Contigo BPA Free Hydration Bottles with AutoSeal Technology.

Monday, June 22^nd, 2009 Netcast 856

What’s in a water bottle? For years I thought, “water”. But water storage contains turn out to be quite a huge industry with various stages of technology being employed. My introduction to Contigo BPA Free Hydration Bottles with AutoSeal Technology came via the kindness of a Daily Giz Wiz listener, Jeffry Vento. He said he had bought a set of three Contigo water bottles and liked them so much he ordered an extra set and had them sent to me! I tried them and liked them so much I decided to use them as a Daily Giz Wiz gadget. So on the day we’re recording the show, I start talking about them and Leo goes to Amazon to look them up. Then he realizes that he had just ordered a Contigo water bottle for himself. But not the BPA-Free Plastic kind, he ordered a stainless steel model! Leo said he learned about Contigo from watching joggers all carrying a particular kind of water bottle. The thing people like about these bottles, and that I found useful too, is the one-handed open/close drinking slot. As you tilt the bottle toward your mouth, one finger of your hand pushes a release button at the back of the bottle and spout opens. When you let go, the spout closes and seals so you don’t spill any water. People like these bottles because an air vent opens along with the drinking spout. That means water flows easily and you don’t have to “suck out” the water. The bottle holds 750 ml or 24 oz of water. They’re made with BPA Free Plastic, so there’s no plastic taste & nothing strange in the composition of the bottle to pollute your water. There’s a Carabiner clip so you can hang the bottle from a bag or backpack. These are not inexpensive. A three pack (they’re available in many colors) is under $40.00. A single bottle is about $15. The stainless steel one that Leo ordered is about $20.

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw856

You’ve heard of “clock watcher”? This is a clock that watches you!

It's back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse Friday, June 19^th, 2009

The P3 International Desk Clock Video Camera was actually a spy device. My model still works, although I don't use it.  It tells time, but it also can tell employers what they’re employees do, or parents what baby-sitters do,  by recording their every move. A small video camera hidden in the clock is hooked to a recording device such as a VHS recorder. Looking at the clock, you would never expect it was a spy device. The camera is hidden in that dark plastic strip right at the center, under the clock face. The output from the video camera is a single RCA plug, so there is no sound, just video. And the camera records in black & white because monochrome needs far less light for good results than color requires. This gadget was from P3 International. The company is still much around. They make a lot of useful devices like the Kill-A-Watt, a device that lets you measure how much electric power various appliances in your home use:

http://tinyurl.com/436sw. The desk clock video camera is no longer around. If you need a device like that now however, just do a web search. I was surprised at how many spy camera exist, hidden in all sorts of devices. Most are expensive, in the $300 to $400 range, but if you need to know what's going on when you're not around, I guess it's worth it.

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw855 

The Samsung U5 Manages to be a different kind of MP3 Player.

Thursday, June 18^th, Netcast 854

The Samsung U5, depending on the model, contains 2, 4, or 8 GB of internal memory. It also had a built in mic, a tiny OLED screen, an FM tuner, and an internal battery that gives (according to Samsung) a very decent 18 hours of use. The mini MP3 player market is a crowded field, but the U5 distinguishes itself by adding animated characters, which Samsung calls Popcon, (not popcorn) to the tiny OLED screen. You get to choose one of 11 Popcon characters (or you can create your own) and even name it. Your Popcon not only greets you when you boot up the U5, it becomes your workout partner. Why do you want a workout partner on a tiny MP3 player? Because there’s a built in fitness program in the U5. No, it’s not a heavy-duty program (prices start under $40!) but it can keep track of how long you work out, and once you tell it the exercise activity you’re involved in, it can figure out the estimated calorie burn. The tiny OLED screen even shows album art when available. It ships with white ear buds and a belt clip. The ear buds sound better than most, especially at this price. You can listen to podcasts using Samsung’s software, and there is a built-in voice recorder for your own recordings. The FM radio includes an FM-recording function. All in all, you get a lot of features for a player that sells for under $40 – for the 2GB version. The 4 & 8 GB model may not happen in the US, so if you like the U5, don't wait for a larger capacity model.

Be sure to see the Inside DGW page for what a Giz Wiz version of the U5 might look like. (Thanks to Alfred Chan!) http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/inside-dgw/ 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw854  

Update on June 18, 2009 by The Giz Wiz

A spokesperson for Samsung said that the 2GB model may be the only model of the U5 available. So if you're interested in one, don't wait for a bigger memory model. It may never be.

It's Boating Season, so The Giz Wiz uncovers a high tech boating gadget.

Wednesday, June 17th, Netcast 853

Add the Snapper Boat Latch to the list of things you can operate by remote control. This new device allows the boater to release their rig from the trailer via a remote key fob. No wading out into the water, or trying to balance on a slippery trailer tongue. Here’s how it works. The winch hook is removed from the bow eye prior to the trailer being backed into the water. The Snapper Boat Latch is now holding the boat. When the boat’s in the water ready to be launched, the boater activates the remote and the bow eye is released. There’s a red LED indicator that turns off once the bow eye passes back through the Snapper Boat Latch jaws. That means the boat is free and you can back it away. When it’s time to load the boat back on the trailer, the boater activates the Snapper Boat Latch remote as he drives toward the trailer. The red LED indicator lights to indicate the SNAPPER Boat Latch is set to receive and secure the boat once the bow eye passes through the latch jaws. The remote control works up to a range of about 50 feet. Once the red LED goes out, the boat trailer can be moved to dry ground and the boat can be further secured to the trailer winch hook. The company says you might have to install a new bow eye on your boat for the Snapper to work properly. The system comes with 12 volt waterproof connections and costs about $400.00. There’s a demo and more information at

www.epcomarineproducts.com

 Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw853

On this Turn The Table Tuesday Leo finds a new Bluetooth Headset he loves! The BlueAnt Q1

Tuesday, June 16^th, 2009, Netcast 852 TTTT

No, that's not Leo after Photoshop!The reason Leo is so excited about the BlueAnt Q1 is that it can understand a large range of voice commands. It uses advanced Voice Recognition software to allow the user to control the headset and many phone functions just by using their voice. That's right: talk to it and it will talk to you. If you want to hear a list of the available commands; click the BlueAnt button below and look for the "What Can I Say?" button. I don’t have this unit, so here’s more info provided by the company. The BlueAnt Q1 incorporates dual microphones and BlueAnt's superior Voice Isolation Technology - an advanced software solution that separates the user's voice from all other sounds resulting in outstanding call quality, no matter where you are. (Here’s something else Leo liked:) It supports true multipoint - connect two phones at the same time and answer the one that rings. You can pair it with up to 8 devices. Up to 4 hours talk time and 100 hours standby. The Dual Microphones and BlueAnt's Voice Isolation Technology ensure that you are always heard, even in the noisiest of environments. Custom internal wind-shields reduce wind noise to a whisper. The firmware is upgradeable via USB on your PC.

http://www.blueantwireless.com/q1/features.html

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw852