Force Android to use the faster WCDMA data connection.

I've experienced a slow internet uplink lately, and some of this is being taken care of by T-Mobile Netherlands as we speak. Today i received word that i could do something about this myself, as well.

There is a setting in my Google G1 (Android v1.6) phone that forces the phone to only connect with the faster WCDMA networks, and to not degrade or negotiate this. This means my geographical coverage will not improve or -more probably- get worse as there are places plenty that don't offer WCDMA at all, but i'm willing to give this a try.

Quoted from http://forum.xda-developers.com/archive/index.php/t-536234.html:

From the dialer, type exactly:

*#*#4636#*#*

After a moment, a screen will appear called "Testing". Select the drop-down that says "Phone Information". From there, scroll down to where it should say "WCDMA preferred", and change it to "WCDMA only". Use the back key to get out. It should stay selected even through a reboot.

  

This menu contains a host of test buttons and statistics on connections and phone usage. I'll update this article if and when i gain new insights on this.

Paper scan unscrewing and straightening

If you (like me) like taking quick pictures (writing stuff down is not my hobby) with your cellphone for later reference you might also regret the bad quality that one most often meets when taking a quick snapshot or memo of a memo, letter or a whole document.

Some times you simply need a proper scanned document, yet have no flatbed scanner at hand. Or later realize this quick memo has to be redistributed or touched up and look good. Can you do it without a flatbed scanner?

Yes, your mobile camera will do! There are tools that unscrew and straighten your document photo or scan. These tools where built for digitizing books and the necessary restoring of paper scans;

• Scan Tailor
  Scan Tailor has a rather rudementary GUI and may suit most needs. Especially when working with attended restorations: you can see and tweak the scanned pages.
  
  
• Unpaper
  Unpaper as an Linux commandline application this might not be very userfriendly, but it saves the day ..every day.
  

Also, if once feels inclined these are easily integrated or ported to Android application. Did i mention i love Android?