Happy New Year! May all your gizmos and gadgets never become obsolete in 2009!
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----- IMPORTANT! Some Netcasts may not be online yet. They are usually available starting around midnight of the indicated date... But these are the gizmos and gadgets we'll be taking about, even if the show is not up yet uploaded to the Net.
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 another pair of earphones.
These are the new Monster Beats Tour via Doctor Dre.
Leo likes this 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 Tour 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. Beats Tour 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 do use care!) (I like this part:) These phone also feature the World’s First Tangle-Free Cable and the kit includes tips in multiple types and sized ensure a perfect fit. 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. In the box, you get Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour 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 at Amazon.
Monday, December 29th 2008 Yet another flashlight!But this is one I'm not going to buy. This is not ordinary flashlight. The Torch flashlight from Wicked Lasers is currently being reviewed by Guinness as the world's most powerful flashlight. At 4100 lumens, the Torch can easily start fires and even fry eggs. I used it to let a guy light his cigarette when I played with it at the Gizmodo Gizmo Galley that was open for a few days before Christmas.Not only can this flashlight light a cigarette, the case itself gets hot. The manufacturer says not to use it for more than a few minutes at a time. Don?t worry, you can?t use for long every if you wanted to. Why? Because the battery life is just 15 minutes. Then you have to recharge the battery pack! The bulb is a 100 watt Halogen with an expected life of 2000 hours. And it comes with a 6 month warranty. This certainly is a conversation piece, and you can light a dark room and make it look like daylight in a photo. But at $300, I?I'm stick to my bright LED flashlights and my Giz Wiz LED Cap. www.wickedlasers.com Watch an egg being cooked with this flashlight:
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008, Netcast 732 TTTT – Yes, it’s another Turn The Table Tuesday and Leo comes up with a gadget I have too.
It’s the TUNE BOARDSpeaker Keyboard from Verbatim. Whether you use your computer to watch videos on YouTube or listen to your favorite tunes, the Verbatim Speaker Keyboard for Windows (there’s a different version for MAC) is a great choice. It has integrated dual speakers, so this keyboard gives you very decent stereo sound right at your fingertips. You get a lot of features without cluttering up your space with speakers and cables. It also has easy keys to control volume and there’s a very effective boost bass button. Built in media buttons let you manage your music from the keyboard too. And of course I love the deep blue backlight illumination. You can easily type in a darkened room and see all the keys and symbols. You can turn on or off – depending on your surroundings or your mood.So with integrated speakers and backlighting, this Verbatim keyboard lets you turn down the lights, turn up the volume and enjoy a great music experience all plugged in with just a single USB cable. Under $80.
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Netcast 733 It’s New Year’s Eve. Is this something you might need when you wake up on New Year’s Day! This device let you take your temperature or anyone in the family’s temperature a quick, accurate and "non-invasive" way. It’s the Exergen Temportal Scanner. According to a Harvard Medical School study, the Exergen TemporalScanner Temporal Artery Thermometer is even more accurate than ear thermometers. In fact, the company says, it's comparable in accuracy to old reliable — the rectal thermometer. Remember those? Well this one is a lot easier to use. Just a gentle stroke of forehead --- from about center, either right or left to hairline -- captures naturally emitted heat from skin over the temporal artery. It takes just a few seconds. A red LED flashes and soft beep indicates correct scan is complete. It takes 1,000 readings per second, selecting the most accurate one. A patented Arterial Heat Balance feature computes the correct temperature. (We’ll take their word on that!) But it’s neat because it can be used on a sleeping baby or it can be used on children with ear infections. It works on a 9V battery, which is included. It’s available at places like Costco & Wal-Mart stores, under $30. Ready more details on taking and understanding temperature taking and readings at their website. http://www.exergen.com/ Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw733
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.
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.
