Hey all.  I just got the Linksys DMA2100 Media Center Extender from NewEgg.com for $99 last week (As of right now the price is $119).  The overall setup was easy until I got to the wireless network setup.  My wireless network is a 802.11n network, and I have also selected that the network broadcast only on the 5Ghz band.  The 2100 found my other network that I have setup, but that is a 'G' only network.  On the plus side, once I manually keyed in all of the network info it had no issues finishing up the setup from that point on.

Because it is so small I was able to slide it right under the LCD TV in my bedroom.  My wife is really excited about it because she was never really sure how to get to the Media Center through our XBox360 on our main TV.  The WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) for this device is very high so far.  I will be very interested to see in the near future to see how much she will use it when I am not around.

The Extender itself is very well made, but I wish the remote was better.  It is the only part of the device that feels a little cheap when you hold it in your hand.  I also wish that the buttons one the remote had a back light for use in the dark or low light situations.

Overall I am very happy with the purchase.  The $99 price was too good to pass up, and so far I have no buyers remorse.  The device has meet all of the expectations that had from all of the reviews that I have read both on this site and others.

Over at the site My Home 2.0, they have come up with an idea that helps to take your digital memories to a whole new level.  Everyone has seen the digital picture frames that are becoming more and more popular, well think of this project as digital picture frame idea on steroids.

They take you through setting up this project step by step.  Here is the list of supplies that you would need to do this project yourself.

MATERIALS:

Now, here is a very cool way to use Silverlight.  Page Brooks has created a way for you to control your treadmill using Silverlight.  Page broke the project up into 3 different blog posts:  Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Here is a video demoing the application.

Hope this helps to give you ideas of different ways to customize gadgets.

I just found a good video from Channel 10.  It shows a good example of using Silverlight on a Windows Mobile device.  This is simple example, but a very good proof of concept.  It is good that Microsoft has some businesses willing to be on the bleeding edge of tech, and I just hope projects like this gets other companies to take notice and start work on projects that will make for better experiences for consumers.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video.  Keep up the good work Channel 10.

Over at Chris Craft's Blog he has come up with some very interesting software projects for the Pocket PC.  He actually came up 30 different applications, one for each day in the month of June, which shows off some of the neat features that you can add to your Pocket Pc.

• Week 1 Recap
• Week 2 Recap
• Week 3 Recap

The great thing about what Chris has done here is that he is also sharing all of the code it takes to make application run.  So if you liked one of his ideas, but it did not quite meet your needs then you can take the code and mod it fit your needs. 

Here are some of my favorites:

• Trippr
• CallBlocker
• GPS Compass

Hello everyone, my name is Justin and I will be taking over the Gadget blog.

Just a little bit about me, I have been in IT as a programmer for the last 8 years.  I have split my application development time between a credit card processing company and an insurance company.  I have also done a bit of teaching part-time at a local Technical College and a Vocational College, and the majority of that has been programming related classes with an occasional networking class thrown in the mix.

I plan on using this Blog a couple of different ways.  Post info on any interesting gadgets that catch my eye (which really is a no brainer).  I also plan on talking about ways to customize gadgets, and by that I mean either we (as a community) write our own "add-on" or if I run across any other "add-on" that I think might be interesting.

So feel free to share with me the either what types of gadgets you really want me to cover, or any "add-on" ideas that you have might have for existing gadgets.  I want to make sure that I cover topics that you want to keep coming back to find out about.

I wasn't sure what to call this little welcome message. I toyed with "Live Long and Prosper", "Take Us To Your Leader", and many other terrible Sci-Fi cliches.

We're geeks, see?

That's how geeks are supposed to introduce themselves, right? Not us. Hopefully we're here to break the mold, have a little fun, and shed some light on the mystifying array of gadgets that can be found, out there, just waiting to be enjoyed.

And so to the introductions. This blog is a collaboration between myself and Ashleigh Charlesworth. I'm Daniel Woolstencroft - a self-confessed geek on a collision course with 30 years of age, with a wife and small child. I have a love of all things technological: Microsoft, Vista, Media Center, Apple, Mac OS X, gadgets, toys, games, software - the list is endless.

Ashleigh, despite being married, has more computers than the average Air Traffic Control office, has a similar all-consuming love of technology. He's also a confirmed petrol-head, with a love of all things vehicular; the faster the better.

Our wives both think we're insane.

Together we aim to provide our takes on the latest gadgets and technology, but can provide the extra perspective that only married life can offer. We're geeks, but we know where to draw the line. We'll not mention the fact that we cross it on a fairly regular basis.

And so, with Media Center in our lounges, and technology in our hearts, we hope to entertain and enlighten.

All the best,

Dan and Ashleigh.