The Giz Wiz, Week of April 9, 2013, Netcast 1411

It sounds like a joke, but it's for real!

I really thought this gadget was a Think Geek April Fool’s joke. It’s the Glove Handset. So I called Think Geek to check. They said, “Are you kidding? It’s for real and it works great. We’ll send you one to try.” I’ll report my experience with the gloves, but first here’s some (shortened) info from their website:

Call me!  There are a few fairly universal pantomimes that everybody in the civilized world understands, regardless of culture. Shake your head for 'no,' scribbling in mid-air for 'check-please,' thumb-and-pinky held up to the ear for 'call-me.' Now that universally recognized gesture has been turned into an actual working way to talk on the phone. Behold the telephone of the future, built right into your gloves! Warm knit gloves woven with conductive fibers let you operate those touch-screen phones like Androids, iPhones, Windowsphone, and Blackberries - but with extra-added Bluetooth capabilities! In the left glove's thumb is a tiny speaker, and in the pinky is a wee microphone. By extending them both in the usual hand-gesture, you can chat with your friends for up to 20 hours on a charge! Gone are the days where talking into mid-air will brand you a crazy-person! Now you can show the world that you can actually talk to the hand, and with excellent sound-quality! Features and Specifications. Bluetooth handset built into the left glove / Conductive-fiber allows smartphone operation / Operating range: 12 meters / Battery life: standby 10 days - conversation 20 hours / Sizes:Men's and Women's sizes / Colors: Black and Grey /    Composition: 95% polyacrylonitrile, 3% cotton, 2% polyester / Charges over micro-usb / Tested and works with iOS, Android, Windowsphone, Blackberry. Dry-clean only, read all instructions before use. 

And now back to me. Unbelievably, the Glove Handset really does work. Set up is easy. Charge the glove, (only the left glove has electronics in it, but you get the matching right glove) and pair it with your Bluetooth enabled phone. I paired it easily with the Samsung Galaxy 3. Then when the phone rings, just push the multi-purpose button once, and you’re connected. Pushing the button twice disconnects you. Voice quality is good, but not as good as when you’re talking directly on the phone. But if you like offbeat gadgets, this is one of the most unique. $70. And yes, you will look strange using it on the street. Right now – and I don’t know for how long – it’s half price at Think Geek. (As of 4/5/13) Normally $70, right now $34.99, plus S&H.  

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f2c9/?pfm=Search&t=glove%20handset

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1411

Giz Wiz Video Of The Week: The Epishock Speaker!

At first there was the Rocket 2.0, then the Rocket 3.0. These are small surface vibration speaker devices plugs into any music source with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Then you place the vibration "sound disc" on an empty box or other hard surface to get pretty decent sound. The newest version from Origaudio is the Epishock, which has ten times the playing power of the original. Simply put Epishock down on any hard flat surface like a desk or table and you will be amazed by the sound quality. A built in rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides 6+ hours of playtime. I’m not sure you’ll want to do this, but you can daisy chain two more Epishock speakers together. A cable to connect another one is included. The company says: “The more speakers you connect, the louder and louder they get!” Unlike the Rocket models the Epishock has an adjustable volume control right on the unit. It works best on glass, wood, MDF, metal, plastic, etc. It connects to any device that has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack: iPhones, Droids, laptops, blackberrys, iPads, tablets, etc. And it’s small enough for travel: 2.4 x 2.4 inches. Kit Includes: Epishock unit with built in rechargeable battery, extra cling pad, USB charging cable, daisy chain cord, and a travel carry pouch. MSRP is $50, but it sells for about $30 on Amazon. It’s listed as Amazon Prime, so free shipping for Prime Members! (I love Amazon Prime!) It’s $30.40 at the link below. The main picture they have there is wrong! The description is correct, and the small picture on the side is also correct. I have not shopped at this link.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009WGSBN6/?tag=twnene-20 

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/4E3r8tU0024

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1411

A Mini LED Security Light Shines When It Detects Motion.

A couple of weeks ago we talked about the Maxsa super-bright LED Solar Powered Security Light. This week, I’m reviewing the much more modest Maxsa Mini LED motion-activated night-light. As soon as it detects motion, which is rather quick, it shines a light when and where you need it. It could be an entryway, difficult steps, a hallway or even next to a circuit breaker box. You could even put one under bed so when you have to get up in the middle of the night it will come on when your feet hit the floor. I mounted mine near my office door. As soon as I enter the office the 3 mini-LED's come on and lets me easily see the other light switches. It should also help as a burglar deterrent. The built-in motion detector senses movement within a 10 feet radius, and flips on only when it's needed. An integrated light-sensor activates the unit at dusk to conserve battery power. The three LED lights will remain on as long as motion continues to be detected and will remain on for approximately 30 seconds after the last detected movement. The light is approximately 2 3/4" X 3" and is battery-powered by 3 AA’s, which are not included. It’s simple to wall mount, or it can just sit on a shelf or the floor. The wall mount can act like a stand. It's seems durable and the company says it’s weatherproof, so it can be used both outdoors and indoors. The MAXSA Battery-Powered Motion-Activated LED Light has a MSRP of $14.95, but sells on Amazon for $7.95. (Model 40342 Dark Bronze / 40341 White) And if you have Amazon Prime, there's free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Innovations-40342-Battery-Powered-Motion-Activated-Outdoor/dp/B004JSBS46

