Google’s Free Public DNS

I know you’re a big fan of openDNS and I say this article about Google free public DNS.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/12/03/google_launches_free_public_dns.html

Maybe some would find it tragic that I actually got excited about this news. :-p

We do put OpenDNS‘s servers — 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220 — in everyone’s network configs, but I’ve always been a mite concerned that the service could shut down. I gotta assume there’s less chance of that with Google.

The reaction to Google DNS blogged by the founder of OpenDNS is brief but really instructive, and it allays my concern about their longevity. Also, he makes some good points about how their service is different.

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December 15, 2009 | Filed Under Tech | Leave a Comment 

NYTimes.com: Cable Freedom Is a Click Away

W00t! This Times article illustrates our latest favorite project: We’ve just finished our 3rd install of a Mac mini media server in the home. It’s beautiful. As this writer says, the mini replaces almost all your other home entertainment hardware. 

TECHNOLOGY / PERSONAL TECH 

  | December 10, 2009 
Cable Freedom Is a Click Away 
By NICK BILTON 
A computer, with software upgrades and a wireless keyboard and mouse, can replace cable service. 

I’m giving myself a little more time to budget for the right mini, because the one I use for my home server playground is a little underpowered, so I just recently bought an HDMI adapter for my laptops, so we are nightly plugging in a MacBook to the TV & stereo and watching all our stuff that way. It’s totally satisfying.

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December 15, 2009 | Filed Under Tech | Leave a Comment 

Mac becomes more like dog

I used to use Salling Clicker with my Treo and my Sony Ericsson for remote control over Bluetooth. It was really cool that my Mac would recognize when my phone was nearby, and would start syncing or do other stuff that I thought handy. The iPhone doesn't do very much with Bluetooth, but this developer has figured out something pretty useful. Not bad for $8. 

http://themha.com/airlock/

Airlock allows your Mac to lock itself, plain and simple. Using your iPhone or iPod Touch, Bluetooth, and a smidgen of pixie dust, Airlock determines whether you're near your computer. When you leave the room – poof! – your Mac locks itself. “And when I come back?” You guessed it: your Mac unlocks. You can also customize Airlock to perform specific actions as you come and go – have your computer talk to you, log-in or out of iChat, walk the dog, and such.
 
(By the way, this is yet another tip I got from the picks by the guys on the MacBreak Weekly podcast (iTunes link). They're always mentioning useful stuff, and they maintain a nicely rounded perspective on the Mac, while still being obvious fans.) 

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December 11, 2009 | Filed Under Tech | Leave a Comment 

Free transcription app for iPhone

Hey everybody this is pretty amazing. I am talking right now into Dragon Dictation software for the iPhone, made by the developers of the awesome Dragon NaturallySpeaking. it’s free right now and probably for a very limited time. If it continues to work I intend to use it for e-mail text messaging everything. Check it out!

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December 10, 2009 | Filed Under Tech | 1 Comment