Walker News » Google

Use Google Public DNS To Access Blocked Websites

Walker — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:49:01 +0000

Google Public DNS is a free domain name resolution service created to speed up web browsing and improve security.

A webpage that generate content from multiple domains could load faster if the web browser is referring to an efficient DNS server. Similarly, a trustworthy DNS server never fails to resolve domain or redirect web client to fictitious web server.

So, Google Public DNS committed to be an efficient and trustworthy DNS server that you can rely on.

In term of security, for example, you may able to access legitimate websites that are accidentally blocked by telco or ISP DNS server.

How to configure Google Public DNS on Windows 7?

This screencast (above) and guide (below) show you how to replace Windows 7 DNS server with Google Public DNS IP address:

1. Right network connection icon that resides at Notification Area (bottom-right corner where the date/time is shown), choose “Open Network and Sharing Center”, Click “Change adapter settings” at left pane, right click on the network card that’s used to access Internet and select “Properties”.

2. Double click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter IP address of both Preferred and Alternate DNS server as 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (which is quite easy to remember):

3. Open Command Prompt window with elevated privilege and execute this command to purge the DNS Resolver cache (i.e. to make new DNS server effective immediately without rebooting Windows 7):

ipconfig /flushdns

Now, you should be able to ping the banned domain or access the blocked website with any web browsers. Note, this trick is only applicable if the telco/ISP accidentally blocks the websites at their own DNS server (it won’t work if it’s blocked by mandatory proxy server or firewall).

How To Make Use Of Google Translate Pronunciation Function?

Walker — Thu, 05 May 2011 17:17:47 +0000

Ever wonder how could one ask help on Twitter for car engine problem?

In order to make a tweet short and informative, someone (probably in Taiwan) figures that out by using pronunciation function of Google Translate to simulate sounds of the faulty car engine, like this:

I make the screencast but the ‘creative’ idea of using Google Translate to simulate car engine sounds was found on Facebook :) Please share with us too if you’ve other jokes or creative uses of Google Translate service. Have fun!

A Glitch Or Easter Egg Of Google Voice Translation?

Walker — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:43:05 +0000

Probably not many people aware that Google Translate can also translate sound or voice (pronunciation of language) and the result can be surprising or funny sometimes :)

Here is an example when it translates 啪啪啪 into English:

That’s a common Mandarin word (啪) which means sound of slapping or clapping something. Obviously, the Google Translate result is totally not matching true meaning of the word. It seems to me that the “language translation” function attempts to do “sound translation”, if you could relate the pronunciation of this Mandarin word to something intimacy :)

Is this a Google Translate Easter Egg or just a glitch of Google sound translation function? Have fun and hopefully it won’t bring disaster when you use it to translate a Chinese conversation to English :)

Get A Fantastic Job At Google As Autocompleter

Walker — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:10:50 +0000

Desperately looking for a good job at Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)? Here is a new offer for those who will work as Autocompleter at HQ in Mountain View, CA and obscure locations around the world.

The job responsibilities as Autocompleter at Google are:

Monitor anonymized search queries.
Predict and complete the search term of users based on personal experience and intuition.
Suggest spelling corrections.
Offer fresh suggestions inline with query trends.

For more information about the Autocompleter role and requirements, or to apply the job, please visit to official page (via hyperlink above).

Note, please do not get mad at me, as that is not my idea to do so!

April Fools’ Day 2011: Google Teleport Searching For Ancient Database

Walker — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:36:41 +0000

The East is already on April Fool’s Day 2011 and the first April Fools’ Day joke I have stumbled upon is Google Teleport published on Google Search Hong Kong.

For those who desperately want to cross the Great Wall of China (firewall)(翻越长城), help yourself to dream and have fun with the Google Teleport Search service :)

Uses Google Doodlegram To Create Custom Google Doodle

Walker — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:07:22 +0000

If you and your beloved one are on Facebook, you may consider to create a custom Google Doodle for Valentine’s Day 2011 and post it to his/her Facebook Wall.

To be precise, this FB apps actually allows one to choose a Google Logo with Valentine feel from Google Doodle collection and post it to the Wall with custom (sweet) message.

If you’re interested to try it, login Facebook and browse to this URL:

https://www.facebook.com/Google?v=app_117579411642262

Just click the “Get Started” button and follow its 4 simple instructions to get the custom Google Doodle posted to the Facebook Wall. Again, wishing everyone Happy Valentine and enjoy celebration peacefully!

Google Doodle For Valentine’s Day 2011 Celebration

Walker — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:23:35 +0000

Here comes a new Google Logo designed for Google Doodle collection, in conjunction of 2011 Valentine’s Day celebration.

To find out more Google Logos used in the past, check it out at the dedicated, official Google Logo page.

For people (K-12 students, to be precise) in U.S. who is good or interested in graphic design, feel free to take part in the Doodle 4 Google competition. The winner entitles for $15,000 college scholarship and $25,000 technology grant for their school. Besides, the winning doodle will appear on Google.com home page on 20th of May 2011.

The registration closes at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time on 2th of March 2011 and entries must be postmarked by 16th of March 2011 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT).

May everyone enjoy the Valentine’s Day celebration peacefully!