Many of us on the internet use alternate DNS servers. If you have an internet connection, you are already using a DNS server, but in most cases, you are using the DNS server operated by your internet provider. ![footer_logo[1]](http://temp.rudyscorner.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2009/09/footer_logo1.gif "footer_logo[1]"){kind=logo}
In the past, I’ve had problems accessing sites on the internet when I used one well-known national cable internet provider. Their DNS would fail regularly, leaving me unable to visit many sites on the internet (as well as hamper my work). For years, I was using the Genuity free DNS servers, in the range 4.2.2.1 to 4.2.2.6. They’re still available and they still work, but I found something better that has turned out to be not only reliable, but very useful in handling our incoming internet traffic.
Category Archives: Computing
Rudy’s Adventure on Facebook
I had avoided Facebook for awhile, mainly because it had the perception of being a clone of the dysfunctional MySpace phenomenon. But, I had one friend persistently asking me to join, which I did. I’m glad I signed up, but Facebook is not without its shortcomings.
Google Maps GPS (an idea for Google)
As some readers may recall, I’m a big fan of many of Google’s free applications, including Google Maps (and its “home” edition, Google Earth). Awhile ago, I was using an older Magellan GPS unit in the car, which helped with sales calls. Its shortcomings over Google Maps became readily apparent the longer I used it. The Amazon Kindle, XM Radio, and Google’s own Android-based “Google phones” gave me an idea of “mashing” a few existing technologies to make some thing new. I know this makes no sense yet…but read on for more on “Building The Perfect GPS”!
Ubuntu On A Second Computer
With Ubuntu being as stable as it’s been for me, I decided to install it as a backup OS on another computer here. This one is a Biostar iDeq 200N from a few years ago. The challenge this time was to install to this computer, which has an integrated video chip on the motherboard (the nVidia GeForce4 MX), along with wireless networking. Not only that, the CD-R/DVD drive has been acting up, so I had no way to install it from my LiveCD. Given my issues, I’m glad I was able to boot into Windows XP for troubleshooting!
Firefox Add-on: Prism for Firefox
I’ve just discovered a new Firefox add-on: Prism for Firefox. This add-on allows you to turn any web page into an application on your computer. While it may not seem like much at first glance, it allows you to save your current web page view as an application on your computer. If you use something like Gmail or Google Maps, for example, you can make their main pages into applications. What this means is that rather than have it run in a full browser window, the page runs in a “shell” window with nothing indicative of the contents being a browser. (Or in Mozilla-speak, it’s a web page view without the “Chrome”: no menu, no toolbars, no URL or search bars, etc.) It also saves cookies separately: you can set up multiple Gmail applications using Prism, and stay logged in to all of them as they run concurrently. Applications can be installed on your start menu, desktop, and/or quick launch bar. And FYI: Google Chrome has this as a standard feature, and it works about the same. I’ve found Prism to come in handy for many of the Google applications. And I can see its usefulness for many non-computer-savvy users, giving one-click access to web-based e-mail, for example. Very handy!