Last Minute Inexpensive Holiday Gifts Here are a few, easy to find, under $20 gift ideas. Starbucks Reward Card. Gift cards start at $5, but with a $10 or more value card the recipient can sign up forStarbucks Reward. That way they can take advantage of some great benefits. You’ll get syrup and milk options for your beverage on the house. Brewed coffee refills come at no charge. And they can receive a complimentary Tall beverage with a whole bean purchase of a pound of Starbucks coffee. As of this writing, Starbucks Reward Cards do not currently have an expiration date. Digital Photo Frames are a bit hit for gifts, but this a less expensive way to show off photos.
Digital photo key chains have 1 to 1.5" LCD screens to preview photos. Depending on the model they hold anywhere from 50 to 100 images. That way folks can take their memories everywhere they go with a compact digital key chain. They sell for around $20 at large chain stores such as Radio Shack, Best Buy, and Circuit City.
MAD About the Movies – Director’s Cut MAD About the Movies: Director’s Cutis your free ticket to the MAD Magazine's Marathon of Cinema Satire. It features more than sixty zany parodies of classic (and not-so-classic) movies first featured in MAD Magazine. Usual Gang of Idiots, including yours truly, Dick DeBartolo, wrote these satires that cover nearly seventy years of movie history. In addition, this book features cinematic sidebars—like scenes left on the cutting room floor, or DVD special features you actually want to see. So grab a deluxe tub of popcorn, sink down in your favorite chair, and laugh your way through MAD About the Movies: Director’s Cut. When your friends ask if you saw the movie, you can tell them, “No, but I read the parody—and it was better!”
Available only at Barnes & Noble for under $10.00!!!
Gifts under $10--
A real clever idea from the folks at Travelon.
Travelon Sheets are available for shaving, body wash, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, and laundry. They are TSA (Transportation Security Administration), carry-on compliant and provide an easy way to pack light for short trips. No need to worry about the ever-changing airline regulations because you’re not carrying a liquid at all. You can carry a pack of fifty sheets of the Conditioner Sheets in one compact case about half the size of a cellular phone. Just add water and a sheet will dissolve instantly.. Use the conditioner in conjunction with Travelon’s Shampoo Sheets and have all the hair care treatment you need in two tiny containers weighing two ounces total! Biodegradable and safe for the environment, the Travelon Conditioner Sheets should be removed with a dry hand so to not damage the balance of the remaining sheets. Travel well, travel fresh and most of all, travel often! Under $3.00 per set of 50 sheets. This is a real clever item. It’s also great for boats, the glove compartment, office, or any place you do where you need soap, etc. and can’t find it.
Every start unpacking your shopping cart in a parking lot, only to find it running away? Here�s Dyanne�s story: CARTSTOPPER was born out of necessity. Upon arriving at the local grocery store parking lot one day, I routinely began to transport my two children from my vehicle into a shopping cart. After successfully unloading my youngest child, I went to retrieve my eldest child from our vehicle when I heard a man scream, �Hey lady! Your baby!� I immediately turned around to witness my child, strapped in the shopping cart, quickly rolling away from my vehicle into the middle of the busy parking lot! Thank goodness the shopping cart came to a stop up against a standing vehicle awaiting a parking spot (as opposed to a moving vehicle). It was the most frightening (and embarrassing) experience of my life. I immediately began looking for a product that would help keep my shopping cart from rolling away from my vehicle. I was surprised to discover that no one had yet to offer an effective solution to this dangerous problem. That was when I knew there was a definite need for a product that �stops the run-away cart�!
CARTSTOPPER is a simple and effective device that reduces the risk of child injury and vehicle damage related to �run-away� shopping carts. It holds securely to any clean, flat vehicle surface and immobilizes your shopping cart. Its compact design stores easily in a purse, diaper bag, or a vehicle's storage area. Finally, an effective and sensible product designed to keep your child safe and your shopping cart secure! And it�s just $9.99. (I�m not sure why, but it comes in 3 colors.)
If the BudFits, wear it! The folks at BudFits have an interesting observation. “Apple’s white earbuds are easily the most recognized headphone style on the planet. They have reached iconic status the world over. Their popularity transcends cultures and backgrounds.” So far, so good, but there’s more that’s also true: “If you think iPod and iPhone earbuds are uncomfortable and fall out easily, then you are not alone. BudFits keep earbuds from falling out and also make the earbuds far more comfortable by eliminating the need to wedge the earbuds in the ear canal. “ Actually I think the sound of the earbuds that come with iPods are pretty good, but I don’t wear them because they don’t go in, and when I force them in, they fall out. BudFits can end that problem. They adapt your iPod or iPhone earbuds to fit so you can hear your music, exercise and still have them in your ears. You simply snap your iPod earbuds into the Budfits, which hang over your ear. And the price is right too, Under $9.00
Here’s something that is even LESS techie than the Toothpick Bird! But much more fun and even practical! They’re the Dress For Dinner Napkins. Yes, even if you’re dressed your favorite old white tee shirt, with this napkin at your neck you'll look like you made the effort to get dressed for dinner. A great conversation piece at any party. There are 20 3-ply paper napkins to a package, 4 designs - 5 of each tie. You have polka dots, stripes and for really classy affairs, a solid black tie! What a wardrobe! I wore one when we recorded the Daily Giz Wiz via Stickam and Leo thought I was wearing a shirt and tie. You would think he would know better. Price: $5.95/Package of 20 napkins.
After a 3 month hiatus, they're back! The World Famous Giz Wiz LED Logo Hat! (Well at least they're famous in the US and Canada.)
Holiday Special! An extra pair of CR2032 Lithium Batteries will be included with every LED hat ordered between November 8th and December 31st! The manufacturer says this new hat offers up to 30 hours of burn time on the included batteries. With an extra set of batteries you can double that to 60 hours! (Your burn time may vary.)
Perfect for doing any job where you wish you had someone to hold a flashlight.
Changing fuses in the dark. / Working under the sink. / Working under the hood of your car, or even under your car! / Hooking up cables behind your computer, HDTV, or under your desk. / Perfect when walking the dog at night. / Finding stuff in the closet. / I've gotten many emails saying the LED hat was almost a lifesaver when a storm knocked out the power.
It features the Giz Wiz two color embroidered designer logo! / A on/off switch is built right into the brim! / The battery holder is built into the liner so it's easily change batteries! / And there's an easy-to-adjust to size Velcro strap!
Cost? $22.99. Shipping is $5.99 and it goes Priority Mail!
IMPORTANT!!!! Here's the bad news on postage to Canada. Postage to Canada has gone up again! Priority Mail to Canada is now $16.10. That's what I pay, I don't make any money on postage. It requires a customs form and the package has to be delivered in person to the post office on the same day as the date on the label. The only good news is that it's the same price to mail one hat or two hats. So you if live in Canada and have a friend who wants to order one, you can at least share the postage. PayPal isn't set up to apply the proper postage to Canada, so if you order one or two hats, I'll send you PayPal invoice for the difference in postage. I wish was cheaper and easier, but it's not.
Gifts $30 & under
A new way to find things that fall into hard to reach places --- and with an LED light too!
It’s the Alligetter, a device that lets you easily and safely remove precious or improper objects from a garbage disposal and other hard-to-reach places. You can use the Alligetter in hard to reach places like under the stove or refrigerator, between or under furniture and between your car seat and console. And there’s no risk of injury or cut fingers from accidental garbage disposal powering on. (Yagg, it hurts to even think about that!) Folding handle for easy storage in drawer or cabinetAnd here’s something graet. At the tip there’s a removable LED with a convenient rear-mounted switch. It makes it easier to find things that have fallen under other things! Clear ABS plastic construction for strength and light dispersion Spring loaded trigger for easy grasping. It comes with a flap spreader for garbage disposal with rubber flaps. Batteries included too.$19.95
Help make sure your kids don’t injure their hearing. The iHearSafe technology prevents the volume from exceeding the safe level of 85 decibels. These Safe Volume Headphones keep the volume at a safe level at all times without any software to download or parental controls to install. Just plug and play, it works on all audio devices. This brand new ear bud features more a more comfortable design and fun new color choices. iHearSafe ear buds deliver extremely rich sound quality while offering parents the added peace of mind that comes with our Safe Volume technology, these ear buds are the perfect accessory for your child's iPod or any audio device. Various models from about $20 to $40.
Guitar Hero Air Rocker. Depending on your age, this belt buckle is either scary or way cool. But it's far more than a mere belt buckle. With the included amplifier and magnetic pick, this belt buckle can make you sound like a rock star. Granted you'll be a rock star with a very limited repertoire of just ten tracks, but it will let you make music even if you have zero musical talent. And you don't even need to have a guitar. The amp/speaker is worn on your belt. When you swipe one of the special magnetic guitar picks in front of the sensor built into the buckle, you’re playing music. It’s a licensed product, and the included Air Cartridge features 10 guitar riffs, ranging in skill level from 1-5. Tracks include Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," Motorhead's "Ace of Spades," Van Halen's "You Really Got Me", and Boston's "More Than a Feeling". There are also five original Air Guitar Rocker freestyle riffs. The idea is to listen to the demo tracks, and then see if you can duplicate the riffs on your own. There’s an output jack if you really want to go nuts and connect your Air Rocker to an external speaker! And there’s a headphone jack in case you’re really awful or your folks can’t stand it anymore! Under $30. Additional song cartridges with and without buckles are available.
Here’s a whole new use for a USB Device. It’s called EasyBloom
Place Sensor in a spot where you would like to grow a plant, or adjacent to the plant that needs monitoring. Let the EasyBloom Plant Sensor gather a ‘plant's eye’ view of that location. After 24 hours, plug the sensor into your USB port. Sensor data is uploaded to the EasyBloom website where algorithms are run that will either recommend a plant or diagnose what is wrong with an ailing plant. In the Recommend Mode, the EasyBloom website will present a set of plants that will thrive in that location. In Monitor mode, you will be told what is going wrong with a plant you already have, along with visual cues on how to fix it. NOTE: EasyBloom Plant Sensor is Windows XP and Windows Vista compatible. In January 2009 support will be added for Mac OS X Tiger (v10.4) and Leopard (v10.5) users. $59.95.
