With students going back to college, and many attending for the first time the annual struggle of finding resources or content for assignments begins, rather than paying out big money for textbooks to be used once and then shelved why not get the material your looking for from one of the many freely available eLearning websites that are on the internet. To help you with this we put together a short list of the 10 best resource websites available to you!

10. Open Culture www.openculture.com

Open culture has educational content on a wide array of topics as well as writing tips, free text and e-books, 1200 free online courses and free language lessons.

9. Course Buffet www.coursebuffet.com

Course buffet is a massive free online course search engine, the website has a catalogue of course from over 250 universities. The webpage also allows you to compare all of these courses so you can find the correct course for you.

8. EdX www.EdX.org

A huge MOOC (Massive open online courses) platform that offers all of the courses for free to anyone who wants to learn. The website is also partnered with dozens of universities from all around the world.

7. KnowledgeNet www.knowledgenet.com

A great resource website for any who struggle to understand any IT related material, it has information from all of the major companies in the field, like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle and many more.

6. Coursera www.coursera.org

This is one of the most valuable learning resources on the web. Students can find free courses provided by prestigious universities. Courses include humanities, computer science, business, mathematics, biology, and many more.

5. Alison www.alison.com

Completely free online educations tool, all you as the student needs to do is pick a subject to learn. It can also function as a great online resource for completing assignments as it has courses on numerous subjects.

4. Saylor www.saylor.org

Another free online education tool, it even has free textbooks that are free to download and the courses are divided neatly into different sections for easy navigation.

3. OpenLearn www.open.edu/openlearn

This website offers downloadable coursework in lots of different categories like youth and children, languages, business, engineering, and others. And the coursework is available completely free.

2. Google Scholar www.scholar.google.com

Google Scholar sifts through the web’s clutter and targets peer-reviewed and research-based articles, primarily from journals, papers, and other sources create a Google Scholar Library to save searches, retrieve previous discoveries, and search the full text of found reports.

1. Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org

Khan Academy provides free video libraries, interactive challenges and assessments for students. The amount of material that is freely available is staggering and a great resource for all students no matter the level of knowledge.

You’ll need broadband to access all these fantastic websites and Magnet broadband have amazing Student Deals that include FREE TV for 3 months! And what’s best you can choose whether you want a contract or not… so if you’re taking off on a J1 next summer, you’re not stuck footing the bill! To check out the Magnet & AerTV deals call 1800 819 999 or click here.

We probably don’t need to tell you this but with all that researching and studying don’t forget to take some downtime and watch your favorite TV channels wherever you are with AerTV.

The post Top 10 Student Resource Websites appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

Its over. No more secondary school teachers, Leaving Cert or CAO. Sometimes the Leaving Cert feels like it will never end, but its only a year and the rest of your life is waiting for you on the other side…starting with college. You’ve probably gotten advice from friends, family and co-workers on what to expect and here’s our definitive list things you should know starting college.

1.      Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat

Studying when you start college is optional.

2.      What Happens in Fresher’s Week stays in Fresher’s Week

Need we say more?

3.      Learn to Budget when Starting College

Money is not easily come by in college and if you don’t keep an eye on the pennies you might find yourself eating Koka noodles week in week out. Believe me: Mammy’s home cooked dinners will never seem as tasty as they do after 5 days of cheap noodles!

4.      Household Essentials don’t Magically Appear

From toilet roll to tea towels, Cilit Bang to handwash… they don’t appear from thin air! Before going to college they’re rarely given a second thought but if you’re the housemate who forgets to buy when it’s their round don’t expect any pats on the back!

5.      Get your Student Card ASAP.

The holy grail of plastic cards is the beloved Student Card. With endless discounts: Maccy D’s, Irish Rail even club GAA matches the discounts are everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

6.      Feeling Homesick when Starting College is Normal

Homesickness happens to the best of us and there’s no shame ringing the aul pair to hear about d’neighbours’ antics.

7.      Don’t Start Assignments the Night before Due Date

Procrastination is a word most college students become frequented with about three quarters way through Term 1. Putting things off is not too bad but leaving it until the night before is a nightmare. Even if you can type 150 WPM (words per minute), doing this 5 hours straight supped up on caffeine and energy drinks is neither enjoyable nor sustainable.

