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
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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
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