Lachlan ‹ Blog ‹ 2009 ‹ January

Christmas

January 01, 2009

This year for Christmas I got something I wanted, Mindstorms NXT. I haven't opened the packets of pieces yet as I do not want to loose them without having a place to put them (such as a toolbox).

I have looked around online on what I can do with it and I am super excited. I can use matlab to control robots over a bluetooth interface. It's a control engineer's dream come true.

I also got
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
Weezer - Weezer (Red Album)
NIN - And all that could have been (live)
The Dark Knight BD (blu-ray disc)
Sony Camera Tripod
Water feature (thanks once again chiv)

I also spent $333 on networking equipment so I can play my Wii and PS3 on the internet and not put up with GPRS for another 6 months while vodafone (still) build their (6 month late) national 3G/HSDPA network. That said when the 3G network is launched I have found the phone I want, the Sony Ericsson W705, it is basically the replacement to my current phone that I have been waiting for. The reason is that I use my phone intensively for it's extra features.

  • Alarm - I do not need a bedside clock, and uniform alarm that travels with me everywhere
  • LED torch light (useful to read maps in dark places, light dark footpaths at night etc...)
  • Timer - cook food

Improved features

  • 3.2 MP camera
  • Better video light
  • Better battery life
  • Larger screen
  • Better screen resolution at 320x240 (QVGA, improved from QQVGA)
  • 98 g (1 g lighter)
  • Thinner (better for pockets)
  • Improved music player (W800 music player is annoying)
  • Improved AAC support (should support reading ID tags, W800 ignores AAC ID tags)

Additonal features I like

  • UMTS 900 support, the vodafone regional network in Australia will only be UMTS 900, past handsets have UMTS 2100 support only (metro only)
  • Wifi - allows you to use skype/voip
  • Youtube streaming
  • DLNA certified (stream from Windows Media Player/PS3?)
  • GPS (useful for people who walk everywhere and cannot justify a car GPS)

That said I cannot really justify getting any other phone on the market to satisfy my lifestyle, the phone part really has to be an add-on to a multi-use gadget that is pocketable.

I also really like the SE bluetooth watch MBW-150 Executive edition. It looks classy!

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