for a summer internship, your first apartment or a job post-graduation.

92. Hotpads.com: Find homes and apartment listings for sale or for rent around the country with this tool.
93. RightMove: This UK-based site will direct you to properties for sale or rent, including vacation homes and properties in places like France, Spain and Bulgaria.
94. Juju: This easy-to-use job search engine lets you type in a keyword and location. You can also search by company name.
95. indeed: indeed is a metasearch engine that lets you perform one keyword and location search to find listings from all over the Web.
96. Simply Hired: Search over 6 million jobs posted on the Web in industries like customer service, accounting, transportation, software, paralegal, PR, government and others.
97. Dice.com: Technology students and professionals can search for jobs on this site, which connects to more than 86,000 listings.
98. trulia: This smart search engine finds homes for sale by zip code or city and state. You can also find movers, moving tips and more on this comparative shopping site.
99. WhereToLive.com: WhereToLive.com is "the real estate search engine," letting you search homes on an interactive map.
100. Internship Programs: Look for internships after you log on to this "internship search engine."

By Christina Laun

If you’re like most people, you use Google’s products several times a day to search for information, check email, get a map and lots of other useful functions. What most people don’t know, however, is just how many useful tools Google has out there than can make everything from tracking a package to creating and publishing webpages a breeze. Here are just a few of the products Google offers that may be worth giving a try.

Must Haves

These Google products can make the most basic of computing tasks easy and are a must for any Google devotee.

1. Reader: Reader is a Web-based news aggregator that reads Atom and RSS feeds to allows users to easily subscribe, organize and share news items. It even has a mobile version allowing you to get your news on the go.
2. iGoogle: Create a custom designed home page with iGoogle. Users can choose to have their Gmail accounts, calendars, weather, news and more all integrated on one main page they can see when they open their browser. The site also offers a wide number of themes for further customization.
3. Picasa: This Google program makes it easy to manage your photos online and off. Users can download a photo editing and management program to their desktops which makes it easy to mail, upload or post photos to a blog or they can use the online albums provided by the program.
4. Docs: You no longer need desktop publishing applications installed on your computer to type out documents or create spreadsheets, you can do it entirely online with Google. The services allow users to create, publish, share and collaborate on their documents and presentations, and best of all, they’re available on any computer with an Internet connection.
5. Notebook: Research can be easier with this Web clipping application from Google. It makes it simple to clip text, images, and links from pages while researching and then save, retrieve or share the clips later.
6. Desktop: Make it easy to find everything on your desktop with this application from Google. It allows users to search through their email, computer files, music, photos, chats, and web history to find what they need and also allows them to install useful gadgets to their desktops.

Maps and Travel

Make getting from place to place a snap or explore the surface of another planet with these tools.

7. Ride Finder: Hook up with taxi, limousine and shuttle services through this search tool which uses GPS data from vehicles in 14 US cities. Users will access the program through Google Maps and any service that wants to participate in the program is accessible on the site.
8. Transit: Those taking public transportation will appreciate this mapping tool which helps users to plan a trip via the local public transportation options by using Google Maps.
9. Mars: Doing a little space exploration through these maps of Mars, created through a composite of images and data from two NASA missions to the planet. Users can see the elevation, infrared data and photos of Mars through the site.
10. Sky: Those hampered by bright city lights or clouds can still enjoy looking at the night sky with this program from Google. It provides easy access to images from the Hubble telescope through the Space Telescope Science Institute, allowing users to look through planets, stars, galaxies, satellites and more.
11. Earth: Travel around the world without leaving your desk with Google Earth. The program uses satellite imagery and mapping technology to allow you to find and see any location in the world through an attractive and easy to use interface.

Web Browsing and Development

Web developers, businesses and even students can benefit from these great Google tools that make using and creating websites easier.

12. SketchUp: SketchUp is a simple but effective 3D drawing tool designed for both Macs and PCs that can be a handy tool for architects, civil engineers, designers and even game developers. The program comes loaded with some innovative tools and also allows users to upload their drawings directly into GoogleEarth.
13. Checkout: Designed to simplifying the process of paying for things online, Google Checkout stores customer credit card and shipping information making it easy to purchase things with the click of a button. For added security, the site also offers fraud protection and package tracking.
14. Web Accelerator: Make webpages load a little faster by making use of this tool. It uses data compression, prefetching of content, and shared cached data to make even slow Internet connections less painful to use.
15. FeedBurner: FeedBurner can be an easy way to manage a variety of RSS feeds but it also provides a number of tools that are incredibly useful to bloggers, podcasters and other Web developers like traffic analysis and targeted advertising.
16. Web History: This feature from Google makes it easy to find search results that are most relevant to you, find sites you visited and follow trends in your Web browsing history.
17. Base: This tool from Google is an online database in which any user can add content– text, images, documents and webpages. It can be a great way to get your content out there, as if Google finds your information relevant to a search it may appear in search results, in Google Maps or on its shopping site.
18. Co-Op: Co-Op allows web developers to feature specialized information in Google searches, refine and categorize search queries and create customized search engines based on Google Web Search, making it easier to find information about their pages and on them.
19. App Engine: Developers can build and host websites on Google servers using this tool. At present, the site only offers limited free accounts, but in the future more fully-featured pay accounts will be opened up.
20. Website Optimizer: Make sure your site is ship-shape by putting it through the paces with this Google tool. It checks your webpage, testing the content, to help you create the most effective and profitable advertising campaigns, create user-friendly interfaces, and increase overall conversions.
21. Browser Sync: This tool, created by Google, allows users to sync their Firefox browser settings including passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs and open windows, to different computers via the Internet.
22. Click-to-Call: This advertising systems allows customers to call companies for free, or at least at Google’s expense, from search result pages. Users enter their phone number and Google calls them back, connecting them with the advertiser.
23. Page Creator: This program from Google allows users to design and build webpages and then publish them to sites hosted by Google. Users are offered 100 MB of storage and the program comes with a variety of preloaded templates and layouts.

Social Networking and Communication

Keep in touch with friends, family and coworkers by using these programs offered by Google.

24. Orkut: This social networking service used to be invitation only, but since 2006 has been open for anyone to join. It allows users to create an account, list information and interests and talk with and add friends to a profile. While less popular in the United States, the site is one of the biggest in both India and Brazil and can be a great way to meet people from around the world.
25. Android: Android is an open source mobile phone platform that is based in the Linux OS and is in the later stages of development by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. When it is released in late 2008, it will allow users to have more control over their mobile devices and, Google hopes, encourage them to use Google products from just about everywhere.
26. Send to Phone: Send yourself a message from the Web with this tool. It allows users to send text messages to their mobile phones about anything they want to remember or share from a simple Google website or through a Firefox extension.
27. Shared Stuff: Google offers this free Web page sharing system that allows users to save and share pages they find interesting on the Web with others. The program can also be integrated into Facebook or del.icio.us.
28. Talk: You may have heard of Google Talk but did you know that it’s not only a chat tool but can be used for VoIP conversations as well? Users can make the most of the service, and enjoy its integration into their Gmail accounts.
29. Dodgeball: This social networking site was created for use on mobile phones and allows users to text in their current location and get information about friends and interesting events that are nearby, as well as the ability to invite friends to come to their current location. It’s currently available in 22 cities in the US.
30. Friend Connect: This new feature offered by Google allows users to easily add social networking functionality to their sites. You can integrate the program with sites like Facebook and Orkut and best of all it requires no in-depth programming know-how.
31. GrandCentral: GrandCentral is a VoIP service that allows customers to link several phone numbers. Users can set up the service to ring certain numbers at certain times of the day or to go through a series of numbers in order to contact them. As an added bonus, it also features a unified voice mail service. The service is currently in the beta stages and users will have to request an invite to get a number.
32. Sites: Create and collaborate on shared websites with this tool from Google. Users can create a simple webpage, collect relevant information and choose who can edit and work on the project with them.

Custom Search Tools

Narrow down your search with these effective online tools.

33. Scholar: Google Scholar provides a great way to search through the full text of scholarly literature from all fields and formats. The index of materials gives easy search capabilities to nearly all peer-reviewed journals that appear online and has a "cited by" feature that can make is easier to find related materials and gather sources.
34. Patent Search: This specialized search tool from Google allows users to search through millions of patents from 1979 to the present to see if a particular design or idea has already been claimed. Each patent results page will come complete with citations, drawings and claims from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
35. Sets: More of a fun tool than a search engine, Google Sets allows you to enter a few items of a set into a search query and the site will try to predict other items in the set. While it’s right on a majority of the time, some results will undoubtedly produce a chuckle.
36. Catalogs: Tired of those old catalogs piling up or filling your mailbox? Unsubscribe to them and browse through catalogs with Google instead, which has collected over 6,600 print catalogs.
37. Search by Number: Did you know you can enter an area code, parcel tracking number or flight information into Google and get the information you need quickly and easily? Simply type in what you’re searching for and Google will do the rest.
38. Accessible Search: This search engine is designed especially to aid those who are visually impaired or blind by giving priority to sites that have been designed for usability by everyone.
39. Trends: Get easy to read graphs of Web trends over time with this tool. It allows users to track searches over city, region or country to see when certain topics were of more interest to browsers. Users can also take a look at Hot Trends which displays the most popular searches over the past hour.
40. Book Search: Formerly known as Google Print, this tool allows users to search through the full text of books that are scanned and stored in the Google database. Results range from entire books to short excerpts depending on arrangements with publishers and copyright issues with the materials.
41. News Archive Search: Browse articles that go back over 200 years with this integrated feature of Google News. Users can find articles from sources like the New York Times, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and more.
42. Special Searches: Google offers a wide variety of special search tools that can help narrow down what you’re looking for. Choose from searches that specialize in universities, the government, public service, Linux, Microsoft, Apple and more.

Miscellaneous Google Tools

These various Google tools can keep you busy for hours or make doing a wide variety of things even easier.

43. Google Pack: Windows users can take advantage of this collection of software from Google and partner companies. It includes popular Google programs like Desktop, Picasa, Toolbar, Earth and Talk as well as third party applications like Firefox, Adobe Reader, Skype and StarOffice.
44. Gadgets: These mini-applications can by placed on a webpage or on your iGoogle site or if you have Google Desktop to your desktop as well. They make it easy to keep track of events, to-do lists, check the weather, or even just play games.
45. Pinyin IME: With an increasingly global economy, it can be useful to have tools that make it easy to communicate with those speaking other languages. This tool from Google China allows users to convert Pinyin characters that can be entered on a western style keyboard to Chinese characters.
46. Image Labeler: Users can help label images for better search results with this tool that uses a game-like interface. Users compete against another player to label images, creating an enjoyable time for them and helping Google create a more accurate search database.
47. Code Search: Programmers looking for help with code or open source code to use will get directed results with this specialized search tool.
48. Alerts: This email notification service sends out alerts based on categories like news, web and groups. Users are alerted when new articles make in into the top ten news articles or top twenty search results for that item.
49. Apps: Businesses can use Google products within their own domain names with this tool. The standard edition is free, and users can upgrade if they need more storage to use Gmail, Talk, Docs and more.
50. GOOG-411: Google offers users a free 411 service when calls are made from anywhere in the United States and Canada. The service uses speech recognition to help users find a local business or service in their area.
51. Google Moblizer: Make any webpage mobile friendly with this great tool. If you can’t seem to get a page to display right on your PDA or iPhone, pop the URL into this tool and Google will display a stripped down, simpler version of the page that’s easier to see on your mobile device.
52. Gears: Gears is an open source project that gives Web applications more versatility and power by adding new features to your web browser that can include storing data locally, interacting with desktop products and running JavaScript in the background.

Third Party Tools

These applications are based on Google’s search technology, but allow you to do a wide variety of things more easily than with current Google-created programs.

53. Simply Google: This site provides access to all of Google’s specialized searches in one easy-to-use place.
54. Googlematic: With this helpful tool, you’ll be able to search Google using AIM or MSN Messenger.
55. Goofresh: Want to know what’s fresh to the Internet? This site allows you to use Google to search for sites that have been added today, yesterday or within the last week or month.
56. Cooking With Google: Have some random ingredients in the fridge but aren’t sure what to make with them? Maybe this Google-based tool can help. Enter in a few ingredients and it will give you recipes in several different categories.
57. Babelplex: Want to search through Google in multiple languages? This tool can help you do that, acting as a cross between a search engine and a translation tool for 29 language combinations.

By Christina Laun

Many people want to learn things like how to fix their own sink or speak another language but just don’t know how to find the information they need or realize that free educational materials are out there to help them learn. Lucky for them, the Internet is full of tutorials and webinars that can be a great help in learning just about anything, whether practical or academic. We’ve compiled a list here of 100 places you can go to find all kinds of free educational information to get you started.

General

Find all kinds of tutorials and webinars on these sites.

1. Find Tutorials.com: Find tutorials on hundreds of topics ranging from crafts and hobbies to education on this comprehensive tutorial collection.
2. Learnthat.com: Get a little education on topics like business, finance, home repair, lifestyle and more on this site.
3. MyTutorials: This site allows users to search for tutorials in a wide variety of topics or to post their own instructional tutorials.
4. Instructables: Described as the "world’s biggest show and tell," Instructables is full of videos that can give you instruction on how to do just about anything. From learning how to make bio-fuel and etching brass to knitting iPod cozies you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
5. SuTree: With the videos on SuTree you can learn to anything. Users can watch how-tos submitted by others or create their own.
6. TrickLife: Whether you’re looking for some help building muscle during your workouts or want to learn to fold beautiful origami you’re sure to find an instructional video that suits your needs here.
7. VideoJug: This site specializes in producing and posting short videos that teach you how to a wide variety of things. Learn how to eat sushi correctly, apply eyeliner or make delicious peanut butter cookies.
8. Expert Village: Billed as the world’s largest how-to video site, you’re sure to find the help you need in learning a wide variety of things with Expert Village. There are almost 100,000 videos to choose from that can help you do everything from care for a baby to learn to breakdance.
9. Koonji: Koonji breaks learning new things down into easy to follow steps that make it simple for anyone to follow the process.
10. Tutorial Ninjas: This site offers loads of new tutorials each week that can help you get healthy, clear up your skin or manage your technology.
11. Tutorial Guide: With dozens of categories, this site can be a great one stop place to find help with everything from 3D software to making a new recipe.

Computers and Technology

Many people struggle to understand new technologies. These sites can help get you the help you need.

12. actDEN: Learn how to use everything from PowerPoint to Outlook with Microsoft focused tutorials from this site. Additionally, you’ll find a wide variety of online courses on topics like design, math and space.
13. Productivity Portfolio: Get simple, 5 minute how-tos on using products like Microsoft Excel and Firefox from this technology focused site.
14. Killersites: Learn how to build websites that will impress with a little help from this site. Video tutorials take visitors through the basics of several programming languages and Web design software.
15. The How-To Geek: Beginners and experts alike can get assistance from this site in learning how to run, use and fix their computers and other gadgets. Browse through existing help or post your own questions.
16. Tweako: This site compiles guides, tutorials and help from all over the Web in one easy-to-find place with content focusing on the Internet, technology and computers.
17. Vista4Beginners: Even lifelong Windows users may have trouble navigating Vista, but not to worry. This site can provide help and instruction on how to do even the simplest tasks on Vista.
18. Digital Arts: Techie artists will appreciate this site, which is chock full of tutorials on how to create great designs for both the Web and print using professional design programs.
19. PSDTuts: PhotoShop is a complex program–a quality that makes it great for design but that also makes it difficult to master. Learn some new tricks with help from this large collection of PhotoShop tutorials.
20. InPictures: For visual learners, just reading how to do something isn’t enough to make it clear. This site will take you through computer and technology tutorials using pictures along with words, to make it clearer and easier to understand.
21. Make It Simple: Ever wish tech-related sites would just simplify what they’re talking about so normal people could understand? This site does just that, providing tutorials that are simple, and easy to understand.
22. N Design Studio: Learn to better use both Illustrator and Dreamweaver with some great tutorials from this design website.
23. Internet4Classrooms: This site has compiled tutorials from all over the Web that can help you learn to use everything from you Internet browser to your entire operating system better and more effectively with a special emphasis on using technology in the classroom.

Music

Learn to follow your own personal rhythm with a little help from these tutorials.

24. Teoria: Learn the basics of music theory from tutorials on this site that deal with reading music, intervals, scales, chords and more.
25. Electric Blues Club: Get free lessons in bass, guitar, drums, brass instruments and more on this site in text and audio format.
26. E-Chords: Watch loads of free video tutorials on this site that can help improve your skills on the guitar or bass.
27. Folk of the Wood: No matter what kind of stringed instrument you’re interested in playing you’ll find helpful tutorials here. Lessons cover instruments like the mandolin, banjo, violin, dulcimer and the guitar.
28. ActiveBass: Check out user-posted bass lessons on this large site. With lessons numbering in the thousands you’re bound to find the assistance you need to learn how to play almost anything.
29. DrumBum: This site pulls together a collection of free drum lessons that come from a variety of styles of music.
30. GuitarPlayer: Enjoy free online acoustic and electric guitar lessons as well as a number of helpful tutorials from this site.
31. Harmonica Lessons: If you’ve always dreamed of playing the harmonica this site could be a good first stop, with free tutorials that lay out the basics of playing the instrument.
32. Computer Music Products: Learn to make and distribute music using your computer with a little assistance from these tutorials.
33. Ricci Adams’ MusicTheory: Get a handle on the basics of music theory and notation with lessons and tutorials from this site.

Languages

Learn to speak or read a new language through these great sites.

34. Indo-European Languages: On this site you’ll find free tutorials for 15 different languages with free MP3’s for French as well as some help understanding the finer points of English linguistics.
35. Learn Spanish: While not all the content on this site is free, you will find a number of tutorials that can help you learn to pronounce and conjugate Spanish as well as build your vocabulary through lessons and flashcards.
36. BBC Languages: Perhaps one of the most comprehensive free tutorial sites for learning languages, BBC Languages offers lessons in eight major languages, with audio and video help as well as helpful guides and tips.
37. Hebrew Language Tutorials: Learn to speak and read Hebrew with a little help from these tutorials created by the University of Texas-Austin.
38. American Sign Language Browser: This tool from Michigan State University can be a great way to start learning ASL. Look through the signs to learn how to say a huge variety of things.
39. Ancient Egypt Online: Those interested in ancient writings from Egypt can get a beginners guide to reading hieroglyphs with a tutorial from this site.
40. LookLex: On this site you’ll find audio tutorials and lessons that can help you learn the basics of Arabic from saying hello and goodbye to talking about fixing a car.
41. Chinese Tutorials: Want to learn a little Chinese before the Olympics? This site can help with lessons on Mandarin that combine videos and text materials.
42. Teach Yourself Japanese: This site takes you through, lesson by lesson, the basics of the Japanese language, helping you learn to read and speak it.
43. Hindi Learner: Learn the basics of the Hindi language with videos and tutorials from this site that take you through speaking and reading the language and how to use it personally and in business.

Programming

Get a leg up on programming skills with a little assistance from these tutorials and webinars.

44. MuppetLabs: Need to learn about C++, Perl, Java or a wide array of other programming languages? Look no further than this site which has links to tutorials for all these and more.
45. NetTuts: Need a little help with your Web development project? You can find numerous tutorials here that will help you to create attractive and user friendly webpages in a variety of programming languages.
46. Listutorial: Web programmers pretty much have to know a little about CSS to get by these days and this site can help answer some of your questions and help you to use it more effectively.
47. CSS Tricks: Learn the ins and outs of using CSS for Web design and development with help from the tutorials on this site.
48. ProgrammingTutorials: Here you’ll find tutorials on just about every kind of programming you could want to do. This includes Java, Cobol, HTML, Delphi, Python, PHP and much more.
49. Geekpedia: This site will provide you with information on numerous programming languages for both the Web and other applications.
50. Code Teacher: You’ll find help with twelve different programming languages on this site as well as informative articles and forums if you still have questions.
51. W3 Schools: Perhaps one of the most comprehensive tutorial sites for programmers, W3Schools offers thousands of tutorials on just about everything to do with Web development and programming.
52. The Java Tutorials: Programmers looking to develop with Java need look no further than this site, dedicated to helping you learn the basics and the more advanced principles behind Java.
53. Coding4Fun: This site provides not only news and information on the latest in programming but instructions on topics like Beginning Game Development that can help you learn the basics of coding and building a game.
54. CProgramming: Those interested in learning more about C and C++ programming can find a wide range of tutorials on this site for both beginners and more advanced learners.

Science

These sites can make learning even the most complicated science concepts easer to understand.

55. UK Surface Analysis Forum: You can find complete lectures on surface chemistry and science on this site with illustrations to help you better understand principles.
56. The Physics Zone: Get help with the math and fundamentals behind a variety of physics topics like motion, force, magnetism and more.
57. The Life Wire: Biology is full of concepts that can be difficult to visualize. This site provides over 100 animations and tutorials to help you learn even the most complex of concepts.
58. Chemistry Tutorials: These will take you through the chemistry behind a variety of chemical reactions, mass spectrometers, and even using a bunsen burner.
59. Biology Online: This site will help you learn the principles and science behind topics like plant biology, neurology, ecology, adaptation and much more.
60. Astronomy Web Guide: Find dozens of links to astronomy tutorials and classes all over the Web on this site to teach you everything from the basics to the intricacies of astrophysics.
61. Geology Rocks: Learn everything you ever wanted to know about how the earth works with tutorials from this geology focused site.
62. Get Body Smart: This site, complete with interactive animations, videos and tutorials, can help you learn everything you need to know about how the human body functions.
63. Cerritos College: You’ll be able to learn about earth science and geology from the tutorials provided by this college on its website.
64. The Chem Team: Whether you’re in high school or college or just have an interest of learning about chemistry this site can help walk you through the major concepts in chemistry.

Math

Even the best and brightest sometimes have trouble with math, so get some help from these tutorial sites.

65. MathTools.net: Those working with math programs like MATLAB can get some helping learning how to run the programs from this technology focused site.
66. Math.com: Whether you need to learn how to multiply fractions or to do complex calculus you can find some helpful tutorials here as well as other educational math tools.
67. Paul’s Online Math Notes: Professor Paul Dawkins provides students and everyone else with helpful tutorials to learn topics like algebra, trigonometry, calculus and more.
68. Analyze Math: This site has math tutorials in a wide range of subjects with practice problems, calculators and a variety of math related applets.
69. S.O.S. Mathematics: Learn all you need about math from the tutorials and worksheets provided by this site. It covers all levels of math from basic algebra to calculus.
70. PurpleMath: This site contains a huge collection of math notes, tutorials and lessons to ensure you get a handle on whatever math concept you’re trying to learn.
71. Math for Morons Like Us: Math can make even smart people feel dumb sometimes, so this site breaks down mathematical concepts to the basics so you can learn about algebra, geometry, calculus and more.
72. Visual Calculus: The modules on this site provide an easy way to go through the concepts and lessons you’ll need to gain an understanding of calculus.
73. MathCracker: Here you’ll find loads of math-related educational resources, including tutorials on calculus, algebra and statistics.
74. Real World Math: Having trouble seeing how you could ever need to know math in real life? This site provides some tutorials on how you may need to use math in the real world someday.

Do It Yourself

Fix things around your home, in your yard or on your car with advice and guidance from these sites.

75. Make Magazine: This magazine is full of articles that can help you make and build tons of cool stuff for around the house.
76. FixExpert: Want some advice on fixing your car yourself? This site can help walk you through some minor car repairs.
77. Easy2DIY: Whether you’re installing new carpet, hardwood floors or just trying to hook up your new dishwasher you can get the instruction you need from this site.
78. Do It Yourself.com: Topics on this site range from finance and real estate to plumbing and auto. No matter what you need to do you’ll get the help do it it yourself.
79. The Bicycle Tutor: Making bike repairs can be easy with a simple, photo-filled tutorial from this site.
80. Skillvids: Watch the video tutorials on this site to help you learn to be handy around the house at all kinds of repairs and improvements.
81. Jonko Online Auto Repair: Fix some basic things on your car after reading these helpful tutorials.
82. Grovetech PC Repair and Maintenance: Why pay someone else to do something you could easily learn to do yourself by reading these tutorials? Learn how to install new RAM, clean your PC, back up data and more.
83. Free DIY Tutorials: These tutorials will help make it easy to make a wide variety of sewing and crafting projects.
84. What the Craft: Whether you’re just starting out with sewing or want some guidance making a more complicated project these tutorials can teach you everything you need.

Workplace and Leadership

Get the skills you need to stand out in the office through these resources.

85. Teachnology: Teachers can get tips on improving their classroom experience, using technology and managing their finances with tutorials from this site.
86. TMC.net: Learn all about how to integrate technology into your business from these telecommunications focused webinars.
87. ComputerWeekly: This collection of free webinars deals with issues that face small businesses, technology and those in the IT field and can be a great way to stay on top of the latest information in the field.
88. TechOnline: Electronic Engineers will appreciate this site which offers loads of tutorials on issues having to do with design and productivity of a range of electronic products.
89. Leadership Training Tutorials: Want to be a better leader or manager at work? These tutorials can teach you how.
90. Laynetworks: Learn how to be a great manager from interviewing new employees to making effective decisions through this collection of tutorials.
91. KnowThis?: Here you’ll find great tutorials that can help you learn the basics of marketing no matter what kind of business you want to learn to make work.
92. Business Tutorials: Even if you’ve never run a business before it’s never to late to start learning what you need to know to make your dreams come true. These tutorials can help teach you the basics.
93. Change Management: Get some free educational tutorials that can help you learn to be a more effective leader and manager.
94. Website 101: Here you’ll get tutorials that will teach you the ins and outs of running an online business successfully.