The 3M Micro Professional Projector (MPro110) connects to most digital video devices to project movies, photos, and files virtually anywhere!
This powerful, portable, pocket-able projector turns any wall in a darkened room into your personal theater. The MPro110 has an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a native resolution of 640 x 480 VGA. With this device you can project video and photos from your video phone, share videos and movies from your video camera or create a spontaneous slide show from your digital camera. On the road you can even project your portable gaming console as long as it has video out. Uses LED technology for up to 10,000 hours of operation. Now battery lift suffers a bit because of the tiny size of this unit; it fits in the palm of your hand. On battery power you can project images for about an hour. But it comes with an AC adapter so that’s most likely what you’ll be using most of time. Fits in the palm of your hand. $369.00.
HP has been producing high tech touch screen desktops, but now they’ve introduced the world’s first touch screen laptop.
The HP tx2z laptop has a 12.1" diagonal screen, and a unique, dual-mode display that accepts input from either a finger or a pen. A digital pen turns the tx2z into a tablet so you can draw or take notes and then automatically convert to text (the pen stores in the PC's base). A twisting hinge lets you choose from three modes: PC, display, or slate. There are three on-display launch buttons: one for the MediaSmart software, another for Windows Vista Mobility Center which gives you battery, volume, wireless or display data. The third button is for "rotating" the screen into slate mode. You can expect very decent performance with AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core Mobile processors for multimedia2 and ATI Radeon HD graphics for speedy processing on the go. Options include an integrated low-light VGA web cam with digital microphone for videoconferencing and VoIP3. Be aware that the touch screen is designed to work only with HP MediaSmart. That gives you the ability to touch your way through your PC to enjoy photos, music, movies, and more. You can resize photos with your finger and even turn them the correct way right on the screen. Starts at $1149.00
Photo Gadgets Did you ever think you’d hear the name Polaroid in this digital age? They’re back with a neat, new digital product, the Pogo.This pocket-sized gizmo lets you printing images from your digital phone via Bluetooth. Or you can connect it via USB cable a PictBridge enabled camera. I used it with my LG Voyager and my phone found the device in seconds. Now the company says that once connected simply select what image to send to the printer and within 60 seconds, the print is ready to be shared. Well the print is done in about 60 seconds, but it takes another minute or so for the phone to send the info to the Pogo. Still it is an attention getter. And the process is totally different from earlier Polaroid prints. The reason is Zinc Paper, which is inkless. Zinc Paper is a composite material with embedded yellow, magenta and cyan dye crystals. With 100 billion crystals in a 2x3" print, the paper is 100% inkless. The Pogo ZINK-enabled printer uses heat to activate and colorize these crystals. You can ten smudge-proof, water-resistant, tear-proof photos in a package. The Pogo has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, but because it’s so compact, it needs to be recharged after it prints about 15 pictures. Pogo does not work with the I-Phone, but Polaroid says it works with about 70% of Bluetooth-enabled phones out today. At the suggested retail of $150, I thought it was a bit expensive for the fun it provides. But now B&H photo is selling it for under $100. You can buy three 10-sheet packages for $10. That comes to 33 cents a picture. More info, plus cell phones with Bluetooth at the Pogo is compatible with are here: http://www.polaroid.com/pogo/us/
Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw683
How High Can A High Capacity SD Card Go?
The new 32 GB SDHC memory card from Kingston as of now, is the highest capacity. Kingston Technology's Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC) memory cards are fully compliant with the new Secure Digital Association 2.00 specification. Kingston Technology is shipping a 32GB Elite Pro SDHC Flash memory card. It's idea for use with digital video camcorders and other high-resolution imaging devices. The new 32GB card is the largest capacity in Kingston’s Elite Pro line of SDHC cards, which currently includes 4-, 8- and 16GB capacities. The new 32GB Elite Pro SDHC memory card is optimized to meet the demands of high capacity and fast write speeds. The card can store thousands of photos and hours of high definition video. For example, the new 32GB Elite Pro SDHC card can capture more than 6,000 still images (with a 10MP camera) and over eight hours of video using 6Mbps HD Extended recording. Even in full high def you can record 251 minutes of video! Suggested price is $308.00 but it's the street priced at under $200. So do a web search before you buy.
Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw687 Your Cell Phone Can Take Pictures, But It Has No Flash. Well, now you can add one with Viatek LED Cell Phone Flash. The company says it’s brighter than any camera cell phone flash that’s built in. It let's you capture your favorite moments indoors and at night with your camera phone. The Super Bright Optical LED works just like an actual camera flash! (But it doesn’t automatically fire; you manually turn it on and off.) Just adhere the Cell Flash to your phone or attach with the tether strap that’s provided and press the button while you are taking pictures. That’s it! Enjoy all your favorite moments again and again with clear pictures right on your cell phone! $9.95 http://www.viatekproducts.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=800001D1-1180533871 I found it on Amazon for under $8.00 plus S&H
Stickam Player coming soor, or visit: www.stickam.com
Here’s a way to be set for minor power blackouts!
