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Digital Grog is Australia’s go‑to tech blog for sharp reviews, digital trends, AI tools, gadgets, cybersecurity updates, and practical how‑tos covering the latest in Aussie technology

2013

Daymm !! Domains Cheap as chips

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Daymm !! Domains Cheap as chips

Grab them cheap domains while they last, you don’t need to be and internet marketeer, affiliate marketer or  top blogger to make use of this amazing deal !! [ I have now updated links  and coupon codes for latest deals 30/10/2018].

If you are thinking of starting a website  or blog and registering a domain name –  then you can check out our details domain name comparison reviews over  here – but if you just want to read on how we snagged some cheap domain names – read on 🙂

go daddy girls and models with dicount and promo codes

Go grab a www .com  domain for under $2 and start blogging with these hosting deals

TODAY i bought  TWO DOMAINS cheap as chips

1. First domain – $2.62 AUD after applying the 249NUTS  (cjc2off30 -30% off) godaddy discount code

2. Second domain – $2.16 AUD  after I applied the Hinch 199 godaddy discount  ( new coupon  AUS – $1*/ mo hosting!) code

[ Offers may not be still current, but  click on our above  link for latest discount offers available ]

I normally don’t go shopping online in this way but when its less than $3 – where it is normally up to $13 a pop, surely you would be crazy not to grab some if you are in an online marketing business or just about planning to start a blog/website sometime  soon.

Latest Go daddy Promo Codes

The promo code is: 249NUTS (cjc2off30 -30% off)

The promo code is: Hinch199 (new coupon  AUS – $1*/ mo hosting+ domain!)

These promo codes can currently be used only once for a purchase and cant be used multiple times(s0rry)

How to make us of the go daddy promo codes ?

Go to the Godaddy website -> here  [ Current deal $1 domains ]

Search for your domain and add to cart / dont tick mark any add ons you don’t need while purchasing.

On the final check out screen, you will see add promo code or coupon area – add the promo code given above and it will show you how much  the amount is reduced  by, when you click apply button on the promo code area. It will also show you the savings made by applying coupon code like below.

discount promo 0.99 cents domain godaddy deals now 1.19

For more Hosting deals and CUSTOM coupon codes visit our resources page  which will be updated regularly

You don’t need a fat wallet or retailme-not  to take advantage of these offers, just click the link to get a cheap domain today.

Good luck and grab it while it lasts and leave a comment if you got some Smile

[Post originally published on Jul 1, 2014  – updated for 2018]

logo australia

GoDaddy.com

$1.00*/ mo Managed WordPress hosting

Coupon Code: ClickHere

 

AUS – Get a .com.au for your business online. Only $7.95* 1st year!

Coupon Code: Auto Applied-ClickHere

 

Work without boundaries. Up to 50%* off Microsoft Office 365 from GoDaddy!

Coupon Code: cjcoffice

https://au.godaddy.com/business/office-365?isc=cjcoffice

 

GoDaddy Domain Renewal Coupon: Save $10 On Orders Over $50

This promo code is one of the only codes still working for renewals, and is probably the best promo code for domain renewals: save $10 on orders over $50. If you renew your .COM domain for 2 years, you will qualify for the discounted pricing.

 

Coupon Code: ACOSKS65

Save 20% Off a Your Domain Name Renewal:

This coupon will give you 20% off Domain Renewals. This promo code will work for .COM’s, .NET, .ORG, .BIZ and more.

Coupon Code: cjc1off30

SSL Certificates From $59.99/Year:

Make your website secure and get a ranking boost from $5.99 to a $59.99/year  promo plan with this discount code.

Coupon Code for $59.99: cjcssl17

$5.99 Deal SSL Certificate

"Popular

Starting a Technology Blog in Six Easy Steps

Need to get a website started on a low budget – we got your covered. Our exclusive Digitalgrog 56 Percent off Bluehost coupon deal will get your blog started before we can say Blue + host. Choose from a shared server to a high end dedicated server. Our hosting deal at $4.39 / mo AUD will save you up to 56%, which makes it one of the best webhosting deals to get a blog website started this year.

What $15 can get you for a brand or website logo

Want to create a high quality logo for your company on a low budget ? We have the solution for you, browse our listing of cheap online logo design providers, and create a cheap company or website logo today.

Top picks for Blog Website Hosting for Australians in 2019

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Post updated for 2019. Now I do know, that there are some good aussie web hosts in Australia , but if you are starting out with a new website or blogging site and need some cheap hosting  then it would be wise to do research before buying your webhosting.

