The Biggest Computer Software Mistakes in History

first actual case of a bug being found

“First actual case of a bug being found”

If a mistake is made in the coding of computer software it can end up costing companies millions, if not billions, of dollars. Here’s a list of some of the most famous and costly mistakes made in recent times.

1 – NASA’s Mariner 1 – $18,500,000

Mariner 1

The Mariner 1 space probe was supposed to be heading to Venus on a discovery mission, but soon after launch the spacecraft diverted away from its intended path. It turns out that a formula, critical to the spacecraft’s velocity, was written down on a piece of paper and then poorly transcribed.

2 – Mars Climate Orbiter Crash – $125,000,000

Mars Climate Orbiter

The Mars Climate Orbiter had spent 10 months travelling from Earth to Mars and was just arriving at Mars’ orbit when it fired its engines. The engine burst should have pushed it into position to happily orbit round Mars, unfortunately they fired too hard/ for too long and the spacecraft fell into Mars’ atmosphere and caused it to crash land.

This occurred because the software which was designed for the Orbiter’s thrusters was using imperial units (pounds of force), rather than NASA’s specified unit of choice- metric (Newtons).

3 – The Y2K Bug – $500,000,000,000

y2k

Space was an issue in older systems (which would take up vast rooms, but now fit in our hand!) so legacy software would sometimes store the date of the year as 2 digits. So 1999 was saved as “99”, but this meant that when 2000 came about, the software would think that the “00” would actually be 1900.

In the end, billions of dollars were spent by businesses all over the world to get programmers in to fix their systems or, at least, safe guard them. In the end, there were no major computer failures, but they could have been down to the efforts made beforehand to make sure it didn’t affect anyone.

4 – World War III: Close Call – Cost= potentially, most of the human race

The Soviet Army had, what they thought, a high-tech early warning system against missile attacks. In 1983 this system sent alerts to the main command centre at 12.30am informing the Soviets that the Americans had launched 5 missiles which were coming for the USSR.

Thanks to Lt Col Stanislav Petrov (below) and his “funny feeling in my gut”, he intercepted the message and overrode the system so that the USSR didn’t retaliate. He thought that if the Americans were going to attack, they would use much more that 5 missiles and so World War III and the near extinction of man was averted.

Lt Col Stanislav Petrov

It turns out that the missile warning system picked up the sunlight reflecting off the top of clouds and somehow interpreted them as missiles. The missile warning system was checked over by computer programmers and they found even more bugs. This didn’t bode well with higher Soviet army officials, Lt Col Stanislav Petrov was unceremoniously dismissed and the whole event was hushed up. The facts about this close call were only found out in 1999 and are still, technically, a military secret in Russia.

 

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Laptop vs. Tablet: Which Portable PC Should You Get?

If your current laptop is starting to die a death or your smartphone is no longer able to keep up with attempts at mobile productivity (or procrastination, not that you’d indulge in that), you might be thinking of buying something new. However, the latest models tend to be pretty price, and as such it pays to think long and hard about your decision before you make it.

With tablet technology coming on in leaps and bounds, choosing between one of these and a fully fledged laptop is becoming an increasingly difficult task, with it entirely possible to get models that, despite technically being entirely different devices, are similarly priced and are capable of performing the same sort of functions.

So what are the pros and cons of each, and will they in any way help push you towards a decision (or, if you weren’t already considering one, perhaps make you wonder whether you need a shiny new piece of tech)?

Reasons to get a laptop:

  • They have bigger screens – This can be especially important if you planning on using them to watch a lot of movies or play a lot of video games. You won’t find many widescreen tablets around (and, even if they were commonplace, it would incredibly awkward to hold one).
  • They have better specs – Seeing as they’re generally larger and thus have more room for components, it makes sense that laptops are able to perform better than their tablet counterparts. If you’re looking to do anything that will be particularly demanding of resources or would kind like a graphics card so you can play some of the latest games, you’re probably better off with a laptop. Additionally, although some tablets do have hard versions, you’re usually better off with a laptop if you want a keyboard.
  • They have a better selection of programs – This one may seem a little obvious, but it’s worth bearing in mind. While tablet apps are all well and good, there are some things you just can’t get on a tablet (admittedly largely for hardware-related reasons).

