Save the environment by reusing AA & AAA batteries.

Batteries! Our gadget can’t live without them. Well the ones that take batteries, that is! Batteries aren’t very sexy, but thanks to a Daily Giz Wiz fan (whose email I can’t find) told me to check out this new LaCrosse Battery Charger from Think Geek. (Yep, the same LaCrosse who make neat weather gadgets!) This battery charger has lots of geeky features! It works with all NiCd and NiMH "AA" and "AAA" rechargeable batteries and it can charge AA & AAA batteries simultaneously. The LCD display shows the capacity for each of the batteries when charging is complete. It won’t charge defective batteries and has overheat detection to protect over-charging. But wait there’s more! The battery charger can also be put in one of four different modes: Charge, Discharge, Refresh and Test mode. The Refresh mode can help to restore old re-chargeable batteries to their optimum condition. The LCD display provides an individual readout for each of the four compartments and can show charging current (in mA), time elapsed (in hh:mm), terminal voltage (in V) and accumulated capacities (in mAh or Ah). But wait, there’s even more! You not only get the LCD charger, the kit also includes: 4 ”AA” NiMH 1.2v Batteries and 4 ”AAA” NiMH 1.2v Batteries! Yep, there’s more still! , You get a durable Nylon Travel Bag, AC Power Adapter, plus 4 ”C” Size Battery Adapters, and 4”D” Size Battery Adapters. That means you can use your charged AA or AAA batteries in devices that take C or D batteries! (Model BC-9009) Price is a very reasonable $39.99!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/b7fd/

A quick way to add soap when you wash your hands.

This is the latest Touch-Free soap dispenser from Simple Human. With a really bad flu session upon us, there’s whole new awareness of washing hands often to get rid of germs. That’s why this gizmo could be a welcome addition to your kitchen or bathroom. If you have trouble getting your kids to wash their hands, having this “magic” gadget will most likely have them washing their hands often. Simply place your hand under the sensor and it will dispense a measured amount of soap automatically and stop. An LED display lights up when the sensor is activated. By pressing a button on the unit you can select any of the four volume settings that allow the pump to dispense preset amounts of soap or lotion. I’m using Dial Antibacterial Liquid Soap and I found the lowest setting works best. You can use it to dispense hand soap by the bathroom sink or dishwashing soap by a kitchen sink. It can also be used to dispense hand lotion or hand sanitizer. But it’s not recommended for very thin liquids or exfoliants. It operates on 4 AA batteries, which are not included. Right now it’s available only on the Simple Human website, but it will be available in stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond soon. Price is $29.95 on the website, but that might be less when it’s in retail.

http://www.simplehuman.com/products/soap-pumps/sensor-soap-pump-2.html

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw954

Blowing our own horn!

2009 Quick Facts about the Podcast Awards.

  

More than 321,000 people submitted nominations!

  

Over 3500 shows nominated.

 

Total Page loads to podcastawards.com during nomination and review process: 3,642,000

  

Among Ten Nominees for People's Choice: The Daily Giz Wiz

  

Among Ten Nominees for Best Comedy Podcast: The Daily Giz Wiz.

 

You can vote daily until November 30th. www.podcastawards.com

An easy way to help keep that Pacifier germ-free.

Pacifiers act as a breeding ground for germs. Now there’s an easier way than constantly washing it. It’s the new Pipila UV Pacifier Sanitizer. The Pipila preserves your baby’s health and your sanity when the ‘fier hits the floor. With this first ever-portable UV Pacifier device, you won’t be slowed down each time your tot’s toy needs a good cleaning. •Eliminates up to 99.9% of harmful germs in about 6 minutes. It accommodates all standard pacifiers and the pacifier nipple shape not changed by the sterilization process. It’s portable and compact, so you can take it on the road, in the airplane, on trips anywhere. It operates with only 2 AAA batteries, which are not included. Manufacturer’s suggested age: Newborn and Up. Weighs only 0.3 Lb. This device has been a big hit in Europe and now it’s in America. Right now it’s available at Target for $29.95.

http://www.target.com/Pipila-Portable-UV-Pacifier-Sterilizer/dp/B001P3V64U/sr=1-10/qid=1258597908/ref=sr_1_10/175-4302414-1119816?ie=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-index&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Apacifier&page=1

Company website: www.pipilausa.com  

Burr grinding and a lot more in this high end coffee maker.

I’m a big fan of the Capresso Coffee Team Therm. But about two months ago the folks at Capresso asked if I’d like to try to new machine that was about to hit the marketplace. Me, try out a new gadget? I guess that sounds okay. Of course I told them: “Yes!!!”. The new machine is the Capresso CoffeeTeam GS. It’s a fully programmable 10-Cup Coffee Maker with a built in conical burr grinder.  As soon as I mention burr grinder on the Daily Giz Wiz, Leo jumped in with – “burr grinder - that’s the best kind!” And it is to get the most aroma and favor from coffee beans without heating them the way some other grinders do. My last two Capresso coffee makers had a mechanical arm that moved the filter with the freshly ground beans into place over the carafe before the brewing process started. In this latest GS version the beans are custom ground and the water flows through them with no mechanical arm necessary. It makes for a very high tech, streamed look. (It’s black with Stainless Steel accents.) Clean up is still quick & easy. There’s a 6-ounce capacity bean container with a detachable see-through cover for easy cleaning of the grinder channel. The Digital Control Panel has a programmable Clock/Timer, 5 programmable brew amounts for 2-10 cups, and 3 programmable coffee strength settings. There are 2 Mode settings: “Grind/Brew” - for grinding programmed amount of whole beans directly into the Gold Tone Filter, (I’m using paper filters) or “Brew” if you’re using coffee that’s already ground. A filter release button opens the swing out filter holder for simple cleaning or changing. If you need it, a charcoal water filtration removes up to 82% of chlorine and other impurities from tap water. The filter holder and one charcoal filter are included. And if you leave in a hurry and forget to shut the pot, a 2-hour safety shut-off will do it for you, Finally, I can’t live without the Stop-and-Serve feature. You can grab a quick cup of freshly made hot coffee before the brewing cycle is finished. The nonstick-coated warming plate holds the coffee at a nice, hot 200-degree brew temperature. $180.00

http://www.capresso.com/coffee-makers-coffee-team-gs.shtml

Here’s a listing on Amazon, but I haven’t shopped here:

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-464-05-CoffeeTeam-Digital-Coffeemaker/dp/B002EVOVPI

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw968