I recently started working with the Android SDK and plan to start development on two projects.

The first is an advanced shopping list app. This is more for my wife than me. She has used/tested several of these apps that are curently available on the Android Market, but while they all offer necessary functions, they lack features that should be available in a quality app.

The second is an idea that I’ve been kicking around in my head for some time now. We have a home security system that is able to be controlled by a key fob. This is much better than having to race to the keypad to punch in the code to deactivate, but doesn’t offer any features beyond the range of the system. Using a mix of hardware and software, I’d like to have full control over the system from my phone.

I look forward to these projects and will post more details as I get things rolling.

I know we have all been in this situation before: either on a road-trip, flying, camping, whatever, you’re away from home and nowhere near an electrical outlet… and the battery meter on your phone/ipod/camera/[insert small must-have device here] starts to blink letting you know you are just moments away from no longer being able to use said device. Crap.

I’ve been here all to many times. Right when my phone is about to shut down from I’m reminded of all the alternate power options I have looked at, compared, and read so many reviews of . . . but never bought. The options seem to be endless, they all have their pros and cons. Solar would be nice, but they’re a little more expensive. Most of them need adapters for the different devices you want to charge. Even some of the smaller units were oddly shaped or still seemed a little bulky. For whatever reason I could never bring myself to actually buy anything I’ve looked at previously.

I keep up with posts from Make: Online and saw a great article about making a small USB charge unit built into a common mint/candy tin. Awesome! I have a half-dozen of these guys kicking around the house, there a nice size, and I’ve been itching for a small project (cold/wet weather kills the whole outdoor house project thing). So I bought a kit from the MakerSHED: http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKAD2

It should be here in a few days. I can’t wait to get started. I’ll post pictures and project notes later.