Reasons to get a tablet:

  • They’re portable – Smaller and lighter than most laptops, tablets are great for making sure you stay on top of things wherever you are. Able to be slipped in and out of a bag (and, in some cases, a pocket) with ease, tablets are great for doing things on the go.
  • They have touchscreens – This is a surprisingly big selling point for some, and whether it’s the convenience or the cool factor, few would say no to a nice, responsive touchscreen. Great for getting exactly want you want from your device with a mere touch, today’s soft keyboards are even pretty well optimised (and some, like the Asus Transformer, even have the option of hard ones).
  • They’re jacks of many trades (and even masters of some) – These days, tablets have incredibly wide ranges of platform-specific apps, meaning that they likely sit at least between most top-end smartphones and decent laptops in the usefulness stakes.
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Four Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Laptop for University

Whether you’re going to university for the first time or returning after the holidays or even a gap year, you might be wondering whether you should get a laptop in order to help you with your studies. Even if you already have a desktop PC, laptops can be really handy, allowing you to work (and more) on the go as necessary without having to resort to going to a computer lab or, horror of horrors, pen and paper (not that there’s anything wrong with this, but it can be a real pain if, for example, you hand write an assignment then have to type it up in order to submit it).

So why should you devote a portion of your savings – or your student loan – to a laptop?

  • They’re great for lectures – Laptops are awesome for making notes, again avoiding the need to type them up later. However, you may want to take into consideration how loud your keyboard is when typing; nothing’s worse that shattering the quiet of the lecture with sporadic bursts of frenzied typing on a clicky keyboard.
  • They allow you to work wherever you go – Whether you’re sitting in your room, the library or even in the on-campus café, you can take your laptop with you and use it to work wherever you go (although the latter two in particular can, of course, often depend on the quality and reliability of your university’s Wi-Fi).
  • They’re awesome for entertainment – Also known as ‘procrastination’ in certain (perhaps slightly more accurate) situations. However, it’s a fact that can’t be ignored. If you’re stuck waiting for your next class to begin or the bus home after the previous one has been cancelled, a laptop can be a real lifesaver in staving off what might potentially prove to be hours of boredom.
  • They’re useful for staying in touch – While the internet is really the one responsible for allowing you to do this, the fact of the matter remains that a laptop allows you to do this wherever you go. Stuck on campus and you suddenly remember a message you need to pass onto a coursemate or tutor you need to email? Simply pull out your laptop and do so. Laptops are also great for keeping in touch with friends and family on the go; you could type an email to your parents while taking a break in the library, for example, or even have a quick Skype chat with a friend from back home with the aid of your laptop’s inbuilt microphone and (if it has one, which most recently made laptops do) webcam.

However, there are also a few things you ought to bear in mind if you do decide to get a laptop. For example:

  • Budget – You still need money to live for the next few terms so don’t look into a laptop that is beyond your price range; after all, you might not necessarily need the latest model with the highest possible specifications. Why not see all Novatech laptops if you need an idea of what you can get in your price range?
  • Specifications – As mentioned above, don’t pay for more than you need. If you’re just going to use your laptop for word processing and browsing, for example, you probably don’t need to get one that boasts the latest graphics card.
  • Insurance – You may want to invest in some insurance for your laptop, especially if it’s brand new. Make sure you look into policies that cover things such as theft, spillages and incidents where your room has been unlocked; you want to make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities, especially if you’re somewhat accident prone.
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The History of the iPhone INFOGRAPHIC

January 9th, 2007 was the day that Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone to the world and made tech history. Since then the iPhone has gone through some major advancements in technology and has become the must-have device for virtually anyone!

So far we have had the iPhone first generation, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s, plus we are now expecting the iPhone 5 to be announced at Apples next event on September 8th.

Lets look through the incredible history of the iPhone and how much of a success it has been -

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Top 5 Tablet PC’s on the market

written by: georgia.jean

This article will outline the top five quality tablet PC options out there that are on the market at the moment.

The first is the HTC flyer. The HTC flyer has many fancy features including the use of a stylus pen, a 5 megapixel camera, dual speakers. The stylus pen is rare in tablets these days but is a great addition as it enables the user to write on documents and draw easily.

