Moving...

I'm moving to WordPress

Here's the partly populated board - the propeller chip and the EEPROM are installed. You can't see the blue LED flashing...

Windows 7 and Karmic Koala

I upgraded my Toshiba laptop to 4GBytes of memory and a 500MByte drive. Then I installed Windows 7 - it detected the wireless network but not the graphics. I couldn't find a Windows 7 driver for 64 but the Vista one worked fine.

Ubuntu Karmic Koala running from the live CD worked fine but now it's installed it first had issues creating a FAT32 partition (kept failing) then the wireless doesn't work (worked on live CD).

Hmm...

Update: after rebooting Ubuntu, the wireless network worked fine. Also let me create a FAT32 drive, label it, format it and leave a file for Windows 7 to see. Windows 7 didn't offer me the option of using FAT32 to format...

Making a synth...

And so it begins...

Delphi 2010

The last version of Delphi I bought was Delphi Professional 2006. I didn't rate at all. Buggy, slow, broken help... sigh... I felt the days of Delphi were over. That and Kylix (stagnating at V3.0) and the change of hands of "CodeGear".

Delphi 2007, 2009... finally 2010

After an initial false start (see earlier posts), I managed to get Delphi 2010 Architect trial to install. I wasn't expecting much but...

• Generics
• RTTI access methods
• Attributes

Interesting... ah, but...

• Broken help (no news there, then)
• Still have to declare variables outside a function/procedure
• Still circular uses dependency restriction

I did a comparison with a C# app. While I find the C# language easier to work with, Delphi runtime is a lot faster. A simple graphical app seemed sluggish in .NET but rapid in Delphi.

The biggest area of Delphi is not so much the IDE, the documentation or the language, but the VCL. Standard tree control in WinForms doesn't support multiple selection - in VCL it's an option.

The price of upgrading to Delphi 2010 Professional is about £340 - that's not cheap compared to previous versions. They're offering BOGO at the moment, so I took the plunge and bought Delphi 2010 Pro upgrade and BOGO'd a copy of C++ Builder 2010 Pro as well.

After my two year break from Delphi going back is a bit traumatic. C# has spoilt me with the depth of the language. Delphi feels... antiquated.

C++ Builder never impressed me much. Everything I threw at it had problems. Seems this time it has improved, so maybe there's hope yet!

CodeGear forums fail

Trying to post a question to the Delphi forums is no fun:

(not sure where to post this...)

How do I pass a Delphi string to a function expecting WCHAR* in a Visual C++ DLL?

I tried declaring the parameter as filename: PChar (and PWideChar) but I don't see the string being passed.

I get the following mess on the screen:

HTTP Status 500 -

---

type Exception report

message

description The server encountered an internal error () that prevented it from fulfilling this request.

exception

com.jivesoftware.base.UserNotFoundException
 com.codegear.jive.cdnauth.CDNUser.loadFromMembers(CDNUser.java:83)
 com.codegear.jive.cdnauth.CDNUser.(CDNUser.java:28)
 com.codegear.jive.cdnauth.CDNUserManager.lookupUser(CDNUserManager.java:34)
 com.jivesoftware.base.UserManagerAdapter.getUser(UserManagerAdapter.java:82)
 com.jivesoftware.base.UserManagerProxy.getUser(UserManagerProxy.java:60)
 com.jivesoftware.base.action.interceptor.AuthInterceptor.processAwareInterfaces(AuthInterceptor.java:61)
 com.jivesoftware.base.action.interceptor.AuthInterceptor.intercept(AuthInterceptor.java:43)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:190)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.interceptor.AroundInterceptor.intercept(AroundInterceptor.java:31)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:190)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.interceptor.AroundInterceptor.intercept(AroundInterceptor.java:31)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:190)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.interceptor.AroundInterceptor.intercept(AroundInterceptor.java:31)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:190)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.interceptor.ExceptionMappingInterceptor.intercept(ExceptionMappingInterceptor.java:186)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:190)
 com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionProxy.execute(DefaultActionProxy.java:116)
 com.opensymphony.webwork.dispatcher.DispatcherUtils.serviceAction(DispatcherUtils.java:225)
 com.opensymphony.webwork.dispatcher.FilterDispatcher.doFilter(FilterDispatcher.java:202)
 com.jivesoftware.base.action.util.JiveFilterDispatcher.doFilter(JiveFilterDispatcher.java:68)
 com.jivesoftware.util.SetResponseCharacterEncodingFilter.doFilter(SetResponseCharacterEncodingFilter.java:61)
 com.opensymphony.module.sitemesh.filter.PageFilter.parsePage(PageFilter.java:118)
 com.opensymphony.module.sitemesh.filter.PageFilter.doFilter(PageFilter.java:52)
 com.jivesoftware.base.theme.ThemeFilter.doFilter(ThemeFilter.java:50)
 com.jivesoftware.base.util.webwork.JiveActionContextCleanUp.doFilter(JiveActionContextCleanUp.java:38)
 com.jivesoftware.base.util.JiveCompressionFilter.doFilter(JiveCompressionFilter.java:123)
 com.jivesoftware.util.SetRequestCharacterEncodingFilter.doFilter(SetRequestCharacterEncodingFilter.java:72)
 com.jivesoftware.base.util.MaintenanceFilter.doFilter(MaintenanceFilter.java:83)
 com.jivesoftware.forum.upgrade.UpgradeFilter.doFilter(UpgradeFilter.java:49)
 com.jivesoftware.base.plugin.PluginFilter.doFilter(PluginFilter.java:56)
 com.jivesoftware.base.util.ApplicationInitializedFilter.doFilter(ApplicationInitializedFilter.java:81)

Delphi 2010 is out!