Miscellaneous

Gain a wide variety of skills and knowledge from these tutorials and webinars.

95. TeacherTube: Find videos on a wide range of educational topics on this site.
96. Howtopedia: Learn how to make DIY greener with loads of sustainable DIY projects on this site.
97. Boarding.com: Get some pointers on learning to skateboard with the collection of links provided by this skateboarding website.
98. 10W40: Not only can you get auto repair advice from this site, but you’ll also be able to learn how to drive a manual transmission car– a valuable skill not everyone has.
99. Duey’s Drawings: Never been artistically gifted but want to learn to improve your skills? This site can give you some pointers through helpful tutorials.
100. Video-Tutes: Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about shooting and editing all kinds of videos.

By Jessica Merritt

By now, you probably know that the iPod is for more than just music. It can be a great device for catching up on your reading, too. Whether you’re downloading audio books or study guides, the iPod makes a handy and compact reader on the go, and you can make the most of it with the resources we’ve collected here.

Tips & Guides

Follow these instructions to get your iPod into ultimate reading shape.

1. Make use of RSS: Instead of manually updating your iPod, you can use RSS to automatically give you updated news whenever you plug it into your computer.
2. Storing and reading notes with your iPod: Read up on what Apple has to say about using the iPod to read notes from your computer.
3. Build an eDoc Reader for your iPod: Learn how to make books, PDF documents, and other electronic texts easy to read on your iPod with this guide.
4. Mac Automation: notes on your iPod: This quick tutorial shows you how to make creating iPod notes an automated process.
5. Reading ebooks on an iPod: AndyBrain runs down the details of reading eBooks on your iPod.
6. Turning your iPod into an information depository: This guide offers tips for getting audio books and more on your iPod.
7. How to Create an iPod Tarot Deck: Follow this guide to make an impressive Tarot deck in your iPod.
8. iPod Notes: Above and Beyond: Read this guide to find out how to best leverage the power of your iPod’s notes function.
9. Reading Documents on Your iPod: Read this user’s painstakingly simple guide to reading articles and other text on your iPod.
10. Read RSS feeds on your iPod: Check out Engadget’s tutorial to find out how you can get automatically updated content to read on your iPod.
11. iPod Notes Feature Guide: Get the official word on Notes features from Apple here.
12. Listen to audiobooks: Instead of taxing your eyes on a small screen, just listen to the books you’d like to read.
13. Speed Reading: If you’re listening to audio books, you can speed read by changing settings that will allow you to listen to them faster.

Tools

Make use of these tools, and getting the reading resources you want onto your iPod will be a snap.

14. GoogleGet: This little program will download news and weather information from Google News and Weather Room that you can read on your iPod.
15. Canto Pod: Read the lyrics to your favorite song as you listen to it with this handy little tool.
16. Google Reader: Get this popular RSS feed reader to get automatically updated content that can be read on your iPod.
17. eBook to Images: This tool will extract the text out of PDFs and turn it into multiple text images that can be read easily on your iPod’s screen.
18. iPDA: This handy little tool pretty much turns your iPod into a PDA, offering documents, RSS feeds, news, and lots more.
19. RSS2iCal: Use this script to subscribe to news sources through Apple’s iCal.
20. MP3 to iPod Audiobook Converter: With this converter, you can create audiobooks that are much more manageable than regular mp3s.
21. iPod Agent: iPod Agent takes the guesswork out of transferring text and other files to your iPod, even breaking down pages into iPod-readable 4k size. It will also gather RSS news feeds for you and put them on your iPod.
22. Chapter Master: This nifty tool will add chapter stops to your audiobook files, and even offers the option to create images for each chapter.
23. MarkAble: If you’re listening to an audiobook, use this tool to keep your sot for next time.
24. iPodulator: Using this site, all you have to do is enter a URL of a page or RSS feed, and you’ll get a plain text download that can be read on your iPod. It even has a bookmarklet to use in your browser that makes things even easier.
25. iGadget: This handy little gadget will not only pull RSS feeds for you to read on your iPod, it will help you transfer Outlook data and even create a text library.
26. eBook Hood: Using this tool, you can convert any eBook into a format that is readable on your iPod.
27. iPod-notes: Use iPod-notes, a tool that will create iPod ebooks from text files, or even a web page.
28. Evernote: If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, make use of Evernote to get back the notes functionality you lost in the switch.
29. Bloglines: With Bloglines, you’ll get a simple RSS feed reader that gives you lots of control and the ability to keep clip excerpts.

Reading Sources

Visit these sources to find ebooks, audiobooks, and more reading content that you can load on your iPod.

30. Raybook: On Raybook, you’ll find study guides, cookbooks, travel guides, and much more.
31. SparkNotes: Download these study guides from SparkNotes to cram on the way to class.
32. Learn the Lingo: Get language guides on your iPod with everything from Mandarin Chinese to French.
33. Texterity: Check out Texterity for the iPhone and iPod Touch, a program that makes it easy to read digital versions of popular magazines.
34. LearnOutLoud: Download audiobooks from a wide variety of categories on this site.
35. LibriVox: Visit LibriVox to download free audio of books that are in the public domain.
36. Classic Literature: Here you’ll find loads of classic literature that you can download as ebooks for the iPod.
37. Telltale Weekly: Use Telltale Weekly to get loads of low-cost, high quality audio book downloads.
38. Audio Bible: Catch up on your bible reading using this free and easy download that offers an mp3 bible.
39. Encyclopodia: Keep an entire dictionary in your pocket using this tool that puts Wikipedia on your iPod.
40. Free Classic Audio Books: Listen to human narrated books like Huck Finn and Treasure Island on Free Classic Audio Books.
41. Mobipocket: Check out bestsellers, enews, elearning and more using Mobipocket.
42. Game Rules: Always have handy rules that you can reference from anywhere when playing card games and competitive sports with this download for your iPod.
43. eReader: This online bookstore has more than 30,000 titles available.
44. Wowzio: Download everything from graphic novels to biography on Wowzio.
45. Free Speculative Fiction Online: Check out speculative fiction ebooks on this site, which offers a rating system and recommended stories.
46. Text on Phone: Get more than 20,000 books, novels, and articles that you can read and comment on using your iPhone or iPod Touch.
47. MS Reader: Get classics, reference books, and lots more from Microsoft’s reader.
48. MWPocket: Download this pocket dictionary to always have word reference in your pocket.
49. Project Gutenberg Library: Check out the Project Gutenberg Library to download free ebooks to read on your iPod.
50. Travel Aids: With these downloads, you can learn a language, get a walking tour, and more.

