Top
About Me

 

Known as MAD's Maddest Writer, co-host of The Giz Wiz with OMGchad at www.GizWiz.TV, The Giz Wiz on ABC's World News Now, and on Tech Guy Labs with Leo Laporte on www.TWiT.TV

Search Giz Wiz Biz
This form does not yet contain any fields.

    Attention: Starting October 1, 2022

    If you're using 

    www.gizwizbiz.squarespace.com 

    please start using:

    www.gizwiz.me or www.gizwiz.biz

    This site will no longer update as of October 1, 2022.  

       Gadgets I showed on WORLD NEWS NOW are here the new site:            

      https://www.gizwiz.me/world-news-now


    (This site uses a very old Squarespace format that has become too unstable. Google has also marked this site: "Not Mobile Friendly". The new site meets Google's mobile standards.)  

    Friday
    Jan102020

    A possible life-saving gadget we both loved and hope will be available later this year.

    The spokesperson for HeartHero said the device is very real, but it may take till fall 2020 (or longer) before it's available in the marketplace because of the all the approvals that have to take place. Since I'm not a doctor (and never even played one on television) here's information from Dr. Nathan Scherer, DO FAAEM and HeartHero Champion. (Edited a bit for space.)

    Each year between 180,000-450,000 people in the United States die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). HeartHero has developed a small, truly portable automated external defibrillator (AED). The survivability of public CPR is around 5%. Even though the AEDs you see inside a glass box on the wall at your school, work and in the airport, look intimidating they are easy to use. I get it that it can be scary because you are dealing with electricity, but an AED is a highly regulated device that won’t shock someone who doesn’t need it and the fact of the matter is you can’t make someone who is already dead-deader, you can only help. If you find yourself in a situation where you see someone who has collapsed in SCA, have someone call 911 while you grab the AED off the wall, take out the two large sticker pads which will show you where to place them on the person’s body and turn on the device. From there, the device will walk you through the steps. If the person would benefit from a shock, a shock will be given. If not, keep providing CPR until the paramedics arrive. Almost 70% of SCA events occur at home and 86 million Americans have risk factors for SCA. The next generation AED is coming. As a physician I think now is the time to start talking about sending these at-risk patients home with an AED. Then, just like that EpiPen you have in your purse, you also can have an AED that fits there as well- and with that, the power to help your loved one when they need it most.

     

    (From the Giz Wiz) Even though availability is still up to a year away I asked Anthony Verdega, VP of Strategy and sales, if there was a price established yet. Anthony said the average AED in the marketplace now is $1600. They expect their HeartHero device (named Elliot) to be about half that, $800. UPDATE: I'm saw this again at CES2020 & they hope to get the price down to $700, but not hard date is yet available as to sales.

     

    Company video: https://vimeo.com/288628082 

    Company website: http://www.hearthero.com /

    See or here this entire 'Best Of' Showwww.gizwiz.tv/episode/1761

    Friday
    Jan032020

    Giz Wiz Show 1760 Show of January 2, 2019 Independent Show #242 

    It's 2020, so Chad & I take a peek back at some of the gadgets we picked as losers of the past year.

    Yes, gadget sucks, but not in the way that picks up dust. It's the Viatek Cordless Battery Powered Pocket Vacuum.

     I bought this device as "deal of the day" from the pulseTV website. The copy says "Dust and dirt doesn't stand a chance when you have the Viatek Cordless Battery Powered Pocket Vacuum Pro in hand!" I think a more realistic line (at least for me) would be: "Dust and dirt don't budge very much when you have the Viatek Cordless Battery Powered Pocket Vacuum in hand!" You'll see how effective it was in my video. (Link below.) It doesn't include 4 AA batteries which you need for power, but it come with a carry storage bag. Although mine was just about $5 as a 'deal', shipping & tax brought it about $11.00. It's still available for $9.99 --- but wait --- You can get four for $31.96!! Plus shipping. I personality didn't think it was worth even $5.

    Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/DSCnD3e3MQY 

     

    PulseTV link: https://www.pulsetv.com/Viatek-Cordless-Battery-Powered-Pocket-Vacuum-Pro/productinfo/8911/

     

    See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1760

    Friday
    Jan032020

    A Modern Digital Piggy-Bank For Kids.

    At CES 2019 Chad & I thought this was a digital take on the 'piggy-bank'. Well, it's a heck of a lot more complicated than that! Here's info from the company: “In our increasingly cashless world, it’s more and more difficult for children to understand the value of money. Pigzbe is a (very) smart device and educational app that teaches kids 6+ great saving, spending and earning habits through play. It's one of the first ever family products built using the blockchain.  Digital money, contactless payments, in-app purchases and cryptocurrency are all things they need help to understand. It's hard to get to grips with money if you can’t touch the notes or feel the coins! We wanted to find a way to make digital money physical, so children can touch, play and experiment with it. The same way we did with the coins in our piggy-banks.