I have used a mix of aussie hosts and US based web-hosting providers  in my list below and prices for blogging software and web-hosting can certainly differ a lot between these hosts.

US web-hosts can be quite competitive and affordable compared to some  of our local Australian companies.

I posted this price table below in 2017, but prices and features have been regularly updated. [ This post was updated on  09 January 2018 ]

Affordable Wordpress Hosting in Australia

I got this question asked to me on this blog ..

“I am planning to start a blog, most likely using the wordpress  blogging platform and  I am looking for a good web host (Australian preferable since most of my content will be for Australians).

– I have received many similar questions  since then –  so I decided to do this post

wordpress hosting for australia by go daddy 

I have purchased .com.au domains from smarty host (local aussie provider –now netregistry) when I started my bloggin journey,  they used to provide a website hosting service as well which i never tested out .

Net-registry are pretty  good  with their domain names service, however if you want to compare Australian web hosting prices against the  US based providers. Some of the US based  providers are definitely more affordable even with domain name prices(check my blog post where I recently bought .au domain name from Godaddy at a nice discount price here).

Godaddy also sell SSL certificates which help you secure your website and get https in your url (this help in ranking your website). Their custom plans also feature SSD hard drives now.

Below, I will also include smarty host(netregistry) in my comparison chart  for Australian + US hosting providers packages.

Dedicated servers are not listed  as they are more pricey and only shared plans which are affordable  have been featured here for bloggers and beginner websites .

I will rank them in order of my ratings  and preference with the best at the top of this list  as per my experience with them, except for smarty host  who I don’t  use for hosting  but just domain names – who is right at the top.

I have been using the rest of the Hosting companies mentioned for the last 10+ years while blogging. Some of these hosting plans listed below, also offer a bonus free domain name.

Australian Vs US hosting Comparison for blogs and websites

To keep it simple I have just added four columns  – Click the discount link  below to claim the most current discounts
[ninja_tables id=”5733″]

Step 1 –  Choosing the Hosting Platform

Most popular blogging platforms Overview

  • WordPress 60% 60%
  • Joomla Drupal more 20% 20%
  • Wix Weebly Squarespace 20% 20%

The figures in bar counter diagram are figures from self hosted managed CMS  platforms aggregated from online resources.

The below figures in circle chart are for websites from data  received  form survey done online.

"Wordpress

WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world and is used by nearly 75 million websites. According to WordPress, more than 409 million people view more than 23.6 billion pages each month and users produce and whopping 69.5 million new posts every month. It also powers more than 25% of the world’s websites.

The first thing  to do when you are starting your  own website rather than hiring a website designer or  web developer, is to  get the WordPress platform to build your website.

This platform is regularly updated  to keep you safe from hackers  and upto date with the latest version of wordpress.

I say this because I have also used Joomla and Drupal  website builders which are good content management systems, but they are not as good as the WordPress platform in ease of use and flexibility to customise as per your needs.

The ranking above is based on  my use of these service providers based on price, reliability, affordability, up-time, features, ease-of-use, server speed and overall support.

There is always the option to use premuim  Australian Web Hosting from good companies like rackspace or crucial, but budget shared US hosting is OK if your are just starting  a blog or website.

You can also get an .au domain name and still use US Webhosts  to host your Australian webpage.

Above in the chart –  Under features, I have updated the ones in green as essential things bloggers would  like to have in their hosting plan  and the ones in bold black font are the highlights /features of  that hosting provider

I have also written more detailed reviews before  for some of these web-hosts which can be found below

What is shared hosting?

Shared web hosting is what most people mean when they refer to “web-hosting”.  It simply means that many customers’ websites reside on a single web server, and that the server’s resources (CPU and RAM) are shared among every customer account on the machine.

Shared Plans is cheap because many people share one server.

one click install for wordpress

Most shared hosting plans  listed above offer free quick install scripts like above in the pic and sometimes also offer free design templates for your webpage,  Free domain email, FTP, $100 google adwords bonus   and Facebook advertising coupons etc.

