John Spahr
Violoncello Gets An Overhaul!
Jul 26, 2026
In November 2020, I launched my most successful app ever. Violoncello was a text-based web browser for Android that quickly gained traction for its simplicity and nerdy charm. It was hardly the most optimized app, having been programmed by a 14-year-old with limited Kotlin experience, but it worked well enough to garner thousands of concurrent users.
As time moved on, my interest in Android development waned, but I am glad to say that Violoncello's story is not over just yet! For the first time in years, Violoncello for Android has received a massive update that revamps the aging app and makes it more efficient than ever. Meet Violoncello 3.0!
Most notably, I have modernized the user interface to better scale to current Android devices. It looks beautiful and adapts perfectly to my Pixel 10a's screen. UI elements are more consistent in their styling across the app, and everything feels a lot more fluid.
In general, I have resolved numerous bugs and quirks found in earlier versions of the app, making it considerably more stable.
I cannot wait for you guys to try out the new Violoncello! You can download the latest release on the Play Store.
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Another Day, Another Palm App!
Jul 20, 2026
I wasn't kidding when I recently talked about rediscovering my love for Palm PDAs. I have been hard at work on another fun little Palm OS app, albeit a less practical one. Meet PktPiano (pronounced Pocket Piano)!
This is a simple app that turns your Palm PDA into a pocket-sized musical instrument! Record and play back loops, store them via save slots, experiment with different sounds, and go make the song of the summer. I know you have it in you!
Like my last app, this was made with NSBasic for Palm, and you can find the project file (and code within) on its GitHub page.
If you want to try the app on your own Palm device, you can download it here. Have fun!
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WheelsMD: My New Palm OS App!
Jul 17, 2026
Nearly six years ago, I released Owner Info, a robust Palm OS app that stored your most important details in case your device got lost. After its release, I set my sights on bigger projects, but I've continued to have a deep love for Palm devices and their refreshing simplicity.
It is that continued appreciation for these gadgets that has led me to create Wheels MD. This is a Palm app featuring numerous calculators and conversion tools for automotive repairs and testing. You can calculate horsepower, displacement, mean piston speed, compression ratios, fuel economy, tire diameter, speedometer margin of error, amperage draw, and coolant/fluid ratios. You can also convert torque and volume data to different units. With this many features, Wheels MD can turn your PalmPilot into the ultimate automotive companion!
As for the coding side of things, I used the Palm OS version of the NSBasic IDE. I have put the code on GitHub for those interested, but be aware that it is contained within a proprietary .PRJ file. You'll need NSBasic to open it and look over the code.
Anyway, if you're interested in trying out the app on your own Palm device, you can download the PRC file here. I hope you like it!
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The Fabled Return!
Jun 19, 2026
Hey, reader! It's been a minute. I've been hard at work, living on my own, and exploring a bunch of state parks over the last couple of months.
The first update I have for you is with respect to this website. I have signficantly updated it to better function as a showcase of my interests. I'm pretty proud of how these updates have turned out!
Next, I am committing to giving my next semester of college my all. I am feeling the most motivated I have in a long time. I think coming to some personal realizations and maturing has made me realize how much I want to see this business degree through. I know I can do it.
With respect to my hobbies, I am starting to get back into photography. I also plan to start running again. I'm in the best shape I've been in my entire life, and I plan to stay that way.
I can't say what's next, but I can guarantee that I am committed to doing the best I can. Wish me luck, and stay tuned for more posts! Bye for now.
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Linux Saved My MacBook Air
Feb 13, 2026
Several months ago, I got an 11-inch 2015 MacBook Air. Mine is the model with the Core i5, 128 gig SSD, and 8 gigs of RAM. The hardware is still pretty nice. Yeah, the screen's kind of bad and low-res. Admittedly, the lack of newer ports is a frustration. The speakers suck. It's definitely a decade-old laptop.