8.      Don’t Stress over 1st Year: Enjoy it!

The first year in college is great because you usually just have to pass: wahey! There’s no contribution towards your degree GPA and the workload is often much lighter than subsequent years. So make the most of your free time and have a blast.

9.      You don’t have to go to Every Single Event

It would probably be impossible to go to every college event: there isn’t enough time, money, energy to do it all. And often the evenings where you kick back and watch TV with your housemates can be the best craic. It’s ok to stay in and watch TV sometime BUT….

10. Sort out your Broadband & TV when you Move in

Hanging around trying to sort it mid semester when you need to do research a project in the comfort of your home is no joke. There are lots of options for broadband and tv, and one with flexibility and a low price point is probably going to be your sweet spot.

Magnet have amazing Student Deals that include FREE TV for 3 months! And what’s best you can choose whether you want a contract or not… so if you’re taking off on a J1 next summer, you’re not stuck footing the bill! To check out the Magnet & AerTV deals call 1800 819 999 or click here.

The post 10 Things you Need to Know Starting College appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

BBC One live on the Aertv LG Smart TV App

BRINGING LIVE STREAMING TO IRELAND’S TELEVISIONS
Ireland’s Leading Live TV Streaming Platform, Aertv, Launches Exclusively on LG Smart TVs

LG Electronics Inc. (LG) today announced an exclusive partnership with Aertv, Ireland’s leading platform for streaming TV on-the-go. The partnership will see the Aertv platform available on the big screen for the first time, feeding the demand for large-screen and lounge viewing based on 88 per cent of TV consumption still being viewed in the home*.

LG Smart TV owners will have access to a range of 19 quality TV channels, including the Irish Broadcast and BBC channels, via a new Aertv app available now from the LG App Store [http://ie.lgappstv.com/]. Previously accessible via smartphones, tablets and computers, the Aertv TV app will be available on LG’s Smart TVs including the award winning webOS platform which offers a simple, user-friendly interface and easy navigation.

Subscription to all 19 channels is available through the Aertv Plus package, which costs just €5.99 per month, and with no contract required users are given the freedom to cancel their subscription at any time.

Aertv Plus is Aertv’s most popular subscription package and allows for unlimited live viewing, which many will find useful for the upcoming Champions League and Six Nations games. The streaming service, which won a Digital Media Award for Best in IT & Telecommunications, is owned by Dublin-based cloud telecoms provider Magnet.ie. Magnet Broadband customers can enjoy the same bundle with Aertv at a cheaper price of just €4.99 per month.

Karen Howley, Head of Aertv, comments “The Irish market is becoming more comfortable with cross-platform viewing and Aertv is delighted to help drive this trend by partnering with LG and releasing our first Smart TV app”.

Aertv App is also available on iOS and Android which means LG and Aertv let you watch TV at home and on the go.

Darren Petersen, Senior Content & Services Manager for LG Smart TV, comments “LG is very excited to be partnering with Aertv, to offer Irish consumers the most seamless and innovative way to watch pay TV in Ireland. Whilst streaming content on portable devices can offer extra convenience; great TV programmes and live sports are best enjoyed on the biggest and best screen in the house.”

A large range of current and upcoming LG TVs boast this smart TV platform. From your LED Smart TV to the high-end Ultra HD and OLED TV range – available at Powercity, Expert & Harvey Norman.

The channels available on Aertv Plus are; RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4, 3e, RTÉ One+1, RTÉ Two HD, RTÉ News Now, RTÉjr, Dáil Éireann, BBC One, BBC TWO, BBC THREE, BBC FOUR, BBC News, CBBC, Cbeebies, France 24, Russia Today.

# # #

*Source: Aertv Customer Survey (Sep, 2014)
While mobile video consumption is on the rise, 88% of viewing still happens in the home with the sitting room being the most popular room followed by the bedroom and kitchen.

The post LG launches Aertv App! appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

We are super excited to have an Aertv App for LG Smart TVs. LG is a leader in the Smart TV market and this partnership will come as good news for anyone who watches TV online and has an LG Smart TV.

If you already have an LG Smart TV that is a 2012 model or above, the Aertv App may be automatically downloaded and installed for you.

You can check this by browsing through your Apps. There are many models of LG Smart TVs and how to navigate to your Apps Library will vary.  

How do I get Aertv on my LG Smart TV?

