Giz Wiz Show #1533 August 26th, 2015, our 17th Independently Produced Giz Wiz

If you'd like to support Chad & DickDe in our independent venture, just click the Patreon link at the top of this link: http://www.gizwiz.tv/.  You can also contribute just once via PayPal there too. And thank you!

i Cups - A new techno break-through?   

Recently I received this email asking if I wanted to 'test drive' iCups:

As the foremost guru on discovering the latest gadgets (huge fan of The Giz Wiz show), we would love you to experience the purest form of communication known to man. The iCups. 

Two high quality paper cups are connected by 64'' arts and crafts string to offer superior sound quality. No buttons, no apps, no screen to crack. Just simple, pure communication. Legendary Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak couldn't stop laughing at iCups (below is a proof)! We hope you and your subscribers love them as well!

Would you like to experience the latest in tech? Thanks, Magdim

Of course I wanted to! So I said yes and they sent some product samples.

Here's my video review:https://youtu.be/-Y-mG_4cMvg

Company website: http://www.icups.us/

Fun video with official announcement of iCups: https://youtu.be/g11_phs-xWg

And my real thoughts. At $9.99 this is a good gag gift for a techie person. The packaging is very clever, as is the illustrated “25 reasons reasons why iCups is superior to any smartphone on the market.” I'm assuming the $19.99 regular price on their website is part of the joke, because it's certainly not worth that.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1533

Another 'Excuse Machine'.

A viewer finds a different version of a gadget I reviewed. Here's his email: 

Hi DickDe, I couldn't find the Xcuse Box for sale, but found something that may be similar:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-Mouth-Toys-Pocket-Get-Off-The-Phone-Excuse-Machine-Keychain-FREE-SHIPPING/351472695256?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D32687%26meid%3D32142c864f6c4fb1b56c554e4adf4772%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D181500679037

Just like with OMGChad's, there's always the possibility that the batteries are long passed on.  

Yours truly, Dan Mottola

Via Dick De: While the Get-Off-The-Phone-Excuse-Machine was about $10 on Ebay, I found it and bought it on Amazon for $6.95 and got Amazon Prime free shipping. The batteries were fine and the device worked as soon as I pulled out the plastic battery spacer. Now while the Amazon copy says “This little device gives you 6 different sounds. Freedom is just the press of a button away”, it's very different from the Xcuse Machine. The Xcuse Box not only has 10 sound effects, but each one of them lasts for about a minute. That gives you plenty of time to make your excuse while having very real sound effects in the background. The Get-Off-The-Phone-Excuse-Machine sound effects last just a few seconds so you have to make your excuse very fast. Since Chad seems to have nailed down the last Xcuse Machine Amazon had (and his arrived with a dead hard-to-find battery), the Get-Off-The-Phone-Excuse-Machine is second best, but not nearly as good. It's at this link for under $7 as of 8/27/15.

No longer available.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1533

A neat product for back-to-school, or pretty much any lunchbox.

Juice in the Box is a green-friendly reusable juice and drink box. It can offer a healthy alternative to disposable, juice boxes pre-filled with all sorts of artificial juices. Saves money spent on packaged drinks & their disposable packaging. It's far less expensive to fill the Juice in the Box daily from economical large size juice bottles. It will be healthier too when you buy 100% juice options. Juice in the Box is made of nearly indestructible, chemical free Tritan. It's spill proof when locked as I showed on air when I turned one of them filled with water upside down. Not a drop spilled out. There's also a built-in soft bendy straw. Available in many colors. Holds 8 fluid oz. Retails for about $12 at major stories and online. If you do a web search you might be able to find them for as low as $10.00.  

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/dEsM2Fk_z5A

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1533

Chad's Crappy Corner and his final under $10 gadget for August!

Chad polled our Patreon supporters and for his August theme they selected “gadgets under $10.” For this week's show Chad found the Self-Stirring Mug which he bought on Amazon. 

I found this description on Amazon: This Self-Stirring Mug is made from durable stainless steel metal. Included lid great for use as a travel mug. Quickly blends beverages without the effort of shaking or stirring. Great for the office, Car, Travel, Home & more. Battery Operated (Requires 2 AAA Batteries, Not Included). Holds up to 15 ounces of liquid. With this novelty gift you will no longer have to worry about getting to the bottom of your hot chocolate or soup and finding thick remnant goop. Dimensions: 5.25" L x 3.75" W x 4.375" H. This product is NOT dish washer safe.

And Chad's take: Chad liked it. The mini-propeller at the bottom of the cup spins as long as you hold down the button on the handle. Chad put in 2 AAA batteries at the Self-Stirring Mug did indeed work. And it worked very well. As you watch the video of this week's show you can see how the Self-Stiring Mug makes a mini-whirlpool in the cup of liquid. Best news is that it was way under $10. Chad found it on Amazon for $6.85 and that included free shipping, but not Amazon Prime.

http://www.amazon.com/Self-Stirring-Coffee-11-8-Ounces/dp/B00C3CUPI0 As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1533  

Dick's Gadget Warehouse & How to Submit Your Viewer Video.

This week's viewer video arrived with this email: 

Hey Dick / Chad,

Here’s a video for the gadget warehouse. This is my favorite gadget from the past, the HP-41 calculator. (and a guest host at the beginning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvu6LNsR4To

Doug – (nerd1701 in the chatroom occasionally). 

Chad talked about using the TI-83 calculator when he was in school. It was followed the TI-84 and now the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus.  The newest model has six times the memory of the TI-84 Plus and is 30% lighter. While the original HP-41 was $295 when it originally came out, the TI-84 Plus is about $110 to $120 on Amazon....

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1533 (Goes live late Friday 8/28/15) 

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We’re looking for more Viewer Videos! We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show, so here's what we're looking for! Your home shot video – 2 to 3 minutes long, in 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! Did 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. No professional ads please.

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 a new gadget you just bought too. 

Post them on YouTube and send us 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, but we should be able to hear you and see you! If we select and show your video on The Giz Wiz you’ll a tiny amount of fame (hopefully), an autographed MAD magazine and a 35-year-old Alfred E. Neuman picture. So that's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video! IMPORTANT: We'll just shower you with praise for your video if you live outside the US or Canada since we can't afford to send stuff outside of those two places. (Thanks for understanding.)

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv.  

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Letter of the week:

Steve Johannesman

Guys, I love the gizwiz and want to support your efforts but don't like Patreon. Are there any other contribution methods available?  Thanks, Steve

Thanks so much Steve for asking. If you go to http://www.gizwiz.tv/ and click on the Patreon link, you'll see a PayPal link. That link will take you to PayPal, not Patreon and you can make a one-time donation there if you so desire. And we hope you do. :)