While I was recovering from surgery, I totally missed Anne Hathaway’s wardrobe malfunction. That was almost as painful as my recovery itself. I know that several of you are fans of the GHM game (I’m not judging; I love that we can talk about these things like adults). Anyone care to guess how Anne handles her landscaping? Let’s make it a game (we’re all gamers, after all)! Leave your best guess in the comments section and head on over to The Superficial to see the results.
Vaping Diaries #27: Ahlusion Review II
Raina and I checked out three more e-liquids from Ahlusion. This time around we went for a beverage theme, choosing Boba Tea, Mimosa Cocktail, and W&A Sasparilla. Boba Tea is based on the popular (for Asians, anyway) dessert beverage from Taiwan, Mimosa Cocktail is a lovely champagne and fruit mix, and W&A Sasparilla is a really unique juice that almost tastes like an adult root beer. As in our first Ahlusion review, we were impressed by the quality of the e-liquids and how carefully they’re packaged (best in the business, in my experience). Check out the video above, as well as more details and steeping details on the juices below.
Boba Tea: Raina and I were really excited to try this one, since boba is an important part of our relationship. She introduced me to the drink about 12 years ago and I’ve been digging it ever since. There’s something magical about the blend of milk tea and tapioca balls. We wanted to love this e-liquid, but ended up really, really liking it. Raina wanted more of the rice-like taste that comes from the drink’s tapioca balls. I wanted a little bit less sweetness and a bit more creaminess. Despite not quite tasting like the beverage, the combination of tea, milk, and Asian sweetness (my nickname, btw) made this my favorite juice of the three. One of the cool things about this juice is that Ahlusion allows you to add different fruit options. In the future, we’ll be reviewing Boba Tea with Lychee, which is how I usually order boba. We’re really psyched to try that one.
Mimosa Cocktail: As with the juice above, this one is available with a variety of options. You can add extra champagne and fruit flavoring, as well as choose different fruit flavors (orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, etc.). We went with the standard champagne with orange. Both of us felt like the champagne flavor was really slight. Although the orange flavor was delicious and tasted natural, we both wanted more of a champagne kick (which, perhaps, says something about our drinking habits). This is something we’d definitely get again, but with the “extra champagne” option.
W&A Sasparilla: This was Raina’s favorite of the bunch. Some people are going to mistake it for a straight root beer flavor because they’ll be thinking about A&W. It’s definitely not a standard root beer flavor. This is a unique, spicy, and complex juice that’s almost like root beer for grown ups. In some ways, it’s like comparing a wine cooler to a fine Bordeaux. The sasparilla comes at you right away. It immediately reminded Raina of the sasparilla beverages that are popular with kids in Asia. She was enamored with the striking flavor and the effervescent spiciness. While I definitely enjoyed and appreciated the juice, I liked it less than she did. Backwoods Brew’s Root Beer was more to my liking as an all-day vape. For me, this was a wonderful juice in small doses.
Steeping Notes
Boba Tea
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 27, 2012 3:13PM
Recapped: November 29, 2012 4:13PM
Mimosa Cocktail
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 27, 2012 3:13PM
Recapped: November 29, 2012 4:13PM
W&A Sasparilla
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 27, 2012 3:13PM
Recapped: November 29, 2012 4:13PM
Dave Batista as Drax the Destroyer?
Former WWE Superstar Dave Batista is up for the role of Drax the Destroyer in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie. The casting would have been perfect when Drax was mentally crippled. (I’ve read Batista Unleashed and it brought me to the conclusion that Big Dave is a mental a cripple or a brilliant master of unintentional comedy.) Sadly, Drax’s recent characterization has him wielding lesser powers and his original, normal intellect level.
Still, there’s room for hope. ComicBookMovie noted that Drax’s backstory will be updated for the movie. Most recent superhero movies have had some comic relief and an idiotic Drax would fill that hole nicely. Out of the actors being considered for Drax, Batista would be the best idiot. He’s a natural fit!
