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Buying Electronic Cigarette’s in Australia

AzzX — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:08:46 +0000

You have probably scoured the net and read all the positive comments on the e-cig phenomena so are ready to buy an electronic cigarette?

If so, you are in for a treat as switching to this battery powered product is definitely a healthier and cleaner alternative to conventional cigarettes and other forms of tobacco smoking. Personally, switching to e-cigs is one of the best things I have ever done.

What to buy for a first time e-cig purchase? Updated 13th November 2011

For a first time user I would definitely recommend a Joye 501 starter kit or a Ego / Riva starter kit which is similar to the Joy 501 but has a higher capacity battery. You have a choice of manual and automatic types though I really recommend manual as you can control the vaping experience to suit and as previously discussed, the auto versions can have some serious issues.

JOYE 510, is one of the most popular types of electronic cigarettes. The starter pack if ordered from a store like Health Cabin comes with 2 manual batteries, 2 atomizers, and 5 cartridges, everything you need in order to make the switch.

JOYE eGo, is a unique design incorporating easy charging with excellent long lasting battery life including 2 atomizers, 2 3.7V 650mAh rechargeable batteries, 2 Atomizer covers, a AC-USB Adapter(US or Euro Plug), a USB Charger, pouch and 5 Standard tobacco flavour cartridges.

JOYE eGo-T, The eGo-T is the first e-cigarette to apply the new tank system for dripping e-liquid directly into its tank cartridge without the use of tissue inside the tank. This new system makes dripping easier and less frustrating for consumers in general. The eGo-T atomisers can work well on regular all ego batteries (650mah,900mah or 1000mah).

I personally recommend the LR(LOW RESISTANCE) Type B eGo-T over the type A though this is more personal preference than a definite recommendation. If you can, get a pack of LR type Cartomizers which work well with the EGo type batteries. A pack of LR cartomises costs around 4 to 5 dollars and this is what I use 90% of the time.

The Health Cabin Black JOYE ego Kit.

The standard Joye 510 e-cigs look a lot like an analogue cigarette, even including a LED tip to further stimulate the conventional smoking experience. Most people after trialling the JOYE 510's usually upgrade to the higher capacity versions. I get around 1 hour of vaping using the 510 between charges but get around 8 hours using the Joye and similar versions like the Riva.

E-juice/E-Liquid, sometimes referred to as nicotine juice, e-liquid, or smoke juice, is a cost effective way of extending the life of your cartridges. Once your cartridge is empty, simply put a few drops of e-juice into your cartridge. I smoked about 25 medium strength cigs a day, which were about 8mg rated and found that 18mg e-juice was perfect for my needs. Ecigs deliver nicotine differently to your body so using a higher mg strength juice than what you were normally smoking ends up being quite normal. Tests have shown the body receives 5 times as less nicotine than the old tobacco ciggie, though compensates by producing a quicker hit of nicotine in the short term.

Whatever you do, don't rush out and buy an electronic cigarette from just any online store.

Not all e-cigarettes are created equal, there are copies, some good, some bad and new sites are appearing daily offering varying degrees of quality merchandise. Some users have issues ranging from simple mechanical failures like battery lifespans, atomizers that have been produced poorly causing them to either get clogged way too easily or arrive dead on delivery. A dodgy atomizer produces poor vapor quality and lack of volume which could put off a potential tobacco smoking convert - Something I would hate to see happen.

The best way to avoid these problems is to educate yourself on the best models, brands and manufacturers of electronic cigarette products. Recently a vast majority of manufacturers are producing cheaply made inferior products which are blatant copies of the original. The good news is that there are a handful of reputable companies with top of the line ecig goodness that will give you a realistic smoking experience which WILL help you make the switch.

I personally recommend Health Cabin for purchases requiring nicotine, price and quality is top notch, and if you require non nicotine purchases, Ecigz Australia is another local place I frequent for my ecig goods and has a top level of support. For other Quality overseas vendors which sell nicotine based ecig products you could try Heaven Gifts and Eastmall.

It is illegal In Australia to sell nicotine products, so most reputable local suppliers only sell non nicotine products in regards to their electronic cigarette wares, it is however fine to import nicotine ecig products for personal use from stores like Health Cabin.

