On this page is, or will be, all the gadgets & gizmos Leo & talked about on the Daily Giz Wiz during the month of March, 2009. The newest shows are at the TOP of the page
Daily Giz Wiz, Week of March 30th, 2009
Monday, March 30th, 2009 Netcast 796
It’s cheap, and it works!
We’ve all done it, unplugged some equipment on the desk and then tried to grab the cables you just unplugged from sliding off the back of the desk and onto the floor. Well Keep-a-Cable is a simple solution to help you manage your wayward charging cords and peripheral connectors. This simple device is made from high-density polyethylene and its fitted with notched holes at the top. Using a very high strength 3M adhesive it mounts to the edge of any flat surface like the back edge of your desk. The five holes at the top of the Keep-a-Cable are designed to keep cables from sliding off the desk. It’s an inexpensive and effective solution to chasing cables behind desks, equipment cabinets and under tables. It even has holes for screws if you want to make a more permanent installation. Keep-a-Cable are available in single wire, five wire and long strips to accommodate everything from a single cell phone charger to an entire rack of servers or other electronic equipment. A 5 wire/4 pack is just $5 + S&H. A 10 pack is $10.00 + S&H. Complete pricing is at the company’s website:
It’s another Turn The Table Tuesday and Leo finds a useful iPhone gadget from Griffin Technologies.
Clarifi is no ordinary polycarbonate case. That's because Clarifi has a built-in lens to give the iPhone a boost in camera resolution. I don’t have one of these cases, which Leo likes a lot, so I found the following info on the Griffin website: Slide the Clarifi lens into place over the built-in lens of your iPhone. Your macro and close-up shots are instantly finer in detail, more accurate in color. With Clarifi's lens, your iPhone can image an entire business card with astounding clarity. Slide the lens aside for normal photography. Without Clarifi, iPhone requires about 18 inches to focus properly. Slide Clarifi's lens into place and you can move in to 4 inches for crisp detail and great pictures. And, of course, Clarifi is also a super-protective case, constructed of durable polycarbonate, with cutaways for access to power switch, headphone jack, volume controls, and dock connector. For use with Apple Universal Dock wells, Clarifi features Griffin's trademark EasyDock design: the bottom third of the case slides down and off to fit in standard dock wells. It’s $31 at the company’s website, but Leo said he found it online for $21.00. He said it was a good buy at $21.00.
Wednesday, April 1st. Netcast 798 NOTE: This info is officially embargoed until Friday April 3rd but we got unofficial permission to jump the gun for the Daily Giz Wiz.
Say “hello” to a New company called Digi-Vina
99.9% of all new music is released only in digital format! But what if you want a Jonas Brothers album on vinyl? You can't get it! Well thanks to Digi-Vina it doesn't matter, because now you can turn any or all of your digital music into vinyl records! I know, you're saying: "Wow, but where do I buy blank vinyl records?" You don't! You make your own vinyl records with the Digi-Vina 2.0! And you make them out of old plastic bottles! Yes, instead of ending up in a landfill, the empty bottles from your dining table end up on your turntable! The Digital to Vinyl Recorder does have some downsides. The cost is high, $999, and it does require a 220-volt outlet. But on the other hand there has never been anything like it in the world!
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, Netcast VAT 19 --- Netcast 799
You might have a Swiss Knife, but I bet you don’t have a SwissPen! From Vat19.
The SwissPen not only writes smoothly, but it can write if you’re holding the pen against a wall, upside down or even if you need to write underwater. That’s because it has a pressurized ink cartridge, just like the pens NASA developed. And what other pen includes a red LED map light, scissors, screwdriver, nail file, and knife/letter opener? And it doesn’t weigh so much it will rip your shirt pocket. The weight is just 1.6 oz. And the pocket clip is recessed into the pen so even with all the built in accessories, it’s still slim and trim. The company says the red LED light will burn for 12 hours of continuous use. And yes, the batteries are replaceable. The pen opens and closes with a smooth twist-action. There’s a video showing the features of the pen at the company’s website. $49.95.
OMG!!! Can it be?? Yep, this is episode number 800!!!
Dick’s Gadget Warehouse Friday, April 3rd, 2009 Netcast 800
You might know a The Stuffed Shirt, but this one is most likely very different.
