The Giz Wiz for the week of August 21st, 2012, Netcast 1379

If you're still using a landline, this is a full-featured phone system for the home or small office.

Even though more than 25% of the US population (as of 2011) have given up their landline phones completely, that means more than 70% of phone users still have one. Sure, more and more people drop them every year, but I like having a landline because I know I’ll be able to have clear voice calls in every part of my apartment and office. But I need one additional feature for my landline phone. A headset. I need a headset when I’m doing long phone interviews or when I know I’ll be hold for a long time - like when calling the phone or cable company, or the airline. A feature-filled combo I recently found is the VTech LS6475-3 cordless phone system. With two DECT 6.0 handsets and a cordless headset, you can have a private hands-free conversation anywhere at home. It also has something I don’t particularly need which is Push-to-Talk technology. That allows you to use the handsets like walkie-talkies, instantly communicating with any or all of the handsets in the system. VTech boasts about their HD Audio and I must say phone calls on this system are extremely clear. The Voice Announce Caller ID feature is okay. It announces the name and number of the caller on the base unit and all the handsets, but it’s not crystal clear like the calls. VTech’s DECT 6.0 technology delivers long range reception and prevents wireless networks and other electronic devices from interfering with conversations. If you happen to need an answering machine, this one comes with 14 minutes of recording time. My favorite feature is the cordless headset on the base unit. It clicks on and off magnetically and lets you roam far from the base unit while still getting a signal. It comes with four different wearing options. The VTech LS6475-3 can expand to 12 cordless handsets and 2 cordless headsets. The keypad and display are both backlit. Other features include 50 name and number phonebook directory, message retrieval from a handset and even conference between an outside line and up to 4 cordless handsets, which might be good for big families. MSRP is $99.95, but you can find for about $22 less at Amazon.

Company website page: http://www.vtechphones.com/vtechphones/index.cfm/product-detail/?event=ehCatalog.productDetail&ProductID=1603

Amazon link – http://www.amazon.com/VTech-LS6475-3-DECT-6-0-Handsets/dp/B004OA731Q

See or hear this Netcast www.twit.tv/dgw1379

The Giz Wiz Video The Week - Put An End To Tangled Headphone Cords!

They’re called CordCruncher, and they were a recent successful Kick-Starter project. I’ve used them for a few days now and they actually work very well. When you take them out of the package, you have a short cable with a headphone jack dangling out of one end of a latex sleeve, and two earbuds hanging out the other end. Nothing’s tangled up, but they’re also unusable that way. After you stare at them and give up on how to use them, you refer to the instructions. That’s when you see they’re quite ingenious. To extend the headphone cable, hold the headphone jack and the wires going into the earbuds. Pull out as much wire as you’ll need. (Max length for the entire CordCruncher is 42”) Then use your headphones like any other pair. The sound is very decent, especially for the price! When you’re finished, it’s time to make the wires tangle-proof again. This time you hold the very ends of the latex tub and stretch it. This quickly shortens the cables back to their original length of about 16 inches. Another nice feature: you don’t have to store your headphones in your pocket. CordCruncher headphones can be worn around your neck or you can double them the latex sleeve and wear them on your wrist. They come in three colors which I thought were blue, red or black. Now I learn they’re available in Pearl Blue, Rocket Red and Matte Black. Silly me. The price is decent. $24.95. And in case you’re wondering, you cannot use your own headphones since it’s a specially designed cable that’s inside that clever CordCruncher Sleeve.

www.cordcruncher.com

See or hear this Netcast www.twit.tv/dgw1379

Charge and help protect your new electronic devices.

Satechi Slim Surge Protector provides protection from electrical spikes and surges that can be devastating to both expensive electronic equipment and valuable data. It includes three protected power outlets and two USB charging ports. (But it does take up an outlet, so you gain an additional outlet, plus two charging ports that delivers enough power to charge power hungry devices including the New iPad, Kindle Fire, iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S3 and any other tablet or smartphone. The LED indicator above the unit illuminates green to indicate when the surge protector is providing protection to your equipment. When the protection circuitry has been fully consumed by power and current spikes, the protection light will no longer illuminate, indicating that the surge protector should be replaced. The Slim Surge Protector also includes optional socket screw to secure the unit to the wall, turning any outlet into a convenient charging station for your office, media room or kitchen. Right now it seems to be on sale at Amazon for jut $15.99, plus S & H.

Company website: http://www.satechi.net/index.php/satechi-slim-surge-protector

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088TAZ2S/?tag=twnene-20

See or hear this Netcast www.twit.tv/dgw1379

Leo's "Crap From The Sky Mall Catalog!"

The Giz Wiz fans have voted. And the winning piece of crap that most wanted to see Leo buy for this week’s show was --- The SkyRest Pillow! Here’s the info from SkyMall:

This person is able to sleep comfortably in any Seat! Can you say the same? Probably not, unless you have SkyRest. Why not join our many thousands of satisfied customers and enjoy the benefits of this uniquely different and very flexible travel pillow. SkyRest deflates and folds into an easy-to-pack size and shape. The large, removable inflation valve makes inflation and deflation a snap! .... And now back to me! I don't know about you, but I would be way too embarrassed to use that pillow on an airplane. However, Leo is sending it to Andy Ihnatko, a regular on TWiT’s MacBreak Weekly. Andy will be flying from Chicago to San Francisco soon. TWiT’s buying Andy’s ticket, so Leo told him that part of the deal is that he must try the SkyRest Pillow in flight! Lot of luck, Andy! Take some pictures please!  …..If you're interested in one, they're $29.95 at, where else? SkyMall!

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=96981577&c= 

See or hear this Netcast www.twit.tv/dgw1379

VOTE HERE RIGHT NOW FOR ANOTHER GADGET YOU WANT LEO TO TRY ON 'THE GIZ WIZ'!

A Visit To Dick's Gadget Warehouse - For The Keyboard Organizer!

While browsing around Dick’s Gadget Warehouse, I saw a plain white box that I was sure held a computer keyboard. I’ve had some many keyboards over the year, it’s easy to recognize the box they come in. But the fact that the box was plain white meant it was probably some sort of prototype. And it was. It was something I found at CES 2005, The Keyboard Organizer.  This was billed as the world’s first and only functioning computer keyboard that opens for internal storage. The company said it has the size and weight similar to competitor’s keyboard that did not have the storage. The deluxe keyboard included volume control, cd/dvd controls, and many more! Turns out the Keyboard Organizer is still available. And, according to the company, still “ideal for offices, home offices, college dorms, studio apartments, design firms, shipping departments, POS locations, receptionists, legal offices, and government offices. And it makes a great gift.” But, of courser, the real benefit is for use in places where space is at a premium. The Keyboard Organizer has 13 compartments that include areas for pens, CD’s or DVD’s, business cards, rubber bands, paper clips and more! It sold for $25 – and the basic model still does! But wait there’s more! The company has come out with a new model for the iPad! And several other models. Check them out at the company website, and be sure to watch the demo video. If you’re a TWiT fan you’ll recognize the person doing the demo instantly - only in a younger form!

www.keyboardorganizer.com

See or hear this Netcast www.twit.tv/dgw1379