OpenDNS Blog ?? How to enable SmartCache for your network

2009-12-02 00:00:00 -0500

How to enable SmartCache for your network

by Allison Rhodes on Dec 1st, 2009

A few weeks ago we made the decision that SmartCache, one of OpenDNS’s most significant DNS caching innovations, would be available for free to all of our 15 million users around the world, regardless of which version of the service you’re using. SmartCache keeps track of the last known good IPs for Web sites that are experiencing an authoritative DNS outage and hands them back instead of returning no answer. In many cases, the IPs associated with the web server or other services you are trying to reach work just fine and the Web site loads successfully. Without SmartCache, it’d feel like the site was down. So in effect, SmartCache makes Web sites that are down and unreachable for the rest of the Internet load for OpenDNS users.

In order to take advantage of SmartCache, you still need to take action and enable it on your network. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Log in to your OpenDNS account.
  2. Go to the Settings tab.
  3. Select the network you want to enable SmartCache for.
  4. Choose Advanced Settings.
  5. Select “Enable SmartCache on this Network” at the top.

This is a great option. With all of its other great FREE features, OpenDNS rocks!

KickYouTube - Download videos from youtube | KickYouTube

2009-11-30 00:00:00 -0500

KickYouTube - Download videos from youtube

This useful service allows you to download any youtube video in a number of different formats. Simply change the youtube URL by pre-pending "kick" before youtube.com.

Upgrades: Logitech Performance Mouse MX

2009-11-28 00:00:00 -0500

My Mac Pro's Mighty Mouse has been replaced with a Logitech Performance Mouse MX.  This mouse is extremely precise and comfortable to use.  Had my Mighty Mouse's little nubby track ball not continually gummed up, I would have continued to use it happily.  Since the mouse is completely sealed, the only way to REALLY clean it, in spite of what Apple says, is to break seals, then re-glue it after you have all the tiny little parts back in place.  After the second or third cleaning, enough was enough and after switching there's no way I could go back.  

This purchase matches nicely with my Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard I bought a couple of months back.  It replaced the stock wireless keyboard that came with my pre-2008 Mac Pro - the non-aluminum, acrylic backed one.  Some of the white keys yellowed and I found the left shift key would often stick/catch/resist if you didn't hit it dead center.  You can get the diNovo darned cheap, comparatively, from MacMall.  (I paid nearly full price for the mouse, but you can find it $10-$15 cheaper online from reputable sources.)

Pastedgraphic-1Pastedgraphic-2

A Google Wave Crash

2009-11-23 00:00:00 -0500

The Google Wave preview has a ways to go, as I've said previously, but on very few occasions has it actually "crashed" on me!  This is what that looks like:

Google_wave_crash1

Unwinding the stack..

2009-11-22 00:00:00 -0500

I'm working through my "bookmarks inbox", 200 items (dated from 8/26-present!) and listens to "Google: Cluster Computing and MapReduce" presentations. http://code.google.com/edu/submissions/mapreduce-minilecture/listing.html