Dick's Gadget Warehouse And How To Submit Your Video.

Once again this week Chad goes back to his gadget warehouse --- or actually, his gadget closet. He shows us two versions of a gadget treasure from his past. They was so expensive when he bought them, you'll see the special case he bought to make sure they traveled well and were stored in style. (I'll describe just one of them, because they're basically the same gadget, one just has more memory.) Chad's FS-4Pro HD is an 80GB portable DTE recorder from Focus Enhancements. Some of the description from Amazon gives you an idea of exciting this product was at the time. This is a hard drive based tapeless recorder designed to work with the older DV and HDV camcorders. It weighs about a pound making it very easy to mount on a video camera or it could be clipped on a belt. It was a great solution for anyone who was tired of the hassles associated with logging and capturing tapes - and that included Chad. And Chad also liked that when he was finished shooting video he could just connect (via Fire Wire) the FS-4 to his computer and instantly start to edit his video. Chad didn't remember the exact cost when he bought them, but he figured they were somewhere in the $500 to $600 range for the smaller unit. And maybe $800 for the unit the larger memory!  

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1637

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We’re looking for more Viewer Videos!

We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show, so here's what we're looking for! Your home shot video – 2 to 3 minutes long, in any of the following categories:

I bought a piece of crap: Did you buy something you ended up hating? We won't get you a refund, but we might be able to give a platform to vent your disappointment. Remember, "family friendly" language applies.

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I invented this! Did you invent something? (Or did a friend or relative invent something.) We can't market it for you, but we can help get the word out. Show us what it is, and how it works. Even if it's a prototype, you can get our (and the audience) reactions. No professional ads please.

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My Gadget Warehouse: Okay, so you don't have a warehouse. It doesn't matter. Just tell us about your favorite old gadget(s). When and where you bought it, and why you're still hanging on to it.

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My Favorite Gadget (favorite old, or favorite new): Show us what it is, tell us what it does and why you love, or loved it! It can be a new gadget you just bought too.

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Post them on YouTube and send us the link! We'll do the rest. (Or possibly nothing, but that's unlikely.) Remember, videos should be just 2 to 3 minutes long! Low production value is fine, but we should be able to hear you and see you! If we select and show your video on The Giz Wiz you’ll a tiny amount of fame (hopefully), an autographed MAD magazine and a 35-year-old Alfred E. Neuman picture. So that's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video!

IMPORTANT: We'll just shower you with praise for your video if you live outside the US or Canada since we can't afford to send stuff outside of those two places. (Thanks for understanding.)

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv  

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Letter of the week:

Bill Allen

I just saw an ad in a model train magazine that I think you would be interested in.

www.choochooshoes.com

The ad says c/net covered them at the 2017 NY toy fair.

Unfortunately they don't come in my size or yours.

Bill

The Giz Wiz Show 1636 for August 18th 2017, Our 119th Independent Production.

We're into our third year of Independent Production thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters! If you'd like to support OMGchad & DickDe in our independent venture (we pay for everything ourselves, including travel) just click the Patreon link at the top of our show web page: http://www.gizwiz.tv/. You can also contribute just once via the PayPal link that's there too. And thank you for doing that! Our show wouldn't exist without our viewer's support, but a bit more support would be a big help. And now catching up with a few devices we found at trade shows in July and August.  

SwitchMate – From CES Week in NYC, Summer 2017.

In case you don't remember the show where we first introduced Switchmate, he's a short video of their first products which are very much a part of their current line of easy to use, easy to install 'smart home' gadgets:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Ofx6kTGmA

But now they've expanded the line with a lot of new gadgets and new technologies! They are so many, I won't go into them here because they're all shown and explained by the company's founder in the video below. My favorite new entry is their dual outlet that lets you separately control two devices plugged into it. This gadget also has what SwitchMate calls their Bluetooth Bridge. For the first time you can control Bluetooth device via the Internet by using this device which merges your local Bluetooth signal with your own WiFi Network. But wait, there's more. It also have a built in back light, and it retails for under $50. (It can also be bought as part of a kit, as shown in the photo above. Link below.) The Bluetooth Bridge outlet is available now, but everything else new is due out in the September/October time frame. You don't have to go to the video link below if you don't want to, because the video is also embedded in this week's show.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/O6y_VZ1YB7c

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

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1636

I bet your backyard doesn't have one of these!