Any thoughts on Dave Batista playing Drax the Destroyer?
Coffee Talk #556: The Best Value in Mobile Tech
With their powers combined (Captain Planet TM), the Google Nexus 4 and T-Mobile’s $30 unlimited data plan are the best value in mobile tech. On the hardware side, you have a high-end phone that’s unlocked, yet sold at a subsidized price ($299 or $349 depending on configuration). On the service side, you have a dirt-cheap plan that gives you unlimited texts and 5GB of high-speed data per month — without a contract! All that said, it’s not a perfect combination for everyone…more
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the possibility of Phil Jackson coaching the New Jersey Nets, studying for a road test, or caucasians with dreadlocks, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
With their powers combined (Captain Planet TM), the Google Nexus 4 and T-Mobile’s $30 unlimited data plan are the best value in mobile tech. On the hardware side, you have a high-end phone that’s unlocked, yet sold at a subsidized price ($299 or $349 depending on configuration). On the service side, you have a dirt-cheap plan that gives you unlimited texts and 5GB of high-speed data per month — without a contract! All that said, it’s not a perfect combination for everyone.
On the plus side, the Nexus 4 boasts a 4.7-inch screen with a 1,280 x 768 resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, an eight-megapixel camera, 2GB of RAM, and a 2,100 mAh battery. Best of all, Nexus phones serviced by Google get the latest Android updates first and are free from the bloatware that carriers won’t let you uninstall. There are some phones with slightly better specs, but certainly not available for a contract-free price of $299. I’ve been using a 16GB Nexus 4 for the last couple of weeks and I’m extremely pleased with its performance.
On the down side, the storage and data speeds will not be enough for hardcore users. Although cloud services are more robust than ever, the 16GB storage maximum will be problematic for some people. The Nexus 4 also lacks an LTE radio, which prevents it from hitting the best data speeds available in the U.S. The good news is that the Nexus 4 does have an HSPA+ 42 radio that’s compatible with T-Mobile’s best speeds. HSPA+ 42 download speeds are competitive with LTE, but the latency and upload speeds aren’t nearly as good.
If you’re the kind of person that uses data and text more than voice minutes then you should check out the T-Mobile $30 plan. If you can live with 100 minutes of talk time a month, it’s an absolute steal. Keep in mind that in addition to the deficiencies in ping and upload speeds, T-Mobile’s network isn’t as vast as AT&T’s and Verizon’s. Depending on where you live, work, or travel to, coverage can be an issue.
Still, if your T-Mobile coverage is up to snuff and you can live with 16GB of onboard storage then it’s tough to beat this coupling. You have a fantastic unlocked phone at a great price and service that’s less than half of what most tech enthusiasts pay. It won’t work for everyone, but for many people in America the Nexus 4 backed by T-Mobile’s $30 plan is an unbeatable combination.
Vaping Diaries #26: Ovale USA eVic Review (Joyetech)
When I first heard about the Ovale USA eVic, I was immediately intrigued. As a longtime tech writer, I was fascinated by the idea of a vaping device with upgradeable firmware. Like computers, consoles, and mobile phones I’ve reviewed, the eVic has the potential to get better and better with each firmware update. After using the device for the last month, the eVic has shown its potential. Initially, I found it to be middling, but after a firmware update the experience was much, much better. This is one of the most unique vaping devices available today, but it’s not right for everyone. Here’s the breakdown.
What’s in the Kit: Like the other Ovale USA products I’ve reviewed, the eVic comes nicely packaged. Included in the box are the device, a 2,600 mAh 18650 battery, a USB cable, a wall adapter, and a thorough instruction manual. Considering the relatively complex nature of the eVic, a concise and easy-to-understand instruction manual was a must. Ovale USA did a good job at explaining how everything works (though the “How to Vape” section kind of cracked me up). The manual made me think of the Innokin iTaste MVP, which is a fine vaping device, but its spartan instruction manual left some users wondering how basic functions work. Even the most technologically-challenged vapers should be able to master the eVic after reading the instruction manual.
