TOTP - Top Ten Software You Cant Live Without

From a web developers perspective these are on the shortlist for peices of handy software that will save you time and wristache, Rob brings you his list of the 10 great bits of software:-

• 10 - Puretext - http://stevemiller.net/puretext
• 9 - Cookie Monster - http://www.tucows.com/preview/320753
• 8 - Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
• 7 - Objectdock - http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock
• 6 - Picasa - http://picasa.google.com/index.html
• 5 - VideoLAN - http://www.videolan.org/
• 4 - Textpad - http://www.textpad.com/
• 3 - Real Alternative - http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm
• 2 - NetTransport - http://www.xi-soft.com/default.htm
• 1 - Foxit Reader - http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

These have all been tried and tested for many hours without any problem, it you get any issues please contact the developers and not us! Email topofthepods@gmail.com with other things though, such as your top ten lists or just to say a nice big hello.

We also mentioned Microsoft Max - http://www.microsoft.com/max - it views your JPEGs in lovely 3D fashion, and a great way to melt your graphics card. The colour picker for web designers is called Pixie and you can download it for free at http://www.nattyware.com/pixie.html.

The other thing we talked about was the BBC 'Have Your Say' form - please spend 5 minutes filling this in and you really can drag Auntie into this century.

Follow all the items Jon has for sale on ebay on our comments board, when he's sold his PS2 I'm sure there will be more stuff to follow.

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Ways To Become An Absolute Computer Dork

James Gardner sent us this list of the ten ways to spot a computer dork. How well do you score?:-

• 10 - Have a print out on your wall from Google maps of Cupertino.
• 9 - Complain to the BBC more than once a week.
• 8 - Think a duck's quack doesn't echo.
• 7 - Wear a slashdot T-Shirt on a first date.
• 6 - Know what yEnc, LAME, BSD, MozDev and OSS are acronyms for.
• 5 - Tell people about Adam Curry and expect them to be enthusiastic.
• 4 - Have a gmail account.
• 3 - Ask the lazy disinterested teenage shop assistant in PC world about Linux just so you can tell them what it is and why you hate Microsoft.
• 2 - Say "LOL" and "ROFLMAO" in normal conversation.
• 1 - Never leave the house and have no friends.

Want us to read out your list? Then email it to topofthepods@gmail.com, we'll read it out on http://www.topofthepods.com/. We also talked about http://www.proporta.com/, where you can get 10% off with the magical TOTP10 coupon code. Oh, George Clooney and Micheal Douglas pay a visit too and explain podcasting in their own dignified fashion.

Tech Tags: nerd geek Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Negative Things About The Music Industry

He's Sam, he's 14, he's male, he's from Reading and he's mad. He's mad about the music industry, and who isn't? They charge us English three times the amount that you pay anywhere else in the world for exactly the same load of old tosh:-

• 10 - Unfair Advertising.
• 9 - Multiple Greatest Hits Releases.
• 8 - Reality TV Artists.
• 7 - Flavour Of The Month Bands.
• 6 - Great Bands, Rubbish Singer.
• 5 - Scenesters.
• 4 - Band Labelling.
• 3 - The Same Sample/Drum Loop Used On Every Other Song.
• 2 - High Prices For Downloads.
• 1 - Image And Controversy.

The two very cheap legal music download web sites mentioned in the show are http://www.mp3search.ru/ and http://www.allofmp3.com/ - you can treat your mp3 player with the money you've saved with these services on some accessories from http://www.proporta.com/ using the coupon code TOTP10 with 10% off. How about a nice pouch, some new retractable headphones or a protective case?

For any Top Ten Google lists please email them to topofthepods@gmail.com and make sure you CC a copy to adsense-adclicks-uk@google.com - they are the google team that strive for control of the web and we are sure they want your feedback on how they can improve things even more. They certainly don't want Top of the Pods included on their internet though. Maybe that should be on your Google list?

