Colectiv|thoughts, ideas, and random tangents..

Here I am touting Sprint’s data network like it’s the best thing since sliced bread and look who steps it up? AT&T is now the overall fastest mobile data network around according the guys over at Computerworld. They put several broadband access cards through their paces and the bell boys came out on top. I remember a while back that the Washington Post did a similar review of data speeds in the Northern Virginia area. IIRC, Spring was the reigning champion then but has since been removed from the throne.

The one glaring difference between the major carriers offerings though is that Sprint is the only provider that provides unlimited bandwidth. The others have caps!

[via Engadget Mobile]

Google, you’ve done it again!! You are always thinking ahead and ask yourselves, “What do our users want? What would be a kick ass feature for our current application?” Well, your latest addition to Google Maps Mobile has got me scared in tears!

You’ve heard of GPS, right? Sure you have! With all the Tom Tom commercials and the option to add the GPS option to your new vehicle, it’s become more familiar to the public eye. What you may not have heard about is something called A-GPS. Then again.. maybe you have. You remember those action movies where the cops say, “We can track em using his cellphone! Triangulate his position!” That’s not too far from the truth! A-GPS is something that all new mobile phones must have by mandate of the FCC E911 program. It allows 911 operators to view your mobile phone’s location without using true GPS functionality. There are drawbacks to this of course, as A-GPS is purely an approximation, but is definitely beneficial in emergency situations.

So what has Google done? They dun put that there A-GPS functionality into that Google Maps application and made it that much better. This means that for the majority of us with mobile phones that do not have a true GPS-embedded unit, we can attain our general location without manually entering an address or searching for a nearby business. Fantastic!

If you are a current user of Google Maps without GPS, you know that is was very annoying to type in cross-streets when looking for nearby points of interest (POI). And even more frustrating when you’re lost in some town and their taxes apparently do not go towards street signs. Google Maps v2.0 is a life saver!

Learn more: Google Maps’ My Location

Download to Phone: Google Maps Mobile
*point your phone’s browser to the link above or manually enter www.google.com/gmm in browser

If you use WinAmp, like so many others out there, you love the interface, scalable skins, and the versatility of the program. If you’re not using WinAmp to:

• listen to your favorite music
• stream live video broadcasts
• loose yourself in MilkDrop visualization
• broadcast live to the masses

.. you’re either living under a rock, an iTunes fan(boy/girl), or just don’t like music. If either of the last two apply, feel free to dismiss this post. Otherwise, continue on!

Listening to music with your regular WinAmp player is decent: the highs are high and the lows are low. You’ve tuned your EQ just how you like it. What I’m about to tell you may terrify you.. that ain’t jack! What if I were to tell you that using one simple Digital Sound Processing (DSP) plug-in could revolutionize (yes, it’s that good) your listening experience? Too good to be true, I know.. and it will cost you nothing.

Originally released in October of 2001, Dee v1.2 is absolutely essential to WinAmp use. Dee improves the sound by adding deeper bass, focused high treble and rich 3d/reverb effects to your music. Not only that but includes an Automatic Gain Control feature to prevent distortion and even out the sound. I’ve been using this plug-in since it’s release and never upgraded to the newer versions, Dee2, as I could not recreate my favorite sound profile (which can be downloaded below).

Unfortunately it seems that the author has not only stopped supporting Dee, but also no longer hosts the installation package. I can’t seem to find the package hosted anywhere! As I knew this day would someday come, I saved the original archive and will serve it here for the masses.

I highly suggest you give the Dee DSP plug-in a try! You won’t be disappointed.

Download: Dee v1.2 Installation Package
Download: My Default Sound Profile

Tip: Turn off the regular EQ in WinAmp before using the Dee plug-in.

Click below for installation notes and more features of Dee v1.2!

Read the rest of this entry »

.. the Google streets. Call them evil or unbelievable, Google has done it again. And no, I’m not talking about ransacking acquiring another company. They’ve just realized a major updated to Google Maps by adding Street View, which is exactly what you think it is. You can now move to any block (Manhattan is entirely blanketed) and view the street.Amazing? Yes. New? No, because Amazon’s A9 search engine has similar functionality years ago, but it paled in comparisons to G¢¢gle’s UI.

Go ahead.. indulge, but be prepared to spend countless hours showing your extended family your neighborhood.