This page contains, or will contain, all the gadgets & gizmos talked about on The Daily Giz Wiz during January, 2008. Newest week is at the top. The Netcast usually goes online about 11 PM, the night before the date indicated. The latest week is at the top.
The Daily Giz Wiz, Week of January 26th, 2009
Monday, January 26th Netcast 751
So you made a backup copy of your files. But if there’s a fire, is your backup copy safe?
That’s where IO Safe can come to the rescue. ioSafe has something they call FloSafe technology that has the ability to detect destructive heat levels and automatically close the vents to protect data from extreme heat. Now there’s a ton of info on how these drives are constructed on the company’s website, but the demo I saw when I was in Las Vegas was an eye opener. First they took digital photos of the reporters at the event and downloaded them on to the ioSafe. Then they dropped the ioSafe into the swimming pool. They fished it out and put it in a gas-fired furnace. The temperature gauge reached 1270 degrees and the ioSafe started to melt. After the unit was removed from the heat it was hosed down to cool it off. Then it was opened – and our unharmed digital photos were uploaded to a computer! Very neat demo indeed! The Solo is available now at www.iosafe.com. Soon it will available through retail channels. The ioSafe Solo capacities and pricing are as follows: 500GB for $149, 1TB for $199 and 1.5TB for $299. This is a very reasonable price to protect your precious photos, videos and data files!
It’s another Turn The Table Tuesday and Leo Reaches WAY Under His Desk for the Obama Chia Pet!!!
Yes, you read that correctly! The President Obama Chia Pet!
Obama memorabilia is hot! Even the MAD Magazine covers we came up with in the past few months have been selling on Ebay for $10 to $20. And we’ve seen all the usual knickknacks like Obama buttons, t-shirts, commemorative plates, posters, etc. But this is most likely to be the first president to be “honored” as a Chia Pet! Yep, Chia, as in those old Ch, Ch, Ch, Chia pet TV commercials. You plaster seeds on the top and they grow in to sort of look like hair, assuming you know people who have green hair! Weird indeed! Leo says he’s loves his! There are two versions: happy or determined, but you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. Check it out for yourself at the link below. $20.00
The Clickfree Transformer USB Cable. It lets you convert any external hard drive into a Clickfree backup drive.
Leo & I both liked the Clickfree Backup Drive. There’s no need for any backup software. Just plug the backup drive into any available USB port and it works totally automatically - unless you wish to customize the backup. The DGW Netcast on that Clickfree Drive is here: http://www.twit.tv/dgw629
At CES they introduced the Clickfree Transformer USB Cable. It lets you use any external hard drive you already own. Just plug this gizmo into a USB port on your PC and then plug any size external hard drive from any manufacturer into the other end of the Transformer. The Clickfree backup application will automatically start, search the computer, organize and backup all of your important data onto the external hard drive. There’s no software to install, no set up. You can use one Clickfree Transformer with many different 2.5” or 3.5” external hard drives. Retail price is $59.99.
Another new Clickfree products unveiled at CES 2009 include is there Clickfree 1 Terabyte Backup Drive: The 1 TB Clickfree Backup Drive is an innovative computer backup device that’s perfect for small and medium enterprises or home offices where users need to backup multiple computers. Just connect the device to a USB port and it does the rest. The backup application starts automatically, searching and backing up data without requiring any user interaction. The drive stores 220,000 songs, 440,000 photos, and over 2 million documents. Retail price is $229.99.
Thursday, January 26th, 2007, Netcast 754 Another Strange Gizmo from CES.Electronic Cigarettes.(Pipes & Cigars too) There were at least three companies selling these new & strange gadgets. I?Ill concentrate on the products from Njoy. Here?s what the company wants us to know about their product: NJOY looks, feels and tastes like a cigarette or cigar. What makes it better is the freedom to smoke anywhere, anytime, no second hand smoke and lower cost.
NJOY also says you can even smoke in restaurants, even in the NO SMOKING area, because you?re not really exhaling smoke, but water vapor instead. I think you?you'll agree that this could be a problem, leading to a lot of arguments. Although one person at the show told me these cigarettes were a substitute for smoking REAL cigarettes, it turns out you are inhaling nicotine. You do however get to set the amount!The cigarettes glow when you puff on them and are battery operated! NJoy offers a Starter Kit that includes all you need to start enjoying a smoke free life. The package includes: 1 - NPRO Black Cigarette-Style Device / 1 - Cartridge Pack (5 assorted cartridges)/ 2- 3.6V Rechargeable Lithium Batteries - 1 - 3.6V Lithium Battery Charger. Price:79.99
More from their website you should know about:NJOY contains only water, propylene glycol, nicotine, a scent that emulates a tobacco flavor, other flavorings, and a membrane to suspend the ingredients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined propylene glycol to be "generally recognized as safe" for use in food, cosmetics, and medicines, although use in simulated smoking devices is not currently included in the list of usages generally recognized as safe. Nicotine is an alkaloid found in certain plants, predominantly tobacco, and in lower quantities tomato, potato, eggplant, cauliflower, green peppers and some teas. When absorbed in small amounts, whether from cigarettes, cigars or NJOY, nicotine can cause stimulation, a feeling of relaxation, calmness, and alertness. The effects of nicotine can last from minutes to hours, and nicotine is considered habit forming and addictive.
Dick's Gadget Warehouse, Friday, January 27th, 2009, Netcast 755
Steve Horlick, who was born in Brooklyn born and now lives in Gillette WY reminded me about this gizmo with an email that said in part: Not too many years ago, okay probably 15 or 20, I was the proud owner of a unique Panasonic gadget that on the face of it was a thick calculator meant to balance your checkbook. Digging a little deeper it turned out to have the ability to print your checks with it's built in dot matrix printer. I do remember this gizmo from Panasonic. It was called the CPA, the Check Printing Accountant. The problem was it was a bear to set up. You loaded the CPA with about a dozen of your pre-printed bank checks. Then you had to configure the CPA so info you would print on the check like date, amount fields, etc. all ended up in the right place. It only had to be set once, but using the tiny keyboard to enter the name, memo, amount, etc. was tedious. But it did have an amazing 128K of memory so it could remember up to 100 names. With an instruction book that ran about 130 pages, it was far easier just to write out check. It could balance your checkbook assuming you carefully told it what deposits you make and what checks were voided. Seemed to be just writing out a check was far easier. And you saved about $80. www.twit.tv/dgw755
Here's one that might still available on EBay.
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.)
Year End Special! An extra pair of CR2032 Lithium Batteries will be included with every LED hat ordered between now and January 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 easy to 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. It's 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 shipping cost. 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 it was cheaper, but unfortunately it's not.
AA & AAA Fuji EnviroMAX
Daily Giz Wiz, Week of January 19th, 2009 Monday, January 19th, 2009 A New, Green Battery. It’s the new Fuji EnviroMAX battery. The battery itself is green & white, but the impact on the environment is said to be very “green”!An independent test report given to the reporters showed that the new Fuji EnviroMAX batteries equaled or surpassed the power of the other leading brands like Energizer, Duracell, Panasonic and Rayovac. These barriers are Cadmium free and Fuji says many other ozone-depleting compounds have been eliminated in the production of these batteries. The company boasts that Fuji EnviroMAX batteries lead the way by setting rigorous safety and quality control standards to help produce battery products that are safe for users and to the environment. Even recycled paper and plastics are used in the production of Fuji EnviroMAX batteries 100% of the time. The batteries should be in the marketplace in the next month or two. The price will be about the same as current batteries. EnviroMAX batteries will be available in all four popular sizes. AA, AAA, C and D. www.greenfuji.com Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw746 Tuesday, January 20th 2009Netcast 747 It’s another Turn The Table Tuesday and Leo’s Gizmo is under $20! It’s the Griffin Technology Air Curve If you have an iPhone this is how you can hear your music louder and clearer without using speakers. The AirCurve is a cleverly-designed acoustic