Company Overview – Shared Hosting Plan Providers for  Blogs

Bluehost.com

Bluehost’s fast and reliable website hosting gives you everything you need to get your website online quickly. Bluehost is a web hosting company owned by Endurance International Group

Key people in bluehost –  Matt Heaton (Founder, CEO 2003-2011) Dan Handy (CEO 2011-2015) Mike Olson (CEO 2015-present)

They have servers in Provo, Utah, USA. Bluehost’s uptime is just about perfect (99.98%), well over industry standard which is around 99.90%.  Prior to last 6 months

"Bluehost

Hostgator.com

HostGator recently launched their new, premium hosting called HostGator WordPress Cloud.

Founded in a dorm room at Florida Atlantic University by Brent Oxley, HostGator has grown into a leading provider of Shared, Reseller, VPS, and Dedicated web hosting. HostGator is headquartered in Houston and Austin, Texas, with several international offices throughout the globe.

HostGator has been around since 2002, originally founded by Brent Oxley before being acquired a decade later by Endurance International Group (EIG).

"Hostgator

Godaddy.com

Bob Parsons the founder of godaddy is a serial entrepreneur. He sold his first company to Intuit, Inc. in 1994. Three years later Parsons started Jomax Technologies, renaming the company GoDaddy in 1999. In 2000, GoDaddy became an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar. Designated CEO Now: Scott Wagner (Jan 1, 2018).

They have many different kind of plans. While Deluxe and Unlimited WebHosting Plans support and host unlimited Web Sites, owners of single plans may experience periodic decreases in performance once they more than 400 Web Sites.

"Godaddy

Crucial.com

The Sydney-based company has focused on delivering a better experience for customers, with the roll-out of an industry first concept; Managed Google Apps.

Crucial’s roots trace back to a student bedroom in Bondi in 2003 where the company was first formed, and its headcount currently sits at 20 employees before the AVS buy.

"Crucial

Hostmonster.com

HostMonster has been providing hosting solutions to thousands of business and personal web sites since 1996. Our internet hosting package helps businesses and individuals get high-powered service at a fraction of the cost.

Features

  • Unlimited disk storage
  • Unlimited domain Hosting
  • Free drag and drop builder
  • cPanel Account Control Panel

Hostmonster Deal

Hostmonster : GIMMEMORE Coupon Code

Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links  an I might earn a commission from it ,  rest assured  the review is honest and written from my own perspective. The Webhosting features and pricing are as current at the time of writing and links when clicked will update to the most current advertised or discount deal.

I hope, I have helped you in  choosing a good hosting provider to get started building your website.review of wordpress themes

After getting your domain and hosting sorted , there is just one more thing  left  to complete the picture  and  make it all come together , which is your blog design and look.  A good professional looking wordpress theme is essential for people to get attracted to your blog and also trust and like you blog.

Check out my review post on some of the wordpress theme providers I have been using for a long time.

You can use the free google advertising coupons  to boost your website in Google search to get more traffic to your website

Digitalgrog.com.au is a affiliate partner to most of the Hosting services and some other blog related promotion services that I have listed here on my blog and I use, which means that in addition to using their service, we also receive a commission for referring new customers. Digitalgrog is  a Bluehost/ Hostgator/ Hostmonster/ Godaddy /Dreamhost/Ipage affiliate partner and we also have purchased accounts with these services

To be fair, though, we still use these services even if we weren’t an affiliate. We don’t recommend any particular host just because we’re an affiliate (every company offers a similar affiliate program), we recommend certain services because they are the best or better more reliable option. Plus, because we’re a partner, these providers offers a special price for Digitalgrog.com.au readers. Get your hosting today and get started.

Because we’re a partner, Bluehost offers a special price for digitalgrog.com.au readers: only $3.95 a month  which includes a domain name. We already have our godaddy $1 special  offer  listed above i.e if you are looking for  a cheaper deal.

Links provided above in the table  will take you to  the latest updated promo and discount deals. Feel free to pick which host suits your budget or preference and good luck to your new start 🙂

Some local reviews  ( from whirlpool.com.au)

.com.au, .net.au, .org.au Domain Names

NameScout

I found the cheapest provider to the public at only $59.99 per domain (2 years registration included – I  think this is pricey ), they had a really nice site, great functionality (they create redirecting email address’ on their servers that randomly generate so you don’t get spam from who is lookups which is awesome).

Only downside was their customer service, not only they don’t answer emails on weekends, they operate from Barbados, so if you send an email during the day you tend to not get a reply till early the next morning (e.g. 2 am). (Quote: eXtreme)

GoDaddy!

