Monday, August 27th – Netcast 386Leap Frog Fly Fusion
A Major Upgrade to a Kid’s Learning Tool.
The FLY Fusion Pentop Computer, offers new note-taking applications for students of all ages. This next-generation FLY system offers four times the memory, memory slot, MP3 player, even a 1,000-word Spanish dictionary. Best of all, students can upload handwritten notes and drafts, digitizing them instantly into Microsoft Word documents or emails. Many new learning and entertainment applications will be available through the new FLY World Download Store. The FLY Fusion Pentop Computer is aimed at middle and high school students, ages 10 to 16 years;And even though the usefulness and power of this min computer has increased, the price has dropped. It’s $79.99 which is a $20 drop from the original even though this one has four times the memory. Also “Fly Paper” which is needed so the pen can recognize what a student writes has dropped from $9.99 to $7.99 and that’s for twice the amount of Fly Paper!
Turn The Table Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 – Netcast 387
If you have an iPhone then this gizmo will be of interest to you. It’s an
MOBILE STEREO HEADSET FOR APPLE IPHONE from RIVET. And it’s under $30!!
From their website:
Jam to your favorite iTunes in premium stereo sound and never miss a call!
Now that you've invested in a new Apple iPhone, you are probably looking for a great headset at a reasonable price. The affordable Mobile Stereo Headset lets you talk on your iPhone in total comfort and enjoy your favorite music in premium stereo sound. Simply press the one-touch answer/end button to accept incoming calls; your music automatically mutes for incoming calls and will resume when the call ends. Press the button once to pause your music and twice to skip to the next song. Designed to be worn lanyard-style around your neck, the headset features adjustable fabric cords and will never fall off, even if the earbuds are removed. And, with tangle-free storage the Mobile Stereo Headset will always be ready for the next use, hassle-free.
The Electronic Pillbox With A Memory And Water Supply!
The handy Aqua Pill Timer is compact and so easy to use you can take it wherever you go. This smart pillbox lets you simply program the electronic alarm and a beep will remind you when to take your medication. Since it carries its own water and straw, there is no need to search for a glass, faucet, or fountain. Holds approximately 2 oz. of water. Let the Aqua Pill Timer remember for you with its beep alarm. Compact and easy to use, so you can take it wherever you go. Keep it in your pocket, purse, briefcase or at home on your nightstand. The pills you need and the water to take them with will be close a hand. Whether at home or traveling, you can depend on the Aqua Pill Timer. Safety top flips open for straw and water.Includes write-on dosage labels. Dimensions: 4 1/4"H x 2 1/2"W x 1"D or 107 x 63 x 25 mm - $34.00
Get connected. In your own home, thanks to Belkin.
I have four computers in my office. And yes I know, I’m supposed to be able to connect them together wirelessly just using Windows settings. But I’ve never been able to do that. A quick check on the web and I find I’m not alone. Even Leo agrees, it’s not that easy. But now it is. The Belkin Network USB Hub works with your existing wireless router to give you wireless access to printers, media readers, and external hard drives.The Hub simulates a direct USB connection that makes your computer think that the devices on the network are directly attached to the computer. The Belkin hub is connected directly to your router and the USB device is connected directly to the hub. The software also allows you to easily transfer control of USB devices on the Hub between computers. Mac drivers available in September. This is perfect for households with multiple computers, but only one printer or scanner. Share up to 5 devices: multifunction printers, media readers, and scanners with everyone on your network Back up and access data from hard drives, USB drives, and other mass-storage devices
Friday, August 31st 2007 --Back to the Warehouse Friday Netcast 390
The WWF Microphone with built in sound effects.
I’m not sure this device ever made into the market place. It was sent to me after Toy Fair several years ago.It’s a handheld microphone with a mini-speaker in the bottom.It amplifies your voice, but as you speak you can push a button and add any of these: Body slams, grunts, bells, slaps, even crowd cheers. There are other WWF microphones around on the Internet, but not this one.
Bet you never heard of a doorbell for a cubicle!Well now you have.
Say hello to the Cubicaller
Instead of someone coming to your cubicle at work and shuffling their feet or clear their throat repeatly to get your attention, the Cubicaller provides a fun way for them to announce their arrival. It has a unique 3-way volume selector that lets you set the loudness for your particular environment: Normal (for environments with average background noises); Soft (for less active environments); Personal (extra soft for very quiet environments). It comes with double-sided self-adhesive Velcro so it installs in a minute or so and you can put it away when you leave at night. It’s small (2.75" x 2.75" x 0.75") so it fits in your hand. There’s a "selector pushbutton" so can choose from 12 different sounds such as door bell, quack, beep, fanfare, meow, etc. This is a very clever device, invented by Mike Mussoline, a faithful Daily Giz Wiz listener. At $11.99 it’s a practical item and a gift you know they don’t have!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 --- TTTT – Netcast 382 – The Paypal Security Key.
