Forget that table-top printer. This 3D BigRep One can print the table!

At the New York 3D Print Show there were of course all kinds of 3D printers. But one that really stood out was the BigRep ONE. This is no counter top 3D printer. The BigRep One is a full-scale format 3D printer with an 1147 x 1000 x 1188 mm (1.4 m³) working volume. In inches that’s approximately 45” X 39” X 47”, or 49 cubic feet of printing volume. While conventional 3D printers produce hand-sized objects, BigRep One can create objects in a full-scale format, like the end table they printed in Germany just before shipping the device to NYC for the printer’s debut. The company says it can be used for printing projects from complex architectural or artistic objects to rock solid engineering parts. You can also print several different projects at one time as long as they fit on the printing plate. But complex devices could take a week or more to print. I didn't have a tape measure with me, but the printer itself is probably about 5' X 5' X 5'.  If you're a designer, the BigRep One could be a great asset. For the rest of us, it still might be Ikea for buying end tables. BigRep One should start shipping in April, 2014 and costs $39,000, not including shipping or taxes. 

More company info: www.bigrep.com 

Giz Wiz Video from the 3D Print Show: http://youtu.be/0FV39vQiD8g

A Clever Gadget For Under $20.

This is a neat little gadget. TwoHands II from Felix opens wide to hold small and large tablets, ereaders and even smart phone in landscape or portrait mode. By sliding TwoHands II up or down your device, it lets you find the angle that’s best for working or viewing. To avoid glare outside you might want an upright angle, for movie viewing or swiping through your cookbook, you might want a much more angled view. Whatever your need, just slide the two hands up or down as you watch the screen for the best angle. It’s available in many color options and black or white. The company, Felix, says it should work with just about any modern tablet out there that has a maximum dimension of 10.5" or less and is 3/8" or thinner. TwoHands II is under $25. You can find it on Amazon at the link below for under $20. And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, shipping is free. 

Giz Wiz YouTube Video Demo: http://youtu.be/doq0dbBbji4

Company website:http://felixbrand.com/products/twohands

See or hear more about this on The Giz Wiz Show: www.twit.tv/giz1454

Now you can charge your smart phone as you boil water over the campfire.

This unique 'camping stove pot' is more than a way to boil water. It contains a lightweight thermoelectric generator that converts heat into DC electrical power. In other words when you’re boiling water for tea or coffee, you can be charging your cell phone or other USB device at the same time. Just add cold water to the pot and place it on the campfire or even a stove, and the PowerPot will start powering up your mobile electronics. It comes equipped with a standard USB (5V) port, making it compatible most devices you already own. So your device is safely away from the heat, it comes with three feet of heavy-duty, flame-resistant wire. The built-in solid-state voltage regulator provides up to 5W of power to charge your high-tech devices. I tried the PowerPot on my stove at home. In about 10 seconds the green charging light lit. I plugged in my Galaxy S4 phone and it immediately went into charging mode. So this is not only good for use on a camping trip, but also during a power outage at home. (Assuming you don’t have an electric stove.) The company says their PowerPot will charge cell phones, GPS units, iPods, and lithium ion batteries or will run speakers, lights, fans, or other low-power USB appliances. (Remember we’re talking USB, not AC.) $149.00

http://www.thepowerpot.com/

A pen that lets you ‘draw’ in 3D using melted plastic filaments!

“3Doodler allows people to create amazing 3D objects without the restrictions of complicated software, limited only by their imagination” said Max Bogue, Co-Founder and CEO of WobbleWorks. I not only like the pen, I like the name of the company, WobbleWorks. The pen is big as you might expect, because it has to melt the mini-plastic straw you put inside when you start a project. Using a ‘fast’ or ‘slow’ button, you sort of paint with plastic. I only played with it for a few minutes and I can tell you, there is a learning curve. Making a mess is easy, making something to be proud of, not so easy. But doing both is great fun. CES also marked the launch of several 3Doodler accessories. There’s a penholder, which not only holds the pen, but also can be as a moveable platform to allow you to create larger structures with less hassle. Soon there will also be a series of changeable nozzles so you can extrude plastic in different shapes and sizes. For an easier project I saw their upcoming DoodleBlocks. They’re silicon molds in various shapes like stars, numbers, and letters that can be easily filled in with the plastic from the pen. The 3Doodler will be available in March for $99, and it will ship with 25 of the 10” plastic straws in various colors. There’s also a choice of plastic material, but I don’t really understand the differences between them. They’re both colorful and melt easily.

http://www.the3doodler.com/

See or hear this show with video of The Giz Wiz with the 3Doodler: www.twit.tv/giz1451

Your eyes are your password! New from CES 2014.

myris (as in ‘my iris’) is a way to sign onto websites without a user name or password. And the company, Eye Lock, says only DNA is more accurate! myris uses video of your irises to verify your identity. Since no two irises are alike, the company says chances of a false match are less than one in two trillion. That’s more than the population of earth. In fact, that’s more than the population of 315 earths. (The population of earth is 7.1 billion+). Setting it up is as easy as using a mirror. myris looks at more than 240 points on each iris and generates a unique 2048-bit digital signature. To authenticate your ID, it needs to match up with your actual eyes. Photos, video recordings or other fakes won’t work. It’s powered through the USB connection, so no batteries are needed. And up to five people can have individually protected accounts. Secure communication and military grade encryption with AES 256. myris (yep, they use a small ‘m”, is compatible with Windows 7 & 8, Mac OS and Chrome OS. Price is said to be under $300 and it should be available in the next few months.

More info: www.eyelock.com