The cheapest I found was which was $7.95 US (on special) but normal price was $8.95 which is still great, and they offer the same management features as most other registrars. Only downside is they have a fair bit of ads on their site (no pop-ups), but since you barely ever visit your registrar it is no problem. I found registration very easy and they customer service was excellent. (Quote: eXtreme)

NameCheap

Namecheap is good: $8.88 US a year for .com, .net, .org and SSl certificates (https in your domain name)
Just registered 2 domains with them – no problems so far. (Quote: pcpowerplay)

Incoming Searches

  • Should I use an US web host in Australia
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The basics of starting a Blog

 



 

 

20 Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals for Web professionals and more

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black-friday-deals-cyber-Monday

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Yes Black Friday and cyber Monday is not only about deals or coupon codes for people in the online website/ blogging/internet marketing and SEO consultation industry, but the deals are getting more widespread with most businesses getting in on the bandwagon and offering mazing deals just for this short period. It’s more an US thing really, but there is no reason why we aussies cant partake of this great deals they offer during this period

Increasingly to our benefit the deals which were once only available for these two days, now many providers are actually starting their deals earlier and in many cases extending it throughout the period right up to cyber monday and beyond. With his deals you don’t need a coupon codes.

2013 Black Friday Cyber Monday Deals

Normally as this is mainly a two day deal frenzy, you can grab deals sometimes upto 50% off or then get bundled deals providing value up to 2 to 5 times the benefit of a regular deal. Below I am listing some black Friday and cyber Monday deals for mainly web and internet professionals and will also include some links to other big retails companies where you can grab some other stuff cheap.

These promotions are available over the Blackfriday/ Cybermonday weekend only and may not be extended.

You can click on my affiliate links to grab the offers from which I will also benefit. Last year I got some amazing deals from many online internet services providers like WPZOOM WordPress themes ( got 335 off in 2012), Go daddy domains (got heaps of cheap domains) , Elegant themes ($39 for 76 wordpress themes including any newly released ones) Bluehost web hosting deals , Hostgator (got 50 % off on web hosting in 2012) for me and my clients.

It’s a good idea to get the deals now while the offers are on, rather than when the prices are back to normal and you are likely to be paying double the price.  The biggest discounts for Australians and bloggers like me on Black Friday are things like software, wordpress themes and web hosting, you can lock in savings from anywhere between 50% to 75%.

Domain Registration Deals 2013

Godaddy.com

You can get $1.99 domains

$1.99 .Com at GoDaddy.com! coupon codes

Grab a domain while it’s cheap from go daddy the top domain registrar on the internet

Smartyhost

SmartyHostSmartyHost australianhosting offers codesAffordable Australian-based Web Hosting and domains Provides Domain Name Registration & Websites.Offer-  Please check – Aply discount code 123 and you will get 10% off the order . $20 per year for popular new domain names

 

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Webhosting for blogs and websites in 2013

If you buy a domain or already have a domain or domains you will need hosting, so grab a deal before the price comes back to its normal prices. Most hosting providers listed below will allow you to have multiple blogs hosted by buying one hosting package so if you have bought 5 to 10 domains you can host it all in your hosting package

Bluehost Hosting

deals 2013

Bluehost is a reliable hosting service for websites and blogs, they’ve been around for a while, and they’ve got a 24-hour phone line so you can always talk to a real human if your site is having any issues. These rates that have never been offered before, Saving a little bit on a recurring plan can save you a lot over months. Click on affiliate banner above to get the deal

 

Hostgator Hosting

Hostgator i going to add to the biggest discounts of 2013!! They are doing promotions ALL weekend long (Friday through Monday) as well aslimited time flash sales each day with even BIGGER discounts!  Currently they have 20% off ( banner below)

australian bloghosting

Hostgator is kicking off Black Friday in style with a 1 hour flash sale for 75% OFF Hosting (starting at only $1.24/m) and $1.95 domains. This will run from 12 AM central to 1AM Central, November 29th.

Dreamhost Hosting

the dreamhost website hostingoffer 2013

Dreamhost is currently offering webhosting for $3.95 a month  and 2 DOMAINS FREE. You can use our website special promo code DIGGROG69 if you take up this offer.

