Webster's recommended sites for 2011

• Lock-a-folder
  WARNING - some readers have reported problems with this. I no longer recommend that you try it until I have established that it works.
• PREY
  An extraordinary piece of software that you load on your laptop – if it is lost or stolen, you can use it to know where it is, lock it, and even switch on the webcam to take a picture of the thief. Sherlock Holmes would love it.
• ISEEK
  A fascinating search engine – great alternative to Google, especially if you are searching for people. I especially like its ability to organise search results by topic, people, places and organisations.
• Crossword solver
  Finish those pesky crosswords – fill in the letters you have and this site will tell you which woirds fit. Cheating, of course, but oddly satisfying.
• Front Pages Today
  Copies of all the newspaper front pages each day – whilst there still are newspapers. Keep up with them without buying them (and hasten their demise…) You can usually read most of the paper online, and pick up the gossip or prejudice of the day.
• Rugby World Cup
  Rugby world cup. ITV have the rugby world cup in September (at least we don’t have to pay Sky to watch) and are warming up what looks like a good website. www.espnscrum.com is also worth following, for facts and figures.
• Online pedometer
  Online pedometer. One of the hundreds of ideas from Gioogle, some bright, some not so bright. Your track your route on the map and it tells you distance – and then you can print out the route.
• WIX
  I’m often asked how a small group can produce a cheap website, and this is the best method I have come across yet – not too technical, and free if you don’t mind their name appearing, but not expensive to remove it.
• Stage Teext
  For the hard of hearing – a site that gives details of theatre performances which are captioned for the benefit of those who can't hear the dialogue
• The National Association of Catholic Families
  Run by Tim Matthews, who the Oldiest readers will recall for the Jack di Manio days of the Today programme on the Home Service. A twice-weekly international news bulletin with over Over 1 million hits in 72 countries worldwide.
• Train Times
  The map shows all trains on the London Underground network in motion in real time. Also, clicking on a station shows a map of that station. Fascinating just to watch, assuming you like trains.
• Pathe Newsreels
  The archive of Pathé Newsreels – not just the ones that made it to the cinema, but hours of film that never did. I found my father in law in a film from 1953.
• Unit Histories
  This website aims to give a full spectrum of data on World War II fighting units, including details on organization, commanders, and literature. It encourages response from enthusiast people who like to contribute to the site with information.
• Heavens above
  This is a bit geeky, but if you are interested in space, it’s fort you. It gives ten day predictions about visible satellites passing overhead on a clear night for any point on the Earth's surface.
• CityWire
  Good source of free information about shares you nmight want to invest in.