The Duracell Powerpack 450 provides 450 watts of power and adds voice technology. You can instantly get information on the expected runtime of your devices as soon as you plug them in. In addition, its on-demand information provides battery status lets you know if your Powerpack is charged before you leave the house. In emergency situations, the step-by-step usage instructions walk you through what to do to jumpstart your car or use the air compressor to inflate a tire. It’s powerful enough to jumpstart both 4 and 6 cylinder engines, so it’s a great companion for a car, truck, boat or small RV. The Powerpack can power a wide range of products from coolers at the beach to chargers for cell phones, GPS systems and handheld game consoles. It also operates small power tools, computers, cordless phones, etc. The built-in150 PSI air compressor is good for inflating tires and small sports equipment. Jumper cables are also built right into the device. And there a built-in light provides illumination in emergency situations at home and on the road. Strangely enough for such a well thought out device, the flashlight is not LED. You can recharge the unit via the AC charger which is stored inside the unit. And it can also be charged via a 12 volt cigarette lighter plug. About $140. But as this gets more widely distributed, you should do a web search for the best price.
Help “Green” Your Home with Belkin's new Conserve.
The full name of this new device is the Conserve Energy-Saving Surge Protector. You probably know by now that most home electronics continue to use energy even when you've turned them off. This wasted energy is known as Standby Power, which adds up fast. Standby Power impacts not only the environment, but also your electricity bill, as it can account for up to 10% of your household power consumption. Belkin's Conserve Energy-Saving Surge Protector conveniently minimizes standby power by enabling you to turn off the power to multiple devices with just one click of the remote switch. The remote switch easily cuts off or activates the power that flows to devices plugged into Conserve's Switchable outlets. Other devices such as DVRs or routers can be plugged into the Always-On outlets, since they require a continuous power supply. Most of the outlets on this Surge Protector power strip are widely spaced so you’ll have no trouble plugging in those big “brick” plugs. You can also buy multiple units and shut them all off with just one remote, even if they’re in separate rooms. $49.95 for the 8 outlet version. And there’s a 10 outlet version for $59.95
In addition to knowing how much electricity your individual devices are using, now you can check the quality of your power by monitoring voltage, line frequency, amperage, even KWH/leakage. The on/off switch has a soft power up and spike free component so that no surges occur from usage. You can know the specifics of current leakage or the amount of electricity a device is consuming while "off". Backlit LCD display is easy to see even in poor lighting conditions. The power switch is illuminated so you can see it without using more electricity to switch on and off. The strip has six standard sized outlets and two extra wide outlets for those extra large plugs. Calculate your overall electrical costs and estimate by the day, week, month, even an entire year. The low profile plug has a right angle design which allows it to fit in tight spaces.
It will automatically shut off and sound an audible alarm when current levels exceed safe amounts. The memory will hold readings even in the event of a power outage. And there’s an EMI filter that reduces noise associated with AC power. $99.95
Even if you’re not interested in this device www.CableOrganizer.com has a ton of gizmos and gadgets to help keep you organized.
Holiday Travel is coming upon us.Here are some great travel gadgets! A very clever new gizmo.The Nirvana Organizer If you travel, this is a great new way to have everything you need at your fingertips. On planes and trains, the Nirvana Organizer mounts on the seat back tray table creating an entirely new space for work (and play). It keeps all necessary items within arm’s reach during your trip. There are special pockets designed to fit cell phones/PDA's, plan tickets, passport, credit cards and cash. There are more compartments and pouches for a water bottle. cup holder, key chain clip and pen/pencil holders. The open-access travel organizer bag essentially turns "inside-out" to permit direct access to internal contents. It’s also great for cars, strollers, airplanes, trains – anywhere you need to carry essential items on the go. But this is really the neat part – when it’s time to move on, the Nirvana Organizer folds and zips closed! Now you have a shoulder bag with your gear, or it’s small enough to fit inside another bag or backpack. It comes with it’s own adjustable shoulder strap and carry handles. The shell is100% polyester microfiber; the lining is polyester microfiber and nylon mesh. Water resistant, spot clean only. Available in black, or brown. Cost is a very reasonable: $39.99 www.zenclasstravel.com Hear a Netcast I did on this product: www.twit.tv/dgw691
A real clever idea from the folks at Travelon.
Travelon Sheets are available for shaving, body wash, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, and laundry. They are TSA (Transportation Security Administration), carry-on compliant and provide an easy way to pack light for short trips. No need to worry about the ever-changing airline regulations because you’re not carrying a liquid at all. You can carry a pack of fifty sheets of the Conditioner Sheets in one compact case about half the size of a cellular phone. Just add water and a sheet will dissolve instantly.. Use the conditioner in conjunction with Travelon’s Shampoo Sheets and have all the hair care treatment you need in two tiny containers weighing two ounces total! Biodegradable and safe for the environment, the Travelon Conditioner Sheets should be removed with a dry hand so to not damage the balance of the remaining sheets. Travel well, travel fresh and most of all, travel often! Under $3.00 per set of 50 sheets. This is a real clever item. It’s also great for boats, the glove compartment, office, or any place you do where you need soap, etc. and can’t find it.