So Codegear have released Delphi 2010...

Can't even download the architect trial. My user page shows an error but not what the actually error is!

Anyway... once I got past this error (I've no idea what I did to fix it), I finally got the license key to install Delphi 2010 Architect Trial.

Delphi hasn't changed much. Still need to declare variables outside of code (not block scoped) and still need declaration and implementation sections. C# looks much nicer in this respect.

C++ Builder seems to have improved so it might actually be usable...

More Spore

I added the cute and creepy pack as my brother and wife bought it as a Christmas present. So far made use of the mouths and eyes. Can't say I like the arms and legs much - too boney for me.

Then I descover I can make my creatures pickup sticks and stones!

How did I miss that one? I can get my creatures to throw them... at others, even my own creatures. It usually wacks them and results in loads of stars... very amusing!

I just keep finding little tidbits in Spore. Now there are more packs to come, so my addiction will be satisfied... oh dear...

Upgrading my MacBook hard disk

I took out the old disk, removed the shield with the TORX screws (unusual screws, luckily I had a friend with some of these), abnd inserted the new bigger drive. On boot up, my MacBook displays a flashing folder icon with a question mark.

?

So, I inserted the Leopard DVD and it boots. I go through the wizard for installation and get to the point where I need to select where to install. According to the wizard, there's nowhere to install it.

?

So, I try the disk utility. No new disk appears... then there it is. I erase it, try the install again. This time the disk appears in the where to install it display. How bizarre! Why not offer the option of erasing at this point rather than dumping the unsuspecting user with a blank screen, making him think he may have a dud drive?

So, get MacOS installed. I get stuck in the network page where it keeps asking me the wireless lan details. There seems no way to get out of this page. Eventually it connects to my hidden network (I'm guessing I got the password wrong, shame # isn't on my UK keyboard). Finally, it boots, and asks if I want to restore from back, including Time Capsule. I select that option, plug in the drive with Time Capsule on it, and restore my backup.

After restoration, it's MacOS 10.5.4, not 10.5.6. Curious. So backup doesn't include system files. Also, Xcode is missing. So backup excludes certain items. None of this is mentioned on the minimal setup for Time Capsule.

It was a smooth operation, however, with flaws.

Why can't I...

• Remotely login to my video recorder and instruct it to record something in the future?
• Play videos from a streaming terabyte drive?
• Watch pay-to-view channels on a freeview telly or box?

iPod Touch

So...

Now that I've got an iPod Touch, what do I think of it?

Well... I didn't go for the iPhone - it's missing a few essential features, as far as I can tell, no bluetooth. Weak camera, no video. If it ever adds those, then I'll consider it.

What's great about the iPod Touch is the WiFi. I have an aging Palm LifeDrive - a bulky 5GByte slow PDA. The iPod Touch beats it hands down! The WiFi on the iPod supports WPA. The LifeDrive doesn't...

What doesn't work so well for me is the multitouch. I HATE IT! I don't like using Safari then trying to zoom in with finger and thumb - somehow it just doesn't work - so I end up using two hands to get zoom working. YUK!!!

My eBooks are on the iPod Touch! Woohoo! I can retire my LifeDrive - plus Ilium have a version of their wallet on iPod Touch. More reasons to dump my LifeDrive.

What does the iPod Touch NOT have:

• No way to expand memory - why???
  
• No way to replace battery easily (but then neither does my LifeDrive).
• Keyboard pretty fiddly to use - to easy to mistype.

More as I trip over them...

Oh Leopard, where are thy spots?

I upgraded my MacBook to Leopard.

Oh dear.

It feels slower and wireless is broken. Gee. Thanks Apple!

It seems the issue with wireless is well known - still no solution from Apple as yet. So, when I switch it on, I have to use Assist to get my wireless up and running. Tedious.

UPDATE: Seems rebooting the router helped, along with clearing out the keys. Also mail was broken but deleting the configuration helped there too.

Tabatha, RIP

On Friday 21st Nov, the vet put Tabatha, my cat, to sleep.

She'd not been well for some time. She'd lost weight, and was very thirsty all the time. Then she stopped eating and could barely stand. I was at work, 100 miles away, so I couldn't be there. My dad watched as she passed away.

I collected her from the Cat Protection League around 1999. She was at least five years old then, possibly older. She was small, affectionate and just liked being around people. My parents fell in love with her instantly. When I changed jobs, I left her with my parents - I couldn't see how it could work as I lived in a flat during the week and my house at weekends.