 

Godaddy hosting – $1.99 or  32% off on hosting

Here’s a Black Friday deal you don’t have to wait in line for! Click on link below to register your $1 .COM, .US, .MOBI, .BIZ, .NET, .ORG, .CA, .CO.UK or .IN domain name! Get the details and your $1 domain at http://x.co/digitalgrg

$1.99/Mo. for 12 months of Economy Hosting at GoDaddy.com

We have these great ways for you to stay on top of the developing GO DADDY Black Friday 2013 Ads, Black Friday 2013 Coupons, Black Friday 2013 Deals, Black Friday 2013 Rumors, and Cyber Monday 2013 Deals here at Digitalgrog.com. Book mark us to check thelatest offers, go daddy can offer better deals in the course of this sale week

Hostmonster

wordpress blog and plugins for hsoting

Enjoy  HostMonster unlimited web hosting as low as $4.95 per month instead of the regular price of $6.99/month with this HostMonster Black Friday 2013 sale. Click banner above to see if you qualify for this deal

 

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2013 WordPress themes for blogs

If you got a domain and webhosting you are pretty much done to get a website up and running, but quite likely you will be stuck with some boring themes available for free from word press or then themes that are sometimes not updated that regularly which are available for “free from wordpress”

You are better off buying a theme membership package, where you will get access to more than 20 to 50+ themes depending on provider and get various different themes to suit your website for eg , shop theme , new website theme , deals website theme , Photography blog theme etc

With these Membership packages it’s either a monthly fee or a lump sum yearly fee and you get support if you run into any trouble with themes and themes are also updated to be in line with the regulator word press updates that happen. You don’t want a theme that is not regularly updated and let hackers into your website.

I am a member of all these themes below and I have used all of them on my different websites

Elegant themes

This has been one of my all time favourites in word press theme providers  for 3 reasons.

  • The most amazing prize for a quality theme provider – $39 for 86 themes
  • Different types of themes, shop theme , portfolio theme, news theme they got it all
  • Small them file sizes in spite of the top quality means super fast theme loading times

They don’t need to provide a discount code because its a everyday discount at elegant themes. Get it here

Wpzoom themes

WP Zoom themes – They got a nice set of professional news  and magazine themes in addition to blog and portfolio themes which are designed different from the elegant themes look – I’ve purchased the$9/mo -$199 SIGN-UP FEE membership option, but there are other –See pricing options

 

Solostream themes wordpress themes

Premium Responsive WordPress Theme australia

My this blog uses the solostream clear template – Truly SEO optimised and nicely structured blog. This word press theme compares to ( other theme providers like thesis and studio press which are  $75 to 200 range ). Its a  premium blog theme with excellent AdSense advertising options inbuilt which you can use for affiliate/advertising links as well which is not available inbuilt in some other premium themes.

Theme forest word press themes

Australia offers themeforest blackfriday deals

You can grab great wordpress themes from as low as $3 from themeforest or the envato marketplace for themes ( clickhere ) and you can also access their vast collection of wordpress plugins over here . Currently no deals available

Thesis themes

Studiopress themes

Similar to our Boxing Day sales, Black Friday and its online cousin Cyber Monday is one of the biggest days on any bargain-hunter’s calendar in the USA.

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Gadgets deals for 2013

Who doesn’t like a gadget, it’s the generation of smart everything – if you are a busy person and on the move you will need to be connected all the time. Below are some deals to keep you in touch with your inner gadget geek.

Apple has released some deals on their ipads etc. , they are not fantastic but still a deal, you might want to check with JB hifi and other before buying tho

Here are some prices

iPad: A$498 – save A$41
• iPad 2: A$398 – save A$31
• iPod touch (5th gen): A$298 – save A$31
• iPod touch (4th gen): A$194 – save A$25
• iPod nano: A$158 – save A$11
• MacBook Pro (13″ Retina): A$1,794 – save A$105
• MacBook Pro: A$1,244 – save A$105
• MacBook Air: A$994 – save A$105
• AirPort Express Base Station: A$108 – save A$11
• AirPort Extreme Base Station: A$178 – save A$21
• Time Capsule: A$298 – save A$21
• Apple Magic Mouse: A$64 – save A$11
• Magic Trackpad: A$64 – save A$11
• Apple Wireless Keyboard: A$64 – save A$11
• iPad Smart Case: A$44 – save A$15
• iPad Smart Cover (Polyurethane): A$34 – save A$11
• iPad Smart Cover (Leather): A$58 – save A$21
• Apple In-Ear Headphones: A$88 – save A$11
• Apple EarPods: A$28 – save A$7

Cybermonday and Blackfriday is one of the biggest unites states online sales events in the year, it attracted more than 10 million shoppers and $1.25 billion in sales last year in 2012

The big Guns of the internet Amazon, DELL , Best Buy..