The redesigned Travelon Luggage Scale is the perfect accessory for makingsure you are not going to be charged for overweight luggage. It lets you weigh and measure your baggage. It’s especially important if you feel your suitcase case might be close to fifty pound limit most airlines have set. No some airlines have set new rules as to how your suitcase needs to be measured. Well the Travelon Luggage Scale has a built in tape measure. This new version lets you lift your luggage and weigh it bag quickly without having to hold the piece while you looked at the scale. Now a “memory hand” stays at the weight of the bag even after you set it back down. The best news is that this useful travel gadget is only $7.50 http://tinyurl.com/6x5e46 Here’s a way to be set for minor power blackouts!
From our Friends at PC Magazine
COMPUTERS & COMPUTER GADGETSMonday, November 3rd ---
Here’s a real powerhouse desktop replacement computer from HP!
It’s the Pavilion HDX18t with a 18.4� 1080P HD screen, BluRay player and Altec Lansing Home Theatre Sound! There’s HDMI output so you can connect this powerhouse to an even bigger HD screen. But just the way it is, this is perfect for video in the den, bedroom, or home office. (There’s an option TV tuner too.) This computer comes in a high tech Titanium case with a backlight touch control media center. Other features include a fingerprint reader for password control, Bluetooth, WiFi, Intel Duo Core processor and built in web cam. If you watched us record the Daily Giz Wiz, you heard Leo say it was the best video we ever had. So we’re going to record this week’s Daily Giz Wiz episodes with the HDX 18t! There’s also 16” version which offers a 1080p screen & BluRay as an option. Both models come with windows Vista and you can have the option of 32 or 64 bit versions. The 16” model starts at $1050.00, and the 18.4” model at about $1399.00. And there are dozens and dozens of options.
Taking a laptop through security is about to get a bit easier.
The newest edition are the Brenthaven’s Edge X-Ray Friendly Sleeves. X-Ray Friendly bags eliminate the process of removing your laptop from the case at airport security checkpoints. Here are the new rules from the TSA. Laptops must be able to be viewed in a single x-ray image, that the case must not degrade any visualizations of the laptop, that the laptop is clear and distinguishable from the bag. That means there are no cords, straps, zippers, etc., and that the laptop is not shielded by any contents of the case. Got all that? Brenthaven’s Edge sleeves are designed so the laptop stays in his protective case. You can unzipped the top place it on the conveyer belt. This allows for an un-obscured view of the laptop. So that the laptop is secured when dropped, Brenthaven makes the laptop for specific models. Right now there are X-Ray Friendly Sleeves for the MacBook Air and MacBook. Other models are coming. $60.00.
Brenthaven alsohas a complete line of computer bags for those who don’t need X-Ray Friendly gear.
Peek -- A Way To Get & Send Emails & Nothing Else!
If you have a PDA, a Smart Phone or other device to get your emails, you won't be interested in the Peek. The Peek is new device that receives and sends email. It can open attachments and it can let you see photos that someone emails you, but it can do nothing else. But the pictures have to be JPEGS. This is not for the geek, but more for the geeks parents who might want to get & send emails, period! You can emails via popular services like Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail and AOL. Each device can have up to three accounts, although the three email accounts are combined into the same inbox. It's easy to set up and pretty easy to use. A scroll wheel on the side highlights your menu choices, and then you push in on the wheel to select it. For some odd reason when you highlight an email, you then have also go to read email. I don’t why you need that extra step. The keyboard letters are backlit which is very nice and the device is the size of a very, very thin pack of cards. The Peek notifies you that have emails by vibrating, make a chime sound and setting off a blinking blue light. The display is a 2.5” (240 pixels by 320 pixels), color and it looks pretty decent. I’d like to see a bigger type face but the PR folks told that is coming in November. The Peek has 8 megabytes of memory. That’s equal to about 5,000 emails. So Leo could use it for two days before he has to clear the memory to make room for more emails. Peek says if you start with a fully charged battery it should last about five days assuming you get and send 10 to 15 emails a day. Power users who send and receive 200 to 300 emails a day will get about two days of use from a full charge. I have the red Peek, but it also come in charcoal gray, aqua blue, and black cherry. Hmm, I guess I don’t have red. I have black cherry! Its $100 at Target or at the company’s website. Service is $20 a month and there’s no contract! Soon they’ll offer an annual deal. If you pay for 12 months, you’ll get one month free. But I would go with the month to month until you’re sure the PEEK serves your needs.
Google and T-Mobile teamed up for the first cell phonewith Android. The new software platform is based on open source software. That means many companies can develop applications for the Android. The G1 has a 3.2-inch 320 x 480 (HVGA) resolution touch screen, flip-out full QWERTY keyboard, quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, along with WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth. There’s also a 3.2-megapixel fixed-focus camera, microSD slot (ships with a 1GB card) and can handle SD cards up to 8GB. There’s a trackball for navigation. Strange that it shoots still pictures, but not video. The T-Mobile G1 is $179 w/ a 2 year contract. Data plans start at about $35.