Health Cabin can deliver to most countries.

Ecigz Australia, One of the best Aussie suppliers.

You can also find Electronic Cigarette Coupon Codes at EcigCodes.

Broadcom Crystal HD in Australia

AzzX — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:21:41 +0000

The Broadcom Crystal HD Hardware decoder comes as a PCI Express Mini Card that enables support for H.264 and VC-1 video compression like the playback of Blu-ray discs and streaming 1080p high definition multimedia content. It is designed to reduce CPU utilization and allows for full HD real-time decoding support for mobile platform solutions and it is also the perfect solution for small form factor HTPC's running compatible software like the mighty XBMC. There are solutions for Windows, Linux or OSX platforms.

The Windows driver binary and Linux source code for the driver and library can be found at the Broadcom web site. For OSX, the binaries and source codecan be found at google code. Users in the USA can purchase the Crystal HD mini PCIE card from Logic Supply for $69 though Ebay appears like the only solution for those outside the USA.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhIZqOePps

HP BCM970012 BroadCom BCM70010 BCM70012 HD Decoder new

AU $13.87

11h 8m

Broadcom BCM70012 BCM970012 BCM70010 Crystal HD Decoder

AU $13.87

14h 2m

Broadcom BCM970012 BCM70010 Crystal HD Decoder hp mini

AU $27.75

4d 16h 46m

Broadcom HD Decoder BCM970012 Card Dell Acer Toshiba

AU $27.75

4d 16h 46m

new hp Broadcom BCM70012 BCM970012 Crystal HD Decoder

AU $27.75

4d 16h 46m

Broadcom HD Movie Decoder BCM970015 BCM70015 Apple TV

AU $61.07

6d 20h 3m

Heavy Rain Australian Release

AzzX — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 07:36:55 +0000

The PC game Omikron: The Nomad Soul is one of my all time favoritism games, not only did it feature David Bowie and a whole soundtrack of unique Bowie songs, it still ranks as one of the best multi genre games available. Blending Adventure, fighting, RPG, FPS elements, the game had a unique body swapping ability it just reeked awesomeness.

When I heard years ago Quantic Dream were making another game I immediately took notice. Unfortunately they have dropped the PC version (my fav platform) and made it a PS3 exclusive making it one of the most anticipated PS3 games waiting for release.

The tag line for the game goes: How Far Will You Go To Save Someone You Love? and promises to play like the ultimate movie - where you are part of the action.

Heavy Rain Australian Release 25th February 2010

Experience a gripping psychological thriller filled with innumerable twists and turns, where choices and actions can result in dramatic consequences. Spanning four days of mystery and suspense, the hunt is on for a murderer known only as the Origami Killer - named after his macabre calling card of leaving behind folded paper shapes at crime scenes. Four characters, each following their own leads and with their own motives, must take part in a desperate attempt to prevent the killer from claiming a new victim.

Key Features

An evolving thriller in which you shape the story
Mature content, reflecting a realistic world setting that explores powerful themes
Stunning graphics, animation and technology support an emotionally driven experience
Accessible gameplay via intuitive, contextual controls and interface

Cheapest preorder links for Heavy Rain:

Fishpond $89.99 with Free Delivery

Origin Custom PC’s now in Australia

AzzX — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:53:08 +0000

The extreme custom built PC specialists known as Origin PC are now available in Australia. Backed by the praise of one of the worlds most successful and professional gamers in FATAL1TY, Origin PC offers you the chance to build the ultimate personalised gaming and media Rig - Right online and without the need of a screw driver.

Unlike other vendors who offer built and online self configured PCs, Origin allow any buyer, regardless of knowledge, to delve into the traditional hardcore realm of the Overclocker and enthusiast PC builder allowing options such as Airbrushing, Liquid cooling and some funky case designs - Eat your heart out Apple.

Pricing on these custom beasts may be more than say your typical Dells and HP PC's, but the power and flexibility you will be playing with is significantly higher. Being a PC enthusiast myself, the ability to overclock and customise my PC systems has gone a long way to enhance my digital lifestyle. It's not just about impressing friends as things like overclocking and upgrading can also extend your PC's life beyond that of the typical retail computer.

Origin PC Australia

Any company can build a PC, but few can build a custom gaming PC worthy of playing the latest games. Many claim to offer gaming PCs, but they don't deliver a complete gaming experience. A real gaming PC must be focused on Customization, Service, Gaming, and Technology. This is ORIGIN's specialty.

For a PC to be deemed ORIGIN certified it must have:

True Personalization {The complete package has to 'look' as good as it performs}
Hand-Built by Certified ORIGIN Specialists {Just because anyone can build a PC, doesn't mean they should}
Lifetime phone and online service guarantee {Once you join ORIGIN, we will have you covered for life}
Lifetime labor for all your service and upgrade needs included with every ORIGIN system
Gaming Performance & Quality Testing {1 cycle of a benchmark does not mean it is ready, this is a gaming PC. Every ORIGIN PC runs through at least 72 hours of testing}
Component Quality Assurance {Only the best quality/performing components}
Wired for Thermal Optimization {No, a bird's nest is not allowed in a gaming PC}
Inspected and Approved {Over 100 point quality checklist signed by your dedicated team of professionals}
Dedicated Support Team {Never deal with anonymous agents that don't know your name}

Power DVD 15% Off Blu-Ray Special

AzzX — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:37:03 +0000

For the next couple of weeks, Cyberlink is offering a 15 percent discount on its Ultra Software Range:

15% off PowerDVD 9
15% off PowerDirector 8
30% off DVD Suite 7

Special ends on the 24th of November.

PowerDVD 9 10% off Halloween Promo

AzzX — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:59 +0000

This October, Cyberlink have a great Halloween offer with 10% Off their best selling products: PowerDVD 9, PowerDirector 8 and Power Producer 5.

This offer applies to both full and upgrade versions of these 3 products so now is a great time to be upgrading your HTPC with software that can do true Dolby and DTS TrueHD bitstreaming!

Purchasers in the US ONLY will receive an additional incentive of 3 Weeks Free DVD rentals at BLOCKBUSTER.com. These store wide specials will end on November 4th.

Cheap Aussie CDs, DVDs, Blu_Ray, Games and Girly Stuff.

AzzX — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:16:33 +0000

I have always been on the lookout for a decent yet cheap Australian based online store for Music and Movies and at long last I have found my new favourite. CDWOW.com.au offers CDs, DVDs, Games and even cosmetics at significantly discounted prices. You can find a great range of products sourced from the major media companies worldwide along with the best possible prices. Chart CD's start from $14.95 and Blu-Rays are the cheapest I have come across - even beating JB HIFI.

Right now there is a big sale on that gives you 15% off all CDs, 10% off all DVDs, Games & Cosmetics.

My first purchase was the new Muse - The resistance release which cost only $22.95 for the CD/DVD combo. You also get some decent discounts and coupon codes in your inbox just for being a member.

Highly Recommended.

Denon AVR 790 Unboxing and setup

AzzX — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:22:15 +0000

Recently purchased this little beauty, The Denon AVR 790 as an upgrade for my aging Pioneer.

It is interesting to note as per this AVS forum post from user Batpig that:

Q. What is the difference between the three-digit models (e.g. AVR 790) and the four-digit models (e.g. AVR 1910)?
A: Essentially, NOTHING. Denon puts out two parallel receiver lineups, with four-digit and three-digit model numbers. The four-digit models are generally sold by high end stereo shops and custom installers, and the three-digit models are the "consumer" version sold in retail outlets like Circuit City and Fry's.
However, there is ZERO difference in terms of power, specs, sound quality, build quality, etc. between the two lines. Denon has been doing this for years, it is exactly analagous to the Yamaha HTR and RX-V parallel receiver lines.

Batpig also has a very handy DENON-TO-ENGLISH DICTIONARY Setup Guide and FAQ. Definitely worth checking out as he has put a significant amount of effort into helping with the Denon setup process.

The Quick Specs

The AVR-790 features the latest high resolution audio decoders, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and is one of the first to include Dolby Pro Logic IIz, which provides front height channel effects for an incredibly expansive front soundstage.

The video section features the latest Video Reference Series processor from Anchor Bay Technologies, providing analog-to-digital video deinterlacing and upconversion to HD, with both component and HDMI outputs, and features 1080p 24Hz/60Hz HDMI pass-through, allowing a single HDMI cable run to your HDTV.

Audyssey’s advanced MultEQ room acoustic measurement and correction system analyzes the speakers and the listening room and automatically corrects the response for the smoothest, most natural tonal balance.

Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ are provided to ensure rich, natural tonal quality at any volume level, and with no annoying volume jumps during commercial interruptions.

On to the unpacking:

Unpacking with the help of my eldest!

Awesome Remote Dad

Some of the AVR-790 contents

Bye Bye Pioneer - you have done well.

My old Pioneer Receiver, never failed and has been fantastic.

Connecting everything up

Plugging in my HTPC, TV and Wii. Everything is pretty straight forward at this stage. Just one HDMI cable to the TV.

Almost done!

The Denon Audyssey Setup Microphone

The automatic calibration using the Audyssey Setup Microphone is simply amazing - especially if you have not witnessed anything like it before. The official Audyssey FAQ can be found here.

Here is a screen of the setup taking place:

Audyssey calibration in progress

All done, testing some HD audio.

I thought my old Pioneer was good but never realised how under utilised my Subsonic speakers were until testing some HD music and the Batman Blu-ray. I raised the volume for the Bike scene in The Dark Knight and was completely blown away by the sound quality. No distortions with the volume up and the surround separation from the Main listening position 1 was spot on. I pushed it to the point the woofer was blowing the curtains and vibrating the roof but then dropped the volume - kids bedtime

The sound is as precise as I was after and it is also excellent for stereo and even standard mp3's. The Denon upscales all analogue sources to 1080p which was a straightforward process and works well for the wii console I have connected. Denon dropped last years Faroudja scaling method in favor of Anchor Bay and proprietary video processing chips - and it shows. The pulldown Jitter I was experiencing seems to also been eliminated.

Great stuff.

The Denon AVR 790 gets a big 9.5 out of 10 from me.

DENON AV SURROUND AMPLIFIER RECEIVER AVR 1000 GOOD CONDITION

AU $249.00

16h 28m

Vintage Component Stereo System Denon Amp Kef Speakers

9 Bids

AU $202.40

2d 12h 45m

Denon AVR 3806 Surround Sound Receiver Amplifier Dolby 71 2 Zone

3 Bids

AU $105.49

2d 19h 14m

Denon AVR3311 Black Ex Demonstration Clearance Model 3D AV Receiver

AU $1,098.00

5d 9h 58m

HOME THEATRE RECEIVER DENON 2309 71 HDMI SUROUND SOUND AMPLIFIER

AU $600.00

17h 46m

NEW DENON AVR1611 51 AV RECEIVER BLACK

AU $400.00

8d 9h 53m

DENON DCM 500 AE CD PLAYER

1 Bid

AU $149.95

13h 59m

HTPC Setup

AzzX — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:27:10 +0000

Finally got round to finishing my HTPC room with a nice bargain entertainment unit from Dare Gallery. Had a few issues with trying to get the HDMI cable into the HTPC - was a bit too short though finally managed to squeeze the damn thing in.

Here are some pics of the destruction in action:

Now to cut into the wall.... Again!

Cables everywhere.

Looks like fun dad

Making a mess

Thanks for our new cubby house dad!

Almost done - testing HTPC with a JJJ x264 rip of Lily Allen.

DVD Test - Yes its Bob the builder.

All Done! The PC HDMI cable was a pain - Too short.

Overstock Australia

AzzX — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:19:58 +0000

The incredibly popular US Internet online retail outlet overstock.com is now shipping to Australia.

Overstock.com now accepts orders from 34 countries. Available products, shipping rates and fees may vary though you can find some great gear not available anywhere else at great bargain prices.

The most noteworthy aspect about this big online retail giant would have to be their Worldstock concept:

Patrick Byrne, CEO created Worldstock, providing artisans in the world's poorest regions with opportunities to sell their unique creations to a wider variety of customers. Worldstock 's goal is to create jobs for tens of thousands of people throughout the world, thereby enabling them to help themselves.