This Stuffed-Shirt came from the UK. Overseas it was “Gift of the Year”, the year being 1995. Suppose you're going on an unexpected overnight business trip. All you really need is a fresh shirt, socks & underwear for the next morning. With this nifty gizmo, you don't need a to a carry-on bag with your briefcase. The Stuffed Shirt case was designed for a one-night trip. It’s so small, 8 1/2-by-11-by-2 1/2 inches, it could fit into an attaché case. It sort of the size of a zippered notebook. Yet it was designed to carry a freshly pressed shirt in the main compartment and the rigid frame would keep the shirt wrinkle-free. Then there was a round box intended to keep the shirt collar upright. The box itself was double-duty. It held underwear, socks and a tie. Then there was a snap-on kit for toilet articles like razor, shave cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. The Stuffed-Shirt was designed to be kept in a desk drawer in case you were suddenly required to hit the road for an overnight business trip. The original Stuffed-Shirt was made of black fabric with leather trim, and it sold for $80. A higher end, all leather version, cost about $110. In January 1999 the Stuffed Shirt was acquired by H.I.S. You probably know of that company. They manufacture clothing (One of their brands was/is CHIC. I’m not sure they’re still around.)
Now on to keep recording Netcasts until we hit 900, 1000 and beyond!
Daily Giz Wiz, Week of March 23rd, 2009
Monday, March 23rd, 2009, Netcast 791
It’s useful, it’s inexpensive, and it’s has blue LED’s!
www.budgetgadgets.com is a neat website you should know about. They sell a very high tech looking three fan USB notebook cooler that I recently tried. You’ll probably notice in computer ads that laptops are called “notebooks”. I was told by one manufacturer that the reason why is that companies really prefer you don’t put them directly in your lap. That started after customers starting reporting how uncomfortably hot notebooks can get in that very sensitive area. Also heat shortens the life of a notebook, so a notebook cooler can really help dissipate that heat which should be good for the life of your notebook. Coolers are easy to use because the 3 I have are all powered via USB, so there’s no power adapter necessary. The most recent one, from budget gadgets, is not only powered via USB, but it’s the first pass-through USB I’ve seen. So you don’t even lose the use of a USB port. Using a cooler couldn’t be simpler. Place your laptop on it, plug it in a USB port and it’s off and running. This particular notebook cooler places the laptop at a more convenient angle for typing. My other two notebook coolers are totally flat. And this one has 3 cooling fans. My 1st one had a single fan, the second one 2 fans, and this one has 3 fans. And it’s still very quiet. It’s made of Acrylic so the glowing blue LEDS make your laptop look like it’s floating on a sea of blue lights. It’s a really nice effect. And Budget Gadgets lives up to it name. The notebook cooler is just $15.79. It can be cheaper if you need 3 or more. Fan Size: 60x60x15mm or 2.36x2.36x0.59in, each fan. Fan Speed: 2800rpm. For 5% off use coupon code: DM5OFF9 $15.79
Leo likes good sound. And that includes good sound on the videos he shoots in the field.
So his pick for this Turn The Table Tuesday is the Rode Stereo On-Camera Microphone. Leo said the sound quality he records is excellent. I don’t have one of these mics, so I found info at the company’s website: Now videographers may use true studio stereo recording techniques in the field with ease. The X/Y configuration enables the SVM to capture the true ambience of the recording space, while still offering a high level of rear rejection and low noise. Fitted with a shoe mount, the SVM has the same low noise circuit design as the VM. The SVM offers 9V battery operation, an LED battery status indicator, a high pass filter switch, and a -10dB pad switch, which allows for the mic to be used on most cameras with perfect level control. You can also use the SVM as a remote mic on a stand, or with an optional R0DE boom pole, which truly makes this versatile product well suited for all video applications including Electronic News Gathering (ENG), weddings, sports events, and interviews. Cost is under $250.
You know about the iPod, but do you know about The Pod?