For an authentic Knight Rider experience, Mio partnered with Universal Studios Navtones to create The Knight Rider GPS!Yep, hit the open road and hear exclusive voice guidance and turn-by-turn directions featuring the original voice of K.I.T.T., probably the most famous TV car of all time. The device’s integrated randomized greetings and 300 custom names will welcome you to your navigation experience. It also looks unlike any other GPS. There’s an active LED voice synthesizer display so the lights move in sync with the voice. You’ll think you’re looking at the originalK.I.T.T.’s dashboard. (Come on, you have an imagination, right?)The Knight Rider GPS can even be programmed to advise drivers of speed limit infractions for those inclined to apply too much turbo boost. There’s 4.3-inch widescreen interface, more than four million points of interest, it can assist you in locating gas stations, emergency assistance, hotels and restaurants.It’s pre-loaded withmaps of the U.S. and Canada, so it’s ready to operate in minutes right out of the box.it boots up by saying "Hello Michael, where do you want to go today?" But you simply use the virtual keyboard to change it to your name. On the GPS screen there’s a Trans-Am to represent your car. You can bring along your favorite music via the SD/MMC Memory Expansion slot. There’s a built in speaker, and rechargeable battery. 16 languages, including French. (Hear that Leo?) MSRP for the Knight Rider GPS is $269.95 U.S.
So you want to record music or Podcasts on the go. Now you can!
The answer could be the new Belkin GoStudio. It lets you record high-quality audio content, anywhere you go. Record full Podcast episodes, interviews, lectures, music, or short clips directly onto your iPod and immediately upload your content to iTunes when your iPod is connected to your computer. Two built-in omni-directional stereo microphones and built in speaker so you can hear what you recorded before you leave your guests, or a special event. There are also inputs for a music instruction or external microphones. Battery operated, so it’s totally portable. This is not for the iPhone, just for most of the newer model iPods. There’s a list of all the iPods the GoStudio works with on the Belkin website. Under $120.
Kodak has jumped into mini camcorder market with the Zi6. Right now it out performs other low price camcorders by providing the ability to shoot 720p HD video! That’s correct. This camera captures video in 60fps 720p HD. That’s the highest quality of any pocket camcorder so far. I shoot some short videos and they looked great when I viewed on my HP 24” HD Monitor. If you don’t want to shot in high def, the Zi6 also shoots stills and lower quality VGA video. That’s perfect if you want to upload your videos to YouTube. The camera has a tiny amount of built in memory.How tiny? In the high res mode you can shoot about 30 seconds of video. When I was testing it, I couldn’t figure out why it stopped recording all of a sudden. I had filled up the internal memory real fast. But there’s an SD/SDHC slot that supports cards up to 32GB. (The camera does not come a memory card.) A couple of other unique features is that there’s a button that lets you shoot video in macro focus mode. Something else that’s clever is the button that pops out the USB connector can serve as a tiny mirror for shooting self videos. The camcorder is powered by two rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries. But the batteries and the recharger are included. And, of course in a pinch, you can power the camera with regular AA batteries, even though they may not last as long. Under $180.
Now you can add a lot of professional effect when you broadcast or video tape with your webcam.
It’s a great piece of software called WebcamMax. And it works with most all webcam programs. In seconds you can add a variety of effects over your webcam pic. You can add moving titles, water effects, nighttime effects, etc. Many come with the program, but you can also download thousands of online effects. Then you can record video with these effects and broadcast the results on YouTube or your Blog.In the program you can select webcam, screen – which means you can move your mouse around and show viewers your computer screen! You can show movie clips or put on a slide show with your favorite pictures.And you can do PinP! You can be on one part of the screen while you describe what you’re showing on another part of the screen. You can paint on the video box directly.Effects you can use include: Transform: apply Distorting Mirror, Fire, Mosaic, Line, Color, Snow or Water. With Mask you can wear all kinds of glasses and hats, or change your hair style, or even pretend to be a famous people. Background: Change your background to the place you like. It’s kind of like having your own professional green screen. Frame lets you add some frames to make your video cooler.
It’s an amazing program.You can try it for free for 30 days. They’ll will be WebCamMax watermark on the screen, but you can try all the great features. If you want to buy it, it’s $20 for a 6 month license, $30 for a year, $40 for two years, or probably the best bet, $50 for a lifetime license.
The Epson P-3000 has what you need to store and share thousands of photos, videos, music, and more--anytime, anywhere. Ready when you are, it features a high-capacity 40GB hard drive, so you can download and save images from your camera, memory card, or computer, wherever life takes you. And, it couldn't be easier to share images on the spot. A large 4-inch LCD with Epson Photo Fine Ultra technology means your friends and clients will see every vivid detail in brilliant clarity and color.
With the Epson P-3000, the perfect companion to any digital camera, you'll enjoy the freedom of true multimedia portability. In fact, you can easily download or transfer files--all without a PC! Just slip your CompactFlash I/II or Secure Digital memory card into the built-in card slots. The Epson P-3000 even supports additional memory cards with an optional third-party adapter. If you choose to use a computer, simply connect the Epson P-3000 to your computer using the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface. It's all right at your fingertips with this compact device. You can easily save important photos or your favorite videos and music. Best of all, with the large capacity hard drive, you can store thousands of files!Start at about $350.00
One photo can't show what this program can do. Check out the free trial.