The eVic has a list price of $139 and currently costs $104.20 on Ovale USA’s site.
Construction and Build Quality: The eVic’s construction is mostly good. The tube is primarily metal, with some bits of plastic (twist ring, LCD cover, firing button, and battery cap). While the construction wasn’t as impressive as something like the rock-solid Silver Bullet, I was pleased with the eVic’s build. One area of concern for some users is the cover for the Micro USB port; it’s a small and somewhat fragile flap, similar to the ones used on some mobile phones. I didn’t have a problem with it personally, but I have several friends that have ripped out similar flaps on their phones and I imagine some users will rip the flap off of the eVic. Honestly, I don’t get how people tear these things out, but I understand that it happens.
Ergonomics and Design: For an 18650-battery mod, the eVic is fairly svelte. This is due to the metal tube being relatively thin. Compared to many mods that use an 18650 battery, the eVic feels thin and light, which some users will appreciate. It felt very comfortable in my hand, using my thumb to hit the firing button.
As for its looks, this is a slick device. There’s not a lot you can do to make a tube mod look different, but this one stands out — certainly more than I thought it would. I was recently at Volcano Vapor Cafe in Honolulu and several patrons immediately recognized the device, gushing over it. I also like the subtle branding on the eVic; it has the Ovale and eVic brands painted on in a silver that’s slightly darker than the tube. A lot of the mods I’ve seen and used have ham-fisted branding, so it was nice to see something subtle.
Operation: The eVic uses a 510 connection that accepts a wide variety of equipment. With the top cap on, you can use standard 510 atomizers and cartomizers. If you take the top cap off, it’s a cinch to use eGo-threaded parts. After spilling a bunch of e-liquid on my pants unscrewing a Kanger T3 with the top cap on, I highly recommend taking it off when using eGo-threaded parts. (Yes, I should get an idiot award for that maneuver.)
Sorting through the device’s functions was a snap for me, though I can see some people getting tired of the twisting and clicking. It’s five clicks to wake up the device or to get to the menu system when it’s on. The scroll wheel sorts through the various functions, while the firing button confirms the selection. The thing to keep in mind is that there really isn’t a device with this much functionality. It would be easy to complain that the user interface is similar to the cumbersome ones found on many television sets or mobile phones from a decade ago, but this is new ground for a vaping device. Being able to select voltage, wattage, temperature alarm, puff count, and more is novel. For a first-of-its-kind device, the UI on the eVic is acceptable.
Software: The eVic works in conjunction with the My Vapor Record software. The software can be used to track vaping patterns and update firmware. It’s fairly simple software, but again it doesn’t really have any competitors. For me, it wasn’t useful outside of updating firmware, but some users like to be able to track their vaping habits and it can be a great tool for vapers looking to limit their usage. One of the guys I met at Volcano Vapor Cafe described the tracking function as, “So gangsta!”
There were a few things I didn’t like about My Vapor Record. First, it’s only available for Windows. With the rapid growth of the Mac OS X market, I was surprised by the oversight. OS X and Linux users will have to dual-boot or borrow a friend’s machine to update firmware. Secondly, I didn’t like that My Vapor Record runs in the background; that seems like a waste of system resources and could slow things down for people using older Windows machines.
Performance and Battery Life: As far as straight vaping goes, the eVic has been a solid performer. It produces satisfying hits, though the voltage accuracy is a bit off. Trying a variety of voltage settings, I found the accuracy to be as much as 0.2 volts higher or lower than what was set. If you’re a by-the-numbers vaper then this can be off-putting. My recommendation is to dial to taste. Vapers that enjoy extreme high-voltage settings won’t be pleased with the device’s limits, but it should satisfy the majority of vapers out there.
Updating from firmware version 1.0 to 1.1 made a huge difference in performance. Originally, the eVic wasn’t a true variable-wattage device, meaning that the wattage wouldn’t automatically adjust when atomizers, cartomizers, or clearomizers were changed. The new firmware fixed that issue and also streamlined the UI, making the eVic easier to use.
In terms of battery life, I got a day and half of use out of a full charge. This was inline with my expectations of an 18650-battery mod. One nice thing about the eVic is that it doesn’t require a separate charger. You can leave the battery in the device and charge via USB, with or without a wall adapter. Like many device on the market, it offers pseudo-passthrough functionality; you can vape and charge if there’s some battery power left, but you can’t run the device plugged in if the battery is fully depleted.
Verdict: When I first started using the eVic, I thought it was an “okay” vaping device. The accuracy was off, the UI was cluttered, and I really didn’t like that it didn’t offer true variable-wattage performance. Firmware update 1.1 addressed two of those concerns and now I feel that it’s a very good device with the potential to be a great one. The upgradeable firmware was what made the eVic so interesting to me in the first place. I love that the eVic experience I’m enjoying today is better than the one I had out of the box and could be very different from the one I’ll have six months from now. I knew that there would be some initial kinks with the eVic and was pleased to see Joyetech (the OEM) address them so quickly. It’s unique that the same vaping hardware has gone from okay to very good in less than a month. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!
The eVic is best for people that enjoy a certain amount of tinkering and like to play around with gadgets. There are better choices for those looking for a straight-up vaping experience, but this is one of the most unique products on the market today. It’s versatile, comfortable, and produces satisfying vapor. As of this writing, it’s a very good mod and I have a feeling that a future firmware update will make it a great one within the next few months.
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
It’s the first weekend of the new year! How are you going spend it? Are you going to play something old, something new, something borrowed, or something blue? As for me, I’m going with something old…like way old. You see, when I was a kid, I used to play a ton of Taipan at my friend Chris’ house on his Apple IIc. I spent so many hours staring at the green graphics on a black background that something burned into my brain and it’s still my favorite way to look at word processor programs. The game thrilled me with its trading, inventory management, and high-seas battles. Recently, I downloaded the Android version of Taipan. It’s every bit as awesome as the original…though sometimes it feels like it’s running on an Apple IIc.
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
Coffee Talk #555: 2013 Consumer Electronics Wishes
Continuing our discussion of nerd hopes and wishes for 2013, I was wondering what you wanted to see in the consumer electronics space. Are you hoping for advancements in PCs, mobile phones, tablets, or software? If so, what specifically are you having gadget dreams about?
As for me, I’m hoping to see Apple take some bold steps with iOS. Don’t get me wrong — it’s a simple and powerful operating system that is the gold standard and has certainly gotten better over the years, but many of the recent changes have been subtle. Meanwhile, the competition has been catching up and, in some cases…more
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the existence of Scary Movie 5, praying for a United 1K challenge, or dreading losing 1K status after January, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Continuing our discussion of nerd hopes and wishes for 2013, I was wondering what you wanted to see in the consumer electronics space. Are you hoping for advancements in PCs, mobile phones, tablets, or software? If so, what specifically are you having gadget dreams about?
As for me, I’m hoping to see Apple take some bold steps with iOS. Don’t get me wrong — it’s a simple and powerful operating system that is the gold standard and has certainly gotten better over the years, but many of the recent changes have been subtle. Meanwhile, the competition has been catching up and, in some cases, surpassing iOS.
Microsoft’s Windows Phone has become a boldly different alternative, mostly because it had to be in order to compete. Android has gotten exponentially better over the last two years, but that’s partially because it had so much catching up to do. As someone that uses and enjoys both Android and iOS, I see a lot of features on Android that are better than their iOS counterparts. Android apps, however, are another story. I’d love to see more Android apps have the level of polish that their iOS counterparts have.
Now it’s your turn! Fire away in the comments section (please).
