Related StoriesThe Internet is even more useful than you think. As more and more programmers and developers race to create the next killer app, some end up gaining momentum while others haven't quite caught on yet. We've slogged through the undiscovered masses to bring you ten websites that are informative, handy, or simply downright cool -- before they enter the zeitgeist.
There are plenty of dating sites out there, but they all focus on finding compatibility based on users’ profiles -- not necessarily on personalities. This site offers blind dates at public places in your neighborhood in the following major cities: New York, Austin, Boston, and San Francisco (with more cities coming soon). The dates can be arranged on short notice -- as soon as tonight even -- without even viewing a profile or image for your date. It’s the closest thing to a matchmaking friend you’ll ever find online.
Better than: Pining over profiles pictures on Facebook.
Being well-read might not be your biggest priority, but it comes in handy during dinner conversations. Luckily, there's DailyLit. The site offers both classics and contemporary titles, all provided in quick-reading installments that can be sent to you either via e-mail or RSS. Since most of the classics are in the public domain, they're free; newer titles are available for purchase. So, the next time the conversation turns to the genius of Herman Melville, you can join in.
Better than: Lugging around real books.
While a glut of applications help you organize appointments on a calendar, there's a lot of activity in your daily life that doesn't fit neatly into your calendar's time slots. Not good at remembering to print out your flight confirmation code? Send a message to Sandy, and she'll remind you in a daily digest, in a text message, or as an event on your calendar. Using e-mail, SMS, Twitter, or Jott, you can set up and receive reminders for appointments, contacts, lists, and random information. And, true to her human-like presence on the site, "Sandy" speaks and understands plain English -- just like a real personal assistant.
Better than: Paying a real Sandy who needs sick days.
Physics probably doesn't come to mind as a conversation starter, let alone an icebreaker in a room full of unacquainted guests. But in this elegantly written blog, stories about science and technology come to life as effortlessly as everyday chatter about politics, celebrities, and vacations. Blogger Jennifer Ouelette makes science and technology engaging enough for 2,000 word posts. Now, that's a feat.
Better than: Trying to impress the in-laws with your martini capacity.
Newsmap is an amazing graphical representation of the constantly-changing headlines on Google News. By relying on something called a “treemap algorithm” to aggregate news, Newsmap uses space to translate the importance of a story; in other words, more popular and important stories appear larger, while less important ones appear smaller. It also connects news stories by theme, using a variety of colors to represent categories.
Better than: Sorting through RSS feeds.
You have no excuse for not keeping your New Year's resolution now that you can take that jog almost everywhere you go. Run.com, a user-generated database of running routes all over the world, uses Google Maps mashups, allowing runners to look up routes in their area and choose them by length, difficulty, scenery and other user-rated criteria. Business travelers who want to keep in shape on the road will be glad to find routes in all 50 states, as well as in dozens of foreign countries. The site is still in beta, so look for more routes to come.
Better than: Getting purposely lost just to mix up your running routine.
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