Date:
15/06/2011
Welcome to Crazystu's monthly newsletter. This month, we're proud to announce that all Crazystu sales and tech support staff have earned the Australian governments Digital Advisor certification under the ("Get Ready") Digital Ready scheme. This compliments our efforts to stock and sell every major brand of PVR on the Australian market. Our intention is present to our customers impartial advise. Put simply, if you're in the market for a PVR or set top box, we have the ability to sell you the right system for your specific needs. We're proud of these achievements and hope our ability to provide impartial advise on brands and models is well recieved by all.
This month we've got a bunch of new products which include some innovative Iphone addons as well as Mediastars cutting edge Satellite PVR technology.
Pro2 MDock - Connect your Ipod/I. -$12.95 Delivered
Ipod connectivity with amplifers is traditionally a feature reserved for forward thinking manufacturers and newer model amplifiers. If you're the owner of an older amplifier without this connectivity built in, or you own a newer amplifier and don't feel like forking out the $100+ to purchase a proprietry Iphone dock for your amp, the Pro2 M-Dock is the answer. This unit allows you to connect your Iphone or Ipod to any amplifier. It features a 3.5mm Line output Audio jack and built in charger to keep your tunes playing all night long with a built in charger. The unit also doubles as an Ipod file transfer cradle, allowing your to neatly connect your I-device to your PC for data transfer.
See the Pro2 MDock Crade here
DOSS IBattery - Integrated portable iphone charger. - $27.95 + Free shipping.
The DOSS IBattery is a portable power supply for your Iphone 3G/3GS which enables you to charge your Iphone on the go without cables. When not in use, simply connect the IBattery to your computers USB to recharge the Lithium Polymer battery for next use. Great for times when 240v power is not available.
See the DOSS I-Battery here
Newsletter subscriber special : Wintal PVR10HD Price Drop - now $269 + Freight
One of the best PVRs around just got better. We've just slashed $20 of our already market leading price of the PVR10HD. Featuring one of the easiest interfaces to use in the market as well as 2x AV inputs for recording from external devices such as PayTV and VCRs, the Wintal PVR10HD is now the most affordable full featured PVR on the market.
The exclusive newsletter subscriber Wintal PVR10HD deal can be viewed here
Newsletter special : Luxcine ESP200IH Gen II Price Drop - now $449
The Luxcine ESP200IH Gen II now features 2600 lumens and 1200:1 contrast. This results in a cost effective projector which can be used in typical home environments without the need for a totally dark room. In combination with Luxcines 20,000 hr LED lamp, the ESP200IH Gen II delivers far greater image quality and boasts the lowest TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) than any other projector on the market.
See the Luxcine Newsletter subscriber deal here
Next Month : Xtreamer Ultra - the next big thing in PVR technology? On paper it seems - Review by Dan.
Date:
03/04/2011
Welcome to Crazystu's third monthly newsletter. Plenty of new products this month including the exciting addition of Topfield PVRs to our range.
Topfield TRF-2400/2460 From $549 Delivered
Quad recording, series recording and keyword recording are just a few reasons the Topfield Masterpiece range are highly regarded as some of the most functional PVRs in the world. Crazystu.com.au now stock the Topfield TRF-2400 and TRF2460 Twin tuner, Quad recording PVRs. To celebrate, we're offering the TRF-2400 500GB model for an astounding $549 including free delivery and a 1.8m HDMI cable.
See all Topfield Products
Dune Max Bluray /Media Player $589
One of the most exciting new additions to our store is the Dune range of Media Players. One Dune player in particular features a Universal Bluray Disc player as well as comprehensive Media Player. Dunes focus is high end media players, filling a large gap in the market for those who wish to amp up their high end systems with media playback functionality. Crazystu now sell the Dune MAX Bluray player with the option to add USB DVBT tuners to enable you to record 2 channels and set recordings via EPG. The Dune H1 features an internal 3.5" HDD rack and the Dune D1 which omits the internal rack in place of a front VFD display. The Dune range can be viewed here :
See the Dune Max Bluray Player Here
Vu+ Duo - Twin Tuner Satellite Recorder - $499
Gone are the days of being locked to a Foxtel IQ2 subscription for Satellite users who wish to record and keep their favorite satellite programs. The Vu+ Duo is a twin satellite tuner PVR with Media Player and enables users to record up to 4 programs at once and back up content on to an internal HDD, up to 2TB (pricing available on the product page) or external HDD (not supplied). The unit features the Enigma 2 graphic user interface, resulting in a tried and tested PVR interface which is clean, functional and attractive.
See the Vu+ Duo Here
Hauppauge HD PVR - 1080i Input recording Media Player - $319
A flexible solution for recording from external devices such as a VAST Satellite / Foxtel box or VCR is the Hauppauge HD PVR. This unit is capable of recording quality up to 1080i through component interface. It works in conjunction with your Foxtel / Austar/ Mystar box allowing for scheduled timer recordings with its clever integrated IR blaster. This means the unit is capable of controling your source box's channel so that users can set up multiple recordings across a variety of channels - hands free. It also features the ability to watch a pre-recorded program while recording another - great for users of the Altech UEC Vast Set top boxes.
See the Hauppauge HD PVR here
Beyonwiz Wizott - Android based Media Player - $199
Utilising Android operating system, this Media Player is extensible with potentially thousands of easy to download plugins via its app downloader interface.
The true beauty of the WizOTT does not just remain in it's extensibility - the unit features a highly intuitive web interface with specialised remote for browsing the internet and interfacing with the Android 2 OS. To our surprise - compatibility with websites made for IE and Firefox browsers is much higher than that of other Realtek based players. Backed by one of the leading PVR/Media player manufacturers in the world this is a must have product & the spercial offer is for Crazystu members only.
