Leo gets yet another digital camera! The Olympus E-P1

TTTT Tuesday, August 18^th, 2009 Netcast 897

When Leo first unpacked the Olympus E-P1 on camera, people in the chat rooms wondered why in the world he bought an old-fashioned film camera. While it sure looks like a throw back to a 35MM camera, the E-P1 is actually the world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel camera that has an interchangeable lens system. (Leo said that with an adapter he could use many of his old film camera lenses with this Olympus body, a big bonus.) The E-P1 blends the high-quality still images of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with High Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording and In-Camera Creativity. (Yes, that sentence came from the Olympus website!) I got to hold this camera for 30 seconds just to see how light it was, but I don’t own one.) It is an ultra-portable body considering all the multimedia features. The camera’s stainless-steel body and retro-chic look does turn heads. It’s small enough to fit comfortably in a jacket pocket or a handbag. (But not a shirt pocket!) Actual dimensions of the body: 4.75 x 2.75 x 1.43 inches (W x H x D) and the body weights 11.8-ounces. (Of course you better add a lens when you take it out for picture taking.) It’s available in either silver or white and it ships with a new small, lightweight Olympus ZUIKO Micro Four Thirds lenses: 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (28-84mm equivalent) Price is $799.99 Leo likes this camera a lot! Since Leo tends to buy most things on Amazon.

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The First Alert FX-1B Multi-Color LED Flashlight

Monday, August 17^th, 2009, Netcast 896

Before you get too excited about this product, I’ll start with the bad news. It was sold out in silver when I started talking about it on the Daily Giz Wiz, and I see now that it’s sold out in the other color that was available, black. Let’s hope it gets restocked because there has been a lot of interest in this flashlight. Two weeks ago I received three different emails telling I should get one of these 10-color changing LED flashlights. I wasn’t sure why I needed a flashlight that could shine with a purple, blue, green, red, etc. beam. But when I went to the Buy website and saw it was just $7.99, which included free shipping, I figured I needed one! I tweeted it and others RT my Tweet and it seems it quickly became a big hit. It’s the First Alert FX-1B LED multi-color flashlight with ten (10) different color settings, a durable weather-resistant aluminum housing and three different functions. When you turn it on, it’s white. Pushing a button on the side of the flashlight brings up another color. Or you can set it so the colors morph from one to the other. I can see the need for the red color beam. Boater’s and pilot’s use red light in cockpits to prevent night blindness. I’m not sure what the other colors are especially good for. I told Leo that perhaps if you’re in the woods, being chased by a bear, you might shine the green light on yourself and hopefully pass yourself off as a bush! You can still find this flashlight on line, but at prices that start at about $17, plus shipping.

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw896

The StarCase Lock De-Icer

Friday, August 14^th, 2009, Netcast 895

This is what you want, the new safer version with LED flashlight!The Star Case Lock De-Icer was just what you needed for the cold winter months in the northeast! I needed it when I would go down to the marina on a freezing, windy day! The wind would blow water from the Hudson up onto the side of my (former) houseboat creating a sheet of ice over everything, including the door and the lock. The ice around the door could be chopped, but I still couldn’t get inside the houseboat because the lock cylinder was frozen so you couldn't get the key in. Enter the electronic lock pick. You pushed a button that extended a metal rod. Then it used battery power to heat up. You slowly worked the hot rod into the cylinder to melt the ice and make the lock work again. Lock De-icers are still made, but they’re safer now. On the one I have the heating element could easily be touched with your fingers, which would not be pleasant. The newer versions have a self-retracting safety shield to prevent accidental burns. The one below also has two ultra-bright white LED lights to illuminate keyholes. Mine is no longer made, but the newer version is at the link below. (I have not bought anything from this vendor, however.)

http://www.futurememories.com/fm-ps-ps3845bk.html

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw895

Would you believe that Vinyl is back in style?

Thursday, August 13^th, 2009, Netcast 894

Yes Vinyl as in records! Coming back too are those trusty turntables from the early days. (Vinyl sales have grown 15% year-over-year in 2007 and 89% in 2008. Recently, major record labels have re-mastered and re-released marquee titles with their original artwork and packaging.) One of the biggest name in turntable is back with the recently introduced Stanton T.55 USBturntable. It’s a reliable and user-friendly belt-drive turntable that features a straight tone arm, for superior tracking. Features include a USB and RCA output so you can easily use the deck to transfer the music on your vinyl records onto your PC or MAC to create music files for use with CDs or MP3 players. Also included is the software needed to transfer and edit the music files, so you can remove any pops and clicks that are common when playing vinyls. The T.55 USB comes with the professional Stanton 500.v3 cartridge for ideal sound quality and perfect compatibility. Not just a tool for vinyl transfer, this deck is also a perfect fit for the novice or intermediate level DJ. The Stanton T.55 retails for $199. (There is also the T.92 USB a professional-quality turntable featuring a high-torque direct drive motor for the ultimate in stability. It’s $299.)

http://www.stantonmagnetics.com/v2/prod_t55.asp

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Do you eat too fast? Here’s a gadget that will show you down!

Wednesday, August 12^th, 2009, Netcast 893

 For years we’ve been told that you if you slow down while eating you won’t eat so much. True or not here’s something that will slow down even the fastest eater and give them a bit of exercise at the same time! The Knife and Fork Lift is a combination of utensils and dumbbells! Yep you read that right! These dumbbell utensils can serve as a constant reminder that eating puts weight on and requires exercise to take it off. Lifting food with these utensils is like doing curls with dumbbells because each one weighs 1.5 lbs! So if you’re cutting a piece of steak you’re working with 3 pounds of stainless steel. Knife and Fork Lift’s inventor, Tom Madden says. “Everybody approaches it as a joke, but when you think about it, it does require you to eat more slowly.” Eating more slowly, say health experts, allows the brain time to register feelings of satiety, resulting in eating less. That’s when Tom came up with a knife and fork encased in a dumbbell-shaped handle. I ate with these things and you definitely feel you’re lifting some weight! They’re beautifully made and can be used a table centerpiece if you don’t want to actually use them. They can stand on end as a silent reminder to slow down and chew! Heck, there's even a medical warning about using them to exercise on the company website! $19.95, plus $6.95 shipping and handling.

 www.knifeandforklift.com

 Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw893