Is there a bug with Google

Recently I have noticed a couple of issues with Google when searching, and it seems to occur on multiple PCs with XP and Win7 operating systems, using the Chrome browser.

The first issue is when you do a search and get the results listed, then click on a result which takes you to the web site you requested if you click back to go to the search results it takes you back to the Google homepage and you have to perform the search again. This does not occur every time, but has happened to me multiple times over the last few weeks.

The second issue also does not occur every time and might be linked to the first issue, after typing in a search you can usually hit enter to perform the search, but sometimes it leaves a blank search result section below the area to enter the search.

I imagine Google have loads of testers and have noticed this strange behaviour and are working to fix these rather minor bugs.

Canon G9 Time Lapse

Recently I bought a new DSLR camera (Canon 650D), which I am very happy with. My previous camera was a Canon G9, one feature that is missing on my new camera is the time lapse option in video mode. It is not a big deal, but I managed to produce some interesting videos from this feature (see below).

The way I produced this video was simply to attach the camera to a gorillapod tripod and fix it to the dash of  the car.

Is Windows 8 doomed to fail?

Recently I had a quick play with the new Microsoft Windows 8 operating system and was disappointed. The reasons why I felt disappointed are as follows:

• Without a touch screen to scroll to the left or right there is a naff scrollbar, it would have looked a lot better if they had to large buttons on each side like in Google Chrome.
• Some of the live tiles look annoying with constant movement.
• You cannot see more than 2 applications at the same time, this is clearly designed for tablets, but what about users with large monitors.
• The 2 application view does not allow a 50/50 split, there is always 1 application larger than the other.
• The old style Windows 7 option, seems to run a virtual machine, but is not as good as Windows 7 and the integration with the main operating system is clunky.  

Overall I got the impression this OS has been designed with the tablet in mind and I think if you are going to run it on a PC stick with Windows 7. The history of Microsoft OS seems to hint it is not going to be a good OS, see my list of OS and what I think of them below, hopefully Windows 9 will be the next good OS.

Windows history showing a trend.

• Windows 3.2 - Good OS
• Windows 95 - Not bad, but not great and seemed a bit buggy
• Windows 98 - Great OS and worked very well
• Windows ME - Rubbish
• Windows XP - Very Good OS
• Windows Vista - Dreadful, problems starting up and shutting down.
• Windows 7 - Good OS and runs really well 
• Windows 8 - So far, not good.

Canon 650D Camera Review

I recently bought a new DSLR camera after doing months of research I decided to purchase the Canon 650D. When I was looking for a camera my budget was in the £600 ($965) region, it came down to the Nikon 3100 and the Canon, after playing with them in a store it was clear that the Canon was a superior product even if the mega-pixels is less, 18 with the Canon compared with 24 with the Nikon.

After owning the camera for a couple of weeks and being on holiday with it I am very happy with it. It takes great photos and I like the touch screen, which I thought I would not use as much as I do. Here is a list of pros and cons I have found so far.

Pros

• Easy to use menu, I have owned Canon cameras before so I found I could use the camera straight away.
• Touch screen which I find very useful for changing settings and reviewing the photos.
• Continuous auto focus in HD video mode.
• When camera is in video mode it is also possible to take a photo when not recording.
• HDR function is useful is some situations and have had some interesting results from using this.
• Good image quality.

Cons

• Video is not have as many options as my other Camera (Canon G9)
• Lens included with the Camera was a 18mm-55mm which has a noisy auto focus so is not good for video. I am currently looking at the Canon pancake lens for video.
• Video file format is mov, would have like it to be in avi format like my Canon G9. There might be a setting I need to find for this.

Overall I am very happy with the Canon 650D and I am still learning some of the features. I think as a beginners DSLR camera it is the best on the market.

ITV Player for Samsung SMART TV

I have just downloaded the new ITV Player for my Samsung SMART TV, the menu system works well and I can see the programmes available, but when I select a programme to watch a progress clock appears in the top right hand side of the screen and then the TV switches itself off! I've tried a few times and it keeps happening, I think I will have to wait for ITV to fix an obvious issue with their app.

Canon 650D at John Lewis

I have been looking around for a while for a decent DSLR camera, after reading reviews I was looking at either the Canon 550D or the Nikon 3200. Then I saw that Canon had released the Canon 650D, reading the reviews of this camera I decided it was either this our the Nikon 3200. I went to John Lewis to have a play with these 2 cameras and after taking some shoots was much happier with the Canon, the Nikon 3200 seems much cheaper (as is), but the Canon ticked all the right boxes.

When it came to price John Lewis sold the camera for £620 with a 18-55mm lens and a camera bag, this was a deal up to September 26th. I could not make it to the shop before this date and thought I did not mind missing out on the camera bag, but the day after they did not include the bag and they put the price up to £650. Is this some sort of price adjustment to get rid of the Canon 600D, have they put the price up so they can later add a better discount? I don't know. Hopefully I will find a good place to buy this camera soon

Delphi RAD Studio XE3 now available

Delphi XE3 has now been released. This version of the software development suite now supports Windows 8 and Mountain Lion for the Mac. This version does not include the ability to develop mobile apps, but it will come later, which will allow users to develop apps for iOS (iPhone, iPad) and for Android devices.

I am looking forward to having a closer look at XE3 in the near future.

Here is a link to the preview site
RAD Studio XE3

Open plan offices are bad for software development

I work as a software developer and last year I moved job to an open plan office, which I thought was a good idea as I suffer from claustrophobia and did not like working in my previous office as it was completely enclosed with no outside windows, which cause some anxiety. Since I have moved to the open plan office there are some advantages and some disadvantages, particulally relating to my job role.

Advantages
1) The main advantage of my current office is that it has windows and a nice view.

2) It is easy to see if someone is in, although with using MS Lync you know if someone is available to talk.

3) More people on the same floor space. Putting separation between offices and corridors takes up more floor space.

4) Easier to change office layout. It makes it easier to move desks to a different configuration.

5) Can be an advantage if the manager is also in the ofice, they get a better feeling of how the office and staff are operting rather than being in their own office.

Disadvantages
1) The main disadvantage is the amount of noise, being a software developer you need to be able to concerntrate for long periods of time, up to 30 minutes if you are working on something complex. Constaint noise and people talking and even shouting causes breaks in concentration. This means a reduction in efficiency and a more likelihood of errors to occur. 

2) Air conditioning causes confrontation between employees. People do like different conditions and temperatures, air conditioning is difficult to get right when there are only a couple of people in the room, but when there are over 30 there is more chance that someone will what it cold and some want it warm. 

3) Lighting is similar to air conditioning, some people like it bright and some light it dark. 

4) Less wall space, means you have less area to hang white boards and information. Currently where I work my team are in the centre of the office and have a very small area at one end (1.5m wide) to hang information on projects. 

5) Video conference and calls are harder work because of the surrounding noise. 

I conclusion open plan offices may work for certain industries and types of work, but I do not believe they are a productive environment for software development.