Review: We-Vibe 4 Plus

If you haven't already figured it out, I love We-Vibes. Seriously. Every single We-Vibe product I have ever tried has, at one time or another, found pride of place in my top bedroom drawer. There was the We-Vibe 2 and then the We-Vibe 3 . I also had the pleasure of trialling their first solo play toy, the We-Vibe Thrill and, most recently, the We-Vibe 4. I also have in the wings (coming very soon) reviews of the We-Vibe Salsa, Tango and Touch which, like the Thrill, are solo toys... But the best, and probably the most exciting new version of the world's most favourite couple's toy is the We-Vibe 4+, which the awesome folk over at Sex Toys 24/7 gave me to try out.

To look at it it really isn't all that different to the We-Vibe 4. Same great, compact “c” shape, same matte silicone finish, same wireless charging capabilities, and the two motors on either end have the same awesome vibration and pulse settings (there are three speeds and five different rhythms programmed in, but keep reading to see what else it does). It's fully waterproof (although the remote is not), super easy to clean with a good toy cleaner and so quiet you wouldn't even know it was on if it's not touching you.

So, what's actually different about this toy that has the world (and me) in a bit of a spin?

Firstly, and this is completely aesthetic but cool to me, is that as well as the pink and purple colours of the We-Vibe 4, the Plus also comes in a cool gun-metal grey/black/blue (it's sort of a combination of all three) colour. 

And secondly, and most importantly, this toy comes with an app for your smart phone (bluetooth must be enabled to synch it)

“An app?” I hear you say. “What possible reason would a wireless, remote control toy need an app?”

Well, let me tell you.

The app (available for free from The Apple Store or Google Play) allows you to access five bonus pulse/buzz settings and has a sixth setting that allows you to program in your own settings. Yep. You heard me right. You can customise this toy to buzz and pulse in any combination/sequence you desire. You can change the speed of each motor independently (although I haven't figured out how to create two separate rhythm settings in each arm, so I'm not sure if you can or not) You can also use the app to search for tips and hints and suggestions on all the different ways you can use it, including anally, orally and as a penis stimulator. You can also set it to a timer! But probably the best and most awesome feature of this app is that you (or your partner) can access and control it from anywhere in the world!! Anywhere!! All you need is your toy's unique code which you can then send via text or email to anyone who has the app and give them control over the controls.

You could be in Sydney, and your partner could be in China and, with the use of modern technology, you can still play together! Seriously cool! It's particularly awesome for couples in long distance relationships or where one partner travels a lot. Seriously gives a whole new spin on the term phone sex! It's truly amazing!

The app will also tell you how much battery life you have left on the toy which is really handy - a few hours of charge should give you about three hours of continual play!

I know it might sound a bit fiddly and complicated, but it's actually not. This app is really user-friendly and simple to understand.

A few little glitches that I've found in my experiments with this toy are that you really need a good internet/wi-fi connection because every now and then the wireless connectivity can cut out and, every so often I found using the remote as well as the app seemed to cut the app off. Also it cannot be accessed by your partner without you giving “permission” via the invite app (which, once invited, gives you roughly 30 minutes to access it before the app connectivity shuts down) so it's not like you can wear it all day and they can randomly turn it on from their phone without you knowing. But these are really minor things considering the awesomeness of what this toy does and can do for couples living apart.

Seriously, gang. This is one toy every couple needs in their toybox! I give it a 9/10 because really the only thing it can't do is give you a hug, bring you a cup of coffee and tell you it loves you.

I seriously cannot WAIT to see what We-Vibe come up with next! Who knows. Maybe it will link to your coffee machine and develop a hug-and-love-you feature. (kidding. Mostly)
Until next time,

Happy buzzing, my friends... Wherever in the world you may be!

Review: Nu Sensuelle Point

 Okay, girls. Are you looking for a small, clitoral vibe that has power and functions beyond your wildest imagination?

Do you want it sleek and smooth? Whisper quiet? Super easy to clean and store? Rechargeable and with a super long life? Want warranties and assurances? And all for under $100.00?