If you see the Aertv application onscreen:

1. Select Aertv from the Home screen.
2. If you already have an Aertv account set up with:

(a) Email Address: Enter your details and click Login

(b) Facebook: Navigate to the tab on the right and enter the email address that you use to login with Facebook. You will get a link to create a password for this account. Once you have this, you must fill in your login details in the ‘Login with Email’ tab.

If you are not yet an Aertv Plus subscriber, you can create an account by visiting www.aertv.ie/lg 

If you don’t see the Aertv app onscreen

Navigate to the LG Store and search for ‘Aertv’. Download and Install the App and follow the instructions above.

The Aertv LG Smart TV App supports Smart TV models that are 2012 and above.

The post How to watch Aertv on LG Smart TVs appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

BBC One: Wed & Thur, 8pm & Fri, 8.30pm

It’s the fourth and final week of the heats as the very popular MasterChef continues with its latest series on BBC One. That means that five more cooks have been putting their culinary skills to the test in tonight’s show.

Tonight’s Episode

Judges Gregg Wallace and John Tarode once again begin the episode by serving up their calling card, which gives the contestants a chance to showcase their unique cooking skills.

The judges two favourites will be exempt from the next round, which is when the other three have to create a totally separate dish, and one of the contestants makes a huge mistake in tonight’s episode…

One person will be eliminated and the remaining four have to prepare a dinner for former MasterChef winners and runners-up, so the pressure cooker is very much on for everybody involved.

Best & Worst Dishes

Last night Paul wowed the judges with his pheasant and coconut sponge. Both judges remarked on his “great technique and great touch”

Paul’s pheasant dish

Paul’s coconut sponge

Ella however was not looked upon in as much delight as the other 3 contestants and headed home from the competition. Her main dish was a “mountainous pie that was slightly burnt” (not great if you’re trying to impress John and Gregg!) and to make matters worse they went on to describe her desert as “pretty much a mess”.

Ella’s “mountainous, burnt pie”

Ella’s “mess of a desert”

Ella said herself that she “didn’t need to be adventurous” and “should have stuck with what she knows”. Alas, it was not meant to be for Ella but it was Paul, Laura and Fran who will be back for knock out week which you can watch on BBC One next Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Tonight’s episode is broadcast on BBC One at 8pm.

The post MasterChef appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

You may have seen #Eurovision60 doing the rounds on twitter last night and wondered why on earth people are talking about the Eurovision months ahead of the show. Well, last night saw the biggest ever reunion show of past winners in London’s Hammersmith Apollo in front of 5,000 Eurovision mad fans.

Judging from the reaction on Twitter the night went pretty well with a fair few surprises. Ground-breaking Eurovision artists Dana International and Conchita Wurst performed a cover of ABBA’s hit ‘Waterloo’. Israeli singer Dana International made history in 1998 when she won the contest in Birmingham – the first transgender person to ever take home the crown.

Bearded Austrian drag artist Conchita Wurst scored an epic victory in Copenhagen last year, becoming the first drag queen to ever win the contest.

There were also big surprises in the form of The Riverdance!

There was a whole host of winners performing on the night:

• Anne-Marie David (1973, 1979)
• Johnny Logan (1980, 1987)
• Loreen (2012)
• Dana International (1998)
• Lordi (2006)
• Dima Bilan (2008)
• Brotherhood of Man (1976)
• Conchita Wurst (2014)
• Emmelie de Forest (2013)
• Rosa Lopez (2002)
• Natasha St-Pier (2001)
• The Olsen Brothers (2000)
• The Herrys (1984)
• Nicole (1982)

And if twitter is anything to go by, there are also lots and lots of surprises through the show. Of all the acts officially announced we here in Aertv wondered who else should be on the list.

1. Massiel – La La La

Yes the winning Spanish entry in 1968. Fair enough she is almost 70 now and would perhaps struggle to hit those high notes but she certainly wouldnt have a problem remembering the lyrics.

2. Dana – All Kinds of Everything

She got the ball rolling for the likes of Johnny Logan and Linda Martin with this 1970 winning performance

3. Celine Dion – Ne Partez pas sans moi

Yes we always forget it too that Celine Dion broke into the music scene first by winning the Eurovion in 1988. One of only a few people in the last 30 years or so to perform in the Eurovion and actually succeed afterwards.