Yes the big guns like amazon and Best buy will always take part in such amazing days to flog their wares with some sweet deals, why not take advantage of it check out deals from the big guns below

Amazon has many amazing deals and they do ship a lot of products to Australia or the other option is to get a US Online shipper to transport your shopping over here.

Amazon Shipping Rates and Times to Australia

This page details information on shipping to Australia. Please refer to the links below for more information.

· Standard Shipping Rate Chart

· Expedited Shipping Rate Chart

· Priority Courier Shipping Rate Chart

· Surcharge Chart for Heavy or Bulky Media

· International Shipping Policies

AMAZON Black Friday /Cyber Monday Deals

Check out some Current deals here from amazon –> Amazon black friday dealsclip_image001

Dell Black Friday Deals are coming soon starting Nov 27th! You will be able to get laptop, tablet, & computer deals along with electronics deals. Check out their deals à 2013 Black Friday online deals

Dell will also be selling the Nikon D3200 DSLR for $499.99, down $260, and a Sharp 50-inch LED Aquos 1080p 60Hz HDTV for $498, down $250.

Dell’s Deals:

· Inspiron 15 Laptop – $599 (20% off)

· Inspiron 15R Laptop – $799 (27% off)

· Inspiron 15R Special Edition Laptop – $899 (30% off)

· XPS 15 Laptop – $1399 (30% off)

· Inspiron One 2330 Desktop – $999 (16% off)

· XPS 8500 Desktop – $1889 (30% off)

· Ultrashop U2412 Monitor – $279 (30% off)

Even though I found a aussie website saying they ship here, I could not find any information on thier US or Australian website , and as they have a Australian presence , I would be definitely checking if you can get the US deal before I click to commit . (The other way is get a shipment dealer to get the deals from us to Australia – details below)

Some BestBuy Deals in US for comparison

the best buy gadget dels in us

· Sony Smart Wi-Fi Blu-ray Player for $54.99 (regularly $89.99)

· Google Chromecast for $29.99 (regularly $35)

  • 50″ TV Element 1080p LED HDTV for $229 at Target makes this the cheapest 50″ HDTV buyers have ever seen in the US

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Online fashion and Dress / Frock / Clothes Deals

 

If you are fashion and frock dress deals and offers for Australia for cybermonday and blackfriday. The US retailers are sharing some of the shopping love by extending some of the savings and free shipping offers to Australian shoppers Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Shopbop

Bloomingdale’s: Between the 20th — 25th of November the more you spend the more you save! Save $25 for every $200

Nordstrom: Up to 40% off designer brands and 50% off women’s Winter apparel, shoes and accessories, plus $19.95 flat shipping for orders over $100 AUD until Dec 10th.

Saks Fifth Avenue: Up to 70% off designer brands, and get $10.95 USD express shipping on orders of $250 USD or more with exclusive code: HOLIDAY1. (Thanks to fabsugar for this deals)

Personally I would like to see some deals from Marks and Spencers and ASOS.

Black Friday is held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so it will land on Friday November 29 this year. There is also Cyber Monday on the Monday following Black Friday.

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Shipping for Australians  from US

Shipping for Australians  from US

Two providers that i could recommend  when ti comes to shipping from US to Australia is Qannu and myus.com. Both provide you with US address on registration and handle the shipping process for you to do hassle free online shopping in the US.

MyUS.com

MyUS.com helps shoppers shopping via us websites to shop without borders  by handling the whole shipping process, established since 1997. They are one of the largest leaders today in international package consolidation, serving more than 200,000 customers in over 220 countries.

Have Your Very Own U.S. Mailing Address

Click banner above to register with them

 

QANNU Shipping

Qannu  is a unique delivery service for Aussie bargains which allows you to participate in the biggest retail sale in the world and have exclusive brands delivered right to your doorsteps. As Australia’s first fee-free online package (pay only one international delivery fee) forwarding service, Qannu cuts shipping costs for Australian online shoppers purchasing goods from the US

Single or multiple goods are packaged at Qannu’s US warehouse, shipped and then hand-delivered to customers’ doorsteps in Australia within five to eight days. There are no joining fees, membership fees or personal shopping fees. Consolidating your orders into one package to send to Australia will save heaps on shipping.

Register with qannu here

I would suggest have a think about what you would probably need through the course of the year and buy and keep it now while the deals are on, if you end up using even 50 % of the stuff you bought you already got a sweet deal.