THE pods are very simple, high quality, flexible beanbags with a built in 1/4" universal mounting bolt. (And it also comes with a capital THE) THE pod acts like a tripod when set down on a bench or a rock or a fence, etc. Or it can be used as a stabilizer when braced against any handy surface. The company says THE pod can even stay on your camera when you are on the go. That makes it perfect for group photos, travel, low light/night time and places where tripods are not allowed like museums, malls, churches, galleries, etc. Now there are 6 different models, identified by color. The colors represent the sizes and types of camera you’re going to use THE pod for. Cameras with long lenses need THE pod that has an mounting bolt off to one side. All of the models should be able to offer greatly improves picture sharpness and color clarity by reducing or totally removing the hand shake that most everyone has. THE pod can be set up in an instant on tables, rocks, cars, or any other handy surface. The smaller models can easily slip into a pocket. Now the company was having a 25% off sale that was to end on March 22nd. When I pointed out that this Netcast was going to air on March 23rd, Thom Pahmer the president of THE pod was kind enough to extend the sale to April 18th. That means you can buy the smallest THE pod for under $10, plus shipping. The company is based in Canada.
Sensor Plug – A simple device that can help save electricity easily.
This is pretty easy to use! No wiring, no batteries, no tools. SensorPlug is like having an extra pair of hands when you need them! It’s a motion-sensing outlet that uses a passive infrared motion sensor. Plug in a light, or whatever you like, and it’s triggered “on” when you walk past. I want my Sensor Plug outside a closet full of gadgets with a small spotlight plugged into it. As I approach the closet door with an arm full of boxes the light goes on. It stays on as long as it senses movement and then shuts off automatically.You can adjust the auto shut off time from 2 to 6 minutes, but it will keep the light or device on for as long as it senses movement. Mine’s been a big help already, and I thinking on uses another one as a burglar alarm. It sure will get someone’s attention when they enter a room and a big light comes on! It’s rated up to 600 watts. Installation is as easy as plugging SensorPlug into a wall outlet. It’s a three prong plug so it can be grounded. It comes with a spare fuse and a screw for securing to the wall plate, if desired. Sensor Plug costs $19.95/2 for $35.00. This is a neat device.
Friday, March 27th, 2009 – Netcast 795. Back to Dick's Gadget Warehouse!
This is a great idea! The Zircon Repeater Ruler
You climb the ladder to take measurements with your tape measure. Once you’re up there you realize you don’t have paper and pencil. And even if you do, once you write the figures down you can’t find the paper they're written on! That won’t happen with this clever tape measure. You record the measurements with the built-in voice recorder of the Repeater grade tape measure. It’s simple to use, just press the big red record button and you can capture up to 20 seconds of measurements wherever you are. The Repeater comes in different lengths and each one has a tough plastic outer casing and locking mechanism for tape control. While the sound quality isn't a replacement for your MP3 player, all you really need it to do is plays back the measurements you recorded! I did a web search and although it’s no long on the Zircon website, you can find it here for about $20.
Ever hear the expression: Everything that’s old is new again?
It’s true! I just bought a brand new rabbit ears indoor antenna! I haven’t bought one in 30 years, but I figured I didn’t want to pay for cable on my 22’ boat, but wanted to be able to watch some TV. So I bought the RCA 121. It pretty much looks the same as a rabbit ears antenna looked decades ago. Well, maybe this one is a bit more streamed, but not by much. The RCA 121 Universal Indoor Antenna features a 12-position UHF & VHF fine-tuning control for improved signal reception. The adjustable, retractable VHF dipoles extend up to 39-inches to improve reception of channels 2 to 13 and UHF loop for improved reception of channels 14-69. Trust me, it’s not a easy as using a remote on a cable box, but then again the cost was about $15 paid just once, not $60 to $80 a month for cable. I get about 12 channels, most of them okay, and one PBS channel really good. And I live in mid-Manhattan. Not many features to talk about, no LEDs, nothing to plug in. Just a small base that fits in a small space, no-scuff pad to protect whatever surface you put it on, and off-air reception of local analog or digital channels. Yes, digital too. There’s an attached 6-ft coaxial hook-up cable with F-connector for easy hook-up. I found it on Ebay at the link below for under $14.00 with shipping included.
It’s another Turn The Table Tuesday, and it’s also St. Patrick’s Day! So Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Leo's long awaited pick for today. The new Kindle 2.