Of course you do! So, let me introduce you to one of the best and most powerful toys I have ever come across which has all these features and more and, considering how many toys I get to test and play with every month, that's a pretty big call.

The Nu Sensuelle Point (by S.Wet) is this toy; Small and compact enough to carry around in your handbag, powerful enough to elicit the most intense orgasms and sensations and so quiet sometimes the only way you know it's on is cos there's a little light on the bottom and, when you turn it on in your palm it rolls around like a crazy thing!

I seriously love this toy. Not only does it have three ridiculously strong vibration levels, it also has an extra 17 (yes, you read correctly SEVENTEEN) pulse settings. All up, that makes this a twenty function toy which is just crazy!

It is fully rechargeable and has a cute little stand to sit in while it recharges. The flashing red light will let you know when it's charging and then turns green and solid when it's fully charged. It only takes an hour or so to charge up from being fully dead and then lasts for bloody ages! I have had this toy for a few months now and it gets used fairly regularly and I have only had to charge it a couple of times.

The best toy to compare it to would be (another favourite of mine) the We-Vibe Salsa. It's about the same size and shape but has a more matte finish than a shiny one, and is also about five times more powerful on its highest settings.

Because of its small size it doesn't get in the way of stuff if you want to use it as an accompaniment to sex and, because of its super powerful buzzes, it can also be felt by your partner when you use it while fucking.

The only things I would say could be improved on this toy are that it isn't fully waterproof so you can't take it into the bath with you (although it's water resistant so you can take it into the shower if you're careful), and it doesn't have a “pulse memory” so, if you find a favourite setting, you have to push through them all to get to it every time you turn it on and, if you accidentally skip past it while pushing through, you have to go through the whole lot again.

One more improvement that could possibly be made is that the silicone material it is made out of is pretty hard. These guys also do a twenty function, rechargeable buttplug and I think the softer silicone they use on that one would be a good alternative for people who prefer their toys a little less rigid.

But really, these are minor points compared to the stuff I really love about this toy. It has taken pride of place in my top bedside drawer and just a quick spray and wipe with a good toy cleaner is all you need to do to keep it clean and hygienic.

I have quite a few more of this brand to review so stay tuned! So far I haven't come across a bad one!

I give the Nu Sensuelle Point a 9/10 and highly recommend it to all you clit-buzzing, bullet-loving girls out there!

Until next time,

Happy buzzing, my friends!

Review: We-Vibe 4

I really like We-Vibes. I have tried, tested and reviewed quite a few of their products (you can read some of them, as well as loads of other sex-based stuff I write, here yes click it it's a link ) and have always enjoyed them, especially their couples toys. I will admit that some of the earlier versions  had some issues with certain usability factors but they were still fun and enjoyable and, as each update came along, those issues were sorted out to make it better and better. And now we have come to the 4.

            The We-Vibe 4 is different to the others in a few ways. The first being the material it is made out of. Gone is the slick, shiny silicone which, especially when all lubed up, had a tendency to move about a bit and lose it's hold. It's been replaced with a more matte silicone that is smooth and velvety to the touch and doesn't get anywhere near as slippery. They have also changed the size and shape a bit. The toy itself is smaller and the insertable end isn't as bulbous as the previous ones, but still manages to hit the spot like the We-Vibe III did.

            The vibrations also seem to have improved with more intensity to the buzzes and, although there are a few differences to the pulse patterns, all six of the settings are good and suitable for everyone's  different preferences of strength and vibration.

            The remote is a bit different too. Where as on the III there was just one button to push through the modes, the We-Vibe 4 has four easy to use buttons that can increase the intensity (up for more, down for less and to turn off) and change back and forth (side to side) through the settings so you don't always have to go right through the whole sequence to get back to the one you like best.

            To use it all you have to do to turn it on is push down the little button on the front end of the toy for about two seconds and then either push through that to get to the sequence and intensity you like, or use the remote. Just hold the remote next to the toy and press the top button down for a few seconds and it syncs up. If you need to, use a bit of lube (always use a water-based lubricant with toys as some silicone ones can damage the material) to insert the smaller end and then the larger end rests nicely against your clitoris. It can be a great toy to use solo, but as a couples toy, it really comes into its own when your partner slides in next to it. The G-Spot is stimulated, the clitoris is stimulated and the penis is as well. My partner really enjoyed it. He said the material felt nice and the inserted part was not distracting or in the way at all and the vibrations were “sensational”. It really is a great toy for everyone!