Cheap, but useful gadgets!
Here’s something that uses no technology at all, but is fun to use and even practical! They’re the Dress For Dinner Napkins. Yes, even if you’re dressed your favorite old white tee shirt, with this napkin at your neck you'll look like you made the effort to get dressed for dinner. A great conversation piece at any party. There are 20 3-ply paper napkins to a package, 4 designs - 5 of each tie. You have polka dots, stripes and for really classy affairs, a solid black tie! What a wardrobe! Great little gift when attending a dinner party. $5.95/Package of 20 napkins.
Clickfree recently released some DVD’s that are quite unusual. It’s probably one of the most inexpensive ways to protect your data. Each Clickfree Automatic backup DVD is category specific. They can back up music, photos or documents. It’s the easiest back up I’ve ever seen. Just Insert the rewriteable DVD in the computer disc drive. That automatically starts the backup. If the back up program on the disc finds it needs more than one DVD, it will tell you that right on the screen. Then you simply insert recordable DVD’s until all your info is safely backed up. A set of 3 DVD’s with the built in software is $10. You have to realize though that the Clickfree DVD only backs up your data to the point you make the copy. If you add more files then you need to start over again. But I’d do it every few months or so. This is a back up system for someone who knows nothing about making backups. I used it to move a lot of photos from an old computer to a new one. The ClickFree 160 GB hard drive is for folks with a touch more computer savvy, but that device too is real easy to use. Here’s the show on the Clickfree hard drive:
The Philips SpotOn LED Motion Sensing Portable Light offers hands-free lighting without having to push a button, pull a string or hit a switch. The built in motion sensor turns it on for you. It’s great for inside a closet because it will go on automatically when it senses the door opening. (Test it out first to make sure you put in a place where the SpotOn can sense motion. After about 20 seconds of zero motion, it automatically shuts off again. Since the SpotOn uses 3 battery saving LED’s, my guess is you’ll get many months of service of the 3 AAA batteries. They come with the unit, but you can easily replace them later on. You can mount it with stick-on tape, which is supplied, or use the supplied screws. Dimensions: 3.13 x 2.69 x 0.8 inches. There is no off switch so it’s meant to be used only in places where there is motion for a short time, like a closet, drawer, trunk, etc. List Price: $20.00, but do a web search and you’ll find many places selling the SpotOn for under $16.00.
Useful, but whimsical Gadgets What do you need to wake up in the Morning? Maybe a Fire Bell? The Fire Bell Alarm Clock will look real great on the night stand. And the alarm should be enough to awake even a very sound sleeper. It features a snooze function as well as easy-to-use controls. Just hold down the time button and then the hour & minute buttons to set the time. Hold the "alarm" button to set the alarm the same easy way. It's bright red and with a "silver" button that acts as the button to stop the alarm and to reset the 'snooze' feature. It can also be pushed to light the time display -- in red, of course. 7" tall x 2.75" deep x 5.5" wide. Requires 2 AA batteries (not included). And no, it's not a real fire alarm. The bell is plastic and the bell sound is created via an audio chip, but it should wake you! $14.95. http://www.vat19.com/dvds/fire-bell-alarm-clock.cfm
Never again will your visitors have to wonder: "Where am I?" It's the You are here Welcome MatThis unique doormat is 24" in diameter and is made from 100% recycled truck tires and nylon flocking. The You Are Here doormat can be used indoors or outdoors and when you need to clean it, you can just hose it down. It's extremely durable. And it always reminds you that wherever you stand is, in fact, where you are. Red, grey and black. $24.95. http://www.vat19.com/dvds/you-are-here-doormat.cfm The UroClub is Here!! Here's a strange device that may really come in handy if you're getting on in years and love to golf. Here's how the company puts it: Attention Male Golfers! How many times has this happened? You arrive at the golf course, and soon you’re on to 18 holes with your best buddies. After drinking sport ades, water, beer, and whatever, you’re on the 3rd hole with no rest room in sight. There are no trees or bushes around and you just gotta go, what are you going to do?" Well, the answer could be the UroClub. It's designed from a light weight resin with a molded grip.The cap opens and closes easily and is designed with a triple sealing system to ensure that it is leak proof. The privacy shield hooks to the sides of the pants or belt and adds stability.This allows freedom of the hands to manipulate the club and zipper. The entire club is made of a non-porous material.It can be emptied at the nearest restroom or later on, when the golfer returns home. Capacity: Over half a liter, twice the volume commonly urinated. Length: Like a standard 7 Iron. 49.99.There's a special deal on two: $74.99. www.uroclub.org
Monday, August 25th, 2008
Inexpensive Gadgets, $20 and Under!
Here’s a super useful inexpensive dual purpose gadget.