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Soldiers You Would Want On Your Side In A Battle

Thanks to Chung from London we have been sent the definitive list of the top ten film soldiers that you want on your side:-

• 10 - Private Jackson (Saving Private Ryan)
• 9 - Gunnery Sgt. Tom 'Gunny' Highway (Heartbreak Ridge)
• 8 - Capt. Virgil "The Cooler King" Hilts (The Great Escape)
• 7 - Private Hudson (Aliens)
• 6 - John Patrick Mason (The Rock)
• 5 - Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Top Gun)
• 4 - Private Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
• 3 - Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (The A-Team)
• 2 - Major "Dutch" Schaefer (Predator)
• 1 - John Rambo (Rambo - First Blood Part 2)

As mentioned at the start of this show, today's podcast is recorded in the MP3 Surround Sound Format. To experience the 5.1 surround sound you will need a sound-card with around 6 speakers hanging out of the back and some special software. You can download the mp3 surround player from www.mp3surround-format.com, available for Windows 2000, XP and Mac OS X - you'll also get the WinAmp plug-ins with the Windows version.

The show itself is slightly larger than a regular stereo MP3 of similar quality. Don't worry if you don't own the necessary hardware, you should still be able to listen to the show on your normal mp3 players. This is an experiment and we need your feedback, so please use the comments board on www.topofthepods.com or email us at topofthepods@gmail.com. Remember, you need the hardware, software and original MP3 file - if your podcasting client converts the file into AAC for example then it will loose all the additional surround data, so ensure that the player is using the original file downloaded from our server.

Tech Tags: soldiers surround sound mp3 surround Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Misconceptions About Australia

This one goes out to Leanne, a workmate of Klaus - the ten things that the rest of the world gets wrong about those lovely Australians:-

• 10 - The fastest sport in Australia are the koala-bear-races
• 9 - Kangaroos are used as shopping bags
• 8 - All men are named Bruce
• 7 - Every Australian person has its own sheep farm
• 6 - Instead of formal elections a didgeridoo-contest is held - the winner will be the prime-minister
• 5 - They have only one category of driving license that includes small planes and road trains
• 4 - Their army is equipped only with boomerangs
• 3 - The land is completely flat except Ayers rock
• 2 - Australia is still a colony of convicts
• 1 - Australia is a separate continent because they have no real friends

Its October the 1st - we need your support on Podcast Alley - vote for us at http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=2992. It's free, quick and easy and makes us look good against the big guys in podcasting who get paid for their shows. What do we get? Nout. Not a dickie bird. But you can change all that - please head over to www.proporta.com and claim your 10% discount using TOTP10 - not just if you have a PDA, but they also provide every other accessory for your mp3 player and gaming device. We line up these great offers for you all and we need you to do is buy a christmas present a few weeks early.

Did we mention Mondays show? Its a podcasting first...

Tech Tags: Australia Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Worst Places To Use The Toilet

We've beeped everything out of this show that made any sense, so as not to rule out any potential sponsorship from Disney. This show really went down the pan after we started reading out Jeremys' list about 10 places not to use the toilet:-

• 10 - Shopping mall
• 9 - Concert
• 8 - Work
• 7 - New girlfriends
• 6 - Airplane
• 5 - Outdoors
• 4 - Airport
• 3 - Ballpark
• 2 - Bar
• 1 - Enclosureless

We're about a day behind with the shows, so last nights is today's. Tonight's show might get done tonight, it might get done tomorrow. Its just crazy.

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Worst Subjects At School

Ratboy sent us his list of the subjects that he really doesn't get on with at school. In England the term 'Ratboy' (coined by popular anti-everything newspaper The Daily Mail) refers to a 12 year old Artful Dodger type that breaks into your house, nicks your video then leaves dog mess on your dining room rug because he's not at school - after reading this list we are convinced this listener could be inclined to do so:-

• 10 - Technology
• 9 - English Language
• 8 - Chemistry
• 7 - History
• 6 - Music
• 5 - Religious Studies
• 4 - Physical Education
• 3 - English Literature
• 2 - Modern Languages
• 1 - Physics

What was your worst subject at school? Is there something Ratboy forgot (apart from nicking your jewelery and CD collection too)? Then let us know using the technological gift of the discussion board on the www.topofthepods.com web site.