amplifier that turns your iPhone into a no-power-drain alarm clock on your nightstand, or a mini sound system that never needs batteries or adapters. It looks like a simple stand for your iPhone. But inside is a coiled waveguide "horn' that collects the sound from the built-in speaker of your iPhone, amplifies it (by about 10 decibels), and projects it into the room. AirCurve's waveguide has been mathematically engineered to deliver amazing amplification for its size-- you'll swear there are much larger speakers hidden in there. And AirCurve's see-through translucent polycarbonate body lets you appreciate the graceful curves inside that do all the work. AirCurve does not charge your iPhone, but Griffin has added a pass-through slot so you can feed your dock cable through AirCurve. Connect that dock cable to your computer or power adapter and you can sync or charge while you listen. And it’s under $20. http://tinyurl.com/8akewk Wednesday, January 21st N Power Peg. The Power is in You!Or rather ON you! With the nPower PEG you create power for charging your cell phone, iPod, and other handheld devices. How? Just place the lightweight nPower PEG in your bag or on your hip, attach it to your device, and you’ll create energy any time you need it. The PEG works when you are in motion, so you don’t have to worry about being near a power outlet or running out of a charge while on the go ever again. The up and down movement from your walking or running creates kinetic energy. The nPower PEG folks told me that the kinetic energy charges handheld electronic devices at the same rate as a wall charger. (I have no way of checking that out.) They say most devices on their gizmo list reach an 80% charge with just an hour of walking. This sure is a green device because this technology allows you to create renewable energy by walking, thus reducing your personal carbon footprint. It is compatible with over 90% of handheld electronic devices, including cell phones, MP3 players, handheld gaming devices, handheld GPS, digital cameras, and more. This device is about 9” long and can be pre-ordered now. The downside to my mind is the cost: $149.00 http://www.greennpower.com/ Hear this Netcast:www.twit.tv/dgw748
Thursday, January 22nd Netcast 749 Now you can wear your MP3 Player on your head! This new gizmo is called iCap.It’s a baseball cap with a 1GB MP3 player, an FM tuner, a voice recorder and a microSD slot built right into the brim. So after you fill the 1GB internal memory, the microSD card slot lets you carry around endless amounts of your favorite tracks. Now this cap adds to your safety according to the company because the built in speakers means you don’t have to wear earbuds which might block out sounds. The built-in speakers are rather small.It was hard to judge at the convention center where I heard this cap play because it’s huge, but the sound I heard was just so-so.And no matter where you go wearing this cap with your music blaring, you’re bound to get odd stares from joggers or anyone you happen to pass by. Not only is this cap weird, it’s wildly expensive at $119.95! And if you want to move your MP3 player & speakers to another baseball cap – you can.It comes with a big clip so you can attach it a different cap. Very strange indeed! UPDATE --- When this was written, mid-January there was a sale price of $99.99, still very expensive. www.icapmp3.com Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw749 Friday, January 23rd Netcast 750 Wow! A portable TV with a 1.5” Screen! Panasonic ToteVision TV It’s 1984 and Panasonic introduces the “TravelVision” AC/DC, black and white mini-TV. It had what was probably the smallest screen ever made using a conventional CRT picture tube. The picture was really tiny, about 1.5” diagonal. But it came with a magnifier, which allowed the picture to zoom up to a gigantic 2.5” diagonal. Tuning the stations was done with an old fashioned dial on the front of the unit, and there was a UHF/VHF switch on the side. There was a telescoping metal monopole antenna on the top of the unit. A built in foot that folded out on the bottom of the unit let you adjust it to the angle best for viewing. On the web I found out that when it was introduced in Japan in 1984 it sold for 29.800 yen.That would be equal to about $380. It could be powered by AC, 12 volts (car/boat) or with 4 AA’s batteries that fit inside the case.
Now you don’t have to worry that the kids are listening to music that’s too loud.
iHearSafeHeadphones. These headphones have built in technology that helps make sure your kids don’t injure their hearing. They prevent the volume from exceeding the safe level of 85 decibels. They work exactly the same as any other pair of headphones, just plug and play. It works on all audio devices. The company makes ear buds; hang over-the-ear earphones, and regular style headphones with this technology. They won a CES 2009 Innovation Award. All the various styles sell for under $25.