    From the Giz Wiz: In checking their website for this show it seems they've added new currency. It's very bewildering. But perhaps a six year old would understand better than we did. And it's almost $70!

    It was featured on this Giz Wiz Show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1712

    http://www.pigzbe.com/

    See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1760

    Friday
    Jan032020

    Kids Might Love This - We Didn't. 

    Here's what Amazon says it. The Nostalgia Retro Series Pop-Up Hot Dog Toaster is great for entertaining and as a fast meal solution for the whole family. The large hot dog cage fits two regular-size or extra-plump hot dogs. Adjust the heat setting to cook hot dogs to your preference. Easily remove the hot dog cage and use the included mini tongs for removing the hot dogs. Color: Retro Red.

    And the Giz Wiz says: Well, I thought this was sort of a good idea at first. But you'll see in the video buns really are not toasted, but burned on the edges. Also it includes a metal tong to remove stuff from the toaster. (MAKE SURE THE TOASTER IS OFF, OR YOU COULD GET ELECTROCUTED if you touch the elements while it's on.) I think  that while adults might think this is crappy, kids would probably love this thing. But no matter what, you need to like the idea of buying an appliance that only does one thing: make franks & toast buns, sometimes unevenly. It does get some points for it's looks. It looks smart on the counter, but may end up as a smart-looking dust collector. The price is low! I paid $19.67 for mine, but as of 1/4/20 is was under $18.00. You can also buy a bigger version that cooks four franks and four hot dog rolls at the same time  for under $40.

    Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/PENmlLw9w5c

    Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2QmAsOT   - As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    This never affects how we rate Amazon gadgets since we mostly buy everything we review.

    Cook twice as many dogs & buns for $39.99: https://amzn.to/39HJJsP -  As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    “cheap gadgets from Alibaba!”

    Chad's first of two (a bonus cheap gadget this week!) Alababa gadgets is the: Creative Stainless Steel Boiled Egg Slicer Egg Cutter Knocker Raw Shell Egg Cracker Separator Egg Opener Tool Kitchen Gadgets. Here's the online description: Open any egg with precision and avoid the hassle of broken shells; Versatile convenient design allows you to break open soft and hard eggs with ease. Cleanly cracks the top of the egg shell so that it's easily lifted off by hand or with a knife. Works on soft boiled, hard boiled or raw eggs. The Ultimate Egg Topper, Cracker, Opener, Separator and Cutter. Simply drop steel ball and gravity causes shock vibration so sharp edge in dome perfectly cuts the egg shell. $3.09 as of 10/3/19. --- UPDATE: STILL ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS OF 1/4/20, but a long shipping time.

    And Chad's take? OMG, watch this show to see just how (un)easy it is to try to use thing!

    www.gizwiz.biz/episode/1747    

    Chad bought his here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32843352189.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.46154c4dBEwuci

    Or watch Chad try it again on this show! www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1760

    Friday
    Jan032020

    A Cabinet That Loses Its Drawers Easily & A Handy Toilet Paper Roll Dispenser - maybe.  

    High on Chad's worst of list is the CRAFTSMAN Bin System 39-Compartment Plastic Small Parts Organizer. While it looks okay on a shelf, Chad showed us that if you accidentally tip it a bit too forward ALL the drawers coming sliding out fast! When you consider that you probably bought this to store screws, nuts & bolts, nails, and lots of small parts, this is not good thing to happen. We both thought the name Craftsman would mean someone had thought the design through carefully, but that seems not to be the case here. You can still buy one at Lowes for about $28.00

    https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-Bin-System-39-Compartment-Plastic-Small-Parts-Organizer/1000578341

     

    The show with Chad's demo of that device is here:

    http://gizwiz.tv/episode/1716

    How Big A Roll Can Your Toilet Paper Holder Hold?

    This looks like a toilet paper holder, but it's not an ordinary toilet paper holder. It's designed to hold those Mega-rolls of toilet paper that are so fat they don't fit into many built in toilet paper holders. So instead of leaving the roll on the tank and using it until the roll gets small enough to fit into the toilet paper holder, Charmin has come up with a toilet roll extender and it's free from Charmin. Turns out it fit fine in my spouse's bathroom, but not mine. So I'm back to buying normal size rolls of toilet paper.

    Giz Wiz Video https://youtu.be/TTmXnKEe5zI

    You can still get on by clicking "Request Extender" on this page: https://www.charmin.com/en-us/about-charmin/faq

    See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1760