Sunday, August 29, 2010

Fun with a Mobile Hot Spot

So my Palm Prē can act as a mobile hot spot, providing internet to other devices.

I got bored at DFW this morning waiting for my flight (they broke the first plane. I've been here for over 5 hours!).

So I activated my MHS app and re-named my SSID "Free Network" (it's normally "Infected Network").

It wasn't long until a laptop connected to it.

I felt kinda neat providing free Wi-Fi to a random stranger.

A minute later, an iPhone connected.

Wow. If only that guy knew where his internet was coming from.

After the laptop disconnected, I shut down my MHS.

And then I noticed a very confused looking iUser.


Saturday, August 14, 2010

Darth Vader, Legos, and webOS

Last night while I was at Target; I came across a giant Darth Vader Legoman.

With a push of a button, Darth's lightsaber ligts up and he moves.

Sadly, there was no audio.

But wait!

I had just downloaded two apps that morning on my Prē.

So I pulled up the "Darth Vader Breath"
http://developer.palm.com/appredirect/?packageid=com.demosoft.darthvaderbreath&applicationid=4586
app and added the needed audio to the display.

It was much more effective.

After that got old, I opened up "Saber Ultimate"
http://developer.palm.com/appredirect/?packageid=de.draegerit.app.saberultimate&applicationid=4195
and
 had a ligtsaber duel with Lord Vader.


It's about this time that my brother walked away…

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Australian Coke and Waco Dr Pepper

I drink Dr Pepper.

It's good stuff.

And if you read your can of this good stuff, it'll say "Plano, TX" on the side.

That's where I grew up.

Last month, I went to Australia on business. I couldn't find Dr Pepper anywhere.

For most of the week, I drank water.
And I never drink water.

I tried drinking Coke, but something tasted... off.

I found out that they don't use corn syrup down under; they use sugar.

Huh. I've had Dr Pepper made with sugar several times. This Coke should taste better than this.

It didn't.

And I just found out why.


After returning to the States and drowning myself in Dr Pepper; I came across the last two cases of "Made with Real Sugar" Dr Pepper in my local Walmart.

Woo!

But something was... off.

It tasted almost like that Australian Coke.

The "off-ness" wore off and I really enjoyed my 24 cans.

I eventually studied the can long enough to realize that the words "Imperial" and "cane" were not present.

The reason that both sodas didn't taste like the nectar of the gods was because they failed to use Imperial® cane sugar.
They used some other sugar instead.

So between the random sugar-of-choice, and my unfamiliarity with Coke; the combination was almost un-palatable.

Then I opened my first can of corn syrup Dr Pepper less than an hour ago.

What the heck is this stuff‽

If Imperial® cane sugar is the good stuff, then "Real Sugar" must be mid-grade.

Which leaves corn syrup as the cheap stuff.

Which it is. And that's why we use it.

As I take another sip from my soda, I realize that my taste buds have some adjusting to do...