By Christina Laun

Whether you love or loathe technology the reality is that it’s going to play a big role in the future of libraries and educational facilities all over the world. Mobile technology has been at the center of a lot of discussion lately in research and library facilities, with schools like ACU choosing to distribute iPhones to new students for educational purposes. While the long term value of the iPhone as an educational tool is still up for debate, there are a number of ways librarians and researchers can begin using the technology to help them find information, catalogue their collections and much more. Here are a few ideas and tips to get you started on using the iPhone for more than just calls.

Helping Patrons

iPhones and other mobile devices can be a great way to help out and keep in touch with patrons.

1. Give staff phones to keep in contact with each other and patrons. It can be easy to ask another staff member a question about materials or to quickly respond and reply to patron questions when library staff members have iPhones. Being constantly connected on a small wireless device means quicker turnarounds and better service overall.
2. Creating a texting service for patron questions. Giving patrons the option of texting in their questions to the library can make it easy for those who prefer to avoid telephone conversations the ability to get quick and easy answers to simple questions, and if librarians within your library are using iPhones they can respond to questions in between checking in or shelving materials and other tasks.
3. Create a webclip for your library. Make it easy for patrons to add an icon of your library to their favorites by creating a webclip. This guide will explain just how you go about doing it.
4. Make it easy to use an iPhone within the library. Many libraries make it a point to ban mobile phone usage– and with good reason– but with new technology many patrons may want to take advantage of wi-fi or to use their iPhones for research while they’re in the library. Make it possible for them to do so, so long as they do it quietly.
5. Check how your site looks on an iPhone. Many sites don’t quite translate well to mobile devices like the iPhone. Check how your library’s webpage looks by using an online tool like iPhoney or by checking it yourself on an iPhone.
6. Make RSS feeds. There are numerous ways for iPhone users to subscribe to RSS feeds on their phones so you can get library news and updates to them right away by creating a library RSS feed.
7. Optimize your site for mobile devices. If you’ve checked out how your site looks on an iPhone and the result is not so great, consider creating a special page for mobile users to access your site. Many libraries are already doing so to maximize the usability of their webpages by patrons.
8. Get set up on Facebook. Facebook is one application that is designed to work well on the iPhone and additionally is incredibly popular with high school and college students. Creating a library account on the site will allow users to ask questions and get information about the library every time they log on.
9. Update patrons about the library. With so many ways to contact your patrons using an iPhone there’s no reason not to give text, email or Twitter updates a try whether you’re telling them the book they requested is in or that there is going to be a special event at the library.
10. Give instant feedback. If you have a library staff that is carrying around iPhones as they do their work, it enables them to immediately respond to patron queries, whether they’re on the phone, through email or by text. Even in person encounters can be speeded up with mobile access to the library’s catalog and database.

For Librarians

Whether you’re keeping in touch with the staff or sharing the latest resources with your community these tips can help you make the most of the iPhone at your library.

11. Share e-books over the iPhone. Libraries can direct their patrons towards numerous ebook collections that can be a way for both patrons and library staff to read on the go with an iPhone or other mobile device.
12. Distribute library owned audiobooks. Many libraries have created audiobook collections that patrons can download right onto a portable music device. So long as these books are compatible with Apple’s technology (and unfortunately some of the biggest retailers of these materials are not, illogically) patrons can listen to the latest novels right from their phones.
13. Create streamable materials. Allowing patrons to access library materials via their iPhone, like say, streamed videos make it easier for them to fit library materials into their schedule. Patrons won’t have to check them out and can get them whenever they want then watch them at their leisure right from their phones.
14. Create special playlists of materials. If patrons are allowed to stream materials like music and videos from the library why not create special playlists to help them in seeing new titles they might not be aware of? There are virtually limitless possibilities when creating playlists and they add a more interactive dimension to resources.
15. Use your phone to Twitter. Loads of people Twitter and get updates on Twitter accounts from their mobile devices so why should a library be any different? Update your Twitter feed with the latest materials or updates about the library through the easy interface over the iPhone.
16. Upload and listen to podcasts. Because the iPhone is more than just a phone, it’s a media player as well, take advantage of these features. You can put your own podcasts on the phone and publish them to the web or stay-up-to date with the latest in technology and library science through listening to other podcasts.
17. Keep track of a budget. Many libraries have a fairly tight budget but tracking expenses and expenditures can be easy with the iPhone. There are numerous downloadable apps for the phone that track budgets or users can access web-based programs for budgeting as well. Expenses can be entered right when they are made no matter where you’re at.
18. Track requests. You can use your iPhone as an easy way to alert patrons that their requests have arrived whether by phone, email or text and you can record and keep track of these requests as well.
19. Customize your home screen. Make your library’s website a centerpiece of the home screen of your iPhone by bookmarking it an ensuring that you have a webclip for your library. This will make it easy for staff to quickly get access to the site. For extended usability you could even make links for frequently visited parts of the site.
20. Easily find books patrons are interested in. The iPhone has the potential to make it easy to look up a book when approached by a patron. Whether they know the whole title or author or just know it was featured on Oprah, you’ll be able to quickly look up the information on the net, no matter where you are in the library.
21. Keep in touch with other librarians. Whether you want to keep in touch with your coworkers or a librarian from another branch, the iPhone can make it easy to text, talk, email and IM even if you just need to ask a quick question.
22. Conference call. The iPhone comes complete with a conference call feature, making it easy to chat with other libraries, government officials deciding your budget or anyone else, with up to five callers allowed on any one session.
23. Create content that’s easy to browse over an iPhone. If you’ve decided to develop a version of your site that’s more easily compatible with mobile phones, consider scaling it down the the basics. Simple search tools and information will be easiest to browse on the go.
24. Make your content easy to search for. Whether your patrons are using an iPhone or any other kind of mobile device they likely won’t be able to find the information your library provides without you optimizing it to work with search engines like Google.
25. Find the best deals on books. Users of the iPhone will be able to install tools and browse the Web with tools that will give them the ability to find the best deals on just about anything they’re looking for, saving money and growing collections.
26. Monitor collections. With the mobility of the iPhone it’s easy to go through the library and check to see that things are where they’re supposed to be and make notes if they’re not.
27. Create mobile accessible catalogues. Whether your patrons are in the car and want to know whether or not to head to your library for a book they want or if they’re in the library and want to look up something on the fly, creating catalogues that are easily accessible to mobile devices like the iPhone is a must for the future of any library.
28. Check out the latest apps. The iPhone has hundreds of applications out there that can do just about anything you need from tracking your finances to taking notes. If you don’t find what you need, try finding someone to create it for you, as Apple has opened up the iPhone to developers.
29. Stay current on technology. New things are always coming out that change the way everyone, libraries included, uses technology and the Internet to do thing. Use your iPhone to read up on the latest tech news and blogs to ensure you won’t get left behind.