Goodbye Tabatha, I shall miss you.

Spore patch 3

With the latest Spore patch, they've released new limbs for creatures:

Delphi 2009

I downloaded a trial version of Delphi 2009 Architect to see if much has changed with Delphi. So far I've hit the following issues:

• Cannot enter '\' in the installer. So, typing C:\dir resulted in dirC:. Most bizarre.
• Circular uses clause still exists. Tsk, tsk. This is 2009, how come we're still living in the dark ages?
• Still cannot have local variables per begin...end block.
  
• Cannot export functions declared in C source files. The linker warning is undocumented, the symbol doesn't appear in the DLL.
• C++ Builder doesn't distinguish name of project and name of a file in the project. More dark ages.
• No way for Delphi to see C++ Builder class except via COM.  How pedestrian. I can do this in Visual C++ with Managed C++.

After spending a year developing with C#, managed C++ and C++, going back to Delphi was... interesting.

Looks like the following has been fixed - it only took, what, four years?

• Select a token, hit F1. Delphi 2005, 2006 couldn't find its own help. Delphi 2009 can.
• .NET support for .NET 2.0. What about 3.0/3.5?
  

I think my original decision not to buy any further upgrades to Delphi/C++ Builder stands. It's still broken; it's not worth it.

Spore!

I read about Spore a while ago. I've played Sim City several times and liked it, so spore was interesting. I tried the Creature Creator trial and liked it, so I bought the full version of the creator. That led to buying a prerelease version of spore and downloading an encrypted version early.Spore was released last Friday (with a few server hiccups), I've been playing it ever since. It's addictive. So far I've found the cell stage the most fun.

Herbivore...Carnivore...Omnivore...

Omnivore is the most fun of the three types - you get to suck vegetables or other creatures. The expressions on them is very funny - the eyes bug out and all the frills etc. stretch out as if horrified. The sound effect is of you sucking noisily on a straw!

Once you evolve your creature starts to develop further - here's the omnivore at the creature stage:

Even in the cell stage you get an editor - here you can rearrange parts, pull off parts to replace them or add new bits and bobs to make your creature more adaptive to its environment. Here's the omnivore in its latest phase (in tribal):

As you play the game, more stages open up and you can jump in at those points (cell, creature, tribal, civilisation and space), or you can let your character evolve through each stage on the way.

After the cell stage, creature stage didn't strike me as that wonderful for a while - until I saw my own creatures I'd created in the creature editor appear as giant versions in game with 1000 points and terrorising the neighbourhood!

Waiting for Linux...

I can't remember the last time I tried Linux. It always offered so much promise, but then failed to deliver. So, I decided to try building a Linux box again. Since I've upgraded to a newer PC, I put my Athlon 2200+ to one side for Linux. I installed the latest Ubuntu...

1. Oh dear no network. I tried a seperate card and that worked; then I remembered, I'd disabled the on board network of my A7N8X mobo. Hmm, put that down to user error. However I did go a-hunting on the net and found a few comments about the network not working on A7N8X mobo's.
2. I couldn't get the graphics card to recognise my iiyama LCD display. Even without the KVM switch, it refused to let me choose any resolution other than 640x480. After a bit of tweaking, I finally got it to run in 1280x1024 mode.

Ah yes, Linux. I remember it well. It just... doesn't... quite... work. That's why trying an Apple Mac was such a breathe of fresh air. It actually works! Wow!

Epoch

It's blue. It's black. It's fast!

It's running Windows XP...

Race Driver: GRID

Looks like I got my name in the Develop magazine August 2008, page 57.

New PC!

I ordered the parts for my new PC on Moday, they turned up Tuesday...

I started putting it all together, and found a few minor issues. I'd chosen to base my build on what Scan use for their 3XS range, figuring if that's what works for them would probably work for me. The case is a gamers box with transparent sides and large, quiet fans. The first minor issue: I didn't expect to find the power supply had to be at the bottom, and upside down. The second was the size of the CPU fan. I could see problems trying to fit the thing. I watched a flash movie on the Zalman site and it made sense but I felt trying to screw down a sprung loaded bar might not be that simple. In the end, it went in, with a few mutterings.

I powered it all up and was rewarded with the BIOS screen. Ran memtest for a couple of hours and it was fine. Temperature seemed much better than I've seen with my Athlon 2200+ where it regularly hit 70C. This one was running at 40C (CPU) and 35C (motherboard). The big fans are a bit noisy, but they are quieter than my aging Athlon (aging? It's not that old!).

Since I've switched on ASUS Q-Fan, the CPU fan is running much quieter - seems every other fan is low speed, big and quiet...

So what I've got is an Intel Duo with four cores, 4GBytes of RAM (not all of which is visible), 8800 GT graphics, 750GByte SATA drive... all in a colourful box with blue lights and a green glowing CPU fan. Be interesting to see it do some raytracing once I've got everything set up - with four cores that ought to be a sight to see.