The second tablet pc is the Blackberry playbook. The Blackberry playbook is a great tablet as it is highly portable and compact with is 7inch screen. A great feature of this particular pc is that it supports flash which allows the user to watch videos and browse websites freely with a great high resolution touch screen. The playbook has access to the BlackBerry App World which lets you download the most popular and sought after applications and social networking sites to your tablet. For those who own a BlackBerry smart phone they have the possibility to allow your phone to act as a keyboard and mouse for your playbook, this is perfect for pausing or playing a movie while it is plugged into your TV through HDMI cables.

Another great option is the Nook Colour by Barnes and Noble. It’s most obvious advantage is its low price of $169. Similar to the Blackberry Playbook it is also compact with the 7inch touch screen. It comes complete with build in WiFi for email and web browsing. Its battery is also very durable and can last up to 8 hours for the user who like to read books for long periods of time this can come in extremely handy. It has 8GB of built in memory but expandable storage of up to 32GB with MicroSD memory card is available.

Next is the Sony S Tablet, which has a great ability to multi task, which allows you to browse websites such as social networking sites and use applications all at the same time. Move easily from one application to another. It also has the ability through infra red to act as a remote control for TV’s or DVD Players.

Finally, there is the Asus Transformer Some tablet users find them difficult to type on however love them for their portability and compact design. This is why the Asus Transformer is so great. It has an attachable dock which turns your tablet into a full notebook/laptop with a QWERTY keypad for writing with ease. This function extends battery life for up to 16 hours and adds USB ports. It virtually gives you a notebook and tablet in one. It has a slightly larger screen than most tablets at 10.1 inches which is perfect for those who wish to enjoy multimedia at high resolution on the move. This special tablet also comes with two cameras one on the front of the tablet which is 1.2 megapixels and then a 5 megapixel camera on the rear of the tablet. This makes it possible to video chat through applications such as Skype with ease. It also comes with scratch resistant glass and a high multitasking ability.

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What Should You Ask Yourself Before Buying A New Laptop?

In the age of product reviews and comparison websites galore, you are hardly on your own when it comes to deciding the best product. However you need to make sure you buy the right laptop for you. What are the key things to look out for?

How fast do you want your computer to run?

Unless constantly running intensive applications save your money and buy a dual-core CPU as opposed to a quad-core one. Obviously the faster the processor, the faster your laptop will run, but also you should consider the more battery life you will use, and the more expensive your new companion.

Will you want to watch multimedia?

If so, it is well worth investing in a laptop with a good screen. The majority of laptops have a 720p compliant screen. For a crystal-clear picture, consider comparing 720p screens with full HD ones (i.e. 1080p or better).

The keyboard is often a much forgotten consideration when buying laptops on the cheap. Many modern keyboards have ‘chiclet’ keys where each key is raised up from the laptop base and is completely separate from the others keys. Obviously the advantage with this style is that there is no gap for the old dust and crumbs. The reviews of the chiclet keyboard are indeed good, however it is well worth experimenting with what type suits you.

Are you often going to be far from electricity sockets?

There is nothing worse than running out of battery. Therefore save yourself the stress and give your laptop a longer battery life with a low-voltage processor. Albeit you lose some speed, but what’s speed if your laptop runs out? On this point, be careful how much importance you attach to the manufacturer’s battery-life specification since this covers time spent typing on a very dimly-lit screen on power-saver mode!

What’s your laptop made of?

May seem like a daft question, but if you are prone to stuffing your laptop in a bag, then seriously consider a metal case rather than a plastic one.

Finally and arguable most importantly, although you may want to keep costs down and get a cheap laptop, you should ensure that your hard-drive is as big as you can get for your money. Having a lower hard-drive will only mean splashing out on extra memory further down the line. Don’t be fooled by the memory it takes to download a few songs or videos – you’ll need at least 1GB.

Conclusion: best advice -> try before you buy: it has to feel right for you.

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The Beauty of The Tablet PC

A tablet PC is one of the newest gadgets that people are getting hooked to. The iPad was the very first tablet PC that was ever released and Apple has been doing a great job in putting features on their iPad which makes it the best there is. They have also released new versions of the iPad to give it the much needed improvements to beat the rest of the competition in the tablet PC market. The iPad is not the only tablet PC that you will find because there are a lot of brands that have their own tablet PC. A lot of people have been wondering which brand makes the best tablet PC aside from Apple because there are a lot of people who do not like Apple products. Other people just want to be able to explore their options and see which among all tablet PCs in the market is the best.