Multiple personalities? How to protect your identity online

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We’ve all heard the stories about people who have had their identities stolen, whether it is their credit card details, their email address, Social Security number, or their driver’s license or passport. Identity theft isn’t just something that you hear about on the news though – in today’s high-tech society, it’s becoming easier for thieves to steal your identity online.

protect yourself online with McAfee® All Access

Restrict access with McAfee® All Access

When you shop online, you input your name, credit card details, and address – and it’s the same when you do your online banking, or fill out account registration forms. Our personal information is scattered across the web, which means we could be all the more susceptible to thieves who are operating online.

However, there are ways to ensure your information is kept secure. If you want to protect your identity online, here is some information that will help you.

Firstly, why should I care?

In the US, a 2010 report found that 11.1 million adults were a victim of identity fraud. What’s more, every three seconds, an identity is stolen and in 2008, Americans incurred $54 billion in loss from identity theft.

Identity theft can occur through credit card charges, bad credit, loss of social security benefits, criminal charges (such as traffic violations or criminal records), and even medical theft. In 2009, it was estimated that one in four Americans is expected to become a victim of identity theft.

How do thieves steal your identity online?

There are multitudes of ways thieves can steal your identity online, even if the websites you are visiting have security measures in place.

Thieves can send phishing emails or instant messages (SPIM) that pretend to be from a legitimate person or organisation (such as Paypal) in an attempt to lure you to give personal information. Hackers could also install spyware, Trojan horses, or malware into your computer that can take control of your computer or direct you to invalid sites.

On top of this, thieves can install keyloggers onto your computer that log your keystrokes so hackers can record your passwords and credit card details as you type online. Also, if your wireless network at home is unsecured, thieves can use this to access data on the computers you have connected to your wireless router – this is known as Wardriving.

So how can I protect myself?

If you’re reading this and panicking, don’t despair – there are measures you can take to protect yourself online!

First off, be aware! Make sure you are aware of all the different online tricks and scams that thieves can use to obtain your personal information – this way you’ll know what to look for. Keep your personal data private and never disclose it to strangers, and also make sure to check the URL of websites before you enter any vital information. Ensure your passwords contain letters and numbers, secure your wireless network, and don’t log into banking and credit card sites while using public hotspots.

When browsing the web, use a comprehensive antivirus software such as McAfee Total Protection Software, which will protect you from spyware, malware, and viruses, as well as steer you clear of any fake websites that are trying to get your personal information. Also remember to use a firewall to block any unauthorized access to your computer or network.

If you do become a victim…

…it’s best to notify the credit bureaus and create a fraud alert, and also file a police report. Be proactive as well and contact any financial institutions or agencies where your accounts may be affected. In the worst case scenario, put a credit freeze in place or consider legal help – after all, your identity is on the line!

Have you or any of your friends or family been a victim of identity theft?

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Tablets fighting back against smartphones

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tablets or smartphonesAt one point in time, there seemed to be a clear distinction between smartphones and tablets: the former was your go-to device for calling, texting, and checking email, while the latter was used for recreational purposes like gaming and video steaming. However, as more tablets begin to offer calling capabilities, the line between the two devices has become somewhat blurred. Let’s take a look at what improved calling capabilities mean for the future of tablets:

Could a Tablet Replace Your Primary Phone?

Whereas users once had to download apps like Skype and Viber to make VoIP and video calls on their tablets, the next generation of tablets is equipped with all the features you need to turn it into your primary phone. The new Nexus tablet comes with the option of 4G LTE connectivity, as does the new Samsung Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note devices. The new ASUS Fonepad incorporates full 3G-phone functionality so that users have fast, reliable coverage whenever they want to make a call.

For those who think that a tablet is too large to make phone calls with comfortably, consider this: you don’t have to hold the tablet up to your ear to make a call. Instead, you can take advantage of in-line mic headphones or a Bluetooth headset, thereby eliminating concern over the awkward sizing of tablet devices.

Phone, Tablet, or Phablet?

samsung galaxy note 2 flip case vs diary case

In reality, tablets aren’t that much larger than top-of-the-line smartphones. After all, the latest trend in smartphones is to make larger displays that are better for browsing, viewing, and gaming. You need look no further than the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4 handsets for examples of this point. The HTC One measures a whopping 137.4mm (5.41”), while the Samsung Galaxy S4 measures 136.7mm (5.38”). Needless to say, it’s a struggle for the average person to fit either one of these devices in the palm of their hand.

