The Giz Wiz, Week of April 16, 2013, Netcast 1412

Looking for better WiFi reception on your iPhone5?

At the “Moms, Dads and Grads” Pepcom event, I saw an awful lot of gizmos and gadgets that I saw earlier at CES in January. The difference is that now most of them are available in the marketplace, or will be in the next month or so. But there was one brand new name (at least to me) at the event, the Linkase. It’s billed as a signal enhancer for iPhone5. On many of the iPhone5 forums there are major complaints about its WiFi reception. And that’s what the Linkase, from Absolute Technology, is offering as a possible solution. A spokesperson at the booth said that smaller, thinner phones with larger screens are great, but something has got to go. And that something is often the signal antenna, which gets shrunk. And if your hand blocks the antenna, you are really making it difficult for your phone to lock onto a WiFi signal. The Linkase solves that problem with a slide-out antenna cleverly built into a handsome protective phone case. Using something the company calls electromagnetic waveguide technology, the external antenna works with the antenna inside your iPhone to boost WiFi reception. There is not need for a physical connection. As a matter of fact, I don’t own an iPhone5, but I tried the Linkase with my iPod Touch. It did indeed boost the WiFi signal by one bar when I walked down the hall from apartment and had two closed doors between my router and me. Absolute Technology says that their Linkase can boost wireless reception by up to 50 percent. The case itself is handsome. It’s made from a polycarbonate back, with a shock absorbent rubber shield to protect the screen. A non-slip leather coating provides a smooth, but not slippery, touch. The slide-out antennas, called EMW elements, are interchangeable – and right inside the package with each Linkase, is an extra element in a contrasting color. (Linkase comes in black, grey, white, blue, and red.) If you like, you can buy other color elements eparately. Price is $49.95 and for now, the Linkase is only being made for the iPhone 5.

http://www.absolute.com.tw/products.html

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1412

Giz Wiz Video Of The Week: Pup-Cassio! Turn Your Pet Into An Artist.

Pup-Casso - Turn your dog or cat into an artist! Put down the special ‘canvas paper’. Squeeze some of the included color paints on it. Put down the paint shield so you pet can walk over the paint without getting on their paws! Instant masterpiece for your Petropolitan Museum of Art. I tried with my dog Fairway. She's a pretty good painter! You can judge for yourself by watch the Giz Wiz video at the link below. .....Here’s more info from the company website: Pup-Casso Art Kit: In just a few easy steps, your dog can unleash its inner artist and become the next Mutt-isse or Dali-mation. And you'll enjoy a fun and interactive time with your pet as it creates a masterpiece you'll cherish forever. Best of all, there's no mess. Your pet's paws will stay clean and dry! Makes a great gift for dog owners of any breed. Kit Includes: • 5 Colors of Acrylic Paint (non-toxic) / • 3 Pieces of Canvas Art Paper / • 3 Paint Shields / • 1 Picture Frame • 1 Surprise Pup Toy. $19.99. 

www.art-casso.com

Giz Wiz Video with Fairway: http://youtu.be/Kvky0jCu3o8

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1412

This Week's Viewer's Video -- "I Invented This" & How You Can Submit Your Video In Many Differerent Categories.. PLUS - Now Leo sends you a present if your video is selected!

This Week's Video Submission started with this email:

Dick / Jason,

Here is my "I invented that" style video for GizWiz consideration.

An internet Usage Monitor to deal with data caps from your ISP.

Signed: @Bobh         Internet Usage Monitor – Vimeo Link:

http://vimeo.com/63508709

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1412

++++

We'd love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show. Here's what we're looking for:

Your home made Videos -- two to three minutes long - (four maximum) 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. 

My favorite gadget of all time! Show us what it is, tell us what it does and why you love, or loved it! It can be something you just bought too.

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, 4 MAX! Low production value is fine. Even welcomed! That way our stuff doesn't look bad by comparison. We've set the bar low. Don't trip over it.

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

WIN CRAP! From now on, each person who has a video shown on an episode of The Giz Wiz will be sent the piece of crap Leo demonstrated on that same show! Or they may win another piece of crap, but hey it's something for free! So check out the kind of videos we're looking to show on The Giz Wiz. They're listed right above. And good luck!