            The remote control (which comes with a lithium coin cell battery) has a range of around three metres and, because the toy has a really quiet motor, it could be a fun thing to take out on a naughty dinner date or shopping trip. The new, less slippery silicone, means that it won't slide around too much if you're standing or walking and the remote is small and discrete enough for your partner to put in their pocket and push at their discretion.

            It's fully waterproof (not the remote though) and really easy to clean with a good toy cleaner or antibacterial soap, and it comes with a stand to sit in while it charges. It charges via usb, which can be a bit tricky if your computers are in a part of the house that other people use, but a converter plug is cheap and easy and then you can charge it wherever you like.

All in all this new version of the We-Vibe is a real winner and I think the only thing they could maybe do to improve on it (We-Vibe 5 perhaps) would be a feature where you could have the two motors able to be doing different pulses and sequences at the same time, to really maximise enjoyment and buzz-ability.

I give this new version a 9/10 and think it is definitely an upgrade We-Vibe lovers will enjoy.

 

After first publishing this I have become made aware of the newest We-Vibe upgrade which will be hitting our shelves sometime in the next month or so: The We-Vibe 4 Plus. This is pretty much the same as the We-Vibe 4, but it can be controlled via a smart-phone app... From anywhere IN THE WORLD!!!

Needless to say... I WANT ONE!
Will Keep you all posted. Until then...
Happy Buzzing, my friends!

UPDATE!! OMG I am so so excited to announce I will be reviewing some amazing new products for the awesome crew at Sex Toys 247 (It's a link! Click it!!) First one will be a We-Vibe 4+
See! Dreams do come true!!

The Then and Now of Sex Shops

Originally posted in The Australian Sex Party Blog on Thursday, 11 August 2011 

ONE of the most embarrassing moments of my life (apart from that time I wet my pants at Suzanne Bs 8th birthday party) was the first time I ever went to buy a vibrator. Back in those days - you know, the good ol' days of the early 90s - there were very few options. You could mail order from the back of a magazine or do the sneaky venture past the dirty curtain into the seedy sex shop.

Being about sixteen I had two problems. One, I didn't have a credit card to buy out of a magazine (and was too scared to get something delivered to my house where I might have to explain the package to my parents) and two, I was under eighteen so, even though I was legally able to have sex, it was illegal for me to go into a sex shop and buy a toy. Talk about frustrating!

It also didn't help that this was, as I said, the early 90s and sex shops were hidden away in bleak industrial areas, usually unable to reach by bus. In my case it was Fyshwick in Canberra, home of brothels, fireworks and porn, so you'd think it would be easy. No such luck.

If you're familiar with Canberra in the early 90s, you'll know that the public transport system was (and from what I hear still is) lacking in many things. Like buses taking you anywhere you needed to go on a direct route.

Finally, after months of thinking about it I decided to bite the bullet and go. So, under the guise of spending Saturday with a friend, I left the house early and began my adventure.

First there was a bus to my local interchange, then a bus to the city and then a bus out to Fyshwick. It took almost two hours, but I was finally there.

I got off the bus but all I could see were  furniture shops, carpet shops and hardware shops. Nothing that looked like a sex shop at all. Great. I wandered around aimlessly, not wanting to go too far and wind up lost and unable to get home.

I was about to give up when, in a small cluster of shops I saw a “XXX” sign. Sucking up every ounce of courage I had I pushed open the door and went inside.

It took me all of about 30 seconds to realise this wasn't the shop for me. Leather masks hung from the walls, huge dildos in the shape of fists and arms sat on the shelves, and the videos all had titles like “There's a Bear in There” and “Bob's Big Balls”. There wasn't a single picture of a woman  and everything had the words “Hard” and “Strong” and “Man” written on it.

