GeekwithEnvy

Richard Vincenti Jr

How To: Use the Mac Version of Ctrl-Alt-Delete

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forceQuitMenuOSX

In the world of Microsoft Windows when things hang up and freeze we can often get out of trouble by pressing the all so familiar key combination, Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Once we get our program menu open we can force close the frozen application and hopefully continue on like nothing ever happened.

Just like any computer Macs freeze up too, and just like with Windows, it’s often because of a locked up or frozen application that needs to be closed. OS X has a similar key combination that will bring up the force quit menu and allow you to easily force quit any misbehaving app.

To open the force quit menu in OS X simply press:

Command (Apple Key)+ Option + Escape (Esc) all at the same time.

* Alternatively, you can also force quit applications on the Dock by Control Clicking (Right Clicking) a running app to open the menu and then by pressing the Option Key to reveal the Force Quit option.

Valve’s Official Steam Machine Hardware Specs

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SteamLogo

If you’re not already aware, Valve is creating it’s own hardware to run Steam to try and create the ultimate gaming experience.

This hardware is just a prototype and the final product isn’t due until 2014, but 300 lucky Steam users will get to beta test the system sometime this year.  Currently, there are no images of the prototype hardware but in a recent post from the company they have provided us with some pretty serious specs.

Here are the specifications for Valve’s 300 prototypes:

  • The 300 prototype units will ship with the following components:
  • GPU: some units with NVidia Titan, some GTX780, some GTX760, and some GTX660
  • CPU: some boxes with Intel i7-4770, some i5-4570, and some i3
  • RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB GDDR5 (GPU)
  • Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
  • Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold
  • Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high

As a hardware platform, the Steam ecosystem will change over time, so any upgrades will be at each user’s discretion. In the future we’ll talk about how Steam will help customers understand the differences between machines, hardware strengths and weaknesses, and upgrade decisions.

We aren’t quite ready to post a picture of our prototype – just because they’re not finished enough. Before they ship we’ll let you know what the prototype looks like. And we expect people to redesign the machine, too. Both from a technical perspective, deciding on different components, and from an industrial design perspective, changing the enclosure in interesting ways.”

98 Year Old Makes Amazing MS Paint Art

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While reading through a few articles on web, I came across a truly inspiring video. It’s about a 98 year-old man named Hal Lasko who creates amazing 8-bit style artwork using Microsoft Paint. Hal worked as a graphic artist when he was younger and he used to create his own unique typography by hand.

Hal started using Microsoft Paint later on in his retirement when his family introduced it to him around 2005. Hal has been spending hours upon hours every day since then creating his own unique artwork.

You can view more of Hal Lasko’s artwork at hallasko.com and for a deeper look into Hal Lasko’s world, you can head to WIRED.

Featured App: Element Trek

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ElementTrekSS

What could be better than combining your love of Star Trek and Chemistry? How about Star Trek themed periodic table of the elements?

Element Trek does just that, but does so with great precision and attention to detail. Not only is the table accurate but it has interactive 3D models and animations of crystal structures and electron shells. Ionization Energies, absorption spectra, emission spectra, oxidation states and more are all included in this awesome app and all with a Star Trek theme that includes sound effects and multiple theme color options.

Not only is this a fun app to play around with but it also makes for a great tool to have at your disposal. You can actually use this table for your studies or work, which makes it even better. This app is available for Mac OS X and iPad and can be found on the App Store. The desktop version is Free.

Here is a list of features:

  • Interactive Periodic Table of the Elements
  • 3D Crystal Structures (Interactive / Animated)
  • Atom Structure (Bohr Model, Shells / Subshells)
  • Absorption Spectra
  • Emission Spectra
  • Ionization Energies Chart
  • Melting Points Chart
  • Boiling Points Chart
  • 10 Element Category Essays
  • 44 Color Themes
  • Digital Clock
  • 12 Hour or 24 Hour Time
  • 2 StarDate Types
  • Integrated Battery Status Readout and GUI
  • System Version Readout
  • Cool Sound FX
  • Mute Sound FX, for Silent Operation

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