Related StoriesMakeUseOf is a tech blog that even laymen can understand. While early adopters follow delve into the tiniest details about Web technologies, most Web surfers only want the highlights of the latest developments. MakeUseOf offers just that, in considerably de-geeked language. The tech-savvy aren't left out, though: in the "Geeky Fun" section, the initiated will find plenty of fodder for hearty laughs.
Better than: Trawling through techno-babble blogs for something free, cool and useful.
Try this: write directions for tying your shoes, or making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's not as easy as it seems; some things are best demonstrated, not written. That's what makes the 5min “videopedia” invaluable. It's a site featuring short videos that provide solutions or instructions for common and practical issues, like how to insulate your house or how to teach your dog to sit. None of the videos are longer than five minutes, and they’re all user-generated, making 5min a kind of instructional video version of Wikipedia.
Better than: Reading About.com.
With so many mobile phones on the market, it's hard to keep up and know which one is right for you. That’s the logic behind TryPhone, a fully functioning interactive phone-testing site where you walk through all the common features of the phone you’re considering buying in glorious, high-resolution interactivity. The site also contains user reviews, specifications, product photos and links for purchasing.
Better than: The dummy devices at cell phone stores.
If you ever find yourself sucked in by the occasional History Channel special, you’ll quickly get lost in Damn Interesting, a blog that writes long-form historical summaries of just about anything that’s, well... damn interesting. Read about the bizarre saga of the trans-siberian railroad, or the story of the failed invention of wireless electricity. If you’re in need of an engaging academic time-waster, you’ve found it.
Better than: The “Random Article” link on Wikipedia
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