The remote control features PC mouse functionality including a left click button - something missing from competing Realtek based media players to date. Another neat function of the remote is an "Enter" or "Return" key - making entering text into forms and submitting the text as easy as possible.
See the Beyonwiz Wizott Here
Pro2 IPP2 Ethernet over power Twin pack - $99 + $9.95 shipping
For those of you who have PVRs without WiFi and struggle to get connected to the home network without running cables all over your house, this is for you. Connect the IPP2 to the Ethernet port on your PVR, then plug it in. Do the same with your router and you're connected. Just plug an ethernet cable in at either end and your home in-wall power sockets are used to transmit the network signal.
See our monthly special Pro 2 IPP200 here
Date:
25/03/2011
Welcome to Crazystu's second monthly newsletter,
March is a pretty quiet time of year in the PVR world - 2011 is no exception. So to make things interesting we've decided to offer you a few tips to maintain your PVR.
How to maintain your PVR HDD and keep it running smoothly.
Like computers, PVRs utilise hard Disk Drives (HDD's) to store and retrieve the data (movies and TV shows) that you record. Without proper maintenance of your PVRs HDD, like a computer, your PVR can become slow and inefficient. Unlike computers though, when your PVRs HDD becomes slow and inefficient the results can be much more noticeable. Large skips while fast forwarding, picture breakups on recording and playback and even picture breakups when no recordings are occurring at all can be symptoms of a poorly maintained HDD.
Many intermittent faults with PVRs are caused by excessive fragmentation of the PVRs HDD. Further - a poorly maintained HDD uses more power, produces more heat and will generally not last as long as a well maintained HDD.
What do we mean by "poorly maintained"? Fragmentation. for those who don't know what fragmentation is a good place to start is the Wiki article : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defragmentation or you can google the subject. It is very well documented and better explained that what we are capable of in this article.
PVR HDDs (contrary to common belief) become fragmented very easily. Due to the inconsistent and large size of the recorded files as well as the frequency these large files are written and deleted, HDD fragmentation can have a much more noticeable effect on a PVRs HDD that that of a computer - Further a PVRs HDD does not need to become as fragmented as a computers HDD before errors in playback and recording become obvious. The software utilised by computers generally consists of lots of small files - minimising the effect of fragmentation. When a PC user saves a large file into a *bunch* of fragmented blocks, the result is the file generally taking longer to load - not usually an issue and sometimes difficult for the PC user to notice. However when a PVR saves a large file into a *bunch* of fragmented space, the result can be frequent momentary pauses, freezes, picture breakups, intermittent indexing issues etc. This is because the file is generally retrieved in close to real time as the typical 512+ MB of memory and cache on board your PVR can only offer a relatively small viewing buffer. As your HDD becomes fragmented, the buffer reduces and so with it does the quality of your playback or recording.
So what can we do about it?
Firstly, if your PVR has a defragmentation feature. Use it. Depending on the amount you use or most importantly record AND delete from your PVR, you may need to use this feature once a week to once every six months.
If your PVR does not have a defragmentation feature, an easy, yet painful way to "defrag" your HDD is to use the format feature. Beware though. Formatting your HDD will clean your HDD of any data on it. Be sure to back up the data through physical means or by utilising your PVRs copy feature to ensure you do not lose valuable recordings. Obviously this will not be an issue for some. If you don't need to keep your recordings, the format feature is the easiest way to clean and "defrag" your HDD.
The second method should be observed by everyone, regardless of their PVRs ability (or lack thereof) to defragment the HDD. If you save all of your deleting to say once a week or once a month rather than deleting your recordings immediately after you have watched them, you will find your HDD becomes far less fragmented in the same period of time as if you had not done so. Even better is to wait until your HDD is almost full before deleting your recordings. Following this rule will ensure large unfragmented blocks of HDD space are more readily available and keep your PVR running smoother for longer.
New Products:
Altech UEC DSD 4121 Vast HD Set Top Box - $279 with free shipping and free 2m HDMI v 1.4 Cable - $279
We have a number of new additions to our range this month. Firstly, Crazystu now sell the Altech UEC DSD 4121. Australias only VAST (Viewer Access Satellite Television) Set Top Box. The VAST box brings HD TV to those in approved remote areas and areas with poor digital terrestrial reception. Before buying a VAST box, you will need to check with the Australian Governments "mySwitch" website http://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au/ to ensure the service is available in your area and that you are approved to use it.
Noontec V8S Full Format Media Player with LCD Display for TV less operation - $199 TBA
We couldn't resist including the V8S in this months Newsletter despite the fact we've only got a demo unit. The V8s has an impressive array of supported file types including MKV and m2TS, however that's not what's cool about these units. What really sets these apart from the competition is a handy little full colour 1.77 Inch TFT LCD screen enabling you to use the unit without a TV. This means you can playback music and play lists without the need to have a large glaring TV screen. We'll have some more photography of this unit later this week. Stay tuned.
Strong SRT 5430- Single tuner PVR - $69
For a single tuner PVR, this one is as good as they get. Excellent Media file support, reliable and flexible recording scheduler and well documented manual make this an ideal beginners PVR or spare room unit. The unit utilises the same Mstar chipset as the YESS DVBT 9300, however has a better laid out remote making the user experience more intuitive and enjoyable.
EzDock USB Twin Sata 2.5/3.5" HDD Docking Station - $39 Delivered
This offer is only available to Crazystu.com.au Newsletter subscribers. Please do not post this on bargain posting websites as we have very limited stock.
This USB HDD docking station makes connecting both 2.5" and 3.5" INTERNAL SATA HDDs effortless. No Screws, no clips, just plug it in. Works with both PCs and PVRs.
Thanks for reading. More handy tips and cool new products next month.
|
