The Giz Wiz for the Week of December 11, 2012. Show 1394

A scale that's lost a lot of weight.

The Portable Body Scale is designed to save space! The ultra compact design means you can fit it anywhere in your bathroom or take it on the road when you travel. (It's also handy for weighing your suitcase before you go to the airport!) Made of toughened glass, this scale is seriously strong and will hold up to 330 pounds. Since the platform you stand on is smaller than a normal scale, you weigh yourself in a slightly different way. You step on the Portable Body Scale without looking down to read the LED’s. After you hear a beep you step off the scale and the red LEDs will light up to give you a steady and clear reading. You can select pounds or kilograms with the flick of a switch. There’s no on/off switch. It goes on when you step on it, and automatically shuts-off to conserve battery after about 8 seconds of non-use. Made of super tough glass, which the company reminds you can be slippery when wet. Minimum Weight is 11 lb / 5 kg, so this is not a good postage scale! Maximum Weight: 330 lb / 150 kg. It’s powered by 2 AAA (not included). The Portable Body Scale is small enough for backpack, travel bag, etc. Dimensions: approx. 8.27" x 4.33" x 0.79". Unit weight: 15.6 oz  $29.99

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ee1c/?srp=2

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Video of the Week -- I Bought A Piece of Crap!

We love these videos!

Fans get to vent their anger as they tell us about something they bought that they hated! Andy, for the UK, is quite reserved as he describes his nightmare purchase. He lost his money, but he may have saved you some $$ with his warning!

Andy's being part of The Giz Wiz started with this email:

Hi Dick,

Subject: I bought a piece of crap video.

 Here is my video submission for the show..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67LNzhai9yg&feature=g-crec-u

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Is it good enough for you to use or not high enough quality?

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Thanks anyway!

Andy

-- 
Andy Large
http://about.me/andylarge

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Great video, Andy. Video quality is perfect for the Giz Wiz. We strive for non-professionalism!

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See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1394

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We love showing videos from our fans!We just might show one of yours too, but you need to send it to us first! Here's how:

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Want to be a part of The Giz Wiz Show? Then submit your own video! 

Here's what we're looking for:

Your home made Videos -- two to three minutes long - in the 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.

I Invented This! Do 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.

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. 

And a new category: My favorite gadget of all time! Show us what it is, tell us what it does and why you love, or loved it!

Post them on YouTube and send our producer, Jason, 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. Even welcomed; so our stuff doesn't look too bad by comparison. We've set the bar low. Don't trip over it.

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

CCrane offers a brand new pocket radio just in time for the holidays.

C. Crane, famous for their radios (and their LED light technology) is introducing a new pocket radio. The CC Pocket Radio is easy to use and has very decent sound for its size. It has five easy to use memory buttons per band and it stands upright for best audio through the speaker. The sides are rubber coated to provide grip and help protect the radio if dropped. There is an FM antenna built-in so you do not have to connect a wire or headphones to achieve good reception. A feature that’s unique is that the CC Pocket radio can block a strong signal that overrides a favorite weaker station. They use a new digital technology to achieve that unique property. You can expect about 75 hours of play on (2) AA batteries (not included) when using earbuds, which ARE included! Playtime is about 25 hours using the built-in speaker. A pair of Voz Premium wooden earbuds are being included for a limited time. I wondered why you had to select "speaker" or "earphones" when I plugged in the headset. Usually just plugging in a headset cuts off the speaker. So I called CCrane because they don't do anything with a good reason. I found out why that is, and it's clever. If you're in a hard to get reception area you can use the earphones as an antenna. So when you plug them in, you tell the CC Pocket Radio if you want them to act as antenna by selecting "speaker". Other features includes backlight, sleep timer, clock with alarm, removable belt clip, battery and signal meter. It can work with rechargeable batteries. Size 2.5" W x 4.25" H x 1" D, Weight: 4 Oz. $59.99. It will available starting 12/15/12. At first it will only be on the company website:

http://www.ccrane.com/radios/pocket-radios/cc-pocket-radio.aspx#.UMdxm6z-Z8E

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1394

Gadget Warehouse Time! An old gadget can still chug along!

This is the new Symphony 77 version.From Dick’s Gadget Warehouse comes the MRC Sound Station 312. This gadget is a two-speaker stand alone device that contains 18 digital railroad sounds. Perfect for model railroads it lets you add whistles, chugging sound, track clicks, “board!” voice, etc. I forgot all about it in the warehouse and recently added to my indoor railroad, which you can see in the video. It came out about 12 years ago and sold for around $70. There’s a better version out now, with improved variable SFX, at the same price. It’s the Symphony 77 Digital Sound System both from MRC. The Symphony 77 has even more digital railroad sounds. It also includes two speakers in plastic enclosures and a handheld controller. An eight-foot cable gives you mobility around your layout. It’s all Plug and play, and independent of you train set-up. It offers more than 25 different sounds, many that let you do sound-on-sound combinations. Way better than the original is the controllable speed rates for diesel and steam. Effects include: Steam/diesel modes, horns, whistles, air brake release,, conductor, bell, crossing gate, rail clacks and more. AC adapter included. 

Giz Wiz Gizneyland RR Video: http://youtu.be/zOhSXnmec4I

It’s under $70 here on Amazon. I haven’t shopped here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MN59QA/?tag=twnene-20

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1394

The Giz Wiz for the Week of December 4, 2012. Show 1393

From Shawn and Tom, the guys who brought you Pillow Tie, the tie with an inflatable bladder so you can blow it up and then comfortably sleep through meetings, comes Flask Tie. Here’s what they say about their latest creation:

FlaskTie. Nobody Needs To Know Why You Started Wearing A Necktie. FlaskTie, The biggest thing to happen to the necktie since the PillowTie. The FlaskTie is a fashion statement of thirst quenching proportions. Have you ever been parched while in a hurry to get to your next meeting and don’t have time to grab a drink? With FlaskTie you can quench your thirst while on-the-go, arriving at your meeting hydrated and ready to nail that presentation. Each FlaskTie comes equipped with a TieBladder holding approximately 6 ounces of fluid for your drinking pleasure. Located at the end of the back slip is our TieBite Valve mouthpiece offering Hands-Free Hydration with ease of use, simply bite and sip! Self-seals after each drink to eliminate annoying drips. With various designs to choose from the FlaskTie is your chose for both fashion and hydration.  – And now back to me. To use the Flask Tie, remove the bladder and fill it with what you wish to drink. I just filled it with water for a test. Screw the bladder back into the tie. To drink, bite the value that’s in the smaller part of the tie and suck the liquid in. I found the drinking works better when the bladder is full of liquid. You can make the liquid flow easier by pressing in slightly on the tie as you drink, or you can just hold the bladder section of the tie in the air which really gets the liquid moving!  This is probably something you don’t want to do everyday, but it does work. And it sure makes an interesting, fun-to-tell-friends-about gift. Availiable to start in ten color cominbations, many of them school colors. But remember "Don't Drink & Learn". $24.95.

www.flasktie.com

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