Callum’s musings on the world at large…
I’ve just discovered mySQL joins (new window), and they’re fantastic! A very techy thing, but if you need to construct complicated queries, a lifesaver.
Admittedly I haven’t just discovered them, I’ve known they exist for some time, but I’ve de-constructed a query that a very kind Jay Pipes (new window) put together for me, and I understand it!
I’ve noticed with most Google software (new window) that it tends to be very user friendly, at the expense of more advanced options.
For example, you have very little control over Google Desktop Search. You cannot force it to update the index while you’re working, it will only do it while the computer is “idle” and you have no way of defining “idle”. Additionally, there is no explanation of how “idle” is determined. Is it user input? If the mouse doesn’t move for 5 minutes, your computer is idle? Do other programs that run all the time stop it from being idle?
I predict that in time, Google software will allow users a greater level of control of stuff like this. A good option would be to split options out, having a simple user interface as default, with the usual “Advanced” option that geeks go for and then a “Hide all this complication and make it easy again” option to get back!
I’ve just completed my second purchase on eBay (new window), and left my firs positive feedback. It’s very exciting! I’m just hoping the well known eBay addiction doesn’t set in, I’m not sure my credit card can handle the punishment! 
I spent a few minutes this morning searching for the name of a product I’d come across a few years ago. Finally, it came to me, Igaware (new window).
I think the Igaware model is really the way of the future for Small Business IT. To put it simply, Igaware supply a server which has all the basic functionality required by the average small business. It includes your basic things like:
But that’s not particularly significant. What is significant is the business model. You rent the server. You lease what’s known in the trade as a “managed server”. That means, igaware look after it for you, although it’s physically located in your office.
It makes perfect sense really, the supplier has several hundred, or if my predictions are right, potentially several hundred thousand, servers which are identical. So they can easily roll out updates across them all, having thoroughly tested the update in advance. They can provide excellent, first class support, because they know exactly how the box will perform in any given situation. The model also guarantees reliability. With thousands of identical machines, it’s much easier to make sure they’re all reliable than make sure that thousands of different servers are all equally reliable.
I think the future of small business IT will be based around a product like this. Having said that, i don’t think it will be igaware, have a look at their web site (new window), have you ever seen anything more in need of a face lift?
I think Adobe Photoshop Elements (new window) is about to get the boot! I know I’ve only had it for a few days, but it’s driving me round the bend.
It’s just sooooo slow it’s beyond belief. You add a tag to a bunch of images and wait. You click a tag to view only those photos and wait. I seem to spend my time waiting for it. It’s slow to produce thumbnails, slow to render previews, I’m guessing you get the idea, it’s slow!
It’s tagging features are great, and the killer feature of all is stacking. If you’re a trigger happy photographer like me and you take lots of shots of the same thing to make sure you get a few good ones, you end up with a load of images which are almost identical. Sure, you throw out the ones with blurring, or ones you don’t like, but you probably do keep quite a few that are the same. In Elements you can simply select them all and stack them. Fantastic.
However, I’m hoping either Phototools IMatch (new window) or ACDSee 7 (new window) can also offer that functionality. I’ve popped a couple of emails off to them asking the question, I await responses with bated breath!
I’ve been thinking today about Google (new window) and their ever expanding range of products. From google searches, to google desktop search, gmail, and so on. It occurred to me that a logical step would be for Google Desktop Search (new window) to integrate with Windows Explorer. For example, if you want a folder excluded from the search, you right click and have an option, or it’s an option within properties.
Now as I’m writing this, it makes me think another logical step would be to use Google search technology to be used for all searching on your PC. For example, when I want to find an email, instead of using Outlook’s rubbish search, or using Google Desktop Search in my web browser (slightly inconvenient), instead, I could actually use Google’s search technology right inside Outlook.
Search algorithms could almost become a part of the operating system, and you could choose your provider, just like you choose your email provider. Do you want the Google search or the Microsoft search with that sir?
I’ve been thinking, after the event you always think, I knew that would happen. For example, Google Desktop Search (new window) my obsession of the moment. I can’t help but think, I could have thought about that before it happened, maybe I even did. Well in my pursuit of answers, I’ve decided to launch a new category on my blog called Predictions in which I’ll record my predictions.
Then as they are realised, I’ll be able to actually see when I’m getting them right. It may even be sufficient evidence to be able to write to companies suggesting the way they should move forward as a “technology trend predicter”!
I predict lots of correct predictions, which makes this my first prediction!
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