GeekwithEnvy

How To

Flush DNS Cache on Mac OS X

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When you enter a web address into your webrowser like “geekwithenvy.com”, the DNS (Domain Name System) changes that user-friendly name into an IP address that computers can more easily understand. Your computer doesn’t need to do this every single time you visit a website because it stores the IP addresses for many sites on your computer for a short period of time. This information is stored in what’s called the DNS cache.representations of servers to show Clear DNS Cache

Unfortunately, this stored information may become corrupt or just end up being incorrect due to changes that occur on the site’s server. If your DNS cache has incorrect IP information then you won’t be able to access the site your trying to get to because it’s looking for the website in the wrong place.

There is a quick solution to correcting your DNS cache issues and that is to force it to ask the DNS what the new IP information is. You can do this by clearing the DNS cache or “Flushing” your DNS cache.

Launch Terminal and enter the commands below to flush your DNS Cache:

Mac OS X Lion and Mountain Lion (10.7 /10.8)

  • sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Mac OS X (10.5 and 10.6)

  • dscacheutil -flushcache

If you happen to be running OS X Mavericks (10.9) you will want to do this two step command:

  • dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Mac OS X Yosemite (10.10) 

 (Please note: The the following command will clear your DNS Cache but there is no official confirmation from the terminal when entered.

  • sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache
  • sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches

Mac OS X Yosemite (10.10.4 and Up) use this instead:

  • dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

That should cover it for DNS cache issues. If you are still having problems you can always reboot your machine, this should resolve any DNS inaccuracies on your computer.

Featured App: Snapguide

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iOSSnapguide

Do you know how to do something and you want to share it with the world? Perhaps, you just want to learn something new. This is where an awesome app called Snapguide comes into play.

It’s never been easier to put together or find a guide for doing something so quickly and so easily. Snapguide is a polished, mobile-focused app that helps you put together your own how-to’s in a flash, on your iPad or iPhone. Putting together instructions, photos, and videos to create a clean and easy-to-use how-to has really never been easier.

This app is so intuitive and fun to use that it actually encourages you to create more content, which is inspiring and ultimately, it makes the app an altogether richer experience.

iOSSnapguide2

Snapguide is built for mobile and it’s elegantly simple and well thought out. This app is such a powerful tool, especially since you can bring it with you anywhere, create the guides you want and share on-the-go. This also creates a very unique how-to experience that adds a bit of your personality to what you create, a bit like Youtube but faster, more concise and a lot more mobile.

Not into making how-to’s? Not a problem, there is a ton of content available that you could spend hours browsing through. Snapguide is full of great how-to guides that teach you how to do everything from baking cookies to creating art or even learning how to spot knock off brand shoes. It really is a wealth of useful information and what’s even better is that it’s totally free.

You can download Snapguide for iPad and iPhone here.

Why You Probably Have Never Seen the Actual Night Sky

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The sky is above us, always, thankfully, but how often do you look up at night sky where you live? I think it’s fair to say that most of us don’t spend too much time paying attention to what’s going on up there, but what’s strange is that even when you do look, you’re likely not seeing the whole picture.

In the United States, the majority of Americans live near  large cities that are filled with light pollution. Light pollution is exactly what it sounds like, it’s excessive light from artificial sources that fills the night sky and blocks our view of the true night sky. Now, by contrast if you live out in the country you are far more likely to see the night sky in great detail. If you live in the Western or South Western United States, with the exception of big cities in California, you will have a very good chance of seeing a night sky full of billions of stars.

Light Pollution Map of The United States Image Credit: The Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute (ISTIL)
Light Pollution Map of The United States ( Image Credit: The Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute aka ISTIL)

Did you know that you can actually see the Milky Way in the night sky? Many Americans have probably never actually seen the Milky Way and some never will. That’s a sad thought considering it’s one of the most amazing views one can see. I didn’t see the Milky Way until I was about 11 years old but I will never forget the view.

LightPollutionCityvCountry
Comparison of the city sky vs the country and how the amount of light pollution obstructs our view of the night sky. Credit: Jeremy Stanley

Perhaps, I have inspired you to go in search of a place that will allow you to view the night sky in all it’s glory! That’s great, but where should you go? Well, there are quite a few places and most of them are out west but there is one really great location in the east that offers up a great view as well. It helps to be high in altitude to get away from the weather and light to create a great star gazing experience and that’s why the McDonald Observatory in Texas is a great location to go as it sits about 6,700 above sea level and has large telescopes that are open to the public to enhance your view.

For those on the eastern side of the US you can head to Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania. This park will definitely allow you to see the nucleus of the Milky Way Galaxy and probably more stars then you have ever seen before. Really want to be amazed? Then how about “International Dark Sky Park” or Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. This place offers a phenomenal view of the night sky, in it’s full glory, including a complete view of the Milky Way, airglow, and you may even be able to see overhead passing satellites and meteors with the utmost ease, that is if you can pick them out among the millions of stars filling your view.

So what are you waiting for?  Get out there, get inspired, get into science and look towards the night sky. You could even make it part of a fun summer trip!

How To Enter Safe Mode on PS3

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If you are having issues with your PS3 like corrupt data, start up screen missing ( you only see the background), or when the PS3 tried to correct issues and otherwise failed, you may be able to correct  them using the Playstation 3 safe mode menu. It’s a menu you may not have even known about but it’s a pretty useful tool that could end up making your PS3 problems go away. You can follow the steps below or watch the video above from Playstation support.playstationLogo

* Please note: Safe Mode is only available to PS3’s with system software 2.60 or greater installed. *

* Warning: Some of the options in the safe mode menu will erase all of your data including saves*

How To Start Up in Safe Mode:

  1. If the System is not already off, Turn off the PlayStation 3 by holding the Power button on the front of the unit till the Power light is red.
  2. Touch and hold the Power button (do not remove your finger from the button). You will hear the first beep, meaning the PlayStation 3 is powering on.
  3. Continue to hold the Power button and after about 5 seconds, you will hear a second beep, indicating the video reset.
  4. Continue to hold the Power button and after about another 5 seconds you will hear a third beep and the system will power off (Power light is red).
  5. Touch and hold the Power button (again, do not remove your finger from the button). You will hear the first beep, again for the PlayStation 3 to power on.
  6. Continue to hold the Power button and after about 5 seconds, you will hear a second beep for video reset.
  7. Continue to hold the Power button and after about another 5 seconds you will hear a quick double beep. At that point release the Power button. If you succeeded in activating Safe Mode, you will see a message on the screen saying, “Connect the controller using a USB cable and then press the PS button.”

How To Open Windows 8 Style Apps in Desktop Mode

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Windows 8 is unlike any other Windows OS we’ve seen and although the new “tile system” is pretty cool. The look and feel of full screen applications on Windows 8 are also a big departure from what we’re used to, but not everyone is enjoying it.

ModernMixSS

If you’re one of those people who have a few favorite apps that are exclusive to the new Windows 8 style UI (metro) and would much rather have them open up on the “classic desktop”  in a regular window, then you’re in luck.

There’s a great app from Stardock called ModernMix that does all of this for you and isn’t just a change of appearance either. These are fully functional windows that can be resized, pinned to the taskbar, and completely closed using the familiar “X” button.

Sounds simple enough, and if you’re not enjoying the new style of  Windows then this could be a perfect solution.

You can try it for free for a month and the application is only $4.99 to purchase.