This is where you find all the gizmos and gadgets from the Daily GizWiz for September, 2007. Latest week is at the top. New gadgets are added until the entire month is posted here.
Week of September 24th, 2007
Monday, September 24th –
PurseGuard Ultra. An easy way for a woman to safeguard her purse against theft.
With PurseGuard Ultra, purses can be hung safely on the edge of almost any dining table and kept comfortably off of laps, and, more importantly, off of floors or backs of chairs where they can be easily stolen. Audio and LED light alarms go off if anyone attempts to lift purse and/or PurseGuard from edge of table. Can also be used as a one-LED flashlight. Zelco didn’t specify a weight limit, but I did try it with a 5 pound weight. And the weight was checked out with my UltraShip 55 scale!It can be used to hang just about anything else on it too, like a shopping bag, backpack, etc. Requires two lithium CR1220 coin-type replaceable batteries (included). $22.00
Tuesday, September 25, TTTT-- Yep, Turn the Table Tuesday -Netcast 407 -
Leo came up with a solid, up-to-date gadget.Yep, it’s on the expensive side, but it’s no Toothpick Bird!It’s the new Hi-Def, 3CCD Palmcorder Camcorder
From Panasonic: 1920x1080-Pixel Recording, Optical Image Stabilizer and Leica Lens, Records to SD Memory Card. Full-HD Recording. Images recorded by conventional HD camcorders have only 1,440 horizontal pixels, while full-HD camcorders have 1,920 — that's about 30 percent more recording pixels! The result is a level of detail and resolution that goes beyond anything you've ever experienced before. And because full-HD recordings contain a vast amount of picture information, they look beautiful not only on high-definition TVs, but on standard-definition TVs as well. Advanced O.I.S. Reduces Camera Shake. The HDC-SD5 comes with a world-class Leica Dicomar lens, fashioned specifically for high-definition digital camcorders. The superior craftsmanship of Leica's advanced lens system captures stunning images and colors that look magnificent in HD. Combined with Panasonic's advanced 3CCD system, which uses three separate sensors to capture and process light, you can relive your memories in lifelike detail on your HDTV screen. Record on SD Card and Easily Transfer to DVD. The HDC-SD5's USB Host function lets you connect directly to a DVD burner by using a USB cable. You can copy recordings from the SD Memory Card to a DVD disc, maintaining the original full-HD format. Or use the included software to burn a full-HD recording from an SD Memory Card to a DVD disc on your PC. $999.99.or real close to $1,000.
Can your electric toothbrush broadcast what it’s doing?
Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide ProfessionalCare 9910 toothbrush is something new in a cordless toothbrush.It uses a RFID (Radio Identification Frequency) microchip to send info from the brush to a wireless LCD display.A circle divided into four arcs shows you how long you should spend on each quadrant, which is 30 seconds. After 30 seconds the brush pulses to tell you to move on to the next area. Once 2 minutes is up, the recommended time dentist’s say you should spend to brush your teeth – the circle turns into a smiley face. That means you can stop brushing if you like. Otherwise the timer keeps on counting. Another LCD display on the handle shows battery status. I don’t keep the charger near the toothbrush, but I return it for a full charge about once every couple of weeks. Oral B says regular brushing for two minutes twice a day should power the Triumph for about that long. The display also tells which of the four modes the brush is in and it even tells you if you’re applying too much pressure! The Triumph comes with one FlossAction brush head. Kind of stingy I think for a brush that costs close to $150. But you can buy replacement brush heads for about $5 bucks each. ($15 per 3/pk.). If you've never used a cordless toothbrush, there is a learning curve. The instruction booklet tells you that you might see some slight gum bleeding for the first few uses, but I didn’t have that problem. $149.99.
New from our friends atScott-e-Vest --- The Ultimate Hoodie
The Ultimate Hoodie is perfect for fall weather.It’s comfortable and packed with hidden features. The patented Personal Area Network (PAN) provides integrated wire management for iPods and other devices. Special earbud loops keep your music within easy reach. Eleven strategically located and ergonomically designed pockets/compartments manage your gear, no matter what you need to carry with you. I like their integrated Weight Management System. It means you can put a heavy items in a pocket and not feel it’s weight. Also there’s no bulge on the outside of the jacket. The Ultimate Hoodie is made of comfortable, lightweight micro fleece. A new thin net pocket on the sleeve lets you control your iPod right through the fabric. Another nice feature are the magnetic closures on the pockets to keep your essentials secure. Other great features include a built-in extendible keychain, a secret pocket and a 2-way front zipper. I must admit I’m not a big fan of 2-way zippers. I can never get them to open from the bottom up!Price: $69.99Don’t forget to use the “twit” code to get 20% off any Scottevest clothing!
