bradKELLETT

A few days ago, I was sent a Nokia 6280, and since then I have been using it as my full-time handset – setting aside my N90 for a while. The best thing I could say about this device is that I have mixed emotions. Read my mini-review after the jump.

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Have you ever really wanted to mess up a T-Mobile Sidekick? These guys did just that…

Watch – [via DreamHost Blog]

I have a Windows Media Center Edition PC that I use as my full-time machine, and have a Linksys Media Center Extender out in the lounge room that connects back to my box. It is a beefy PC (dual core 3.0GHz, 1GB RAM etc.) so this doesn’t have much of a performance hit for me when someone is watching TV and I’m trying to work. Overall, I was satisfied with the experience, until I got my Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 has Media Extender functionality built in, and it absolutely trumps Linksys’ effort. Not only do you get the full MCE experience, including transitions, effects, and sounds, which the Linksys box did not (the interface was the same, but was just static – none of MCE’s niceties), but gone are any stutter problems I was having, and the video quality is much better.

In short, if you are thinking of getting a Media Center Extender and like gaming as well, the Xbox 360 is a great way of doing it.

Like a sheep happily wandering with the pack to the slaughter, I went out and bought an Xbox 360 yesterday. The Australian launch obviously was not as intense as the US one, as the box was only released yesterday, and without a pre-order, I simply wandered into a shop and picked one up. The assistant said that out of an initial shipment of about 80, they still had about 20 Premium bundles left.

So, here are my initial impressions.

Positive:

• The graphics are quite special
• Attention has been paid to the little things, such as the ‘Ring of Light’ that tells you which wireless controller is connected to which ‘port’
• The controllers are much more comfortable to hold than the previous Xbox, even with the Controller S of the original

Negative:

• The power brick really is huge
• The thing is loud when it spools up
• Everything in the Live Arcade costs money if you want a full version, it would be nice if they gave you some small games free.

For those curious, I bought a premium bundle with an extra wireless controller.

I’ll continue posting some of my impressions as the 360 and I get further acquainted, but for now its back to work for me.

I am desperately sorry about the lack of updates; I have been absolutely flat out with work. Rest assured though, my ‘to blog’ file is getting larger, and there will be updates VERY soon (like, today).

On the MobileBurn front, I am working on reviews for the Samsung D808 and P858, and should have those up later in the week. We should also have a Motorola SLVR review up very soon as well.

Anyway, back to the grind (as if I can really call my job that).

Read this (from Gadgetophile) – it is probably one of the most blunt, short, to-the-point, yet bang on the money posts I have read in a long time. Kudos guys.

So, Motorola released the PEBL in four new colors today. Am I supposed to be excited now? I am not saying there isn’t a place for choice in color, but I would much prefer Motorola actually announce something new.

The PEBL and SLVR have been the only significant releases from Motorola for quite a while now, and I am really bored of them. I’m hoping that we might see the SCPL (I really hate this naming convention, by the way) at CTIA in Las Vegas next month; otherwise Motorola might have some problems keeping up with the competition, specification-wise.

I can’t say that they will be threatened in their position in the market though, as that damn RAZR seems to be keeping them in the game – for now.

Let me ask a question: Are you a bad blogger if you don’t post to a schedule? I have been terribly busy getting through the piles of pictures and notes I have from CeBIT in Hannover last week, and so I haven’t posted much at all. Am I a bad blogger? Continue Reading

Microsoft must be feeling very generous, as it has just given me another 20 Live Messenger Beta invites to give out. Leave a comment if you want one.

I had high hopes for Ted’s Take – the blog of Ted Leonsis – but I have to say, I am sorely disappointed.

This guy has so many honors it is beyond the point of laughing. Vice President of AOL, part owner in three sports teams, former Mayor of Orchid, Florida, and has a net worth of over US$100 million – yet the man has no real insight.

If you have an interest in the NHL, you might occasionally take a little away from his blog, but otherwise, it is not really worth the read. Ted, I am still subscribed for now, but unless I see some original and interesting thoughts, as I know you must have, you are going to be departing my reading list.

Even I find it amusing how I am writing this post like the man reads my blog…