It’s the SiyoTeam USB Card Reader + Bluetooth. My laptop has a card reader built in, but no Bluetooth. And there tons of laptops that don’t have either a card reader or Bluetooth built-in. Rather than carry a BT dongle and a card reader with you, you can have both devices in one small package. It’s the SIYOTEAM USB Card Reader + Bluetooth Combo. Not exactly a name we all know, but this is pretty nifty gizmo. You get Bluetooth and card reader for SD/SDHC/miniSD/microSD/SDHC / Just about all the versions of the Memory Stick. There is no compact flash slot and it’s for Windows only. It’s very small 2” X ¾ X 7/8. Price is under $18.00.
If your glove compartment is so full of parking tickets you can’t close it, here’s the solution to keep the parking meter maid (or man) at bay. The Parking Meter Alarm has a 24 hour countdown alarm you can set in 5 minute increments to remind you when it’s time to race back to your car and feed the meter. Probably best to set the alarm to go off 5 or 10 minutes before the meter runs out to give you time to put in more quarters. Speaking of quarters, there’s a spring-loaded cylinder that holds 10 quarters so you’re never at a loss for change. There's even a ring to hold your keys. Has an easy to read LCD display. Metal. Measures 1 3/4"H x 1 1/8"diam. Price: $9.95
Hear more about this product on my Podcast, The Daily Giz Wiz: www.twit.tv/dgw616
No LED’s, no secret pockets, but a baseball cap still worth owning.
The Gorgonz Work Hat came in real handy when I attended the Marine Accessories Show in Las Vegas in July. Outside temperatures were 105 to 110 during the day! The Gorgonz is designed to keep your head cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. I’ve only used to keep my head cool, and it works really well. Unlike other hats that trap sweat and heat, this work hat uses Hydroweave technology to pull sweat and heat from the head. Here’s how to stay cool in blazing heat: Soak the inside of hat with cold water. Let the water soak into hat for 2-3 minutes and then wring out excess water. Repeat as needed. To stay warm wear the hat dry. Duh! After I walked about a mile in that Vegas heat I had lunch at a restaurant. Then before heading out into the heat again after I ate I dumped some ice water from my glass in the hat! Works great. $20. Available in blue and tan.
Logitech ClearChat PC Wireless headset, Now you can make a PC call while walking around the room or sitting on the couch. The Logitech ClearChat PC Wireless lets you move freely up to 33 feet (10 meters) from your computer. With the included USB transmitter, the headset effortlessly connects to a PC or Mac computer right out of the box – no software or pairing required. And to help ensure no call gets interrupted, the ClearChat PC Wireless headset’s 2.4 GHz wireless technology features both crisp, uncompressed stereo audio and an advanced algorithm that minimizes interference –even in the busiest wireless environments, such as an airport, office or hotel. For optimal voice clarity, the headset features a noise-canceling microphone on a flexible boom that adjusts to the desired distance from the mouth. Additionally, volume and microphone mute controls are located on the right earpiece and the microphone automatically mutes when rotated to an upright position. As an added convenience, the microphone emits a soft, red glow when muted. A padded headband and plush ear pads make it comfortable for listening to music, watching movies or playing games on the PC. Available now $99.99 www.logitech.com It’s a great wide screen computer screen AND a high res TV monitor. The new HP 2408h 24” flat screen LCD lets you view everything very clearly with its 1920 x 1200 resolution. You can display two full pages side by side or work on wide spreadsheets. But this what I really about this monitor. Rotate the screen into portrait mode and you can view tall documents or web pages. I find it makes editing my website much easier because I can see about 60% more of the page I'm working on without scrolling. HP says it’s Plug and Play and that you can start using it right out of the box without any drivers. While that’s true, I discovered that when I rotated the monitor, the internal menu knew whether it was in vertical or horizontal mode, but Windows XP did not. So I downloaded the included software and then the monitor recognized the position of documents and websites. When you rotate the monitor, the picture goes black for about 5 seconds and then comes back in the proper orientation. The monitor can also automatically adjust to the light in your home/office environment. So look for the 2408h if want digital (HDMI) and traditional analog (VGA) dual inputs. The earlier model has a DVI input, not an HDMI input.The double hinge base allows virtually unlimited viewing angles. There are integrated speakers but you’ll want to hook up a higher end sound system to match the excellent video quality of this monitor. Also built into the monitor are four USB ports. $500.00A 22” version is available for $330. At HP Shopping there is free shipping. (As I write this.) http://tinyurl.com/6ewt8b
I did a webcast on this product.Hear it here: www.twit.tv/dgw593 USB Plasma Ball from Vat 19. One of the most visual is the USB Plasma Ball. The website says you can throw bolts of plasma like Zeus throws bolts of lighting. Well not quite but you can still enjoy the coolness of the Plasma Ball in a desk-sized USB-powered configuration. Simply plug it into any convenient USB port, flip the on/off switch, and enjoy! Move your fingers around the ball and watch the ‘lighting’ go right for your digits! It’s quite fun. Great for the office to impress co-workers. It’s only USB powered (no external power source needed). PC and Mac compatible (as long as you have a USB port) 4" diameter x 5.5" tall / On/off switch /4 foot long USB cable. Best of all, the price. Just $11.99. Here’s a little video demo: http://www.vat19.com/dvds/usb-plasma-ball.cfm www.vat19.com