The Rio 500 Diamond Multimedia MP3 Player – Back to1999
According to one sounce, the Rio 500 was the first MP3 player to allow file transfer via USB cable. It also offered both PC and Mac support. Memory?How about 64 MB of flash memory! There was however an expansion card slotfor a Smart Media card. It was powered by one AA battery. Manufacturer's rated battery life of 13 hours. But listen to this: The Rio 500 had come a long way over its predecessor- with double the memory of the earlier Rio 300,
Hear it for yourself on this episode of the Daily Giz Wiz.
Logitech ClearChat Pro USB.This is the latest USB headset from Logitech. I don’t know what it means but this new model has Laser-tuned audio drivers. What I do know is that Leo sounded the best he ever has since we started doing the Netcasts. Perhaps this time he was fully awake, but I rather think it was the upgraded headset. On one ear cup you’ll find the SoundSwitch equalizer with three presets, which instantly optimize audio for Internet communications, music, or PC gaming. A rotating, noise-canceling microphone puts the focus on your voice by reducing background chatter. I like the new easy-access volume and mute controls on the headset that lets you quickly adjust audio. It also has a mute button also built into one of the earpiece. So you know it’s in “mute” position there’s an LED the glows red. If you want to use your headsets to listen to music, the mic rotates out of the way. USB, plug-and-play connection. Under $50
Turn The Table Tuesday, September 18th, Netcast 402
This week’s TTTT was a light years ahead of the toothpick bird, but not for everyone. But if you use a prosumer digital camera like Leo does, this will appeal to you. And some others too! Here’s the info from the Sandisk website:
SanDisk Extreme IV Extreme 4GB CF card with FireWire Reader
SanDisk 4 GB Extreme IV CompactFlash Card and Extreme FireWire Reader Bundle. SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash Cards are for the high end professional photographers, who require the highest possible performance and the largest capacities for their medium format digital camera backs and high end digital single lens reflex/ SLR/ cameras. Extreme IV memory cards feature innovative ESP/ Enhanced Super Parallel Processing/ technology to obtain extremely fast speeds and high performance. You get the fastest read/write speeds available today with up to 40MB/second sequential read and write speed. The SanDisk Extreme FireWire CompactFlash Card Reader is a high performance reader, which provides a complete digital system solution for your photography needs. It offers the highest Transfer Speed and performance with a transfer rate of up to 40MB/second with sequential read and write. It has one slot for CF Type I and II, and supports FireWire 800/400 connectivity on both Windows and Macintosh Operating Systems, and draws power directly from the FireWire interface with no external AC power. Online Price: $199.99 Leo said the card itself without the high speed reader is about $90.
Is it a flask?No it’s the eGo Portable Hard Drive from Iomega
There are so many portable hard drives in the marketplace, companies strive to do something a little different to make theirs stand out. Iomega succeeded with style and some nice specs. Not being able to test it myself I ran over to our friends at CNET.com to find this. The Iomega eGo was one of the fastest portable hard drives we've tested over USB. It wrote a 10GB folder of mixed file types in 9 minutes, 54 seconds. The Seagate FreeAgent Go wrote the same folder in 10 minutes, 33 seconds. The Iomega eGo read back that same folder to the testbed drive in 8 minutes, 11 seconds; the FreeAgent Go took just a few more seconds to do the job. The drive also comes with a license for software that performs automatic backups, though the software needs to be downloaded to be installed, it does not come on the drive itself. The supplied hook up cable features a double ended Under $110 via dell website.
Also on this Netcast we talked about the Scratch Pad, a way to protect guitarsI learned about them from a devoted Daily GizWiz listener, and since I knew the eGo Hard Drive would be easy to describe, we tried to give this new product a plug. I know it’s not for everyone, but it beats some of Leo’s TTTT! Scratch Pad is an attractive, NON-ADHESIVE, REMOVABLE guitar finish protector which is easily applied, removed and re-applied to another guitar in seconds. It’s multi-layered design shields your guitar from the scratches, dings and impact-divots which are caused by belt buckles, buttons, zippers, snaps, pocket rivets and... the abrasive effect of denim. It uses a patented "Soft-Cling" technology which allows Scratch Pad to cling gently but securely to your guitar or bass WITHOUT the use of adhesives, elastic bands or vinyl films. There are more than 20 available designs. Scratch Pad retails for under $27.00 www.scratchpadusa.com. Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw403
Here's a quick, pretty reasonable way to get back to your childhood without regression therapy!
This person was intrigued by their CRAYON COLOGNE.I got in contact with Wendy Papula from Perpetual Kid and she sent me a sample bottle of the Crayon Cologne. Sure enough, one whiff and it brings you back to your childhood when you opened that new box of crayons. The company that makes the cologne, Demeter, creates scents that are drawn from memories to transport a person back to a special place or time. It's as if smell provides a shortcut to fond memories and brings them back in just a few whiffs. 1.0 fl. oz. of Crayon Cologne is $18.99.Also available are the scents ofPlay-Doh, Vanilla Cake Batter, Orange Cream Pop, Vinyl, even Cotton Candy. Here a couple of other fun things we found at Perpetual Kid.
Are you happy or sad the Bush is leaving office?That was a hypothetical question… please don't email our customer service department!Count down the days until Bush is out with our handy Bush's Last Day Countdown Keychain! Whether you're crying in your beer or celebrating with champagne - let our keychain share that special moment with you! Measures: approx 3" long x 2" tall. $12.99. You can change the count down time to anything you wish, but of course you'll have to change the Bush Countdown label. http://www.perpetualkid.com/
USB RETRO LAMP
Are you tired of using those normal and traditonal desk lamps? Try this Stylish USB Retro Lamp! It's the perfect gadget to decorate your desktop or notebook!
Retro design Gentle light USB powered 6 LED lights On/Off switch Flexible neck to adjust the lamp direction Available in Orange or Purple
Friday, September 21st, Netcast 405 Back to the Warehouse Friday A brand new addition to the Gadget Warehouse, but it’s from January, 2001. This was sent to me by Lee Deforest who thought it deserved to be remembered in Dick’s Gadget Warehouse. It’s the Car Cell Phone System from Sharper Image. Here’s some info from the six year old press release.The Car Call Phone System plugs into your dash and turns your cell phone into a hands-free car speakerphone. Best of all, it features exclusive, patented continuous digital recording Hear It Again Technology so you can instantly "capture the past". It works by storing the prior 20 seconds of any conversation or message. So at any point - just by pressing a button you can capture directions, phone numbers, etc. uttered in the past 20 seconds. The Car Cell Phone System's built-in 2 1/4-inch speaker and adjustable boom microphone offer superior sound clarity. When not in use, the system continuously and automatically charges your cell phone's battery. Works with EarHugger earpiece (SU001). Available for any Nokia model starting with 51 or 61, or for Motorola Star-Tac. $130 Hear this Netcast www.twit.tv/dgw405
Week of September 10th, 2007
Monday,September 10thNetcast 396
It’s a whole new “wave” in keyboard design.
Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave. A new shape for keyboard comfort. The curved keyboard promotes a more ergonomically correct hand position. It comes bundled with a high-performance wireless laser mouse. The mouse features contoured sides and soft rubber grips for precision and control. Easy access to Windows Vista features. Although I found a lot of the access buttons worked on Windows XP too. Instant media access means you don’t have boot up your computer for entertainment functions like playing CD’s. Logitech says you can enjoy extended battery life—up to 15 months for the keyboard and 6 months for the mouse. Battery status lights on both the keyboard and mouse alert you when power is getting low. Batteries are standard AA’s. If they last as long as Logitech says I prefer that to having a battery charger stand on the desk. Price for the system is under $90.The keyboard is available alone for under $50. One thing you should be aware of. The wrist rest is built in and cannot be moved. That makes the keyboard rather deep. So if it is to go on a roll over keyboard shelf you have to make sure there’s enough room for it.
Turn The Table Tuesday. This is not a bad choice from Leo, especially if you’re into podcasting or involved into any sort of recording directly into your computer.
(The link above will take you to Sam Ash Music where this is sold for under $125.00)
Finally, a compact USB interface that plugs right into your microphone! The MicPort Pro from CEntrance is a professional USB mic preamp with true plug-and-play installation. It enables instant computer recording with Windows (XP and Vista) and Mac OSX and features 24-bit/96kHz performance, 48V phantom power, and a loud headphone output. No drivers, no wizards, no headaches. Just plug it in and you are ready to record!
Record Anytime, Anywhere At home or on the road, MicPort's compact, USB-powered design offers maximum audio fidelity and minimal system configuration. Protected by a rugged chassis, MicPort's low-noise circuitry preserves high-quality audio. The onboard headphone jack delivers zero-latency monitoring via direct circuit. Mic gain and headphone volume adjustment couldn't be easier with MicPort's two conveniently located rotary controls.
A new version of the Weather Cast Wireless Forecaster.They’ve added an alarm clock!
It the NEW WeatherCast Alarm Clock 5-Day Wireless Weather Forecaster that lets you
wake to the weather. This compact alarm clock gives you the same AccuWeather 5-day forecasts as our original forecaster. Features the same real-time AccuWeather info, the same easy-to-read icons as Brookstone’s original forecaster, plus a built-in alarm clock. A new feature also gives a detailed 24-hour forecast with weather icons for each part of the day. 3" x 4 1/2" screen. Uses 2 AA batteries (not included). The WeatherCast Alarm Clock 5-Day Wireless Weather Forecaster receives free real-time radio signals in most US communities. No computer, no wiring. The five-day weather forecast is beamed to you wirelessly, by radio signal, for real time conditions. No setting your city either. The forecaster also recognizes your geographical location. See the next 24 hours in detail
Now you can view the 24-hour forecast in detail. Mini icons depict expected conditions for each part of the upcoming day.
Wake to the weather-Wake up to the alarm and day’s detailed weather forecast on the 3” x 4.5” screen..$100XL version 6” X 6”$125 ….No clock version $85
Thursday, September 13th Netcast 399 It’s a simple, inexpensive gadget, but people love it.Even Leo. It’s the Peel & Stick Chalkboard. Now you can have a chalkboard anywhere you like. These vinyl chalkboard panels come in four colors: Slate Gray, Blueprint Blue, Schoolhouse Green and Grape. You can apply them to any clean, dry, smooth surface. A perfect place would be inside a school locker so students can write down assignment dates or class schedules. Or use as a message board in the dorm room. At home toddlers can play pretend 'go to school'. Four 9" x 12" panels per pack. You can remove and reposition the panels too if you like. Chalk included. .Under $17. www.wallies.com Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw399 Friday, September 14th, Netcast 400!!!Yes, 400! It’s back to warehouse Friday!The Tapwave Zodiac2 This was a gadget that I thought was going to do big things! So did the folks at Gadgeteer who wrote this review in November, 2003. Gadgeteer Hands On Review - November 13, 2003 Hey Sony, you better be watching your back, because there's a new kid on the block and he's come ready to play. Or maybe I should say that he's come to go. do. and play.At least that is the motto that Tapwave has selected for their company. This Silicon Valley startup was founded in 2001, and is now the most talked about new Palm OS licensee on the planet due to their much anticipated Zodiac handheld. Sorry Sony...(End of review.) Yes, the Tapwave Zodiac 2 had a lot going for it. But it had some short comings too. Like the memory: The Zodiac1 has 32MB, amd the Zodiac2 an amazing 128MB. Of that 12MB was reserved for system use. The screen was nice:3.8 inch transflective display, 480 x 320 (half VGA), 16-bit color backlit display (65,536 colors). It has built in stereo speakers, USB, Infrared, Bluetooth and dual expansion slots for MultiMediaCards,Here’s the full review. http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/tapwave_zodiac2_review Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw400 I love doing The Daily GizWiz and I appreciate the fact that so many of you find our silliness enjoyable! We plan on continuing until someone gets a court order to make us stop!
Dick De
************************************************************************************************ Play the "WHAT THE HECK IS IT" game and win an autographed copy of MAD Magazine!
Go to the bottom of the opening page: www.gizwiz.biz and guess what they gizmo is. It can what it reall is, or you can make up a silly answer. Every month we give away up to 48 autographed copies of MAD. Full details next to the photo!
