Imeo has posted a video with more information about VIR. I can´t watch the video at the moment but I´m sure it has a lot of useful information. I will watch the video once I´m back in the UK and write a bit more about it then.
All work and no play.....
No GG posts or updates at the moment as I'm having a week away in the Canaries, Gran Canaria to be exact. The hotel internet access is patchy at best so I'll just post this once until I get home. It's the first holiday I've had in four years and I had no idea about the airlines rules regarding ecigs. I was thinking about buying a cheap ego type ecig to travel with but decided I couldn't go without my GG'S for a whole week.
I ended up bringing my JustGG with Ithaka and Esterigon with Tilemahos. I was really worried that I would have a lot of explaining to do at the airport, especially as I brought wick, wire, juice and tools along with four batteries. When I got to the airport I was just allowed straight through security, not a single question asked.
So I've been sitting in the sun drinking nice beer, having a nice cape and relaxing. As great as it is I can't wait to get home and catch up with all things GG.
I ended up bringing my JustGG with Ithaka and Esterigon with Tilemahos. I was really worried that I would have a lot of explaining to do at the airport, especially as I brought wick, wire, juice and tools along with four batteries. When I got to the airport I was just allowed straight through security, not a single question asked.
So I've been sitting in the sun drinking nice beer, having a nice cape and relaxing. As great as it is I can't wait to get home and catch up with all things GG.
GG future - my wishlist
The release of VIR and Proteus is still to come but I have been thinking about what might come next from Imeo. He probably has some ideas already but that hasn't stopped me from imagining what I'd like to see. My first thought was a 26650 mod and I've mocked up a picture of what it might look like. Basically it's a very fat Tilemahos/Esterigon combo. I really like the idea of having a super long lasting battery in a GG for those long days out. A bigger atomiser would be good too for trying some of the more adventurous coil set ups I've seen.
My next idea is for some sort of box mod. I'm sure I have seen the Kato mod with a Penelope before and I'd love to see a GG mod in the same style. I think having the atomiser on the side is a good solution and looks really good. It would also be interesting to see VIR inside a box mod, this would probably be a hit with many users.
With Imeo making his move into the electronic part of vaping it would be great to see him compete against other box mods. There are a lot of options available to fit in a box from switches to battery sizes and combinations. The software side also has great potential to be explored.
Last on my list of GG fantasies is some sort of custom drip tip. I would love to see some fat, wide bore drip tips from Imeo. To me a GG is very cigar like in size but all the tips are cigarette sized. A bigger tip would look good and make dripping easier.
All of these are things I would like to see Imeo's version of. I'd like him to add that special GG touch to them, turning them into something awesome. Obviously these are my ideas and not something that Imeo is working on. He probably has his own ideas of what to do and we'll just have to wait and see what direction he takes.
I'm guessing for this year we will see VIR and Proteus then production of spares. Imeo has put a lot of energy into GG this year and I would hope he spends some time relaxing and recharging his own battery before launching into any more projects. Whatever he comes up with next I'm sure it will be just as good as anything before and much better than any of my ideas.
What would you like to see next from GG?
Another serious e-cig accident
I read recently about an e-cig explosion that injured a man at home. I assumed it was another faulty charger story and didn't look any further into it. Today I noticed the story on my feed giving more details.
Apparently it was a tube mod and after reading more it would appear it was the same type of mod that exploded at Vape Blast 2014 (Unfortunate title). I won't name the mod here but you can find all the details in the original article linked at the end of this post.
I'm not sure about the accuracy of the reporting when it states the mod 'nearly tore off his legs' but I wasn't there so it may be true. Interestingly it says the shop that sold the device blamed the batteries, which I think I'm right in saying were 26650's. Obviously these are big batteries and not the sort of battery you want to go wrong whilst using one. Whatever the cause I wish the unlucky user a speedy recovery.
All this brings into question the gamble you take when buying some products. It is also a warning bell that should not be ignored. I've seen the video of the cloud chaser and his towel wrapped mod. I've read numerous stories about accidents with chargers. I've even written a post about a loss of life related to e-cig use. We really do need to be getting on top of e-cig safety before the powers that be do it for us.
I feel confident that by using a GG and being safety aware I have a greater chance of avoiding incidents like the ones above. Add to this the increased functionality of the incoming VIR and it's easy to see that Imeo is correct in bringing out a device based on user safety. That's one thing I really appreciate with Imeo, safety is not an afterthought, it is part of the design.
Whatever mod/ecig you use please, please stay safe.
