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About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2007)
Mardi 2007 Coca-Cola machine easier to hack than it appears u K elsey S chrader ___________ Page Editor Unfortunately, this article says nothing about how to trick a Coke machine into giving you a free soda, nor does it give information on how to get it to spit out quarters like a winning slot machine. Although that would be sweet, so far, no information has shown up on the internet (yet) on free quarters. However, this article does hold some pretty cool ways to show off your techie magic with some extremely unuseful information. But hey, it's kind of fun just to know more about Coke machines than the average 7/11 employee. Most Coca-Cola machines since the 1990's can be hacked with a very simple access code. The LED screen will show off all kinds of pointless information like past refrigeration errors, total cash intake, how many sales its made, and (if you choose the right machine) the current inside temperature. First, find a Coke machine. Yes, it has to be a machine with Coke products, not Pepsi. It can contain anything from actual soda to Powerade, just as long as it holds Coke products. Next, check whether the LED screen reads something like "Ice Cold Cokes." If it simply displays the price, the following might not work. Enter the access code. Typically this access code is 4231. This is the default code, and some companies change theirs, but there is usually little point, so few bother. To actually punch in the access code, you use the soda buttons. Here is how: • On a regular machine, with one column of soda buttons, button 1 is the top selection, button 2 is the second one from the top, and so on. • If it's in a grid, the top left selection is button 1, button 2 is the one to the right of that, and so on. After typing in the access code, a menu should appear on the LED screen. Scroll though this menu to find the information. When you type in the access code, it will probably pop up "EROR" (sic). Don't freak out. This is okay. On some machines, it might display a number. Either way is acceptable. You did it right. Here's a key to navigate through the menu: Vista offers nothing new to PC users m N athan F isher ______________ co-Editor-in-Chief Earlier this year, Microsoft released its latest operating system Windows Vista, but only after months of delays. After that long wait, most users have come to the conclusion that upgrading adds little to no value to usability or productivity, with most improvements, which are few, coming in the form of security. Along with improvements to security comes the addition of the Aero Glass interface, a brand new 3D transparent Graphical User Interface or GUI. While it is surely beautiful, it does not come without a cost. The interface has very high system requirements which would require most people that did not buy a relatively high-end computer in the last year to buy a new computer and/or parts in order to fully utilize everything Aero Glass has to offer. There are nine versions of Windows Vista to choose from. Microsoft released five different versions of Vista tailored to different types of users, with four also available as an upgrade; a cheaper deal if you already own Windows XP. The different versions include different features based on their price; the more features the higher the price. Courtesy of Microsoft.com, here are the different versions each with a short description: worlds o f productivity and play with the most complete edition o f Windows Vista. Ultimate provides the power, security, and mobility features needed fo r work, and all the entertainment features that you want fo r fun. Home Premium Windows Vista Home Premium is the preferred edition fo r home desktop and mobile PCs. It provides a breakthrough design that brings your world into sharper focus while delivering the productivity, entertainment, and security you need from your PC at home or on the go. Home Basic Windows Vista Home Basic is ideal fo r homes with basic computing needs like e-mail, browsing the Internet, and viewing photos. Easy to set up and maintain, it enables you to quickly find what you're looking fo r on your PC and the Internet, while providing a more secure environment to help protect you from an unpredictable world. Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Vista Ultimate is the choice fo r those who want to have it a ll Easily shift between the Business Windows Vista Business is the first edition o f Windows designed specifically to meet the needs o f small businesses. You'll spend less time on technology support- related issues—so you can spend more time making your business successful. Windows Vista Business is the definitive choice fo r your business today and tomorrow. Enterprise Designed to significantly lower IT costs and risks, Windows Vista Enterprise meets the needs o f large, global organizations with complex IT infrastructures. In the end, Microsoft's Windows Vista has suffered a fate common to many things in the technology world: over hype. For years, Microsoft had been trying to complete and release Vista. But in the last couple years of development, the best and most intriguing features that Microsoft boasted when it first announced the ambitious operating system were removed. People were expecting the best and all they got was an improvement. Certainly this would be a great operating system to be included with a new computer, but the improvements over Windows XP simply do not justify the extra cost. • Button 1 returns to the pervious menu or exits the menu and goes back to the normal mode. • Button 2 scrolls up though the selections • Button 3 scrolls down • Button 4 selects the displayed menu options You will use these buttons to navigate through the menu options. Here are some example menu options that will probably be on the machine: EROR (sic): This will show you all the technical problems that have happened with the machine including problems with the refrigeration, the vending mechanism, the bill changer and the bill validator. Use the scroll buttons to see different errors. Select each error to see more information. CASH: This will display the machines total historical cash intake as well as resettable cash counts for individual soda types. Press the select button when the screen displays "CASH", and it will show you the cash amount. Keep in mind that it includes fractions of a dollar, so 536050 is equal to $5360.50. Use the scroll buttons to scroll each beverage selections cash history. SALE: This allows you to see how many sales the machine has made. It works just like the CASH menu, except the numbers reflect the number of beverages sold. RTN or EXIT: Obviously, this lets you exit the menu completely and return to the normal mode. Now, if for some reason you need to exit quickly (such as when the vice principal is rounding the com er),press the coin return button. This will shut the menu down completely. Also, holding down this button on some machines will display the inner temperature. Before you get flustered, know that owners and service people may have changed the access code. However, having one code makes it ea«v for anyone with a long rou#*^ servicing machines. Also, the information is limited and fairly harmless. Although not illegal, it is frowned upon by most store owners or vice principals that may be watching, so use caution and make sure you're following the law. Also, of course, don't do this if there's a line behind you. That's just annoying and no one wants to be that guy. Playlist SpoHishT: Geoff Bingham , MiKE G orgone __________ _ Entertainment Editor "Lately I've been going through a lot of old [records] and have really expanded my listening library," Geoff Bingham, P.E. and geology teacher said. Bingham was hired as a full time teacher this year after previously working part time, substituting and student teaching at West Linn. The WLHS graduate also helps coach the wrestling team along with the Athey Creek Middle School wrestling team. "It's essential that I listen to songs that kick ash," Bingham said. "Classic rock is a big part of any geologist's playlist." Ranging from the insanely obscure "Firehouse Five + Two" to the more mainstream "Led Zeppelin" and "Presidents of the United States," Bingham's playlist truly represents this man's diverse teaching range and ability to adapt to any situation. ITurws Tim* Arti« ** Ma says, Pa says * Tumbling Tumbleweeds 8 Uncle Happy 8 The Reverend Mr. Black l- Brass Bell Bryant’s Shuffle : 8 Yodeling Guitar 8 In The Good 'ol Summertime 8 John Henry 8 Volcano l 8 Music Makin' Mama 8 We Will Rock You 8 Rock You Like A Hurricane 8 Tonight I'm Going to Rock You 8 Rock And Roll © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © 2:58 2:50 3:45 3:06 5:21 7:15 5:44 3:42 4:19 3:00 6:25 2:01 4:11 2:38 3:40 Album © On Such a Night Johnnie Ray © For You Jo Stafford © Sand & Sage Doye O’Dell © Biggest Hits Johnny Cash Firehouse Five + Two © Story © Frettin' Fingers Jimmy Bryant © Frettin' Fingers Jimmy Bryant Les Paul & Mary Ford © All Time Greatest Hits © His Brazos Valley Boys Hank Thompson Presidents of The U.S. © Lump € Singing Flanger Hank Snow © News of the World Queen © Love at First Sting The Scorpions © This is Spinal Tap Spinal Tap © Led Zeppelin IV Led Zeppelin ©I © O © © o o o © 0 o o o © © •