The Bedfan goes at the foot of your bed. It’s thin and quiet. You install it so the adjustable top is about 1 to 2” above your mattress. Then you make your bed as you normally would. Only now you tuck your top sheet in around the Bedfan cooling system. If you’re a hot sleeper Bedfan can help by blowing air between the sheets! It has a fully adjustable speed dial that you can place right near or under your pillow. This allows you to find your own personal cool zone without moving from the comfort of your bed. Turn it low for a little relief or turn it all the way up for a super cooling effect. And don’t worry….you can find your cool zone where night sweats will no longer exist, without freezing out your bed partner, because the cooling breeze will only surround you! I tried it and it works. It’s quiet too, so you won’t hear any noise. But I must admit I sleep with a window fan on all night just so the room has “white noise” to cover any outside sounds. $69.95.
It’s another Turn The Table Tuesday and Leo had another gizmo from the big box of stuff from Marky Sparky Toys. This time is was Big Jack.
From their website:Big Jack is all about self esteem. What greater thrill is there than sending a ball farther than you ever thought possible. Big Jack acts as a launching pad, trampolining the ball so far you'll start dreaming about the big leagues. The secret ingredient is the patented air pressurization. The air pressure strengthens the bat while sending the ball huge distances. It generates enormous power while still being light enough to get good bat speed. This combo is unprecedented. We have matched our bat to an equally innovative ball. The Big Jack ball has some really cool features. As well as being pressurized too, it only weighs 80 gms. $24.95 includes bat and ball.
Another trip down Memory Lane!It’s ready to go once you put in batteries and hook it up to the video and audio (mono) inputs on any TV.There in the palm of your hand is a button, a joystick and six built in game. Included are Pac Man, Super Pac Man, Pac & Pal, Rally-X and a few other plug and play games of the past.It’s a great value and sells for around $18 to $20.You just need to add the four AA batteries. There’s no blood shed so it family friendly!!!
Here's a backpack that packs its own raincoat! From Targus. The Targus Flare Backpack is designed to accommodate notebooks with up to 15.4” screens. The interior workstation includes an ID holder, cell phone pocket, key clip and pen loops and plenty of storage compartments for mobile accessories. The Flare backpack features locking zipper pulls on the notebook compartment for additional security in airports or other crowded areas. Here’s something I don’t recall seeing in any other backpack. To make sure your notebook and other belongings are protected from the elements, the Flare backpack includes a water-resistant bottom and a hidden rain fly. The rain fly is elastic and pulls out to cover the backpack and help keep personal items dry during wet weather. For added support and carrying convenience, the removable waist strap, ergonomic 3D mesh padded shoulder straps and back panel allow for equal weight distribution to help prevent back strain. Two side water bottle pockets. Under $60 For about $10 more Targus makes a slightly different version with wheels. So if you have real heavy stuff to cover, check that one out too.
Have a ton of books, or other heavy things to carry? Targus also make a rolling backpack. Targus also makes a Rolling Notebook Back. The TSB700 glides on in-line skate wheels and includes a 2-tier telescoping locking handle. A protective rear flap holds the shoulder straps in place when using it as a roller, then lower the flap to cover the wheels for greater comfort when in backpack mode. For additional convenience it has a handle grip on the bottom of the case that allows for easy lifting into your car or an airline overheard compartment. www.targus.com Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw394 Friday, September 7th Back to Warehouse, Netcast 395
Betcha never saw anything like this before! Handle LightThis is a strange gadget I think I picked up at the Hardware Show about six years ago. Here are the claims for Handle Light.Aerosol products can be safely and more efficiently dispensed in dark or dimly lit areas using "Handle Light." This gun-shaped device features a light, and holds aerosol cans in an upright position so that the spray and light are focused on the target.Using this device, individuals could reduce the likelihood of getting toxic substances like undercoating, insect repellent, paint and lubricants in their eyes or on their hands. Searching the web, I found that “The inventor is searching for a distributor or licensee.”So I assume it is not in the marketplace yet. However if you want to buy them in bulk, that does seem possible, because I also found this on the web: Available in four colors: red, blue, purple and yellowIncludes one frosted light bulb for close range spraying, one clear bulb for distance spraying and flashlight use, and AA batteries Blister packed with hang card for retail sale Discount pricing for orders of 24 or more. http://inventionplace.com/inventions/h/handle_light/index.asp Hear this Netcast:www.twit.tv/dgw395
