Top 25 Websites That Make You Cleverer

1. Duolingo

• http://www.duolingo.com/
• This isn’t the first time I’ve recommended this language-teaching website (and app), and it certainly won’t be the last.
• Duolingo is a free version of Rosetta-Stone that delivers the same results: teaching you another language.
• Regular use of the site can have you speaking and writing Spanish, English, German, French, Portuguese and Italian in a matter of months depending on the diligence you put into it. Hopefully, even more languages will become available soon.

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2. Khan Academy

• https://www.khanacademy.org/
• Have you ever wanted to pick up a subject you’re not well-versed in, but you didn’t have the money to invest in a college course? Khan Academy aims to provide education at the collegiate level for anyone who wants  it.
• They provide resources for learning pretty much every subject out there, including math, science, history and more.
• As you learn, the platform will even assess your progress and help you gauge what you’ve learned.

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3. Justin Guitar

• http://justinguitar.com/
• Guitar is one of the few instruments out there that’s actually pretty easy to learn if you’re a little older, making it one of the most accessible instruments.
• Still, learning how to play still takes some direction, at least for most people, so a guy named Justin decided he was going to help out.
• His website provides hundreds of free guitar lessons that range in different styles, depending on how you want to play.
• His schedule for learning is pretty easy to follow, and the site  is a great stepping stone for people wanting to pick the instrument up.

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4. Cooking for Engineers

• http://www.cookingforengineers.com/
• Founded by Michael Chu, Cooking for Engineers goes further than just providing recipes.
• The site is a blog that is geared toward making you food taste good.
• Additionally, his analytical take on ingredients and cooking recipes is interesting and will likely change the way you  approach cuisine

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5. The Dating Specialist

• http://www.thedatingspecialist.com/
• Nick the Dating Specialist is a website that wants to help guys be better dates.
• The site is full of advice on how to approach social situations and flirt successfully with different types of people.
• Nick even offers personal coaching at your request, so he can help your specific situation or hurdle to successful dating.

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6. Nerd Fitness

• http://www.nerdfitness.com/
• When we think of exercising and gym techniques, we typically think of bodybuilders and jocks from high school.
• Nerd Fitness aims to provide resources for getting in shape from a nerd’s point of view.
• All of the guides, blogs and fitness tips on this site have a geek flavor that is intended to make anyone who feels uncomfortable at the gym feel right at home here.

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7. MIT Open Courseware

• http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
• As much as I would love an education at MIT, that isn’t really in the cards.
• Thankfully, the educators at the Massachusetts Institue of  Technology decided to give out information for tons of courses online through Open Courseware.
• Hundreds of millions of people have benefitted from the information that they can learn from these courses, starting a  trend for other sites to offer free courses as well.

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8. Investopedia

• http://www.investopedia.com/
• I don’t like to admit it, but my lack of a business degree tends to make me feel easily intimidated when a conversation starts taking a turn for the financial.
• To solve this, Investopedia was born to provide a news  blog that makes it easy to digest and really understand the financial markets.
• There are tons of resources like tutorials and videos that will  help you keep up with the ever-changing world of money, and the news stories will keep you coming back for more.

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9. Quora

• http://www.quora.com/

• Quora converts addictive behavior, ego and life experience into collective intelligence. 

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10. Information is Beautiful

• http://www.informationisbeautifu...
• I love reading, but sometimes a visual demonstration just makes information come alive.
• Hence, Information is Beautiful is a platform that uses gorgeous visuals to impart data.
• For example, if you want to find out how much money individual organizations have lost from data breaches, you can view an action visual that shows bubbles that are labeled and sized accordingly, giving you an in-depth, but easy to  digest overview of the data.

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11. Spreeder

• http://spreeder.com/
• According to Spreeder, a lot of us have trouble reading quickly because we can only read as fast as our “inner voice” can.
• Spreeder’s solution is to teach you to read without an inner voice, boosting reading speed and comprehension immensely. The best part? It’s totally free.

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12. Project Gutenberg

• http://www.gutenberg.org/
• Imagine a library with tons of free books that you can keep for the rest of your life.
• Actually, you don’t have to imagine that because Project  Gutenberg gives you the ability to download thousands of free e-books, and it’s completely legal.