Its turn the table Tuesday and Leo admits he’s using a gadget to used on Security Now, but I thought this was pretty interesting! You may think otherwise!
If you’re a business person who used Paypal, you will be interested in this security device. It only costs five dollars but it makes it really difficult for anyone but you to gain access to your Paypal account. That’s because the security key changes your security code every 60 seconds! Anyone with the 5 digit code of the minute can’t access your account.
Kingston makes it easy to move digital content between PC and phones, cameras, PDA’s, etc.
Kingston Technology has released an all-in-one 1 GB Mobility Kit that includes an microSD card with dual adapters and a USB card reader to give mobile consumers handy storage access when using SD- and USB-compatible digital devices.The 1GB card configuration is out now, with a 2GB version to follow. The Kingston Mobility Kit provides a single card solution for mobile phones, digital cameras, media players and more using a microSD card as the centerpiece combined with miniSD and full-size Secure Digital (SD) card adapters plus a USB reader. There’s also key loop so it can hang from a cell phone. The 1GB Mobility Kit with 2 adapters (miniSD and full-size SD) and black USB reader is only $ 27.00. The 2GB Mobility Kit with 2 adapters (miniSD and full-size SD) and red USB reader will be out soon, but the price has not been announced.
Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 – Spinmallow Pro Netcast 384 Ok, even we admit this is a bit much. But, think about it. You are going camping or to a scouting event. Maybe even staying over a friendÕs house for a barbeque. You need to bring a flashlight so you can see where youÕre going at night. DING! Why not be prepared to make a toasty brown marshmallow at the same time? Its telescoping skewer is safely tucked out of the way just waiting to be brought into service. Its motorized spinner rotates at a blistering 153 RPMÕs. Even Òmore perfectÓ than our original Spinmallowª. The flashlight uses a powerful white L.E.D. so you can find your way to the graham crackers and chocolate. The detachable skewer is easy to clean and then stores right back into the handle.$19.95 You can also buy the less powerful original: Spinmallow. It’s spins a bit slower (92 rpms) and has no flashlight, but it’s ten bucks less. $9.98 Ages 8 and up
Friday, August 24th, Netcast 385. Back to the Warehouse Friday It was state of the art when I bought it, the Labtech CS100 Labtech is still around, building many different speaker system models to enhance computer sound. The Labtech CS1000 was a clever all in one spteaker system with right and left speakers facing out and a woofer facing down. The cabinet was big enough so you could set your big, old clunky computer monitor right on top of it and have all the controls at your finger tips. It measured 13" X 12" X 3 1/2". I paid about $99 for it some 20 years ago. Two months ago a similar unit sold for 99 cents! + $16.50 for shipping on eBay. Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw385
Monday, August 13th, 2007 – Netcast 376
Look up in the air --- it’s a bird, it’s a plane – no, it’s the Cordless Air Mouse!
New from the folks at Logitech, the MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse. On your desk its laser technology gives you precise tracking and instant response. In the air, their innovative Freespace motion sensing transforms hand motions into responsive cursor controls. Listen to music, browse photos, or surf the Web—from your desk or across the room. Gesture controls let you control playback and volume with hand motions. Adjust volume by waving to the right or left; skip tracks with a flip of the wrist. It’s really neat. It just takes a couple of minutes to master the motions. Li-ion battery for fast recharging. 2.4 GHz wireless: An operating range of 30 feet lets you navigate media from anywhere in the room. It’s a high end mouse, but you have to see it to appreciate its ultra high tech look with backlit buttons. $149.99
Turn The Table Tuesday, August 14th 2007 – TTTT Netcast 377
This week’s turn the table is a gizmo that’s not for everyone. It even has a weird name: Chrome Dome.
Leo said it truly enhances the flash on a camera, provided the camera is using an independent flash! That means it won’t work on the millions of compact cameras, digital or film, that most everybody uses. But Leo promises if you’re using a high end camera with a separate flash, the Chrome Dome will greatly enhance the results. I have own a camera with a separate flash, so I don’t be buying one, but Leo thinks it’s really hot! All the info is at Gary Fong’s website.