By contrast, tablets are more compact than ever. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 comes in a 151.2mm (5.9”) model, while the Asus FonePad is offered in a slightly larger size—152.4mm (6”). The Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nexus 7, and Asus FonePad all come in 177.8mm (7”) models as well. In fact, the differences between smartphones and tablets are so indistinguishable these days that some of these smaller tablets with phone capabilities are actually being referred to as phone tablets, or “phablets.”

Smartphones and Tablets Go Head to Head

Whether you decide to invest in one of the new phone tablets or stick with a more traditional mobile device like the BlackBerry Z10 or iPhone 5s, one thing is clear: by offering more functionality, tablets are fighting back against smartphones for control of the global market share. But tablet makers have a lot of catching up to do. According to statistics from Tech Crunch, smartphones accounted for 60.1% of the global market share in 2012, while tablets accounted for just 10.7%. It is worth noting that while tablets control only a small portion of the market, sales of these devices grew 78.4% year-on-year in 2012, and are forecasted to grow a whopping 109.9% through 2017, surpassing both desktop and portable PCs in market share. Test out the next generation of tablets to see what everyone is talking about.

Smartphone App launched by Dan Murphy’s Australia

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If you like a glass of wine or beer or spirit, getting your favourite beer or wine has just become easier with the new DAN MURPHY’S SMARTPHONE APP. Dan Murphy’s has just launched their new application for smartphone that makes it easier for you to browse what’s available in their store on your smartphone and even place an order

review of apps australia

I downloaded the Dan Murphy’s smartphone app this weekend and was quite surprised with the professional looking and functional app that they have produced. The app screen makes it easy to browse and search the store for wines, beers and other alcohol and the weekly deals etc. are conveniently placed just in reach of a quick tap on the screen.

Dan Murphy’s gets social with smartphone launch

 

Right now they are offering the special smartphone application launch deals… so go grab it. When i checked on my phone there was the “ Yellowglen Vintage Perle”  white wine award winner for $89.40 for a case of 6 bottles with delivery. That brings the price down to $14.90 for a bottle for this classic vintage wine (definitely a good deal to get delivered to your home).

The Dan Murphy’s app main screen is as below (in pic)

dan murphys New mobile app

If you tap on the left bottle icon , you get taken to the screen with weekly deals/offers, search , store finder and  your account. Its advisable to  create a account if you get alcohol regularly from  Dan murphy’s. You can shop for alcohol right from this app and either get it delivered ( if available – mostly on six or 12 packs )  or pick it up from store. The bottom right shopping cart button on the screen shows what alcohol you have already checked in or bought via the smartphone app

The Dan Murphy’s story in short

In 1952 a bright young man, Daniel Francis Murphy was working in a liquor store owned and run by his father Timothy Murphy. Dan looked around one day and decided that he could run the shop better than his father and requested to take the reins and the rest is history.  Today  he has about 140 stores all around Australia and it is part of the Woolworths chain.

appstore dan murphy app australia

App download screen in Google play

According to wikipedia

“Dan Murphy’s is an Australian liquor supermarket chain owned by Woolworths Limited, which also owns BWS, another liquor chain with smaller stores. Dan Murphy’s competes principally with 1st Choice Liquor Superstore”

I tried out a special feature on the Dan Murphy’s  app, this app has got label recognition technology built in to the app. If you just click a photo ( via camera icon/button in app- see pic below) of  a label of the bottle in your bar or fridge and if the item is stocked at Dan Murphy’s, the app will come back with the current price of the bottle and also provide  information and reviews on the drink ( pretty neat huh).

smartphone app of dan murphy australia[how%2520the%2520dan%2520murphy%2520app%2520works%255B4%255D.jpg]

Img from:http://australianchinwag.blogspot.com.au/

This new app from Dan Murphy’s could possibly do wonders for many undiscovered small brands or relatively unknown wineries, by bringing them  into focus and increasing their audience  by putting them on  show to the world.

With an increasing number of smartphone users now using their devices to research products or services on-line, apps like this one are becoming the norm for tech-savvy shoppers. The Dan Murphy’s App is free to download onto your android and apple devices.

Customers can download the Dan Murphy’s App for free on their iPhone or Android device by searching for “Dan Murphy’s” in the App Store.

For more information on the Dan Murphy’s App and to view an instructional video, please visit:www.danmurphys.com.au/guides/app-content.

So go give this app a whirl , say cheers to me  and my blog “Digital GROG” and let me know your views on the app