PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: Clive on April 21, 2009, 14:09

Title: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 21, 2009, 14:09
Google has launched two experimental products it hopes will change the way users search for pictures and news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8009400.stm
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 21, 2009, 14:19
I wonder when Google will design it's first operating system?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 21, 2009, 15:44
They are probably working on it.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: sam on April 21, 2009, 18:42
I wonder when Google will design it's first operating system?

they already have one for their own servers... oh and its unix based!
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: sam on April 21, 2009, 20:27
They are probably working on it.

well here is the first netbook based on google android.. http://blogs.computerworld.com/first_google_android_netbooks_spotted
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 21, 2009, 23:27
Oh, I've heard of Google Android, probably from your good self, Sam.  So, that's it, is it?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: sam on April 22, 2009, 19:55
indeed! though it was aimed at smartphones
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 22, 2009, 20:54
Yes, that rings a bell.  ;)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 23, 2009, 09:12
Alexander?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 10:11
I wonder if he thought, "Now, who can I call?"  ;D
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 23, 2009, 11:06
A bit like me when I got my first email address in '84. :)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 11:49
Yes, but yours wasn't the first email address, was it?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 23, 2009, 12:37
No, but it was still a rarity...
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 12:39
I expect so.  Shame you couldn't have kept it for posterity.  :)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 23, 2009, 13:04
It was something like cu6785A@telecom.gold.com. Not exactly memorable. :)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 13:14
Perhaps not.  :)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 23, 2009, 16:58
84 was exceptionally early Rik.  I bet your address book was very short!  ;D  My first was in 1990 and ended in @delphi.com
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 17:01
My first was 1999 (ish), and ended in @bushinternet.com.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 23, 2009, 18:46
It was early, Clive and it cost me (from memory) about £18pm plus phone calls and data charges. It just seemed to be the future, but I was about 5 years too early. :)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 23, 2009, 21:57
Those phone calls would have been at national rate too.  I remember using bulletin boards during the very late 80's.  My first modem was 9 kbs but I soon upgraded to 14kbs.  I haven't seen much of an improvement since.  :bawl:
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 22:19
You should get with a decent ISP, Clive.  ;)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 23, 2009, 22:48
I think it's the exchange or the line.  I had an engineer out yesterday (again) but he claims it's my equipment.  I know this is not true because my IP profile is just 350K and I'm receiving. 319K.  He claims his laptop shows 5.7 meg.  Fortunately the Indians say he is talking through his  :bartmoon:
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 22:53
How long's your contract still to run with BT?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 23, 2009, 22:54
Days rather than weeks.   ;D
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 22:56
Really?  Well, you know where to go next, and it's only a one month contract.  If IDNet can't sort out your connection properly, no one can!  ;)
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 23, 2009, 22:58
Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    Your DSL connection rate: 5792 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
    IP profile for your line is - 350 kbps
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 310 kbps
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 23:05
Rik's better at interpreting those than me, but I think that shows that your line is capable of a good speed, but noise or instability is keeping your profile down.  Do you get a lot of disconnections while you're online, and can you hear hissing or cracking on the phone line when you make voice calls?  There's a quiet line test you can do, which I think is 17070, option 2.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 23, 2009, 23:07
Even if there is a problem on your line, IDNet are good at sorting these out with BT, and it saves you from struggling with someone from Bangladesh, with only a basic grasp of English.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 24, 2009, 01:13
The engineer's right, Clive and Mumbai are wrong, your line is capable of 5Mb+.