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1411

Leo's "Crap From The Sky Mall Catalog!" Pick Of The Week!

OMG! This week Leo has two really good gadgets from Sky Mall. Here's the description of the 1st one from the Sky Mall website!

The Cuisinart ICE-45PK Mix It In Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker, in Pink, gives you professional-quality soft ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and sherbet right at home. Not only does it make everyone's favorites, but with three built-in condiment dispensers, it makes them extra delicious. Just a pull of a tab sends sprinkles, chips and other mix-ins down the chute to mix right into frozen desserts as cones or bowls are filled. Operation is fully automatic; simply pour in the ingredients and turn the dial. Product Features: Adds favorite mix-ins into soft serve ice cream as it's dispensed! / Pull out tabs to add one, two or all three types of mix-ins / Pull down handle to dispense soft serve ice cream directly into cones or bowls / Makes 2 quarts of frozen dessert in as little as 20 minutes / Fully automatic - just add favorite fresh ingredients and turn the dial / Cone holder holds a stack of pointed or flat bottom cones / No chemicals, salt or ice required / Removable parts for easy cleaning / Instruction Book and Recipe Book included. $99.99.

http://www.skymall.com/soft-serve-ice-cream-maker-pnk/ICE-45PK.html#q=ice+cream+maker&start=1

And Leo’s take: It seems like a well-made machine, which one would expect since it’s from Cuisinart. Although Leo sort of faked making soft serve ice cream on this show, the machine looked good. Kids will love the fact that you add mix-ins right from the machine. It’s worth the price. (But you could do a a web search just to make sure $99.99 is the best price.

Leo’s 2^nd ‘Gadget’, The Star Trek Captain Dress. First the description from Sky Mall.

A rarely seen jewel of the Star Trek TOS series, ANOVOS is offering the TOS tri-cut pattern dress uniform in the Command Division Gold. This dress features the Lieutenant edition featuring a single braid on each sleeve along with a Command Division patch. Featuring the exact double-knit fabric from the original uniforms, and fabric dyed to match screen-used samples, this dress material is accurate to the original swatches used on set during filming. Patterns were based off of original cut patterns used from the set to ensure complete accuracy and look. A long hidden zipper finishes the piece, recreating one of the most iconic feminine designs of its time and even today. This is by far one of the beautiful pieces created in the ANOVOS collection. You deserve to own this one of a kind piece. $349.95. 

UPDATE: SKY MALL NOT LONGER CARRIES THIS DRESS.

Leo’s Take: The in-studio live (very, very live) model for the Star Trek Captain’s dress was Liz Romero (Lizzard77) of world-famous TWiT fame. Leo thought Liz looked ‘great!’ in the dress. I doubt if anyone would disagree with him. It’s quite form fitting and it’s seems, quite short. I think Liz was a bit uncomfortable about the length of the dress, so she wore a black leotard underneath. It was a bit hit, but Leo did mention that the dress is quite expensive at $349.99, plus shipping and handling. Be sure to see Liz wearing the dress in the video version at the link below.

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See or hear the “Best of 2013” show: www.twit.tv/1448

Back to Dick's Gadget Warehouse! With another viewer video & how to sumbit your video.

It always starts with an email like this one:

Hi Dick and Leo.   Here's my submission -- my old processor collection.  Please list the name as "George P. Burdell" ... and I'll be VERY IMPRESSED if Dickie D can explain why that name is relevant to MAD Magazine.  (In fact, that'd make a hilarious story for the show in general)

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBztEUdXSok

... And in case Dickie D can't get the Burdell reference ... 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P_Burdell

Jeremy Sands

Since we already talked about George P. Burdell on the show, I'll tell you my reaction when I read his name. It didn't sound familar and it seemed the reference on Wikipedia was incorrect because MAD Magazine never had a board of directors. Just to make sure, I looked through several old MAD's from the time period listed, and there is no mention of George. I also contacted Nick Meglin, MAD's Associate Editor during those years and he never heard of George either. But we still enjoyed the video, Jeremy Sands.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1411

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