“Um, can I help you?” A big guy in a leather vest had come out from the back and was looking at me curiously.

“I think I'm in the wrong shop,” I said, turning bright red and wishing the floor would open up and swallow me.

The guy smiled kindly. “Go round the corner, about three shops up. I think that one will work better for you.”

Muttering my thanks and hurrying out the door, I followed his directions and ended up outside a small shop that proclaimed it sold porn and fireworks. Again, I breathed in all my insecurities and walked through the door.

It was very similar to the first shop, although instead of leather masks hanging from the walls there were blow-up dolls, the fist and arm dildos were replaced with vibrators shaped like penises and all the posters were of fake-boobed women in the throes of passion.

A fat guy (think Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons) looked up from behind the counter and silently eyed me up and down, making me feel even more uncomfortable than I had in the gay shop.  After he'd sufficiently checked me out he went back to his book and ignored me.

I stood awkwardly in the middle of the shop looking around me at all the things on the shelves. I had no idea where to start. Porn-shop-guy did nothing to help and, to be honest, I really didn't want to talk to him. The thought of asking him his advice on which toy would be best made me feel a bit creepy and so, empty-handed and feeling like my day had been a total waste, I left the shop and headed back to the bus stop.

As I passed back by the gay shop the guy was sitting outside having a cigarette.

“How'd you go, love?” he asked?

I shook my head. “Crap.” I said.

He looked at me sympathetically. “What exactly are you after?”

“I don't know,” I said. “That's the problem. Probably just a vibrator.” The fact that this guy was speaking to me kindly, and was obviously gay, made me feel a lot more comfortable talking to him.

“Come on,” he said, stubbing out his smoke. “Let's see if I can help you.”

And so I went into the gay porn shop with its “Devastator Butt Plugs” and its “Piss In Boots” videos and started looking at vibrators with a Bear named Brent.

He showed me how to test the buzz against my nose to see how strong it was, he talked to me about the differences between all the toys and even gave me safe sex advice about condoms and dams. When I finally left I had a brand new buzzy toy (a bright blue penis-shaped thing) and a bag of free batteries, condoms and lube. The best part was that I'd felt comfortable buying it. I hadn't felt sleazed on or treated like some sort of deviant freak. Just real advice and great service. If only all the sex shops had this kind of thing!

In the following years I went into quite a few different places and pretty much always encountered the same thing as that second shop. Sleazy and/or uninterested men working behind the counter, no real advice and everything set up to look like the inside of a porn set. Great if you're a bloke, sure, but not so great for females, especially for the timid or inexperienced. And, with the toys always looking like big penises it wasn't much fun for lesbians or women who didn't want to have a big plastic cock rubbing against them!

But fast forward almost twenty years and I am pleased to say that things have definitely changed! Finally sex shops are being set up in a much more female-friendly way. Nearly every single one I've gone into in the last five or so years (and trust me, that's a lot) is tastefully designed. There are no half naked orgasmic women on the walls, there are nearly always women working behind the counter and no longer are all vibrators shaped like cocks! There are dolphins and penguins and worms and seals in a myriad of different colours, as well as hundreds of non-creature female-centric designs, made especially to cater for a woman's body. There are costumes in packages showing women of all shapes and sizes wearing them, porn made specifically for women, and there is always someone friendly and non-confronting to give advice.

In fact, even with the invent of the internet and the availability of millions of websites selling toys, I will always recommend to a first-time buyer to go into a shop first (which are also now in way more accessible areas) and talk to the girl behind the counter. That one-on-one advice really is invaluable to get you on your way to buzzing bliss! These shops are doing wonderful things for women's self esteem (and not to mention their sex lives) by making them feel comfortable about their desires to masturbate, watch pornography, explore their sexuality and enjoy sex. So, ladies, if you haven't stepped inside a shop because you're worried about having a similar experience to my first time, don't panic! You'll be pleasantly surprised and I guarantee your body will thank you for it!

On a little side note I would like to say that I went back and saw Brent many times after that  day and, in a funny twist of events, I even ended up working in the gay shop with him... But that's another story...