Leo's "Crap From The Sky Mall Catalog!" Pick Of The Week! -- Or Is It??

Oh, no! Nothing arrived from Sky Mall. Leo went over all the orders he placed with Sky Mall since we started doing this spot and read them all out loud. It turns out that we have done a ton of Sky Mall gadgets, some of them wildly expensive, like the Star Trek Captain's dress at $349.00. So not only is the Sky Mall spot expensive, but Leo's running out of room to store the store-bought crap! But he's come up with a solution! Read on. Leo also felt it's time to retire our Sky Mall segment and replace it with something else. His 1st choice is the This Is Why I'm Broke website. Leo showed us some of the gadgets available at their website and I think it's a great pick for fun stuff. Lots of weird stuff, at more down-to-earth prices. So each week Leo will find something that tickles his fancy and order it. Then we'll continue, replacing Crap From Sky Mall, with Different Crap from

www.thisiswhyimbroke.com

WIN CRAP! From now on, each person who has a video shown on an episode of The Giz Wiz will be sent the piece of crap Leo demonstrated on that same show! Or they may win another piece of crap, but hey it's something for free! So check out the kind of videos we're looking to show on The Giz Wiz. They're listed right above. And good luck!

Don't worry, the 'glow-in-the-dark' wall paper got a pass, so you won't see that - or a demo of it -- on The Giz Wiz!

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1412

Back to Dick's Gadget Warehouse! What (Boys) Toy is 100 years old and still being sold?

Did you guess Erector? (With help from Wikipedia.) Erector was first introduced and sold to the public in 1913 at the Toy Fair held at the Broadway Central Hotel in New York City. Notice it’s called Erector, not Erector Set. Erector was conceived by Alfred Carlton Gilbert (A.C. Gilbert) in 1911. The first Erector, made in 1913, was called "The Erector / Structural Steel and Electro- Mechanical Builder". It claimed to be "Educational, Instructive and Amusing". In 1914, the name was changed to "The Mysto Erector", "The Toy That Resembles Structural Steel". In 1916, the company was reorganized and became the A.C. Gilbert Company. "Erector" was renamed "Gilbert Erector", "The Toy Like Structural Steel". In 1924, more changes occurred, as the entire Erector system was completely overhauled to include over 70 parts.[3] "Erector" was now called "The New Erector", The Worlds Greatest Toy". Through 1932, "Erector" was sold in wood boxes. From 1933 through 1962 the sets would be sold in colorful boxes made of steel. Early boxes were painted red, green or blue but by the 1950s all set boxes were painted red. Later, as the company grew, the area around the Gilbert factory became known as "ERECTOR SQUARE". Today, this area has become a rather run down section of New Haven, Connecticut and the old factory building consists of many small shops. A.C. Gilbert died in 1961 and the company went into decline. The system was redesigned, adding many plastic parts, but the "clunky" looking models failed to compete with the new, realistic, scale, plastic models coming onto the market. The A.C. Gilbert Company filed bankruptcy in 1967. The Gabriel company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania bought the "Erector" name and continued to market the recently redesigned system. Sales were slow and by the 1980s the trademark "Erector" was acquired by Ideal Toys and then Tyco Toys. "Meccano" (France) has owned the "Erector" brand since the year 2000. "Erector" sold millions of sets over the years. The largest (and most sought after by collectors) is the 1931 No. 10 Set. Touted in advertising of the day as "The Climax of Erector Glory", the set weighed in at 150 pounds. Today’s there’s an Erector 100th Anniversary RC Remote Control Set that comes with a 6V battery-operated motor,  643 parts and instructions for 25 fully detailed models. The cover shows the crane Jeff built. It's under $105 on Amazon.

Erector Super Construction Set - 25 Models - 640+ Parts

(This is a Giz Wiz link. You pay the same, but the Giz Wiz gets credit to buy more gadgets to show on TWiT)

http://amazon.com/dp/B005R2375Q/?tag=twnene-20

See or hear the original Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1412