Tech Tags: The Daily Mail daily racist propaganda newspaper Ratboy school truant Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Japanese Animes

We are so sorry for our total lack of knowledge with Animes, we would especially like to say sorry to Ninereeds for the top ten list that was sent to topofthepods@gmail.com as we made a real mess of todays show:-

• 10 - Cardcaptor Sakura
• 9 - Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
• 8 - Magical Canan
• 7 - Genesis of Aquarion
• 6 - Pretty Cure
• 5 - UFO Princess Valkyrie
• 4 - Gundam Seed Destiny
• 3 - Rockman EXE
• 2 - Final Fantasy Unlimited
• 1 - Azumanga Daioh

Do you own a Pocket PC, Palm, iPod, iRiver, Creative, Sony, Nintendo or PSP? If you want to look after them and release their full potential then why not visit http://www.proporta.com/, http://www.proportamusic.com/ and www.proportagame.com and use your special Top of the Pods coupon code - just enter TOTP10 to claim 10% off your Proporta order.

Tech Tags: proporta Japanese Anime Japanese Anime Animes Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Uses For Your PDA

Rob brings you ten things you should be using your PDA for other than just remembering telephone numbers :-

• 10 - Mobile video player - TCPMP
• 9 - Web browsing - Streethawk and WiFiFoFum
• 8 - Recording for podcasting - NoteM
• 7 - Voice recognition - Microsoft Voice
• 6 - Connect it to the car - Magnetic Vehicle Docking Mount
• 5 - Mobile email checking
• 4 - GPS - Tom Tom Navigator
• 3 - MP3 Player - GS Player from Green Software
• 2 - Skype - Skype for the Pocket PC
• 1 - RSS Reader / Podcast Client - PocketRSS

We'd like to tell you all about a great show called The Small Fry Podcast at http://smallfrypodcast.libsyn.com that plays tunes from Singapores independent music scene.

If you'd like to Pimp Your PDA then the friendly people at Proporta have set up a coupon code that gives you 10% off! Just use the code TOTP10 before the 31st of December 2005 with any of their web sites - www.proporta.com, www.proportamusic.com and www.proportagame.com.

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Songs Considered Worthy Endings To A Night Of Drunkeness

James knows how to annoy his neighbours in Gloucester after a few too many beers, he sent us his list of the ten songs that make the perfect ending to an beer fuelled evening:-

• 10 - Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Various/Hymn
• 9 - Don't Stop Me Know - Queen
• 8 - You'll Never Walk Alone - Righteous Brothers - and other artists
• 7 - Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O'Connor
• 6 - Yesterday - Beatles
• 5 - We Are The Champions - Queen
• 4 - Robbie Williams - Angels
• 3 - Hey Jude - Beatles
• 2 - Wonderwall - Oasis
• 1 - Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Mark from the Tartan Podcast took advantage of entering his email address into www.firebox.com/topofthepods to receive five pounds off his purchase of some Thinking Putty. After just 24 hours he received his great Firebox toy and took some photos which you can see on his flickr page - if you are the first person to video or photograph a new item on the Firebox site they'll send you another £10 gift voucher too. How cool?

No show tomorrow, but back soon with more top ten lists. Have a good weekend everyone, feel free to skype us at topofthepods.

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten British Films Of All Time

The wonderful Billy knows his movies - he has kindly compiled his list of the greatest British films of all time. We've been racking our brains trying to work out which ones we have missed out - share with everyone on our comments board what you think the best British films were:-

• 10 - The 39 Steps
• 9 - Trainspotting
• 8 - The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and her Lover
• 7 - If....
• 6 - Don't Look Now
• 5 - Withnail and I
• 4 - The Ipcress File
• 3 - Scum
• 2 - Brief Encounter
• 1 - The Third Man

By the way, if you haven't got an Airzooka yet then please get one from www.firebox.com/topofthepods (you'll get a fiver off) - its been causing mayhem here at Top Of The Pods towers and we think it should be doing the same where you work too.