4. Linda Martin – Why Me?

We could hardly leave her out now could we? Don’t be too surprised to see Johnny Logan drag her on stage during his performance. Anywhere he goes that’s Eurovision related, she tends to follow pretty close behind.

You can watch all of the show this Friday at 9pm on BBC One!

The post Eurovision 60th Anniversary Show appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

The Facts:

• Stuart Hogg (356) and Rob Kearney (265) are the top two metre-makers respectively in RBS Six Nations 2015.
• Blair Cowan, Peter O’Mahony and Jack McGrath have each conceded seven penalties in this tournament, no other player has shipped more.
• Blair Cowan has won more turnovers (7) than any other player in this year’s tournament.
• Scotland head into the final weekend without a point to their name; should they fail to beat Ireland they would pick up a fourth wooden spoon since 2000.
• Ireland are aiming to retain this title for the first time since 1983, when they shared the spoils with France. The last time Ireland won consecutive Five/Six Nations trophies outright was in 1948-1949.
• Scotland have won three of 15 against Ireland in the RBS Six Nations, but two of those victories have been since the turn of the decade.
• All four of Ireland’s tries in this edition have been in the second half of matches. In contrast, Scotland have scored four first half tries but just one in the final 40 of their four games.
• Scotland have lost all five of their matches in two Six Nations seasons; 2004 and 2012.

So, with all that in mind who will leave the pitch as victors this Sunday come 4pm? Well even if Ireland do take the win it may not be enough for us to retain the Six Nations as both Wales and more likely England are looking to take this years trophy home. The top three are locked on six points with three wins apiece, while England’s points difference of +37 puts them first, ahead of Ireland’s +33 and Wales’ +12.

Wales are in action first away to Italy in Rome (12:30 GMT), before Ireland take on Scotland at Murrayfield (14:30 GMT), ahead of England’s home match against France at Twickenham (17:00 GMT).

Ireland make two changes from the Wales defeat, as winger Luke Fitzgerald comes in for Simon Zebo and loose-head prop Cian Healy replaces Jack McGrath.They have the benefit of knowing what Wales will have done, but with England kicking off after they have finished, they may be hesitant about whether to stick or twist.

The post Can Ireland win the 6 Nations? appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

With the arrival of the new MacBook Pro and the revelation that they are kicking regular USB to the curb and taking USB-C to the forefront of their products. But what exactly is USB-C and why the change? Well to put it simply, USB-C is far more powerful than USB3. It allows you to deliver power, data and display. The best part? It wont matter which way you plug it in because its flip-able and works both ways. So no will you have to try and plug your USB into a computer and try it 3 times before it actually goes in.

Here is  a very useful video that explains what USB-C really is.

The post So what is USB-C? appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

Yesterday, Joe posted another video. This time he tells us “My Mom’s health has been deteriorating at an incredibly rapid rate and was put on hospice care a few weeks ago. She hasn’t eaten in almost three months, she’s been non responsive, comatose and it seemed as if we could lose her at any moment. My Dad and I went to see her yesterday and she had more life in her than I’ve seen in ages. I played her a new song I’ve been working on and her reaction made me really happy. I thought I’d share. Alzheimer’s is an odd disease, it’s amazing how much things can go up and down.”

The post Singing his mom a song appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

For those of you out there who didn’t stay up last night to watch Vincent Browne tear in New Land League memeber Jerry Beades you missed quite the spectacle.

You got the feeling from the get go that this show was not going to be like the other. It began with Vincent Browne outside the gates of Brian O’Donnell’s lavish mansion on Gorse Hill, Vico road in Killiney. Vincent was keen to gain access to the estate as in his eyes the home is no longer under the control of the O’Donnell family and he was eager to see the extent of extravagance that stood in one of the most prestigious and sought after locations in the country.

Following on from his visit to the O’Donnell residence Vincent had a chance to have a very nice chat with New Land League member Jerry Beades who for some mad, rediculous, insane and silly reason is backing the O’Donnells who owe the banks €70 million and is refusing to give up his €30 million mansion to cover the debt.

Anyway, here’s one of the best clips from the show, watch out for the “bog standard” bomb shell Mr Beades drops!

And for those of you who would like a little more detail on this very bog standard house, here’s an aerial view of the property. Ah sure look, he hasnt even got an Olympic size pool, just your bog standard one and only one tennis court! pathetic really

The post Vincent Browne & the “bog standard” house appeared first on The Aertv Blog.