What is your reported noise margin and line attenuation?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 24, 2009, 10:27
Ha!  BT has changed my hub password and I have to reset that before I can access the data.  The password (the serial number) is very convenienty situated underneath the hub so it will mean disconnecting the whole thing.   ::) It's a job for later. 
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 24, 2009, 11:02
You could try downloading Routerstats and seeing if that can get to the data, Clive.

http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 24, 2009, 17:42
I have figures for you Rik.   All meaningless to me!  :D

DSL Connection 

Link Information
   
 
Uptime: 1 day, 0:57:42
 
Modulation: G.992.1 annex A
 
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 448 / 5,792
 
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [MB/MB]: 20.82 / 69.70
 
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 11.5 / 19.5
 
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 25.0 / 41.0
 
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 24.0 / 9.5
 
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / ALCB
 
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
 
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 86 / 0
 
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
 
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
 
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 788 / 0
 
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 52,472,928
 
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 362
 
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 274
 
Line Profile: Interleaved
 
 
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 24, 2009, 18:15
Not sure if Rik will be back in tonight, Clive, and he's away for the whole day tomorrow!  :horror:
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 24, 2009, 18:48
Those figures look healthy enough, Clive, you should be on a 5Mbps profile, for your attenuation and margin, that's about right. It looks like BT's dynamic line management software has increased your target noise margin from 6db to 9dm in an attempt to stabilise the line, but otherwise things look healthy.

I still believe the engineer. If you're getting frequent disconnections (which your previous profile implied) then either you have a problem on the line or with your internal wiring, and that's what we need to diagnose. Do you have the modern, NTE5 master socket, they type where the bottom part of the faceplate can be removed?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 24, 2009, 19:21
I have an ADSL box V 1.0 Rik.  When I remove the screws and pull the faceplate off, the BB becomes disconnected.  There is another plate behind and the lower part of that can be unscrewed but I have no idea what is behind that.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 24, 2009, 20:03
What I think Rik is looking for is a test socket, which may be behind the first plate you removed, Clive.  The idea is to connect the router direct to that socket, with an ADSL microfilter, to see if the connection speed improves.  This indicates whether the problem is within your internal wiring, or outside, as you are bypassing any internal wiring by connecting direct to the test socket.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 24, 2009, 22:55
The ADSL V1.0 box has an inbuilt filter and protects all extension sockets in the house.  When I remove the faceplate, there is no separate BB socket behind it.  I do have spare microfilters which could be used as you suggest but that may be putting 2 filters in the circuit. 
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 24, 2009, 23:59
When you say there's no BB socket behind the faceplate, is there a telephone socket, to which you could attach a microfilter, and thus connect your router?  I'm not sure if filters can 'double up', as it were, but you may be better off hanging on for Rik to come back to us on this, as this box you have may be something completely different to what I'm thinking of, Clive.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 25, 2009, 09:42
Yes, there is a phone socket behind into which I could plug a filter.  I changed the BB cable today but that made no difference. 
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 25, 2009, 11:42
I think that's what Rik will ask you to do, Clive, and then recheck your speed and router stats.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 25, 2009, 13:40
Ha!  They have done something at long last: (unless it's the new cable but that made no difference to begin with.) My guess is that this will be fine for 4 or 5 days and then drop back to 300K again. 


Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    Your DSL connection rate: 4224 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
    IP profile for your line is - 3500 kbps
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3211 kbps


 

  DSL Connection 

Link Information
   
 
Uptime: 0 days, 4:04:00
 
Modulation: G.992.1 annex A
 
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 448 / 4,224
 
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [MB/MB]: 5.90 / 49.01
 
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 11.5 / 19.0
 
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 25.0 / 41.0
 
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 24.0 / 16.0
 
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / ALCB
 
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
 
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 107 / 0
 
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
 
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
 
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 828 / 0
 
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 1,624
 
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 3
 
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 3
 
Line Profile: Interleaved
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Simon on April 25, 2009, 13:57
I wonder if you have a bad connection somewhere?  Maybe that ADSL box is playing up?
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 26, 2009, 09:19
Next time it goes I'll plug into the inside socket and see what happens. 
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Rik on April 26, 2009, 10:35
Your profile has improved, but your line stats are much worse, Clive - lower sync, higher noise margin. There's still a problem.
Title: Re: Google rolls out search changes
Post by: Clive on April 26, 2009, 11:08
But where is the problem likely to be Rik?