Original article - Smokers legs nearly blown off by exploding e-cigarette
Apparently it was a tube mod and after reading more it would appear it was the same type of mod that exploded at Vape Blast 2014 (Unfortunate title). I won't name the mod here but you can find all the details in the original article linked at the end of this post.
I'm not sure about the accuracy of the reporting when it states the mod 'nearly tore off his legs' but I wasn't there so it may be true. Interestingly it says the shop that sold the device blamed the batteries, which I think I'm right in saying were 26650's. Obviously these are big batteries and not the sort of battery you want to go wrong whilst using one. Whatever the cause I wish the unlucky user a speedy recovery.
All this brings into question the gamble you take when buying some products. It is also a warning bell that should not be ignored. I've seen the video of the cloud chaser and his towel wrapped mod. I've read numerous stories about accidents with chargers. I've even written a post about a loss of life related to e-cig use. We really do need to be getting on top of e-cig safety before the powers that be do it for us.
I feel confident that by using a GG and being safety aware I have a greater chance of avoiding incidents like the ones above. Add to this the increased functionality of the incoming VIR and it's easy to see that Imeo is correct in bringing out a device based on user safety. That's one thing I really appreciate with Imeo, safety is not an afterthought, it is part of the design.
Whatever mod/ecig you use please, please stay safe.
Original article - Smokers legs nearly blown off by exploding e-cigarette
VIR continues to stir things up!
As I mentioned in my last post there has been some lively discussion over certain parts of the VIR information. One of the main points being talked about at the moment is the fact it won't work on NR-R-NR set ups. This has led to some disappointment from users who bought Penelope's specifically to use on Proteus and users who still use the iAtty. Imeo has agreed that an update to all the older internals could be made, which I think would be a good solution.
Since the arrival of resistance only internals in GG's I have not used any other method for making coils. I just find it a whole lot easier than twisting or welding the wires, it saves time and reduces the chance of me messing things up. Hopefully newer internals, along with the benefits of the new GG technology will put an end to some users issues with VIR's restrictions.
Some better news you may have already seen is that we can finally get a peek at VIR in action, the images above show the button and LED indicator. These shots are from a Youtube video by Dr.Farsalino and show him using VIR while working on his temperature study. I've posted the full video below.
With any luck Imeo will post his own video of VIR soon so we can get an even better look.
Since the arrival of resistance only internals in GG's I have not used any other method for making coils. I just find it a whole lot easier than twisting or welding the wires, it saves time and reduces the chance of me messing things up. Hopefully newer internals, along with the benefits of the new GG technology will put an end to some users issues with VIR's restrictions.
Some better news you may have already seen is that we can finally get a peek at VIR in action, the images above show the button and LED indicator. These shots are from a Youtube video by Dr.Farsalino and show him using VIR while working on his temperature study. I've posted the full video below.
With any luck Imeo will post his own video of VIR soon so we can get an even better look.
End of an Era - Bright Future?
It's been a couple of days since Imeo finally released details of VIR and there has been some interesting discussion going on regarding those details. A lot of talk has concentrated on the restriction on the type of wire that will work with VIR. There have been those that agree with the use of certain wires and those against. Imeo has always stated that safety is an issue that is very important when it comes to GG mods, this is nothing new and has been a concern of Imeo's for some for quite a while now. For this reason Kanthal is no longer suggested for building coils.
With VIR not working with Nichrome or Kanthal the best wire to use now is Titanium. Here is what Vassilis (e-smokeguru) posted about Titanium wires on the thread regarding it.
So it seems the official standpoint from Golden Greek is that Titanium is the recommended wire to use. Based on Vassilis experiments it scores higher than other materials when it comes to vaping and has more positive points. This means that Kanthal may soon be disappearing from the vaping spares of many users from this point onwards. Bad news for me as I just bought 50 metres of it. :(
I won't go into all the details of the DNA40, I only bring it up because it's interesting that a product with similar features has been developed. There is also a Dicodes product in the same vein as VIR and the DNA40. There may be others in development and you can guarantee there will be more on the way from other manufacturers.
The stated release date for the DNA40 is Tuesday October 14th so it gets to jump the gun on VIR by a few weeks. It will be interesting to see the feedback from users of the 40, as it also restricts users to certain wire to get full functionality.
Whatever the similarities of all these products to VIR the most important thing is we are now seeing the development of devices designed primarily for safety. This can only be a good thing and benefits all users, providing good ammunition in the war against often ignorant opposition. There is also a report due soon from the eminent Dr.Farsalino on his temperature study. Safety is being pushed to the forefront of vaping, something I see as the number one priority.