Leo says there is a lot to like about the new Kindle. It’s slim, just over 1/3 of an inch. You can see that in the photo. It’s lightweight: just 10.2 ounces. And --- and this a biggie, it has built in 3G wireless! That means you can download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. (Well you do need to be able to get a cell phone signal, but the downloading service is included in the price.) It’s fast too and can download a books in under 60 Seconds! No PC required. Leo said it’s not perfect, but the display is improved. It now has 16 shades of gray and you can vary the size of the type. There’s 25% longer battery life and more storage: enough to hold over 1,500 books. And you can turn the pages up to 20% faster. This was controversial, but most publishers said it okay to allow the Kindle to read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder. You certainly don’t want to hear an entire read this way, because it’s a computer generated voice, not a real performance read like you get with Audible books. (Yes, they’re a sponsor!) And Leo won’t run out of books to read. There are over 245,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available. New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are usually $9.99, unless marked otherwise. All in all, Leo likes his new Kindle 2 a lot! Well, not the kind of bad news. It’s $349.00, but if you read a lot you can eventually make it up in the money saved downloading books.
Save money, save plastic bottles, and purify your own water.
I know this sounds strange, but I don’t particularly like the taste of water. I usually like to add a drop of lemon or lime or a touch of fruit juice. That’s why I was interested in the new Pur Flavor Options Pitcher. You should check out their website to find a list of the chemicals and impurities the two-step filtration system is said to remove. For me, the test was the taste of the water and the fact that I could flavor some of it without affecting the rest of the filtered water in the pitcher. You fill the top of the pitcher with water, and place it in the refrigerator. The pitcher has nice narrow oval shape so it fits between things and doesn’t take up a lot of room. It can even fit in the door of most refrigerators. It holds seven 8 oz glasses of filtered water. If you want the water to be flavored you push a button on the handle before you pour it. Only that serving of water will be flavored and you can vary how much flavoring is in the water but how many times you push the flavor button. A kit includes 1 PUR Pitcher, 1 Filter (which can filter up to 40 gallons of water) and 1 Replaceable Flavor Cartridge. It ships with one raspberry flavor cartridge and you change it out for an optional lemon flavor cartridge. Many more flavors are on the way. The kit is under $25.
A Toy That Can Help The Environment! It’s Mary Meyer's Fuzz that Wuzz
Here’s a way give a child a cuddly animal while you help the environment. Meet the Fuzz that Wuzz! The very cute Snifflzzzdog, is one of 11 new Fuzz that Wuzz toys from environmentally conscious toy maker Mary Meyer. These cuddly critters – the collection includes puppies, bears, a bunny and a moose— are all made from recycled products. The stuffing and fabric, for example, are 100% recycled plastic bottles. Depending on the size of the toy, they contain 10 to 15 recycled bottles. And they really are cute! I didn’t plan on using these critters on my Toy Fair spot for World News Now on ABC TV, but as I walked by their booth at the Javits Center, I had to stop to ask about them. That’s when I heard the whole recycle story. I think it’s a really great idea. Depending on the critter, they retail for about $20 to $25.
Daily Giz Wiz, Friday, March 20th, 2009 Netcast 790
It’s Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse for a look at a high tech camcorder of the past!
It was the Minolta Master Series V-1400 VHS Camcorder. It can out around 1988 or 1989. It featured a 6X zoom, and could shoot down to 7 lux. And you could shoot HQ video on a full sized VHS video. Because you put in a full sized VHS tape, you can image this beauty wasn’t very small! There was a adjustable LCD viewfinder, but the picture you saw was in black and white. It came with a TV adapter so you could output the video to a color TV set. The camera weighed about 4.5 pounds and if you if you traveled with the camcorder, you had to take a rather bulky AC brick with it. The AC brick also charged the camcorder battery. The sound recording was pretty decent because the mic was mounted above the lens and it almost looks like an external mic setup. And how about that fast rewind and fast forward function! According the instruction book, it took less than ten minutes with a T-160 cassette! Those was the 3 hour VHS tapes. I saw one of these camcorders on Ebay recently for $79.95.Someone else was selling an original instruction manual for $10. The V-1400 shipped in a hard black molded plastic carrying case for protection.