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13. Codeacademy

• http://www.codecademy.com/
• If you haven’t noticed by now, the Internet has pretty much taken over everything, which means the skill of coding and developing websites is in higher demand than ever, and that’s not likely to change.
• With Codeacademy, you can use free tutorials that teach you the basics of coding with interactive and handy tools for helping you become an  expert.

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14. GeographyIQ

• http://www.geographyiq.com/
• Imagine if Google Earth and Wikipedia decided to make it official and have a child.
• That would be GeographyIQ. Using the world map, you can  select any country and access virtually every facet of useful  information there is about that country, including history, currency, population and more.

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15. Anki

• http://ankisrs.net/
• It’s no secret that the key to memorizing information is mastering recall.
• With flashcards, you can recall things faster, making Anki an  ideal resource for using flashcards online.
• Unlike other sites that use  flashcards, Anki allows you embed more than just text.
• You can use video, audio and images to help you start studying faster and smarter.

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16. Lumosity

• http://www.lumosity.com/
• Using games to learn is something I’ve treasured since Kindergarten, making Lumosity a trusted resource for me and countless others.
• Using a daily schedule of games, Lumosity is literally designed to make you more clever.
• As you progress, the software figures out what your strengths  and weaknesses (such as memory or math skills) and assigns you games  accordingly. The best part is that the games are actually addicting and fun to look forward to!

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17. TED

• http://www.ted.com/
• For years, people have been benefitting from TED talks that provide free insights from the world’s smartest people.
• TED provides the value and  learning growth of a seminar, but without the exorbitant costs and travel expenses, by providing visitors with tons of free video lectures. 
• The app is also great for catching up on the latest talks, and you can even download some on iTunes.

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18. CliffsNotes

• http://www.cliffsnotes.com/
• Ideal for high school and college students, Cliffsnotes provides  valuable resources like study guides and test prep for standard books and subjects you’ll have to read anyway.
• The site also provides resources for math and science, giving you the chance to finally master the dark arts of homework.

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19. Pinfruit

• http://pinfruit.com/
• Need to memorize a lengthy number? Pinfruit analyzes the number and  provides all of the options you could want as a mnemonic device.
• That’s all there is to it, since (unfortunately) they only provide this for numbers and not words.

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20. Mindtools

• http://www.mindtools.com/index.html
• There are countless blogs that you can enjoy for being interesting and mildly useful, but how many of them actually help you with your career? Mindtools is a blog that teaches you what they call “practical career skills” that you can apply at your job.
• This is a great daily read for  entry-level workers who want to make a great impression, and the variety  of topics and advice provided make this is a fantastic bookmark for  anyone wanting to excel.

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21. Learn Street

• http://www.learnstreet.com/
• Want to take your coding skills to the next level? Learn Street helps teach you how to use advanced coding scripts such as JavaScript, Python and Ruby without making your head explode.
• It even provides a service  for helping you teach advanced code to others.

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22. HowStuffWorks

• http://www.howstuffworks.com/
• There are things we want to know about, and then there are things we didn’t know we wanted to know about.
• HowStuffWorks addresses the latter by providing information on a variety of topics and eye-opening facts that will broaden your horizons.

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23. The World Factbook

• https://www.cia.gov/library/publ...
• Did you know that the CIA has information on pretty much everything in the world? Okay, but did you know that they make a ton of this information open to the public? The World Factbook is your godsend for research, allowing you to cite facts and details that pertain to a seemingly endless amount of information from reputable sources.

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24. OneLook

• http://www.onelook.com/
• Finding a great dictionary is not a difficult task in a world full of search engines, but it can be tricky to define more complicated words and phrases that most dictionaries (besides UrbanDictionary) don’t attempt to define.
• With OneLook, you can find multiple definitions from  numerous dictionaries in one place, even if you’re looking up a phrase that is obscure or too specific for normal dictionaries to help you out with.

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25. Couchsurfing

• https://www.couchsurfing.org/
• Don’t let the name fool you, as Couchsurfing is far from a website that will make you lazy.
• Couchsurfing lets you connect with travelers all  over the world and is the ultimate resource for experiencing other  cultures.
• Put simply, you can use the social network to meet locals in a new community you are visiting.
• You can also open up your home to fellow couchsurfers, giving you the chance to make new experiences and memories with fascinating people from all over the globe.