Today’s Poll: Predict the 2013 Console Business
2012 was a rough year for the console gaming business. A lot of people believe that mobile devices and the vast improvement in the quality of mobile games are the key reasons for the decline in console game sales. Others believe that the current generation is simply long in the tooth and new hardware is needed to kickstart the console business. Some believe that the three major console companies haven’t done enough with digital distribution and relying on the boxed-disc model has hurt sales. Whatever the reason, sales figures are down and there are a lot of questions about console gaming heading into 2013.
How do you think things will pan out? Will console game sales roar back? Will sales continue to decline? Or will things remain about the same. Please vote in today’s poll and expand on your answer in the comments section.
[poll id=”171″]
Robotech: Valkyrie Project Trailer
Check out this sweet trailer for Robotech: Valkyrie Project, an upcoming fan film based on the Robotech Saga. For a fan film, the production values are incredible. The veritechs and Zentraedi battle-pods look amazing. That said, it’s kind of weird watching Robotech in Spanish after watching so many episodes and movies in English and Japanese.
As a kid, I was a total mark for Robotech. “The Macross Saga” is the most popular tale and I enjoyed it, but I really loved “The New Generation.” Perhaps with some luck, these guys can do all three major Robotech arcs. That would be awesome.
Kindly check out the trailer when you have a chance and let me know what you think in the comments section!
Coffee Talk #554: Your Most Wanted Games of 2013
Happy new year everyone! I hope 2013 is off to a great start for you guys and dolls. Hopefully all of us have great success and health in 2013. Now let’s talk about the most anticipated games of the year! I’m sure a lot of you are amped for Grand Theft Auto V, but interestingly enough there are five games that I’m even more excited for. I’ll go through my list in today’s column. When you’re done reading, kindly share your most wanted games of 2013. Let’s do it…more
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the NY Knicks showing their true colors, feeling cold in 64F weather, or how sadly underrated The Great White Hype is, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Happy new year everyone! I hope 2013 is off to a great start for you guys and dolls. Hopefully all of us have great success and health in 2013. Now let’s talk about the most anticipated games of the year! I’m sure a lot of you are amped for Grand Theft Auto V, but interestingly enough there are five games that I’m even more excited for. I’ll go through my list in today’s column. When you’re done reading, kindly share your most wanted games of 2013. In the immortal words of Michael Wilbon, “Let’s do it.”
5) Tomb Raider: I’ve been excited for Lara Croft’s return since seeing Tomb Raider at E3 2011. The wait is almost over and I expect Lara’s origin story to be the best Tomb Raider adventure yet. The gameplay looks fresh, modern, and gripping. The graphics and sound seem first-rate. After being thoroughly trounced by the Uncharted series, Tomb Raider aims to reclaim the throne as gaming’s best adventure series in 2013. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Lara fares.
4) The Last of Us: I’ve always had great respect for Naughty Dog, but the Uncharted series left me wanting more. The graphics and gameplay were there, but I couldn’t get into the characters and story. The Last of Us already seems way more interesting to me in terms of narrative. A compelling story and fascinating characters combined with Naughty Dog’s phenomenal graphics and proven gameplay prowess should be a huge winner.
3) South Park: The Stick of Truth: It’s an old-school RPG with South Park graphics, humor, and voice acting. Of course I’m going to love this one! While THQ has had its share of exquisitely written games over the years, I have a feeling that this is going to be the best yet.
2) BioShock Infinite: This was another game that dazzled me at E3 2011. It looks gorgeous. The gameplay appears tight. And it just feels smarter than most videogames. It’s pretty much what I expect from Irrational. Those guys and gals are pretty awesome, and I expect another brilliant adventure in BioShock Infinite.
1) Dragon Age III: Most of you know that I’m a huge BioWare mark and I loved the first two Dragon Age games. I’m really, really looking forward to the latest adventure and seeing how everything ties together. In my head, I see an epic quest that wraps things up with the Hero of Ferelden and the Champion of Kirkwall, while mixing excellent new characters and memorable ones from the previous games. Even without seeing actual gameplay footage, I want this one badly.