Tech Tags: british+films british+film film movie movies Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Criminally Snubbed Comedians

The very kind and helpful Sir Paul Hutchinson noted the Jon and Rob totally ignored some comedians in previous comedy lists, so he sent us his Top Ten comedians that 'should have been' (the fact that half of them haven't been heard of in the UK has nothing to do with it...) :-

• 10 - Bill Cosby
• 9 - Jim Carrey
• 8 - Mike Myers
• 7 - Jamie Foxx
• 6 - Lewis Black
• 5 - Ray Romano
• 4 - Jeff Foxworthy
• 3 - Robin Williams
• 2 - Jon Stewart
• 1 - Chris Rock

We'd like to thank Paul for all his hard work helping out with bits and bobs for the Top of the Pods podcast, send your lists to topofthepods@gmail.com if you can think of some really original, entertaining and thought provoking content.

Tech Tags: comedy comedians Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Mashups From The Mashup Podcast

Ross, the brains behind The Mashup Podcast found at www.mashuppodcast.co.uk kindly sent us his top ten mashups. We've added links to the mashup artists websites (we couldn't possibly do links to the actual songs and artists), and there are plenty more tunes that you can check out:-

• 10 - My Name Is Turn Around
• 9 - Son of a Preacher Man
• 8 - Bohemian Love You
• 7 - Original Cold Scrubs
• 6 - Stop Trying
• 5 - Fit but you Know It
• 4 - Word Up To The Rasmus
• 3 - Boulevard of Broken Songs
• 2 - Return Of The Weather Episode
• 1 - Intro-Inspection osymyso

Did we mention if you go to www.firebox.com/topofthepods you'll get a whole five english pounds off anything on their web site?

Tech Tags: mashup+podcast mashups mashup Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Office Chaos Causing Products

Its Friday everyone, and if you are like us on a Friday in an office, then working is the last thing on your mind. After an extended lunch break in the pub you are probably all sitting around with nothing better to do but read this. Well you don't have to be bored any longer, those nice people from Firebox have sent a list of ten things you might want to get hold of to cause as much mayhem as possible in that drab dreary grey office you reside in:-

• 10 - Shot Blade Launcher
• 9 - Stinger Missile Launcher
• 8 - Missile Launcher
• 7 - Star Wars Force FX Lightsaber
• 6 - RC Dalek
• 5 - Real Driver RC Car
• 4 - Robosapien V2
• 3 - Airzooka
• 2 - Horse Racing Deluxe
• 1 - Bladerunner II Helicopter

"Oh no" we hear you cry "I could have afforded one of those if I didn't spend that five pounds at lunchtime on a drink". Well fortunatly the people at Firebox are offering every Top of the Pods listener a free five pounds gift voucher, so head over to www.firebox.com/topofthepods, punch in the old email address and you'll automatically get sent a five pound gift voucher. How cool is that?

Tech Tags: offer voucher gizmos boys+toys gadgets firebox Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Women Who Should Have Been Born Male

Diane complained that we never do any shows for women, but this show is going to prove her wrong. We asked you all to email topofthepods@gmail.com with your lists, and Gordon from Glasgow sent us his list of women who are a total waste of space. We are inclined to agree with him, fill up that comments page found at www.topofthepods.com with your thoughts and suggestions on the subject:-

• 10 - Paris Hilton
• 9 - Mary Phelps Jacob
• 8 - Avril Lavigne
• 7 - Lily Savage
• 6 - Jordan
• 5 - Anne Robinson
• 4 - Rhona Martin
• 3 - Jennifer Lopez
• 2 - Jade Goody
• 1 - Maggie Thatcher

Tech Tags: Paris Hilton Avril Lavine Jennifer Lopez Anne Robinson Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Reasons To Come To Podcastcon

Podcast Paul from www.podcastpaul.com is likely to join forces with Mark from www.tartanpodcast.com to sue us guys after todays show. Here at ten great reasons to visit Berners Hotel on Oxford Street in London on September the 17th:-

• 10 - It promotes podcasting and raises interest
• 9 - You can have a beer an a curry afterwards
• 8 - You have something to look forward to
• 7 - You get a break from the Mrs and kids
• 6 - You’ll learn a whole load more about podcasting
• 5 - You can be a geek in company and not worry about it
• 4 - You get a cracking day out in London for £30
• 3 - You get to see what your podcasting mates (and listeners) are like
• 2 - You can be part of history by saying you were there RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING
• 1 - You get to meet the podcasters - including the excellent John & Rob!

