Back to work!

I don't even know if you can count this as a hiatus, guess it was more of an extended vacation but what could I do. I was sidetracked by the Tour de France, (followed by my realization that I needed to get back on my bike), followed by the Olympics (and a desire to start swimming), sprinkled in with some time on the Xbox 360, too much time on Facebook and lots and lots of SpaceMonkeys and there's the time lost!

But that's all old hat. I'll continue to focus on the above while still doing my blogging duty. By the way, thanks so much for all the friendly reminders that I needed to get back to the "Blast".

So we got some catching up to do. Let's start with all the new goodness for the Xbox 360...

1) Announced at E3, Microsoft is partnering with Netflix to give users a "direct to console" download capability that would tap into the Netflix library of 10,000 new video titles (which covers both movies and TV episodes). With that content being upconverted through your Xbox 360 and shown on that sweet big screen you have, there's never a need to go to a movie theater again. Oh yeah there's an added twist to Xbox Live users who have a Netflix account can watch streaming movies with up to seven other online friends and the same time. So now you and your clan will be able to recite lines from "Hackers" at the same time!

2) Microsoft is gonna revamp its interface (now that should be interesting considering the "blade" menus were so ground breaking).

3) Bill Gates's crew is also gonna sell the 20-gigabyte Xbox 360 for about $300 (a $50 price cut) and will offer a 60-gigabyte version at the $350 price point.

4) 360 owners will have the ability to create their own avatars (animated versions of you) to represent the user in the Xbox live-O'Sphere. Upon closer inspection, they look a little similar to the "Mii Avatars" on the Wii. Hey if its a good idea, why not steal it?

5) And lest we not forget that the 360 is a gaming console afterall! There's a host of new games slotted for the console not the least of which is an updated Viva Pinata (if you haven't tried this game yet, go pick it up new for $20 play it-love it-and lose the next 3 weeks of your life!), and of course high def,ultra-violent, third-person shooter games, like "Gears of War 2" and "Fallout 3."

Summer might be coming to a close but the fall and winter are starting to look mighty fine!