Doing Research

Whether you research for a living or just for special projects for school or work these tips can help you make the most of your iPhone as a research tool.

30. Check out Ask a Librarian. Ask a Librarian is a Florida-based service that allows patrons to text in questions or chat with librarians at various libraries to get answers to their research questions and to help them find materials. Depending on the nature of the question, it could be just as helpful to non-native Floridians as well.
31. Take notes. You won’t need to bring along paper with the notebook capabilities of iPhone. Take notes in the built in features of the iPhone or use the new mobile version of Google Docs.
32. Take a photo instead of making a copy. Have a book you want to remember or an image you need for reference? Even if you don’t have change for the copier you can capture an image by taking a picture of it with your phone and saving it for later.
33. Back it up. Don’t let your research get lost if something happens to your phone, let alone everything else on your phone. Back it up with a service like this so you won’t totally wiped out if something happens.
34. Create wikis. Whether you’re taking notes for yourself or sharing them to collaborate on a wiki can be a simple solution and you can easily create a wiki using your iPhone especially with new programs like this wiki creator called W2 designed just for the iPhone.
35. Print your documents. You can turn your iPhone into a mobile fax machine of sorts with guides like this making it easy to print off information you need and have it waiting for you.
36. Get translations easily. For those working on research in multiple languages an easy translation tool can be a must. Use your iPhone for this with downloadable translation tools or by taking advantage of translation services over the web.
37. Keep research organized. Your iPhone will make it easy to keep research information and documents organized. Utilize a program designed for project management or simply use the Web Access to organize and backup any materials you will need and make sure they’re with you everywhere you go.
38. Access your desktop. Forgot to send yourself an important document from your laptop? Not a problem. With new apps for the iPhone like this you can access your home desktop securely and easily from your iPhone so finding what you need is a snap.
39. Easily share findings with others. Find information you need at libraries and on websites and easily send the information to others in your group or even just to yourself for reference when you use the iPhonewhile working on a project using simple emails or webclip sharing programs.
40. Find materials you need. Not sure what library has the books you need? You can check a variety of sites with a few touches to the screen before you ever even leave the house, the classroom or work.
41. Get directions to research facilities. Find out where you’re going to find everything you need with mapping capabilities on your iPhone. That way you’ll never get lost and have more time to spend working instead of in transit.
42. Listen to materials on the go. Many libraries offer materials via audio books and if you’d really like to speed up the amount of time you spend reading materials you may be able to listen to your research rather than read it right over your iPhone.
43. Bookmark great webpages. iPhone friendly tools like Instapaper make it easy to store important bookmarks of research materials you’ve found with your iPhone.
44. Use your iPhone as a storage device. Unlike the iPod which can easily function as a storage device for files, the iPhone isn’t really designed to store and carry files. For a mere $10 you can solve this problem and not have to carry around another device with the iPhoneDrive allowing you to keep all your materials in one place.
45. Share URLs. Sharing links is super easy with the iPhone, whether you’re sending them to a collaborator or just to yourself. The process is simple, when you’re on the page double click on the address bar, click the share button in the left corner, and a new email will pop up, allowing you to enter an address and send the link out.
46. Navigate more easily. The iPhone makes it easy to make calls and navigate through webpages with a few touches. Simply double click on a phone number to call that establishment or open embedded information.
47. Sync with your desktop. Don’t just keep your notes on your desktop or your laptop, sync the two. Programs like Evernote make it easy to keep track of notes no matter what platform you’re using to access them.
48. Collaborate with others. Having a mobile device on hand to record research and send email makes it incredibly easy to work with others on collaborative projects. Numerous new applications for the iPhone are designed to make this even easier, by allowing quick and easy document sharing.
49. Take advantage of iPhone tailored research tools. Many research companies are making their materials easily accessible from mobile devices, including the iPhone. Take advantage of the growing number of tools out there that are catering to your iPhone to make research easier and faster.
50. Compare data. Web accessibility makes it easy to compare any kind of field research findings with existing data out there.

 By Christina Laun

For those unfamiliar with the term, a learning style is a way in which an individual approaches learning. Many people understand material much better when it is presented in one format, for example a lab experiment, than when it is presented in another, like an audio presentation. Determining how you best learn and using materials that cater to this style can be a great way to make school and the entire process of acquiring new information easier and much more intuitive. Here are some great tools that you can use to cater to your individual learning style, no matter what that is.

Visual Learners

Visual learners learn through seeing and retain more information when it’s presented in the form of pictures, diagrams, visual presentations, textbooks, handouts and videos. Here are some Web resources that cater to those needs.

Mind Mapping

Get your ideas charted out in a visual format with these easy-to-use online brainstorming and organizational tools.

1. Bubbl.us: This flash-based mind mapping tools allows you to chart out your thoughts in a colorful format, share them with friends or embed them in blogs, websites and emails.
2. Free Mind: Mind mapping is easy and free with this Java tool. You’ll be able to manage your notes, lay out a paper and more completely online.
3. WiseMapping: You can access your mind maps from anywhere with this online tool. You can lay out words, pictures, ideas and more easily with WiseMapping.
4. Mindomo: Premium versions of this mind mapping tool come at a cost, but you can get access to the basic version for free. It allows you to add links, pictures and text to mind maps and share them over the net.
5. DeepMehta: This mind mapping tool is built around the idea of knowledge management and cognitive psychology. The open source tool allows sharing, emailing and even contains an embedded calendar.
6. MindMeister: Collaborate with your classmates on mind maps with this great online tool. The basic version is free and comes complete with the ability to create, share, import and export maps.
7. Mind42: The name of this tool represents "for two", and is indicative of the collaborative nature of this mapping tool. It can make it easy to keep track of your ideas, share them with friends and teachers and take them with you no matter where you are.
8. RecallPlus: Students can organize their notes, create flashcards, make use of 3D tools and more in this great mind mapping tool.
9. Mapul: This mind mapping program has basic and premium levels and allows users to map not only text but images and hyperlinks as well.
10. DebateMapper: If you’re struggling to understand a debate for your classes try creating a visual representation with this great mapping tool.
11. CMapTools: CMapTools is free for students to use and allows them to create and share all kinds of knowledge maps.
12. Thinkature: This site allows real-time collaboration on flow charts, diagrams and mind maps with features that include color organization and freehand drawing.