We are still waiting for a proper look at VIR and no closer to a confirmed release date but I am betting that VIR will be the best of the rest. Imeo has put a lot of time and effort into VIR and I really can't wait to see what he has come up with. One thing is for sure though, we are witnessing a shift in the e-cig industry that is hugely beneficial to the end user and that is something I am very happy about.
EDIT-Regarding Kanthal use in the first paragraph I mean to say Imeo doesn't recommend Kanthal and prefers to promote the use of alternative wire types. I don't want to convey the message that Kanthal is bad and should not be used or avoided in any way.
With VIR not working with Nichrome or Kanthal the best wire to use now is Titanium. Here is what Vassilis (e-smokeguru) posted about Titanium wires on the thread regarding it.
After some long research we end up making titanium ready wires for the following reasons:
Titanium is the only absolutely biocompatible metal, followed by cobalt and stainless steel which is used only because it is economical material. Titanium is a material that the human body can absorb in large quantities daily with absolutely no impact on health.
We observed during tests the following:
It didnt give us metallic taste at all like nichrome or kanthal does
It didnt hold a lot of residues like other wires do
We observed greater production of steam and better flavor due to greater surface coverage, (titanium has the half of nichrome-kanthal resistance)
So it seems the official standpoint from Golden Greek is that Titanium is the recommended wire to use. Based on Vassilis experiments it scores higher than other materials when it comes to vaping and has more positive points. This means that Kanthal may soon be disappearing from the vaping spares of many users from this point onwards. Bad news for me as I just bought 50 metres of it. :(
DNA 40
Another huge talking point has been the news that Evolv are bringing out a new DNA board with similar features. Pbursado has a video up on Youtube with Brandon from Evolv discussing the features of the DNA40. Phil himself has even popped into the VIR thread to discuss his view on Evolv's release.
I won't go into all the details of the DNA40, I only bring it up because it's interesting that a product with similar features has been developed. There is also a Dicodes product in the same vein as VIR and the DNA40. There may be others in development and you can guarantee there will be more on the way from other manufacturers.
The stated release date for the DNA40 is Tuesday October 14th so it gets to jump the gun on VIR by a few weeks. It will be interesting to see the feedback from users of the 40, as it also restricts users to certain wire to get full functionality.
Whatever the similarities of all these products to VIR the most important thing is we are now seeing the development of devices designed primarily for safety. This can only be a good thing and benefits all users, providing good ammunition in the war against often ignorant opposition. There is also a report due soon from the eminent Dr.Farsalino on his temperature study. Safety is being pushed to the forefront of vaping, something I see as the number one priority.
We are still waiting for a proper look at VIR and no closer to a confirmed release date but I am betting that VIR will be the best of the rest. Imeo has put a lot of time and effort into VIR and I really can't wait to see what he has come up with. One thing is for sure though, we are witnessing a shift in the e-cig industry that is hugely beneficial to the end user and that is something I am very happy about.
EDIT-Regarding Kanthal use in the first paragraph I mean to say Imeo doesn't recommend Kanthal and prefers to promote the use of alternative wire types. I don't want to convey the message that Kanthal is bad and should not be used or avoided in any way.
VIR - revealed at last
Imeo has finally posted a thread on ecf tiltled VIR Official. The post contains the video below which lists the details of VIR although there are no images yet.
These are the main points listed from the video.
Still no details that refer to a release date but this is a big step forward. At the very end of the video there is a patent number for the device, showing how seriously Imeo is taking things with VIR. At a time when there are pushes from all sides to discredit vaping and vaping safety, a device like this is a monumental leap forward. Anything that improves safety is always a good thing and Imeo has always been very careful to include safety features in his designs.
VIR has been in development for a very long time and the list of features more than justifies the long wait we have had. It seems like VIR is a very versatile and useful add on, I can't believe all these functions are crammed onto one device. Also it will be interesting to see the device itself and how it incorporates into a GG mod, to a lot of people the overall look is very important.
Now we just need a price and a release date for VIR. Hopefully we'll get these soon along with some pictures and maybe a video.
*UPDATE*
In the ECF thread Imeo gives a time scale of two weeks for a video and two months until VIR is ready. Obviously this can easily change but it's nice to have a rough idea.
These are the main points listed from the video.