This is my first TAD Gear device, so I gathered background on this new spork from the company itself. The Gen2 TAD Gear Folding Titanium Spork is hand crafted in the world famous knife capital of Japan, Seki City. This new version features a more robust Ti alloy which is less prone to bending and not as soft as CP Ti. (You knew that, right?) The addition of the new combo bottle cap lifter and can opener tool increases function and versatility. This little gizmo is perfect for your next picnic, long train ride, backpacking trip, anytime you need a handy eating utensil. The folding design allows this spork to be carried with you in your pack, travel bag, survival kits, glove box, and with the secure pocket clip, even your pocket. The company says their TAD Gear Folding Ti Sporks have been very popular with our troops abroad and can be often found clipped on to a soldier's plate carrier and MOLLE vests while they are in the field. The TAD Gear staff all carry one in their packs or pocket and are used just about every week as their eating tool of choice! I must admit it sure it carefully engineered & great for use aboard a boat too! $33.95
Turn The Table Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 Netcast #782
Leo comes up with a cordless screwdriver that charges in 90 second!
Leo came up with a pretty neat gizmo this week. A cordless screwdriver, but not one you've heard about before. The FlashCell Cordless Screwdriver charges in just 90 seconds! Yes, 90 seconds! It's the first capacitor-powered cordless tool either of us has seen, but Leo actually owns his. When he reached for it when we were recording The Daily Giz Wiz to give a little demonstration, the drill had no power. And that turned out to be perfect, because we were able to watch Leo recharge it. We saw the power gauge go from zero to full in about 90 seconds! Yes 90 seconds! Now this device doesn't use any batteries at all, it's powered by a capacitor. The folks at Team Products International, who produce the FlashCell, tell us that the drill runs for about half as long as an equivalent cordless screwdriver with a rechargeable battery - but that's still plenty for almost any job you have. But, and this is great, the company also estimates that the capacitor can handle over 500,000 full-charge cycles. And if you're really impatient, you don't need wait the full 90 seconds before you start screwing again. So far this is the only capacitor-powered tool the company has on market, but more on the way! Leo said the driver was a little on the big side, and that he would prefer one with a pistol-grip. And that seems to be the next capacitor powered tool this innovative company will release. $79.95
Here's a new way to enjoy your video media player in flight.
With so many media players in circulation, now you can pick your own movie to watch during a flight. But where to put your media player with its tiny screen so you can see it clearly without holding it, is a problem. You try to prop it up on the snack tray, but it usually slips down rather quickly. That's where iFlyz can help. It part goose-neck lamp and part clip. The clip end hooks on to the snack tray whether it's in the open or closed position. The suction cup end grab your media player. I tried it on the Sansa View and it worked fine. The Sansa View has a sort of rubbery back, and holding it wasn't a problem. It can hold your media player on the edge of desk, restaurant table or counter, and places like that. I don't have an iPhone or iTouch but iFlyz says it's iPhone compatible. $29.95.
This unique alarm clock uses advanced speech recognition technology that lets you easily set the time and alarm via voice commands. You start each command with “Hello Moshi” to let the clock know you’re talking to it. It can respond to queries such as "What time is it?" with vocalized answers. Moshi recognizes 10 spoken commands, including "Set alarm," "Set time," "Check alarm," "What is the date?," "Alarm sound" (buzzer, chime, or bell), "Stop" (snooze for 5 minutes), and "Temperature" (current room temperature). All functions are controlled either by your voice or with a touch of the activation panel, allowing you to quickly set up and operate the clock without tedious and confusing button pressing. The backlit LCD shows the time and date in 2"high numerals for optimal visibility day or night. The clock also has a voice-activated function that let you fall sleep with the soothing sounds of the ocean, chirping birds, or a babbling brook. The nightlight function lets the clock light up & cycle through a variety of colors. I found it a bit distracting when trying to sleep, but others like it. And the “fall asleep” sounds turn off after 5 minutes, which I think it a bit short. Moshi obeyed all my commands on the first try, except time. It must be my Brooklyn accent, but after 2 or 3 tries, it set itself properly. Powered by AC adapter or three AAA batteries. In the battery mode, voice activation is turned off, but you set it via the buttons at the back of the clock. $49.95. Click the click below for a demo:
Watch the Voice Interactive Alarm Clock in action.