For more details about Podcastcon please visit http://www.podcastcon.co.uk.

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten SciFi Totty

Rowland from Dark Compass has been up to his usual tricks, this time combining his two hobbies (scifi and looking at the ladies) to bring us his top ten list of the nicest looking girls in science fiction. We've popped some pretty good pictures on the spoilers, so please take the effort to look:-

• 10 - Barbarella
• 9 - Seven of Nine
• 8 - Priest
• 7 - Aeon flux
• 6 - LeeLoo
• 5 - Deanna Troi
• 4 - Princess Leah
• 3 - Female Terminator
• 2 - Dana Scully
• 1 - Trinity

We'd also like to thank Paul H for all the kind work he's been doing to help us out by submitting Top of the Pods to pretty much every podcast directory there is - if there are any that have been missed out then please be our guest.

Tech Tags: totty sci+fi scifi science fiction Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten White Lies

Good old Giles from Australia loves telling fibs, purely to keep relationships going (Mrs Giles beware...). Here is his top ten list of white lies, we'd like you all to admit to how many you are guilty off on the comments board:-

• 10 – Age
• 9 – Does my bum look big in this?
• 8 – Do you know the way?
• 7 – Do you like the present?
• 6 – Partner’s friends/parents
• 5 – The new kid looks beautiful
• 4 – Do you like my new hair cut?
• 3 - Technical knowledge
• 2 – The Resume
• 1 – How much longer till you’re ready?

Now as you are probably all listening to this on a Friday and clearly have nothing better to do than to download our FREE podcasts you can AT LEAST vote for Top of the Pods at Podcast Alley - we are falling rapidly down the charts and need your votes fast before we fall out completely. We have over 500 listeners, surely a handful of you must have some spare time to get us into the top ten? We'd be featured in the Top Ten podcasts charts - suitable we think considering the nature of our show.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR TOP OF THE PODS AT PODCAST ALLEY

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Reasons Why Nintendo Are Not A Failed Company

A podcasting first, someone presents the whole show whilst battling hiccups. We apologise not only for Jons contribution to the bad sound quality, not only for Jons repetition of the word 'rubbish' but for Jons treatment to Chris from Felixstowe. Chris sent this wonderful list defending a dying company to topofthepods@gmail.com, and we would love to hear more from him soon:-

• 10 – The Rumble Pack
• 9 – The D-Pad
• 8 – Wireless Control Pads
• 7 – The Analogue Stick
• 6 – Mascots
• 5 – Pokemon
• 4 – The Gameboy
• 3 - Profit on consoles
• 2 – The DS
• 1 – The Playstation

Tech Tags: Nintendo Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists topofthepods

TOTP - Top Ten Inventions We Should Have By Now

Judith from Gettysburg has so kindly produced this list (we've been sitting on it for months waiting for the right moment) - its those inventions we should have, but don't yet. If you like, you can be like Judith and email us your lists of topofthepods@gmail.com and we'll read it out to fellow listeners:-

• 10 – Videophones
• 9 – Kitchens of the future
• 8 – Moon and space colony
• 7 – Transporters
• 6 – Jet packs
• 5 – Replicators
• 4 – World peace
• 3 - Miraculous medical advances
• 2 – Robot maids
• 1 – Flying cars

Oh, did we plug www.firebox.com enough? They sell gadgets you know, and if you buy from them be sure to mention this show.

Tech Tags: Podcast Podcasting Podcasts iPod daily Daily Life Top+Of+The+Pods Top+10 Top+Ten Top+10+list Top+Ten+lists top+ten+lists topofthepods