Leo talks about the Canon 5D Mark 2 digital camera that’s designed for ultimate professional photographer. And Leo too.It’s a 21 MP camera that can shoot full HD Video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution. I don’t anything about this camera, so here’s some info about it from the web. The EOS 5D Mark II features a huge, full-frame sensor.(This is a big plus, Leo said!) A 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor delivers images of up to 5616 x 3744 pixels. And since it is full-frame, all lenses will deliver the angle of view they would on a 35mm camera without a conversion factor. This camera is the first digital EOS to offer recording of full HD video in live view mode. (That means you are actually seeing the exact view the lens is going to record.) It’s capable of shooting clips almost half an hour long at full 1080 resolution, the EOS 5D Mark II does amazing double duty, making it possible to shoot broadcast quality video on your camera by simply changing settings. Now as Leo pointed out, this is a camera for professionals and the price is about $3500.00
It’s called the Hottips all-in-one charger. How can this device charge your cell phone? Let me count the ways. It can use AC power with a built-in foldout plug. You can charge it via 12 volts with a foldout cigarette lighter plug.And finally use can use a 9 Volt battery that clicks onto the Hottips unit. When you connect your cell phone – after you make sure you purchase the right tip for your particular model - a bright light comes on to indicate the phone is charging. When the light dim the phone is charged. A dim light when you first connect the phone indicates that the connection is not secure.It come in an eco-friendly Natralock package. That means that there’s up to 67% reduction on packaging materials that uses fewer raw materials, chemicals and less energy to produce. The paperboard and plastic in the package are recyclable. The price was not set while I was at CES, but it should be around $25. The latest information will be at their website.
Thursday, January 15th, 2009, Netcast 744 A new wireless way to use your cell phone! It’s called Cell-Mate. Listen to the glowing description from the company:
This new product brings the ultimate in simplicity and function to your cell phone. It provides hands free operation while maintaining all the functionality and sound quality that your phone can offer. Since the Cell-Mate allows you to eliminate the headset, you will always have the best quality your phone can offer. No new technology to add to your frustrations. You no longer have to deal with pairing your phone to your headset. No more dropped calls when your headset battery dies. No more charging of your headset. The Cell-Mate is much less expensive than a hands free headset. Why pay 2-3 times more for frustrations? Now what makes all this possible? The fact that you wear your cell phone on your head!Yes, you simply attach your phone to the Cell-Mate, slide it over your head, and you're ready to go! There are no plugs or batteries to worry about, no loss of sound quality due to an aftermarket speaker, no Bluetooth signals to sync, just your phone like you've always known it...now hands free! Plus the lightweight adjustable Cell-Mate meets the needs for all current state laws requiring hands free cell phone use while driving.Do you look nerdy? Check the pics. www.cell-mateus.com
More info, including the George Foreman Grill/iPod Docking station we talked about!
APS – which stood for Advanced Photo System - brought electronic technology to film.APS film came in a cartridge, slightly different in shape from the normal 35MM can of file. And it was a highly automated cartridge. The film was able to make a magnetic recording of exposure-specific information for each picture! For example if you switched to panorama mode to film a whole group of friends, the camera actually used more of the film. That’s why APS film had to be developed in machines that could read that information. Otherwise your panoramic shot could be cut in two. And feature, you could change film midroll. Switch to higher speed film, black & white, etc. You could share your camera, with each person taking their own pictures on their own cartridge of APS film. Advantix cameras had a panoramic viewfinder that works in any print format: C, H, or P. There were three different size pictures - Classic (C), Group (H), and Panoramic (P) – and they all taken on same film cartridge.
You can still buy APS film, but the rolls I saw for sale on Amazon said: “Film is dated 2004, but still should be usable.”Hmmm..five year old film.I think I’ll stick to digital!
APS Advantix Film - Kind of looks like a slightly squashed 35mm film canister.
Daily Giz Wiz, Week of January 5th, 2009
Monday, January 5th, 2009Netcast 736
A new wireless security system from Lorex.
It’s the Lorex LW2101 Color Wireless Video Security System. Unlike older systems that uses 2.4 Megahertz, this new system uses a much more secure digital channel hopping system. With a 2.4 Megahertz system, others on the same bandwidth can view your camera output. That’s impossible with digital channel hopping because the signal changes every few seconds. Don’t worry the camera and the receiver automatically stay in sync.The camera in this is can be
used indoors or out because its weather resistant. It also has low light recording capability up to about 40 feet. There’s a built-in microphone and you can set the mic level via the audio menu on receiver. You view the menu on whatever monitor you’re using to view the video output of the camera The camera has two RCA plugs, one for video and one for audio out. I just connected to a TV monitor. The camera comes with a bracket that can be wall mounted and adjusted. Included in the kit is also a battery adapter case so you an power the camera with four double AA batteries, but you’d use AC for continuous use. The digital pan / tilt /zoom feature let you zoom in on what the camera sees while using using the receiver. Expandable Up to 4 cameras. Suggested retail is $250, but it sells online for about $200.Lorex makes an entire line of security cameras and equipment.
Another Turn The Table Tuesday, and Leo comes with a new pair of earphones.
These are the new Monster Beats via Doctor Dre.
Leo likes these Monster Beats in-ear phones a lot. But he feels they were designed for the rock group set and so they emphasize the bass, and perhaps trim the high end a touch. But overall he likes them.I don’t have this product, so I lifted some info from Monster Cable, the folks behind the Monster Beats Tour.
Hear what you've been missing. Beats high-resolution in-ear headphones reveal the full sound of today's digital music, including sonically demanding hip-hop, rock, and R&B that crush ordinary earbuds. Because the ultra-fast response time, the Beats Tour driver can accurately reproduce the full sound and details of today’s digital music with precise clarity, natural vocals, and big bass punch. (You can tell this is from the manufacturer, right?) Beats delivers sound so big, you'll think you have speakers in your ears. (Actually, you kinda do have speakers in your ears, don't you?)Exclusive Monster technologies reproduce clear natural vocals, detailed highs, and deep powerful bass without distortion !). High Efficiency and Isolation means You Can Play It Loud (But you should use care to protect your ears).(I like this next part:) These phone also feature the World’s First Tangle-Free Cable! In the box, you get Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, rugged protective case for superior protection, 3 pairs of standard Monster-designed ear tips, 2 pairs of different-sized triple-layer Airlocks and Quick start guide. Price is $149.95.
Sure you can blow out a candle, but now you can “blow on” a candle!
Think Geek LED Blow On-Off Candles. These high tech candles are solid wax, except for the electronics. There are two new things about these LED candles. You can blow them out, AND these LED candles will also blow on! Plus, each candle has a switch to select either a cool blue flame, or a more realistic yellowish flame. Great to use where it is too dangerous to have open flames. Candles are about 3” in diameter, and you have your choice of 4” or 6” tall. The 4" candle uses button type batteries (included. plus you get an extra set). The 6" candle takes 3 AAA batteries which are not included. The candles will "burn" for about 300 hours on a single set of batteries. The 4" candle features a pushbutton on the bottom to change from blue to natural yellow color, while the 6" candle has a three-position switch (left = blue color, center = off, right = natural yellow color). From Think Geek, a really great website for fun “toys”. 4” candle: $11.99, 6” candle $14.99.