Friday, March 13th, 2009, Netcast 785 Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse.
It’s a pretty good guess, you never knew about this Polaroid Product.
It’s late 1997 and Polaroid announces PopShots, a one-time use instant camera. This was a rather bulky looking, disposable Polaroid camera! It came preloaded with a 10-exposure pack for making rather small photos that were approximately 2.5 in x 4.4 in. And since this camera was one big piece of plastic you didn’t want to just throw out. It came with a large pre-paid envelope so you could send the camera back to Polaroid for recycling. Polaroid said: “PopShots was for people on the go! PopShots allows you to experience the excitement of instant photography - anytime, anywhere. You can get instant pictures at the spur of the moment. It's the perfect portable camera for those who want to share their pictures instantly! Polaroid PopShots is the world's first one-time use instant camera. It combines the convenience of popular single-use "conventional" cameras with all the advantages of instant photography.” But at about $20, it came to about two bucks per picture! When I did a web search on the camera I found someone who purchased a PopShots in the original sealed bag for $190! Another person paid $200.00. Hey, I have a PopShots still in a sealed bag! If you’re interested, just make an offer!
The Rubik's Cube, which Techno Source said was the #1 best-selling game ever, (Almost 350 million of the original Cube have been sold so far.) has gone high touch with “touch” technology. The new Rubik’s TouchCube has some amazing touches. For example it remembers every single move you made from the very first one when you start each game. You can “undue” each step all the way back to the first one! A big difference with this new version is that the manual turning had been replaced with a swipe of the finger. There’s touch sensor technology on all six sides, but a motion-detecting accelerometer lets only the side facing up be the “active” one. Otherwise as you touched the sides, the cubes you would make movements you didn’t want to make. It mimics the movements of the original 3x3 Cube except for the color changing as you wipe a finger across three squares. If you need help the TouchCube has a built-in “next move” solver,or it can totally solve the entire puzzle. When you’re done playing at any given time, the Cube remembers your place, so can resume play anytime. And if you love that iconic Rubik’s Cube "click" sound when you turn the cube, you can still have it. Or can choose a modern sound effect. When you’re not playing it, Rubik’s TouchCube can be a fun desk accessory. It puts on a light show while it recharges in its display stand. It’s coming in Fall and the company says it’s appropriate for children ages 8 and up. The retails price is also high tech, $149.99. But I’m sure that will drop fast once they get into wide circulation.
It's another Turn The Table Tuesday and Leo looks under his desk and finds the Pinnacle PCTV HD mini Stick.
Leo wanted a way to watch some TV on his MAC computer so he installed the Pinnacle PCTV HD mini Stick. This is the new MAC version that picks up analog TV (for a bit longer) and HDTV. This real tiny mini Stick is an ultra-compact, USB-powered TV tuner that’s the perfect match for super-slim laptops. The integrated signal booster improves reception sensitivity even if the signal isn’t strong. The easy-to-use TVCenter Pro software lets you watch, TimeShift and record TV. You can enjoy TV in full-screen mode or in a scalable window while using other applications. The PCTV HD mini Stick comes with a mini remote control and high-gain telescopic antenna. The antenna base is magnetic so you can easily place it on the car or RV roof. On the road you can use it to record the game, grab your favorite sitcom episodes or catch the late-night thriller. And it has full PVR capabilities to timeShift, record and program all your favorite shows. There's even one-click recording to hard disk or DVD.
More from Toy Fair. This tiime it's two new brain games!
Both toys employ EEG, or electroencephalogram, technology and with both, you wear a sort of wireless helmet with contacts that touch your forehead. This is a real technology as you can see by this quote: "The fact that you can use EEG, that you can modulate it, that you can control it — it's well known, it's true," says Dr. Ronald Emerson, a neurology professor at Columbia University. So the first brain game I saw was Uncle Milton Force Trainer. As Leo pointed out: "Uncle Milton doesn't sound very doctor-like!" This device has a headset you wear and it is supposed to translate the intensity of your brainwaves into moving a ball move upwards inside a foot high plastic tube. The more you relax your mind the more the ball will rise. Not you’re not exactly floating the ball with your brain waves. The ball is actually pushed into the air by a mini fan that starts when the Force Trainer detects a certain amount of brainwaves from the player. When the executive producer of World News Now, Jake Whitman, put a camera on me and said he wasn't going to turn it off until I made the ball rise, I thought I'd never be able to do it, but after about a minute, I did! That was a relief.