Meet The Backyard Dunk Tank! Here's info from Hammacher. This is the commercial-quality 500-gallon dunk tank that imparts a carnival atmosphere to any backyard event. Made from durable polyethylene, the tank suspends willing subjects 2’ above the water—high enough to view a volunteer’s false bravado—on a UV-resistant, high-density polycarbonate seat that supports up to 250 lbs. A half-circle vinyl steel cage protects a sitter from ill-aimed heaves of one of the 12 included 6 1/4-oz. balls used to strike the 7”-diameter target while an 55" W H x 90" H 20-oz. canvas backstop corrals errant tosses. The tank rests atop heavy duty dolly wheels that enable easy positioning and movement into storage without the need for a dedicated trailer. A 48" W x 37 1/2" H Lexan window built into the tank’s side enables onlookers to observe the reaction of the immersed before rising to the surface. 87” H x 78” W x 62” D. (500 lbs.) Price? $2800. (I love that next to the $2800 price it says: “How Many”.) But wait, there's more. Shipping adds another $300. But the dunk tank does weigh 500 pounds! Here's their YouTube video:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ4yTWuWXXk

Company website page: http://www.hammacher.com/Product/13052?tid=youtube&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=13052  

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1636

Chad is one of the first to try out Monoprice's under $160 3D Printer!

Yes, this week Chad's get to review a gadget he's very excited about.

Chad got to try out the new Monoprice MP Mini Delta 3D Printer. They call it the lowest price professional quality 3D printer in the world. Here's some info from Monoprice: Auto bed leveling. The delta self-calibrates before every print, so you will never have to struggle with bed leveling. It arrives fully Assembled, ready to print right out of the box. It comes as a unibody, all-metal construction, that requires no hardware to put together. Simply attach the filament holder, load the filament and you're ready to print! And you won't be locked into one maker of filament. You can use any 1.75mm filament from any of the leading brands, including Monoprice’s own. And there's a heated print bed. The heated build plate maintains a temperature from 50-100°C to improve print quality and reliability with different filaments. It's also removable, making it easy to remove your finished print. And now back to the Giz Wiz: The printer is only $159.99 and is already wildly popular. It reached 700% of its Indiegogo goal within its first week. As of 8/18/17 it wasn't on sale to the general public yet, but units are shipping to the original backers on Indiegogo. You can sign up to be put on the list to get one at the link below.

And Chad's take? Chad likes this 3D printer a lot! But, he says you really have to know something about 3D printers to get the most out of it. Chad said there was some set-up needed before using it and he did have to consult other websites and 3D printer groups to find answers to questions he had about the MP Mini Delta 3D. With that said, Chad could hardly believe a 3D printer so well built, and so versatile would only cost $159.99. Watch this week's show for all of Chad's comments and to see some 3D models he already built with the new Monoprice printer.

Monoprice Link: https://mpminidelta.monoprice.com/

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1636

Chad's Crappy Corner And Another Gadget For His New August Theme.

Chad polls our faithful Patrons to determine each month's theme for 'Chad's Crappy Corner'. This month our patron's voted on a theme Chad is very excited about. It's “Cheap Tech Gadgets from Thrift Shops'. Last week Chad was going to show us The Crayola Crayon Maker, but it turned out it was missing a key part and couldn't be used, so Chad went to his 'back-up' Thrift Store gadget. 

But during the week after our last show Chad went to a different Thrift Store and guess what? He found another version of the Crayola Crayon Maker. This device lets kids (or any one else) turn crayon pieces into new color-swirled crayon creations. Kids aged 8 years and up can make original drawing utensils by melting down different colored crayon pieces in the Crayon Maker. With new mixed-color combinations kids can get even more creative and more invested in their works of art. As you'll see in the video, the Crayon Maker uses heat to melt the crayon pieces, but it's nothing high powered. It just uses a light bulb, so it takes 10 minutes or more to melt the crayon pieces. But, as you'll see in the video, Chad liked the results! The one Chad showed retails for $46.50. Chad paid about $5 for it. (Fits in with our gadget budget.)

Amazon says there's a new version of the Crayon Maker that's a lot smaller, but it sells for less. That's here: http://amzn.to/2fHxxAq - 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.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1636