However, this laptop is still amazing in a few ways. For one, it's super compact and light. It's delightful how portable it is. I can throw it in a bag and forget about it. MagSafe 2 works great, and the two type A ports are handy for sure. The keyboard is solid, as it's not the infamous Butterfly keyboard. The touchpad is small but fine. Finally, it's still quite snappy! The reapplied thermal paste and SSD definitely help with this, but the biggest improvement came from switching operating systems.
Look, I love macOS. It's great on my MacBook Pro. Sadly, Monterey is the latest official release that this MacBook can run, which is a little old. Initially, I tried to install Sonoma via OpenCore Patcher, but it didn't work well. The graphics driver had a lot of issues, and bear in mind that Sonoma isn't even the latest version. It was really rough.
Linux was the obvious answer. First, I tried elementaryOS, but it struggled to recognize the EFI partition no matter what I tried. It simply didn't work, and I didn't have the patience to keep dealing with it.
Next was Ubuntu Budgie. I thought it looked good and would work nicely. Not so. Turns out that it hates the Broadcom wifi chip in this thing. The driver did not work well. Also, I had to screw around in the terminal to get it to suspend when I closed the MacBook's lid. Notice a pattern here? I do. Hardware compatibility issues were popping up at every turn.
Finally, I landed on the latest release of Zorin OS. I preferred the UI to plain Ubuntu. Once I got it installed, I was pleasantly surprised. Things just worked! No driver issues were apparent. Shutting the lid shut it off. Best of all, it was super quick! Even after installing my usual apps, it had no problem juggling Chrome tabs and doing the light work that I use this ultra-portable laptop for.
Linux is frustrating. Things don't just work. I understand why some people don't want to mess with it. But the reward was worth it. Zorin OS makes this little MacBook not just usable, but fun to use. Its shortcomings are easily eclipsed by its performance and excellent portability. It's perfect for small lecture hall desks.
For under $100, and with a little patience, a Linux-powered 2015 MacBook Air 11” is an incredible value. I can't wait to keep using it over the coming years.
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Clicks Communicator: My Thoughts
Feb 2, 2026
Recently, a product announcement piqued my interest. Behold, the Clicks Communicator! To put it simply, this is a modern, Android-powered, BlackBerry-like keyboard phone. And I want so badly to be excited for it.
Theoretically, it has everything I need: Full access to the Play Store, Android Auto, modern specs, long-term update support, and 5G connectivity.
What rubs me the wrong way is how it's been announced. I think it's odd to be taking early bird preorders without even showing a working demo of the product. Even if a refund would be issued if things feel through, a competent phone is a very hard product to make. Not having a working prototype to show us and relying on 3D models does not inspire confidence.
It's for this reason that I have not preordered. Even though early birds get a sizable discount, I don't want to gamble on a product that might have a lot of issues and I haven't even seen yet. To its credit, Clicks has released multiple keyboard accessories already, but those are a lot less involved than making a proper modern(ish) phone.
If it works well, though, then I'm all in. My iPhone 15 Pro has some great things about it, like iMessage, Mac integration, and all the perks of a flagship smartphone. The problem is that it feels like a burden to me. I don't believe that buying a product is the right way to fix your relationship with technology at all, but I do think a phone less tailored to doom scrolling could be nice.
There are a lot of unknowns, and this first-generation product could really suck... Assuming it sees the light of day. I have no doubts about the talent or expertise of the Clicks team. Hell, I've been watching Mr. Mobile religiously since 2018. It's just that there are a lot of hurdles, and I'd rather pay the premium than gamble on it.
I guess by the standards of my Risk Management Insurance class, that makes me risk-averse. But I will take the leap of faith if the Communicator makes it to production and works well enough. Even if it has some flaws, I'm still all in. I love physical keyboards and the idea of owning something unique. That said, only time will tell. Fingers crossed.
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What's Good?
Jan 30, 2026
Welcome to the blog! These will be bite-sized posts about anything that interests me. Think of it like a microblog. Making this 90s-inspired website has been on my bucket list, and it's incredible to see it finally materializing. This will be the start of something great. So, buckle up, because this blog is about to get crazy. Woohoo!
If you're interested, the code for this site is open source!