It's Almost Like Having Your Own Personal Tech Advisor

When it comes to making a choice about what television, camera or other electronic device to purchase, do you ever find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed? Well, you wouldn't be alone. But luckily there's plenty of help available on the Web! And some sites, like the popular tech review site CNET.com, have even gone a step further by packaging that help in the form of widgets you can place on your own personal blog or homepage.

Here's what the CNET Product Finder widget looks like, for example:



To take this widget for a test drive, just click on the directional arrows above to find your desired product category. When you settle on a category, simply click on its image, and you will be guided through a series of questions designed to help you determine what purchase is best for you. Pretty neat, huh?

To add this widget to your iGoogle page or other personal Web page, first click share the widget, then click the appropriate icon from the resulting menu. If you want a different widget, go to CNET Widgets, where you'll find several others to choose from.

School Is In Session At YouTube

You already know that YouTube is a great place to find some of the most entertaining videos around, but did you know it's fast becoming the go to place for some of the best educational content on the Web, too? Last week YouTube unveiled a new channel they're calling, aptly enough, YouTube Edu.

According to the official YouTube blog (see: Higher Education for All), there are currently over 20,000 videos on the channel, including over 200 free courses from some of the top universities in the country.

Are these great times for lifelong learners or what?

Missed The Obama Press Conferences This Week? Watch Them On The Web!

Lamenting the fact that you couldn't make the time to watch either of President Obama's press conferences this week? You'll be happy to know that thanks to WhiteHouse.gov and YouTube, you can watch each one in its entirety, online--on your time!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #27

When you hear the name Google, what comes to mind? Search engine? That's not surprising, since Google operates one of the most popular, if not the most popular, search engines on the 'Net. But, do you realize how much more Google offers in addition to their flagship search engine? This week's quiz aims to test your knowledge about some of Google's other products and services.

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #27

1. Google recently introduced a Web browser. What is it called?


Gold

Chrome

Intrepid

Voyager




2. What is the name of Google's free photo editing software?


Rembrandt

Monet

Picasa

Botticello




3. What is the name of Google's advertising program for Web site owners?


Gsense

Adoogle

GoogleSpot

AdSense




4. Google offers a free e-mail account. What is it called?


Gmail

Gomail

Goomail

Googmail




5. Which of the following popular Web services is owned by Google?


Amazon

YouTube

Yahoo

None of the above

Good luck!

Yes, But Can You Get Him To Roll Over For You?

Apparently the duck in this YouTube video never heard the expression "man's best friend." Doesn't look like the puppy got the memo either!

A Handy Guide To Evaluating Health Information You Find Online

A while back we pointed our readers to a terrific video tutorial on evaluating health resources you find online (see: Learn How To Evaluate Health Information On The Web.) If you found that useful but would rather have something you can read, take a look at this recently published reference guide from the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):



10 Things To Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web



A useful guide, if you're going to be using the Web to find health information--and you can even print it out for future reference!

What's Your Flu I.Q.?

Think it's too late to get a flu shot? Think again! That's only one of the vital facts you'll learn about this devastating disease and how to prevent it, when you take the CDC's interactive Flu I.Q. quiz in the "widget" below. And when you finish, don't forget to click share at the bottom of the quiz so you can let others know about it! (For more information on this widget and others like it, see: CDC.gov Widgets and Gadgets).

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #26

This week's quiz features a series of true/false questions about Facebook. How familiar are you with the terminology associated with this increasingly popular social networking site? Let's see!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #26

1. Generally speaking, when you "poke" someone on Facebook, you're trying to get their attention.


True

False




2. The section of a user's profile page where you can post a message is called "the wall."


True

False




3. When you post what you're doing, or what's on your mind, that's known as a "status update."


True

False




4. A "friend request" is not the same thing as a "poke" on Facebook.


True

False




5. The "news feed" is an important Facebook feature located on a user's home page.


True

False

Good luck!

Next Stop: Mars!

Question: How are you ever going to take a tour of Mars if you're past the age when you can enroll in the space program and wouldn't recognize a Mars land rover if it was parked in your driveway?

Answer: Download the latest version of Google Earth and a tour of the Red Planet is just a few clicks away! The Google produced video below shows you step-by-step how to explore the Martian surface right from the comfort of your computer chair:

Humor Is A Hamster Named Hammy

Have you gone organic yet? Hammy the hamster has, and he's got a video on YouTube to prove it. But should the video really be regarded as conclusive evidence that Hammy's palate has a preference for organic? Who cares? You'll be laughing too hard to debate it!