Charting and Diagrams

Love to put information into charts and diagrams? These tools can help you do that.

13. Gliffy: Gliffy makes it easy to lay out ideas in flow charts and diagrams or to create floor plans and technical drawings to help you better visually understand information.
14. FlowChart: Create great flow charts for your classes using this online tool, which comes complete with drawing tools and objects as well as collaborative tools.
15. DrawAnywhere: This online program allows you to create diagrams and flow charts to represent all kinds of information. Best of all, you can log in from anywhere to get access to your diagrams.
16. AjaxSketch: This web-based drawing tool makes it easy to not only create flow charts and diagrams but to do freehand drawing as well and you can use it right from Firefox.
17. XML/SWF Charts: Those familiar with XML will be able to turn their data into colorful and useful charts with this downloadable tool.
18. yEd: Is a very powerful graph editor and creation tool that can be used to quickly and effectively generate drawings and to create easily read and laid out graphs and diagrams.
19. Graphviz: If you’ve got a lot of information about the structure of a website or anything else for that matter, this tool can help you to easy map it out into a graph or network.
20. Kivio: Kivio easy to use diagramming and flowcharting application that is part of the KOffice suite of programs. It comes with features to network diagrams, create organization charts, build flowcharts and more.
21. Project Draw: This program is a feature-rich web-based vector drawing application that will allow you to create diagrams and graphs of any kind of information as well as making a variety of other kinds of drawings.
22. Best 4C: This Web-based tool allows you to create and share charts from anywhere, making it easier than ever to diagram and draw your ideas.
23. LovelyCharts: Charts created through this tool really can be lovely with full color capabilities and loads of graphics.

Videos and Photos

Find everything you’ll need to learn through videos and pictures with these tools.

24. Google Video: Google Video is chock full of educational videos that can help explain everything from how to use Second Life to learn to explanations of psychological illnesses.
25. YouTube College: Sign up with your individual college and share videos with fellow students on this College-based version of YouTube. You can post your own visual notes and slides or look at those of others.
26. Picasa: Picasa is Google’s answer to photo sharing and you can upload images from an art history or anatomy class and study them from anywhere on the Web.
27. Flickr: This social networking and photo posting site can be a great way to share images from a class with your classmates or look for images to back up your notes.
28. Scooch: Scooch is a Web-based slide show program that will allow you to post photos and make slide shows that you can share with others over the Web.
29. Perseus Digital Library: In need of visual representations of manuscripts or sculptures from ancient Rome and Greece? You can find tens of thousands on this online library and database.
30. Teachertube: Teachertube is a great place to find instructional videos on just about everything. You can learn about the formation of mountains, world history and economics on this useful educational site.
31. Screencast-o-Matic: Create a video or photo of your screen with this helpful online tool. It can be a great way to remember how to do tasks on the computer or just to share images online.
32. Jing Project: This tool allows you to snap a photo of your desktop, make recordings of your activities and email or IM them to anyone.
33. Visuwords: Text dictionaries don’t always give visual learners the explanations they need. This dictionary is graphically based, making it easy to see what concepts or ideas are represented.
34. KartOO: Along those same lines, Kartoo is a visual search engine, giving you results laid out in a networked chart so it’s easy to see how topics relate.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners do best in classes where listening is a main concern. These learners prefer verbal lectures and discussions. Auditory learners can get a leg up on their learning with these Web tools.

Podcasts

Get all kind of supplementary education materials through these great podcast tools.

35. ProfCasts: Turn a PowerPoint presentation into a useful and portable podcast using this tool. It can be a great way to put class materials into a format you can bring with you anywhere.
36. Moodle: Post and share podcasts with an interactive online community using Moodle. You can not only post your own podcasts but get access to those of others that could provide educational value to you.
37. First Class: This collaboration and communication software offers a podcast publishing feature that can be great for educational purposes.
38. Podomatic: Find, share and publish your podcasts through Podomatic. You can search for existing podcasts that may cover topics you’re researching or that are relevant to your classes.
39. Podcast.net: Podcast.net provides a huge listing of podcasts from all over the Web. You’ll be able to find just about anything you need in an easy, audio format.
40. Educational Podcast Network: Narrow your search for podcasts down to those dedicated to education. You can learn about everything from math to dance right on your iPod.
41. PoducateMe: Don’t know the first thing about podcasting or how you can use it to make education a little easier? This site has all the information you need.

Presentation Tools

Put your notes or classroom information into an audio format with these handy apps.

42. Zoho Show: This great online tool allows you to create, edit and share presentations online making it easy to create interactive homework assignments or to organize your notes in an audio-visual format.
43. Eyespot: Users can create video mixes online and share them with others on this site and can even add effects to their graphics and music.
44. Thumbstacks: Thumbstacks allows users to create a web-based presentation or slide show and then share it with others.
45. SlideShare: This site takes more of a networked approach to creating presentations allowing you to post your presentations and browse those of other users.
46. Empressr: You can access your organized class materials or projects from anywhere with this tool and share them with friends and other classmates easily.
47. ThinkFree Show: If you are using PowerPoint to organize your class notes into a more visual and audio conducive format then you can take advantage of this site which makes it easy to take them to the Web.
48. AuthorStream: Another PowerPoint centered program, AuthorStream makes it simple to upload and share your presentations.
49. Toufee: If Flash is more your style you can use this online tool which gives you the tools needed to publish and play flash presentations and movies.
50. PhotoStory 3: Make your slides for class a little more interesting with this free program from Microsoft. You can add special effects or your own voice narration.

Audio Tools

Listen and edit your sounds and music with these tools.

51. Jamglue: Mix and edit your audio clips with this online tool and when you’re done, share the finished product with other online visitors in a YouTube like format.
52. Audacity: One of the most popular free audio editors out there, audacity is multi-featured and allows users to record and edit in all kinds of formats.
53. Wave Surfer: Visualize and manipulate sounds with this free and customizable tool.
54. Looplab: Create and manipulate short loops and phrases with this great sound editing tool.
55. LAME: This open source tool makes it easy to encode and manipulate MP3s.

Text Readers

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