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Coursera

• https://www.coursera.org
• Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities  and organizations worldwide, to offer courses online for anyone to take,  for free.
• Choose from 400+ courses created by the world’s top educational institutions.

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edX

• https://www.edx.org/
• EdX offers interactive online classes and MOOCs from the world’s best  universities.
• Online courses from MITx, HarvardX, BerkeleyX, UTx and  many other universities.
• EdX is a non-profit online initiative created by founding partners Harvard and MIT

Apple releases iOS 7.1.1 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Apple on Tuesday issued a new update for its wildly popular mobile operating system. iOS 7.1.1
, which is available immediately over the air (OTA) and should show up soon as a download through iTunes, is a minor update with bug fixes that follows Apple’s last major release, iOS 7.1. The update is compatible with the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s and iPhone 4, as well as recent iPad and iPod touch models. Apple’s brief change log for the iOS 7.1.1 update follows below.
- Further improvements to Touch ID fingerprint recognition
- Fixes a bug that could impact keyboard responsiveness
- Fixes an issue when using Bluetooth keyboards with VoiceOver enabled

Google Shows New Designs for Its Modular Smartphones

Google revealed new details about its plans for Project Ara, the company's highly anticipated Android-powered modular smartphone at its Project Ara developers conference Tuesday.
The conference aims to give developers a better understanding of how they can take advantage of the platform, and elaborates on the guidelines revealed to them last week when Google released its Module Developers Kit.

Paul Eremenko, head of Project Ara, said two more developers conferences are planned for July and September of this year, and the first smartphones are expected to ship next January. Android will be updated in December, prior to the release of the phones, to support Ara's modular components.
Eremenko said the first phone released will be a generic "gray phone," which will cost developers about $50 to make. However, he did not reveal what the eventual retail price would be. The phone will be purposely designed to be "drab" to encourage owners to be creative, and personalize their devices, Eremenko added
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Users will be able to use the Ara Configurator to create their own custom look for each of the phone's individual modules. Onstage, Project Ara's team showed off a few examples of the design possibilities.
For example, users can import photos into Ara's Configurator, which will create a personalized design based off of the color palette in the images. Or, they can create customized 3D-printed textures for the surface of their device's modules. These textures, which can only be placed on the top surface of modules, are designed to be easily replaceable, so users can swap them out when they want a new design.

Google Acquires Titan Aerospace

Google has acquired Titan Aerospace, the drone startup that makes high-flying robots which was previously scoped by Facebook as a potential acquisition target  the WSJ reports. The details of the purchase weren’t disclosed, but the deal comes after Facebook disclosed its own purchase of a Titan Aerospace competitor in U.K.-based Ascenta for its globe-spanning Internet plans.
Both Ascenta and Titan Aerospace are in the business of high altitude drones, which cruise nearer the edge of the earth’s atmosphere and provide tech that could be integral to blanketing the globe in cheap, omnipresent Internet connectivity to help bring remote areas online. According to the WSJ, Google will be using Titan Aerospace’s expertise and tech to contribute to Project Loon, the balloon-based remote Internet delivery project it’s currently working on along these lines.
That’s not all the Titan drones can help Google with, however. The company’s robots also take high-quality images in real-time that could help with Maps initiatives, as well as contribute to things like “disaster relief” and addressing “deforestation,” a Google spokesperson tells WSJ. The main goal, however, is likely spreading the potential reach of Google and its network, which is Facebook’s aim, too. When you saturate your market and you’re among the world’s most wealthy companies, you don’t go into maintenance mode; you build new ones.
As for why an exit to Google looked appealing to a company like Titan, Sarah Perez outlines how Titan had sparked early interest from VCs thanks to its massive drones, which were capable of flying at a reported altitude of 65,000 feet for up to three years, but how there was also a lot of risk involved that would’ve made it difficult to find sustained investment while remaining independent.
Google had just recently demonstrated how its Loon prototype balloons could traverse the globe in a remarkably short period of time, but the use of drones could conceivably make a network of Internet-providing automotons even better at globe-trotting, with a higher degree of control and ability to react to changing conditions. Some kind of hybrid system might also be in the pipeline that marries both technologies.
Titan Aerospace also represents just the latest in a string of robotics acquisitions Google has been making lately, which include Boston Dynamics and seven other companies purchased to help fuel its experimental robotics program under Andy Rubin. There’s no question Google has bots on the brain, but thanks to Loon ambitions, the reasoning behind the Titan buy might be the most transparent yet.