Elvis is IN the building!!!Actually it’s in my apartment right now! Wowwee Alive Elvis is a lifelike singing and talking bust of the best selling solo artist in U.S. history. Motion captured facial animations (I’m told he has ten motors) and a leather jacket styled from the “Elvis Presley ’68 Comeback Special” makes this a very authentic recreation ever of the “The King of Rock and Roll”. Be warned though if you forget he’s in the room and you suddenly turn and see him there, you will jump the first few times!It’s kind of scary. But not as scary as when I got Wowwee’s Chimpanzee bust and didn’t know he had sensors so he could turn his face and follow you across the room, letting out chimp squeals! BTW if you stand real close to Alive Elvis you will hear his motors moving his features. His many modes are controlled by his microphone which is cleverly designed to look exactly like the one his used in his 1968 Comeback Special. You can even plug in a microphone (not included) to sing along with Elvis. Or turn his vocals down and sing along with the track.The microphone shaped remote also gives you access tovolume, play/pause, song and monologue selector. Cartridge #1 which ships with Elvis, contains 37 Elvis monologues about his life and he sings eight of his best loved songs, including: That’s All Right, Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, Blue Suede Shoes, Trouble and Baby What You Want Me To Do.Power source: AC/DC adaptor included or you can use 8 “D” batteries (not included). You’ll still need 3 AA batteries for the remote even if you use the included AC adaptor. In checking around it seems Elvis will be available at the end of August. He isn’t cheap.$299.99!Butit seems from looking at the Sharper Image site that he ships with Cartridge #1 included in the price. (I was originally told Elvis was $249.99 and the cartridge was $49.99, but since you really need both, it makes more sense to sell them together.) http://www.wowweealiveonline.com/elvis/where.html Hear more about Elvis on this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw378
I think the actual bust of Elvis looks better than this Sharper Image photo.
Thursday, August 16th, Netcast 379 – Cardio Chek Okay, I’m not a doctor and I don’t even play one on TV! But at a trade show recently I had a chance to have my cholesterol checked with Cardio Chek, the first and only device to receive clearance from the FDA for at-home testing of important cardiovascular health indicators. The person at the booth administered the test and it really didn’t hurt when they pricked my finger to get a touch blood. The cholesterol figure they gave me about a minute after the blood was drawn was pretty much in line with what my doctor had told me at my last annual check up. They asked if I’d like to try a unit at home and I said “yes”, thinking it would be fun to keep track of my Cholesterol. I did get the kit. But of all days, it arrived on the day Leo and I decided I would just take a wrapped package without knowing what was inside and open it during the recording of the Daily Giz Wiz. The package contained The CardioChek Self-Test System. Now according to their website it “gives you the ability to determine your cholesterol ...any time, any place ... with a small drop of blood from a finger stick.” You get Total Cholesterol-HDL ("good") Cholesterol - Triglycerides Calculated LDL ("bad") Cholesterol* - *That last calculation requires Cholesterol, HDL and Triglycerides results. There is a bit of a learning curve, and I didn’t feel like pricking my finger during the show since you should both hands and your brain engaged while following very detailed instructions. But I must say to be able to do tests at home - very quickly, this seems to be a well thought out device. And Under $100. That includes strips for three tests. Optionaltests also available for glucose and ketones, key indicators of your body's blood sugar and fat metabolism. There are videos of the whole procedure at their website. www.cardiochek.com Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw379
Friday, August 17th, Back to the Warehouse. Netcast 380.
The Motorola MP3 Cell Phone Player.
Once upon a time, the idea of carrying your music along with cell phone wasn’t quite as convenient as it is today. Instead of an MP3 built right into the phone, the first way to carry your tunes with you that I knew about, was from Motorola. It was a separate MP3 player that daisy chained to your cell phone. It came with a whopping 64MB memory card and it only added $169 to the price of the phone. But it did work like today’s built in MP3 Players. With the phone rang, it did lower the volume and it did switch you to the phone functions. But it sure required carrying quite a few extra wires along with you!
Do you have computer devices with no “on/off” switches?Doesn’t that drive you nuts?
