Cool Tool!

Username Check is a free, and fast, web tool that searches by username on over 60 membership websites.

Monday ORB Roundup

• Pew Internet Report on Search Engine Use

• Internet Speed in the U.S. behind the rest of the world. (Full Report: PDF)

• EveryBlock adds Seattle, Boston, and Washington D.C.

• Phelps Frame-by-Frame.

Friday ORB Roundup

• Your Guide to the iPhone from MediaShift.

• Gas myths and tips compiled by a Massachusetts librarian.

• Human Rights Watch put together a Reporters’ Guide to Covering the Beijing Olympics (PDF)

• Consult downforeveryoneorjustme.com, to help you answer that question.

• June 2008 U.S. Search Engine Rankings.
  

• Bee Boy Mayhem (fun & informative).

Elections Video Search by Google

The Elections Video Search Google Gadget uses speech recognition software to transcribe and index political speeches. Using the gadget you can search spoken content in transcribed videos from YouTube’s Politicians Channel. Not only are you able to search on the text used in speeches, but once the words are found you then can quickly jump to the portion of the video you are most interested in.

This new search tool was just launched this week so expect some glitches.

SeeqPod – Music Search Engine

I spent some time checking out SeeqPod (as promised) – I was happy that I did. This is my new favorite site. Why? Because I love music, but more importantly because I am a news researcher and SeeqPod is a killer MP3 search engine.

Anyone who tried the music search engines from a few years ago would have been disappointed with the volume of broken links in the search results. SeeqPod doesn’t just find links, it finds playable MP3’s. I am not saying there aren’t any broken links, just that I haven’t found any. Also because the music listed is hosted on other sites the quality isn’t always perfect, but again, I have had great results so far. And, it not only finds what you are are looking for but offers suggestions based on your search. This is especially helpful if you aren’t sure of the correct spelling of an artist.

SeeqPod also succeeds in its presentation. Search results are presented in a simple search box on one side of the screen. The other side is a moving tracker of the site’s latest finds. Click the options button to embed a playlist or to find out more about the artist or song, including lyrics. Although, I had the least success with the lyric feature.

My one quip with their presentation is that I had to try too hard to find the pre-filled playlist feature. Not good for new users because the playlists are a great way for users to get a feel for the site and the quality and variety of music on it.

As with other Web 2.0 companies, SeeqPod is currently in the middle of lawsuit. Warner Music Group has sued SeeqPod (docket, PDF) over copyright infringement (complaint, PDF). Read more about this slightly unique lawsuit at the Listening Post, Bit Player, and the Electronic Freedom Frontier.