- 3 years in development
- VIR prevents inhalation of acrolein (produced when VG gets beyond 280 degrees)
- VIR can sense a non fed atomizer and prevents dry hits
- VIR can detect and prevent a dry burn
- Will not allow the wick to dry burn, prolonging wick life
- Prevents wire from getting red hot, prevents oxidation
- VIR checks the wick 1000 times per second leading to consistent flavour
- Parallel coils work with all the same functions
- Control of smoke on atomizers with liquid control, especially GG devices
- VIR allows control of smoke temperature
- Through control and management of the current, VIR prolongs battery life
- VIR performs the same regardless of gauge of wire
- VIR keeps vape the consistent between atomizers of different resistance
- VIR can sense flooding, sending correct power to remedy the flooding
- Understands when you are not inhaling and cuts off after a few seconds
- VIR gives a coloured LED signal depending on type of wire
- Detects available battery power and gives an LED signal when vaping falls below normal setup
- VIR gives power when inhaling, if button is pressed without inhaling the power goes down. This gives protection for unlocked devices in pockets
- All changes work in real time, no need to stop and check settings
- You will know the temperature at which your atomizer works
- Mechanical button
- No screen
- Working atomizer check
- Strong/Weak battery check
- Lock mode
- 25 second cut off
- Short circuit protection
- Reverse battery protection
- Over-discharge protection for battery
- Thermal monitoring
- 2-25 Watts with a single battery, 2-35 Watts with 2 batteries (2 x 3.7v)
- Ability to stop LED flashes by pressing button
- Detect lower and higher limits of temperature range
- Remembers your last set up
- 0.45 - 2.2 Ohm resistance range
- Atomizer won't work while pushing a button to enter menu
- Menu won't trigger by mistake, ie when using short button push inhales
- Minimum voltage 3 Volts
Still no details that refer to a release date but this is a big step forward. At the very end of the video there is a patent number for the device, showing how seriously Imeo is taking things with VIR. At a time when there are pushes from all sides to discredit vaping and vaping safety, a device like this is a monumental leap forward. Anything that improves safety is always a good thing and Imeo has always been very careful to include safety features in his designs.
VIR has been in development for a very long time and the list of features more than justifies the long wait we have had. It seems like VIR is a very versatile and useful add on, I can't believe all these functions are crammed onto one device. Also it will be interesting to see the device itself and how it incorporates into a GG mod, to a lot of people the overall look is very important.
Now we just need a price and a release date for VIR. Hopefully we'll get these soon along with some pictures and maybe a video.
*UPDATE*
In the ECF thread Imeo gives a time scale of two weeks for a video and two months until VIR is ready. Obviously this can easily change but it's nice to have a rough idea.
Pic of the Month September 2014
My choice for this months best pic comes from Lo zio in Italy. I chose this because I think it's really cool. Sun, sea and a GG is always a winning combination. This Penelope sitting in the sunshine makes me very jealous.
Congratulations Lo zio, this is a well taken, beautiful picture.
Congratulations Lo zio, this is a well taken, beautiful picture.
Still quiet - with good reason
I have posted all of September's photo's over on My Golden Greek. As usual there are a lot of fine examples of GG's and GG collections. I'm always happy to see people posting from all over the world, proving the international appeal of the GG. If you have the time check the pictures out and don't forget you can post your photo's to be included HERE.
As seems to be the case lately there is not much to report. Imeo posted a brief explanation for his lack of forum involvement and after reading it I can understand why he's been so quiet. This is what he posted.
I have a feeling that what we are experiencing now is the quiet before the storm. When Imeo does finalise Proteus and VIR I'm expecting a huge buzz and a lot of interest in Golden Greek products.
For now though we wait in expectant anticipation.
News
As seems to be the case lately there is not much to report. Imeo posted a brief explanation for his lack of forum involvement and after reading it I can understand why he's been so quiet. This is what he posted.
"I am working on 3 projects at the same time Brem, thats why I cant find the time to come to forum. If you notice, the last 2 months I am not here as I always was. To understand what is happening, I am working up to 5 pm on machine shop and then I am going to my electronic engineer and stay there up to 5-6 am. But this situation will end soon I hope."I'm sure there are others like me, who worry that Imeo works too hard. I know we all appreciate the work Imeo puts into his creations and I'm sure we all wish this latest round of development ends soon so he can get a well earned rest. (And GG fans can get their hands on Proteus, VIR and all the other items in production.)
I have a feeling that what we are experiencing now is the quiet before the storm. When Imeo does finalise Proteus and VIR I'm expecting a huge buzz and a lot of interest in Golden Greek products.
For now though we wait in expectant anticipation.