Help comes in the form of the Smart Strip Energy Saver With Autoswitching Technology
Seven outlets work together, autoswitching your devices on/off automatically, to save you money on your electric bills. 1225 joules of surge protection keep your equipment safe from even the harshest power spikes. Conveniently-spaced outlets and a 45-degree, angled space saver plug make the Smart Strip a friendly addition to your electronic systems. Recessed, lighted power switch and "switched outlets on" status indicator. Lay it behind the computer or use any of the 4 way wall mountable options. 6-Foot, 14 gauge, heavy-duty power cord with 45 degree angled space saver plug. The seven outlets on this strip are broken down this way: 1 Control – this is where you put the device that will control the devices in the switchedoutlets.My computer is plugged in here. There are 2 Always Hot. Constant Hot Outlets, and then 4 Switched outlets. One of the them has space for a large transformer plug and the other are 3 Standard outlets. These go off when the control device is shut off. There is three-way joule protection. There website lists all the specs. 15 amp circuit breaker with 2 Thermal/Current & 2 trace land fuses. And of course there is zero power used when the switched outlets are automatically off.The one I have retails for $30.95 with shipping.There are many other models with other features like protection for phone and cable lines. www.smartstrip.net
Turn The Table Tuesday, Netcast 372, August 7th, 2007 Leo travels alot so his TTTT gizmo this week is – ready?The Most Comprehensive Mobile Travel Service in the World This is from their website: Packed with virtually every travel tool you’ll need while on the road, WorldMate Professional Edition saves the busy professional time and hassle by providing critical, real-time travel information directly from your Windows Mobile device, anytime and anywhere. Travel light and leave those stacks of confirmation emails and itinerary printouts behind! Get 14 travel services, including:World Clocks /Global Weather Forecasts & Satellite Weather / Imagery /Real-Time Flight Status Updates /Comprehensive Flight Schedules/ Currency Converter and Exchange Rate Service / Travel Itinerary Manager and Desktop Itinerary Synchronization.There are different versions that range from free to about $80. www.mobimate.com Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw372 Wednesday, August 8th, 2007, Netcast 373 Now is the something pretty neat, but I wasn’t able to do a full test. Read on. It’s a way to charge a USB aboard an airplane like your iPod or PDA using the output from the plane’s headphone jack.Yep, you hear that right! Turn the audio to a channel that is playing loud music, crank up the volume and plug in the Inflight Charger. According to the company, the electrical properties of the device allow the audio channel to contribute a small amount of current continuously with the batteries in place in most cases. This will extend the life of the batteries, as the batteries are drawn near to dead, the LED will begin to flash, as the circuit will turn off until the audio input in addition to the remnant battery reach a critical threshold, then turn on the device LED.In this mode most of the current supplies is from the audio port.With no batteries the device will flash on every few minutes, based only on audio input.This can be demonstrated by following the instructions on the support website and listed below.So the audio input adds power at all times and become a majority contributor as the battery is used. I asked the company if there was a way to use the device WITH NO BATTERIES, and I got this reply: CABLE TEST PROCEDURE - To test the device with no battery boost You can test the product using just an IPOD, 1) simply download our power tone Right Click to download Power Tone Clip 2) download this file to your IPOD, using ITunes etc. 3) select Setting>Repeat = One from the main IPOD menu, this will loop or repeat the song played. 4) plug the Inflight Power Cable audio plug into the IPOD’s headset jack. 5) select Music>Songs>500HzPowerTone from the song list, play this song (really a tone not a song) 6) after 90 seconds of playing the power tone above, the Inflight Power Cable LED light will glow and you can plug the USB IPOD attachment into the IPOD bottom connector or plug-in a Blackberry USB cable and charge. It’s pretty interesting stuff! Depending on the connectors you order the price ranges from about $35 to $50. http://www.inflightpower.com/products.asp Hear this Netcast:www.twit.tv/dgw373
Thursday, August 9th, 2007Netcast 374Emerson Weather Alert Clock Radio
With all the weird weather going on in the world, here's a welcome addition.
The Emerson “All Alert” Clock Radio, (model CKW2000), is a radio alarm clock which offers audible and visual alerts when a severe weather warning is issued for your region by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). So you don't hear alerts that don't apply to you, the Emerson Research “All Alert” Clock Radio uses SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology to screen alerts. You program the unit for your area and then receive only those NOAA alerts that are intended for the specific county in which you reside. When an alert is received, you will hear an audible siren accompanied by a flashing indicator that identifies the alert as a “Warning”, a “Watch”, or a “Statement”. A scrolling text message on the clock display provides the actual alert message and the weather radio turns on automatically to provide additional information about the alert. The user can disable the audible siren for some of the non-emergency alerts. Battery back-up ensures the alarm sounds even in the event of a power interruption (4 “AA batteries required). The NOAA system also broadcasts AMBER alerts and is responsible for sending out notification in the event of emergencies such as water contamination, nuclear power plant emergencies and terror alerts.As the system is expanded in the future, the unit will be capable of transmitting warnings issued in the event of a wide range of emergency situations. Other features include digital tuning and a 10 preset AM and 10 preset FM station memory.The dual alarm function includes a 24 hour ‘set and forget’ system with snooze and a fall asleep to music setting. Available at Target stores nationwide, the Emerson Radio “All Alert” Clock Radio, model CKW2000, retails at $39.99.I think this is a very reasonable price for such a feature packed gizmo.
Friday, August 10th …..Netcast 375Back to the Dick’s Gadget Warehouse
Not it’s not a gadget, but a great find --- A copy of Antic Magazine.
This was the magazine for Atari Computer lovers! It’s the December 1984 issue with “6 type in programs”.Yes, you could spend hours and hours and copy out hundreds of lines of tiny two-column codes and then run them on your Atari computer.This issue contained the Buyer’s Guide with “125 Best Products to Turn On Your Atari”.My favorite was ScreenShooter.For just $169.00 it let you take a Polaroid Picture of your computer screen!
Over there on the right is the Screen Shooter in action. And look at how compact it was! This is one of those times you don't long for 'the good old days'. In the same issue you could buy a 64K memory board for just $149.95!