The second brain game is the Mattel Mind Flex Brain Game.
This headpiece has two wires that clips to your ears. Nothing too dorky about that! The object of this game is also to get a ball to move upwards, but they've added a second level of play. Once you have it in the air you have to keep it a specific level so you can navigate it through an obstacle course! The more you concentrate, the higher the ball floats on a cushion of blowing air. The more you relax your thinking, the ball stops floating. By the way, the instructions at Mattel were actually the opposite of what they said to Uncle Milton. To use Force Trainer you were told to relax & clear your mind. With Mind Flex I was told to concentrate hard on making the ball move. But I was able to move the ball in both games. Both will be available this Fall. Mind Flex should be under $80. And the Force Trainer will be about $100.
OOMA, A way to get free unlimited calls in the US with no monthly or yearly fees! The OOMA uses your Internet connection for VoIP calls. And it can do a lot. It receives calls, has caller-ID, call-waiting, and voice mail at no extra charge. Call in the US are free; there's a pay as you go for low-cost international calls. You can hear your voice mail and customize settings in the ooma Lounge. You can also try ooma's enhanced calling features with a free trial of ooma Premier. That includes a free second phone line, real-time message screening, one-touch Do Not Disturb and Send to Voice mail, a second personal number with private voice mail, and more. You can use your own phone number and your own phone, but you route it through the OOMA unit. Actually you get two units, a main unit about the size of a digital answering machine and a small "Scout" unit for the bedroom or den. The units are good looking and easy to hook it. After you connect everything up you'll know you're using OOMA and not your local phone carrier when you pick the phone and hear the special musical dial tone. There's a light at the back of the OOMA that glows blue to let you know your Internet and computer connections are okay. If it flashes red, something is not working correctly. One thing to remember is that if your Internet connection fails you'll get no dial tone. It doesn't automatically reconnect to your landline, assuming you have one. All in all you can save money with OOMA if you make a lot of calls in the US. When it first came out it was somewhere in the $350 to $450 range. Now, you can find it for under $200! Be sure to read about how 911 calls are handled if you're considering buying one.
Friday, March 6th, 2009, Netcast 780 LineMinder - The Talking Telephone Screening Device. LineMinder was a way to avoid telemarketers, wrong numbers, obscene and harassing incoming calls. Hook-up was simple. Just take the phone from the back of your phone and hook to this device, and then another phone line from LineMinder to your phone. You could set to "off" if your phone to ring normally, or set to the "password" mode. This is how you screened your calls. Anyone you had not given a security code too will hear not be able to get your phone to ring. Of course this meant you would only get calls from people you remembered to give your security to. So if a friend boss at work called to say the office was closed today, and hadn't given them the code, they wouldn't get to talk to you. But it was a way to limit your phone calls ONLY to those you wanted to talk to. It was not a big success. I found one instance of LineMinder on the net. There was one unit availabe for $199.00!! And the webpage was dated 1999.
Ludwick has created a new search tool for the Daily Giz Wiz. It's on the left. Ludwik said: "It uses Google as a backend, so it has a really good index and algorithm. It searches all pages within your site, and in addition, includes relevant result from other Giz Wiz sources - twit.tv/dgw, insidedgw.vox.com and gizwizsearch.com. (It doesn't search Dick's Gadget Warehouse, not yet anyway!)
"See" The Daily Giz Wiz - You can watch Leo and me (Leo & I?) record the Daily GizWiz. We do it most Tuesdays starting at (about) 5:30 EST & EDT when it changes. You can see (and hear us) at WWW.TWITLIVE.TV
----- IMPORTANT! Some Netcasts may not be online yet. They are usually available starting around midnight of the indicated date... But these are the gizmos and gadgets we'll be taking about, even if the show is not up yet uploaded to the Net.
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This website is current only up to the end of April, 2009. My new website with everything from May 1st, 2009 forward is: www.gizwiz.biz.