The best Tablet PC right now that can be considered a rival to the iPad is the Samsung Galaxy Tab. In terms of features, hardware and specifications, Samsung gives the iPad a run for its money. Samsung was the second company that was able to release a tablet PC that became well known globally. The iPad was able to make a name for it globally right away and the Samsung tab was able to do the same. Other than this fact, there are so many other things that the Samsung Galaxy Tab was able to do first compared to the iPad.

One of Samsung Galaxy Tab’s advantages over the iPad is the number of options that the Galaxy Tab offers. The iPad only comes in one size and this size is a bit too big for some people. There are some people who want a smaller tablet PC that would fit their back pockets and that is what Samsung Galaxy Tab brings to the table. They have tablet PCs that are of different sizes to give you the options that you need to be able to own a tablet PC that will be perfect for you.

The hardware of the Samsung Galaxy Tab is at par also with the iPad. This makes the product really worth it. The Galaxy Tab can also be used as a phone which is a feature that the iPad does not offer. It was originally designed to have a SIM for the 3G service that a person might want to get but the Galaxy Tab made their product much more useful by allowing it to make calls and send messages. The Galaxy Tab runs on Google Android which is the operating system that rivals the iOS of the iPad. This makes it a very close battle where personal preference and style will surely come into the decision making process.

Overall, the Galaxy Tab can compete with everything that the iPad has to offer. Both tablets have cameras, can take pictures and videos, it can go online, play movies and so much more. It is a very close call but the edge would be with Samsung because of the choices that they offer for their Galaxy Tab.

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Are Online Mispricing Mistakes Changing Consumer Buying Behaviour?

High street stores are closing, more and more people are opening up e-commerce stores and a tonne of webmasters are making pricing mistakes. It’s that simple. The rapid increase in both niche e-stores and huge online retailers stocking more and more products mean that mispricing errors are as high as ever, with both genuine human errors and database issues causing products to be incorrectly listed. It doesn’t matter whether you are a bedroom business in downtown Presque Isle, USA or a corporate website run from London, UK, the same problems are occurring for individuals and huge corporations.

Consumer behaviour is changing and causing a relationship to develop between these scenarios occurring on a day to day basis and the no longer shy post-recession Brits cashing in on some unfortunate and costly mistakes. Consumers are now bulk buying mispriced products and selling them on, creating an entire industry built on entrepreneurial instinct and taking advantage in the relative infancy of the newly social aspect of e-commerce.

M&S and Argos Mispricing

In the last month there have been two mispricing examples which highlight the grey area of the consumer law concerning online mispricing. They also highlight the fact that huge corporate companies are just as susceptible to these mistakes as an individual running their own t-shirt store. Earlier this month, Marks and Spencer accidentally priced a Panasonic plasma TV worth over £1000 at just £199. The deal was posted on bargain hunting platform Hot UK deals as customers flocked to the site, paid on their credit card and snapped up the 50 inch 3D television for a rock bottom price. Initially, Marks and Spencer were reluctant to honour the deal, but following an online petition and even a petition song, they honoured the deal and though they would have lost out on cash, they earned a few brand brownie points.

Argos on the other hand, did completely the opposite. On the 21st January, a day which suspiciously coincided with the launch of their new catalogue, Argos listed a brand new, sim free Nokia Lumia 800 mobile phone reduced from £449.99 down to £119.99. Naturally it attracted a lot of interest, was listed on Hot UK deals and loads of people bought the product. However, when Argos realised their ‘mistake’ they contacted customers via text message to say that the deal would not be honoured. Those who purchased the item on their credit cards or via Paypal would have to wait seven days for the money to be refunded to their accounts. The whole situation was very messy and their brand has taken a bit of a battering on the Hot UK deal comments section with over 1500 comments discussing the situation. Despite this, Argos have stood firm and not honoured the deal.

These two examples show that there’s no real right or wrong when it comes to cashing in on online mistakes and the law is this industry is a minefield for both consumers and the retailers. One thing is certain and that is, until there is a clear law in place, consumers socially sharing and bulk buying mispriced products will continue, and rightfully so.

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Categories: e-commerce.