Google's Android TV

Google has plans for another smart TV product, according to a report in The Verge.
Apparently this set top box will be less ambitious and easier to use than one of the company’s previous initiatives, Google TV. In the words of Google documents that The Verge said it has obtained, “Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing platform.”
The idea is to give users a simple interface for accessing entertainment content and lightweight apps. The most distinctive feature, it seems, is a recommendation system that will suggest content to users as soon as they turn the device on.
There are no details about a launch date, but the documents suggest that Google is currently recruiting developers to build apps for Android TV. These plans shouldn’t affect Google Chromecast, another of the company’s efforts to build a TV platform.

Google's own wireless network

Google Fiber has proven to be an extremely popular little venture for the search company and soon it might also start its own wireless network.

The Information reports that Google executives have discussed their recent hopes to offer a full-fledged wireless service in areas where Google Fiber internet and TV service already exist.

Two sources that sat in on these discussions revealed existing Google Fiber customers in locations like Kansas City, Missouri could also get mobile voice and internet access.

There were not further details on whether this service would be included for no extra charge or when this Google mobile network would roll out. However, the two sources said the company was interested in buying large chunks of existing mobile networks and reselling them to customers. Google purportedly spoke to Verizon in early 2014 as well as Sprint early 2013.

If Google were to undertake the venture, it would essentially become a mobile virtual network operator like AT&T or TMobile.

Android history and it's versions

The Android OS was first released in September 2008. Google rolls out new versions of Android on a frequent basis, but has no set time for each future version. Some of the in-between versions were never released commercially.
It typically takes manufacturers 6 to 12 months after a specific Android Software Development Kit (SDK) release to deliver products using that version, so the vendor can complete custom additions, interface code and QA the device. Although not supported by manufacturers, it is often possible to install a newer OS version into a 'rooted' device.

In September 2013, version 4.4 was announced. This release uses the new code-name of Kit Kat. Areas that are new or improved include:       Just say "Ok Google" to start voice operations When playing music or videos, lock screen shows related art Immersive mode hides everything except the active content Faster multitasking Priority contacts listing Hangouts places all messages in one place Printing

Android Version 4.3 In July 2013, version 4.3 was announced. This release retains the prior release's code-name of Jelly Bean. Areas that are new or improved include: Restricted profiles for tablets Improved Bluetooth power efficency Dial pad autocomplete Improved Right-to-Left language support Faster user switching from lock screen 4K Resolution support

Android Version 4.2 In October 2012, version 4.2 was announced. This release retains the prior release's code-name of Jelly Bean. UI changes and enhancements include: Multiple users for tablets Other areas that are new or improved include: Photo Sphere to take 360 degree images Built-in keyboard gesture typing (like Swype) Daydream to display info while idle or docked                         Beam photos and vidoes

Android Version 4.1 In July 2012, version 4.1 was released. This release is code-named Jelly Bean. UI changes and enhancements include: Improved touch response and transitions Expandable, actionable notifications Adaptive keyboard and guesses Other areas that are new or improved include: Instant review of taken photos External braille input and output via USB Improved Voice search NFC based photo sharing USB audio Google Wallet

Android Version 4.0 In late October 2011, version 4.0 was released. This release is code-named Ice-Cream Sandwich. It merges the 3.x tab centric design and the v2.x phone based design into a single version. Major UI changes and enhancements include: Refined UI Recent Apps selection Home folders and favorites tray Resizable Widgets Lock screen actions Quick Response for calls Network data control Other areas that are new or improved include: Social network improvements Unified calendar Camera and Camcorder changes - face detection, image stabilization, snapshots while video recording, new gallery app with photo editor Browser can get full desktop versions of web sites Improved Email NFC based sharing Face Unlock WiFi-Direct support