Thursday, January 8th, 2009, Netcast 739 It’s a flash drive that does a lot more than let you save files. Coby 2GB FM/MP3 Flashdrive. Sure you can use it to save data files, but you can also use it to download music. The Coby MP-305 has a backlit LCD that shows song titles and artists of your saved music. Or you can hear the latest news, weather, etc. with the built-in FM Tuner. Transfer songs into this USB Flash drive player by plugging it directly into the computer. Since it’s a flashdrive you don’t need a USB cable. It even comes with a pair of earphones so you can listen to your music anywhere you like. Although the “list” price is $39.95, J &R Music is selling it for under $18!And if you want more memory, the same features are available in a 4 GB version. $34.99
Back to Warehouse Friday A “State of the Art” Digital Camera, circa 1997 I started this week’s Dick’s Gadget Warehouse with a letter. Giz Wiz Fan Pablo: I've heard you and Leo talk about your first digital cameras in a DGW recently and I wanted to tell you about mine, which is a candidate for the warehouse. It's the Yashica KC 600. Some info on it is here: (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_19408909
So I did some research. Take a look at some of specs of this “high tech camera” released less than 12 years ago! Yashica Launched the 600 Digital Camera in May, 1997. From BUSINESS WIRE --May 14, 1997— Yashica unveiled a new, leading edge digital camera, the KC 600. manufactured by Kyocera Corporation, Yashica's parent company. Only the Yashica KC 600 includes all of the following:640 x 480 Resolution - High Resolution All Glass Lens -Removable Memory -Video Output -Built-In Color LCD -Macro Mode -Progressive Scan CCD -Built-In Flash -Optical Viewfinder -Pocket Size With its included 2 MB CompactFlash card, the camera can take 8 photos in Fine mode, 21 photos in Normal mode, and 80 photos in Economy mode (320 x 240). (Did you get that? Ships with a 2MG, not GB card!) TheKC 600 will be available in July at an estimated street price of $599.
Pablo bought his in the summer of 1997 and it cost him only $300. But he adds: “Plus another $150 for an extra 6Mb card (yes, megabytes!)”Pablo
Think about what you can get today for the same $450! Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw740
From our friends at www.digicamhistory.com
Thursday,January 1st, 2009. Netcast 734
New Year’s Day-- HAPPY NEW YEAR!Toot, toot, noise, noise!
We’re not doing a regular show today. We thought it would be fun to read New Year’s resolutions that some our listeners are making.A few are posted here and you’ll hear many more on today’s DGW.
Leo thought this first one was a very good New Year’s Resolution:
My first resolution for the 2009 might be a little strange for a geek... I have decided to spent some more time with real people (face to face) and less time with computers, gadgets, etc. as I have somehow realized that the more screen time I get the less happy I feel. I guess we really need to get out there, meet people, smile to each other, talk, etc. My second resolution is to find some public service, organization, etc. where I could help others. I am not sure, whatexactly I would like to do but I give myself a year to find out. (Leo was not so crazy about part 2 of this resolution!)Kind regards, Maciej
To spend less money on gadgets in 2009 - not that I am likely to succeed! One other I thought of is, and this one is sure to make Leo happy, "to buy a Titanium Spork and a Toothpick Bird - two essential items in the company of an ardent DGW listener". - Matt Kopelke
My resolution for 2009 is to finally give up smoking, since it has severely cut into my gadget-buying budget. I have also resolved to do everything within my power to become debt-free within the year. I also resolve to watch a lot more Live TWiT. Thanks, Thomas Ward
And dozens of you sent in the exact same New Year’s Resolution. And it was:
Beam me up, Scott.Or rather “Lower the Beam Scope, Scotty”
Some 20 years or so ago there were no giant TV screens. But there was a way to watch a giant TV image using your regular TV. It was called Beam Scope. This was a precision ground lens; complete with stand that you placed in front of your smallish TV, so you could watch a bigger picture. I bought two of them. The first I bought turned my 21” TV into a 32” TV. The picture quality was pretty good, but there was one disadvantage. Only the person sitting directly dead center in front of the Beam Scope got an undistorted view. Two people sitting close together side-by-side had a pretty good view too. But sitting too off center meant you saw a totally distorted picture. The Beam Scopes were expensive too. About $100 for the 32” one, and almost $200 for the 42” model which came a year later. And they were HEAVY! One model came with a rolling stand so you could roll in front of your TV for the shows you wanted to watch on “the big screen”. I used it mainly for watching movies on TV.I really didn’t need to watch The Match Game with the Beam Scope.Turns out some models are still available, but they’re small. On Amazon.com you can find a 12to 15 inch TV Magnifier for $57.00.