Android Version 3.2 In July 2011, Android 3.2 was released. This release is also code-named Honeycomb (like versions 3.1 and 3.0). Enhancements over prior versions include: Further enhancements for Tablets Compatibility zoom for fixed-sized applications Direct application access to SD card file system Extended screen API for managing different screen sizes

Android Version 3.1 In June 2011, Android 3.1 was released. This release is also code-named Honeycomb (like version 3.0) and is targeted at devices with larger screens such as tablets. Enhancements include: UI refinements to navigation and animations USB devices and accessories supported, including mice, keyboards, digital cameras and more. Expanded recent apps list Resizeable Home screen widgets Support for joysticks and gamepads Improved Wi-Fi networking stability, including connection while the screen is off Updated set of standard apps, including browser, gallery calendar, contacts and email. Enterprise support features

Android Version 3.0 In February 2011, the 3.0 SDK was released. This release is code-named Honeycomb and is targeted at devices with larger screens such as tablets. Enhancements include: New UI optimized for tablets includes a new system bar, action bar, customizable home screens and recent apps list Redesigned keyboard for faster more accurate entry Improved text selection, copy and paste Synchronize media files via USB without mounting a USB mass-storage device Support for physical keyboards via Bluetooth or USB Bluetooth tethering allows more devices to share the network connection Updated applications for larger screens including browser, camera, gallery, contact and email Multi-core processor support High-performance 2D and 3D graphic support

Android Version 2.3 In December 2010 the 2.3 SDK was released. This release is code-named Gingerbread. There have also been a stream of minor updates and bug fixes to version 2.3 since it's intial release, with the latest as version 2.3.7 in September 2011. Enhancements from the first 2.3 release include: UI refinements for simplicity and speed Faster, more intuitive text input on the virtual keyboard One-touch word selection and copy/paste Improved power management and power usage status Application status and ability to manually stop applications Internet phone calling Near-Field Communication (NFC) support to read NFC tags New download manager Multiple camera support (i.e. front and rear cameras) Support for barometer, gravity, gyroscope, linear acceleration and rotation vector sensors

Android Version 2.2 In May 2010 the 2.2 SDK was released. This release is code-named Froyo (for Frozen Yogurt). Enhancements include: Camera control improvements with more on-screen buttons Tethering with up to 8 WiFi hotspots or via USB connection Multi-lingual keyboard support allows quick language switching More performance improvements for faster app access and browser speedups Bluetooth improvements including voice dialing, contract sharing, support for bluetooth car and desk docks Numerous enhancements for Microsoft's Exchange, such as remote wipe, calendar support, global address lists and improved security New home screen tips widget

Android Version 2.0 and 2.1 In October 2009, the 2.0 SDK was released, and updated in January 2010 with version 2.1. Few devices were released with v2.0, but v2.1 has been quite popular. These releases were both code-named Eclair. Enhancements include: Improved UI Contact and Account improvements and synchronization Email support for Exchange, supports multiple account aggregation More camera improvements including flash, digital zoom, white balance, scene modes and macro focus Improved virtual keyboard Browser improvements including key functions of HTML5 Improved speed Improvements to Calendar and Google Maps Bluetooth 2.1 support and related Bluetooth features Live wallpapers

Android Version 1.6 The v1.6 Software Development Kit (SDK) was released in September 2009. This release was code-named Donut. Enhancements include: New camera, camcorder and photo gallery interfaces Improved voice search and search experience Support for higher screen resolutions Google turn-by-turn navigation Text to speech engine Multi-touch gesture support VPN (Virtual Private Network) support

Android Version 1.5 This was a major release that was first utilized by a number of manufacturers. It was made available in April 2009, and was code-named Cupcake by Google. Enhancements include: Camcorder support to record and watch videos Ability to easily upload images and videos to Picasa and YouTube A number of Bluetooth improvements Widgets and folders can now be placed on the home screen Animation on various screen transitions On-screen keyboard with text-prediction

Android Version 1.1 This minor update was the first release used in a commercial device, the T-mobile G1, in October 2008.

Android Version 1.0 This first release was made in September 2008, but was not used in any commercially available device.