A Backpack For The Real Tech Traveler - Also Great For Back To School.

eBags says they've taken a different point of view when it comes to a laptop backpack. Gone are the bungee cords, exterior mesh pockets, carabineer clips, and all of the other outdoor sports bling. Their new TLS Professional Slim Laptop Backpack fits perfectly in a professional setting. It features an all-black rugged exterior that offers rapid-access compartments protect a laptop, iPad or tablet, with room for notes, files, etc. It helps you be organized by letting you keep things in zippered packs so they don't fall down to the bottom of the bag. A special crush-proof AC 'adaptor garage' holds all your cables and doesn't let them scratch your other electronics. There's even a hidden zippered water bottle pocket. It easily converts from a backpack to a briefcase and includes a great feature for travel. It's a vertical and horizontal luggage handle pass-thru! The backpack locks onto to your rolling suitcase so you don't have to worry about it falling off as you travel along. This is one 'spiffy' backpack! It's selling for about $110 most places, but I see it here on Amazon for less.

http://amzn.to/2aJTfMD As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

This never affects how we rate Amazon gadgets since we mostly buy everything we review.

This eBags company video explains all the features:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxw6JdUeFX4

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1583 

Turn Up The Volume - Or Down --- With A Knob!

Here's a knob I'd like to see return to sound gadgets! I'm not a fan of on screen volume controls. When the phone rings I have to find the mouse, go into the volume slider and adjust the volume to zero. Remember when you just turned a knob to lower or raise the volume in a split second? Well, you can do that again. Volbox lets you add an 'old fashioned' volume control knob. It can work on sources when you can insert it between the sound source and the playback device - like between computer & a pair of external speakers. I use mine on my Tower PC. One 3.5mm cable goes from the computer 'audio out' to the Volbox 'audio in'. Another 3.5mm cable goes from the 'audio out' of the Volbox to your speakers or headphones. (My go to Bose desktop mini-computer speakers. Turn the volume all the way up on the computer or sound source and control it with the Volbox control knob. Very simple. Remember though, you can't make the volume louder than the sound source makes it. It is not an amplifier. Also someone asked if there is zero sound from the speakers when the volume control is turned all the way down. For months, I thought there was no sound, but to test for sure I turned off my computer, fan, everything in the room. If you put your ear to the speaker, yes there still is a touch of sound with the knob turned all the way down. But you have to listen for it. If you need ZERO sound, then this won't work for you. The Volbox ships without cables so you can buy the length you need. $19.99 and Prime, and free shipping for Prime Members. 

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

Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2baKHDl 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

This never affects how we rate Amazon gadgets since we mostly buy everything we review.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1583

Chad's Crappy Corner and another gadget for his August theme: cheap Smart Home gadgets.

Chad's August theme (As voted on by our loyal patrons) is “Crappy Smart Home Gadgets” and Chad's 2nd cheap gadget of the month is the Wink Egg Minder Smart Egg Tray. 

Here's what Amazon says about it: From Quirky and GE comes the Wink Egg Minder Smart Egg Tray that adds a new level of intelligence to your everyday lives and the kitchen. The Egg Minder features a built-in Wi-Fi chip to allow it to sync up to your smart device via the Wink app. Once paired with your smartphone or tablet you can now open the app from anywhere to view how many eggs you have which can be incredibly handy on impromptu grocery shopping trips or if you simply just don't think to check on your egg count before heading out the door. This alone is very convenient but the Egg Minder can still do more. In the actual egg crate next to each egg is an LED light that will alert you to which egg of the bunch is the oldest and should be used next and when that egg is removed from the Egg Minder the next oldest will be indicated and so on. The Egg Minder will also communicate with you through various push-notifications to alert you to when an egg has gone bad, an egg is close to going bad, and even set the Egg Minder to notify you when you are running low on eggs. $10.99 and Amazon Prime, so free shipping for Prime Members.

And Chad's take? Chad was not eggactly bowled over with this device! As a matter of fact, it laid an egg. (Okay, enough with the bad puns.) As you'll see in Chad's demo, this device works rather badly. It couldn't keep track of how eggs there were in the tray or where the eggs were. Since that's pretty much the purpose of this thing, it's not very good. About the only thing that surprised us about this device was the price. It was just $10.99. My guess is that it's that price because it was a failure. I believe it actually was priced at about $60 to $70 when I first saw it years ago at a time show. Since it's not worth the $11 Chad paid, I can imagine how disappointed people were who bought it at 6 or 7 times that price. Chad calls this a 'rotten egg'. (That was the last pun, sorry.)

http://amzn.to/2b0YE2w  - As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

This never affects how we rate Amazon gadgets since we mostly buy everything we review.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1583

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

Our viewer video of the week arrived with this email:

From: David Eckard

Guys,

I think I sound horrid but still.

https://youtu.be/iPR7aiT6sl0

This is something I bought from the local Bose store.

https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/over_ear_headphones/quietcomfort-35-wireless.html

I have enjoyed the heck out of them. I have been on probably seven flights since I got them. They work very well on planes.

dse (David Eckard)

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1583  

***********************

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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The letter of the week:

Steve Davison writes:  Looks like you and Chad won't be able to create one of these since it already exists, however, you can improve on the concept. I'm sure several people have already found this or items like this, but in case not, here's what I found.

Here's a Wahl Clipper with hose attachment. About a dozen years ago, a woman cutting my hair mentioned a coworker had clippers with a vacuum. Google gave me this (probably not the one the woman many year ago spoke of). 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AZST7I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008AZST7I&linkCode=as2&tag=retireplann07-20&linkId=5GMAM3SKQWXQWCLH

Wahl Senior Vacuum Clipper, Price: $79.90 & FREE Shipping.

Finally, a professional heavy-duty clipper specially designed with a vacuum system equipped! (excludes vacuum) Wahl has designed the classic Senior clipper with vacuum lid, attachments, and hose for easy connecting to your vacuum system. Also includes 6 snap-on guide combs (size 1/8 Inch-1 Inch), oil, cleaning brush, and blade guard.

From Giz Wiz: And I found this Remington VPG6530 Lithium Power Series 4 In 1 Vacuum Trimmer on Amazon too. http://amzn.to/2b8tMl4 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

This never affects how we rate Amazon gadgets since we mostly buy everything we review.

Giz Wiz Show #1582 for August 5th 2016 - Our 66th Independent Production!

hanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters The Giz Wiz Show not only continues, not only enters its 2nd year of independent production, but now is nominated as "Best Tech Podcast Of The Year!" If you'd like to support OMGChad & DickDe in our independent venture (we pay for everything ourselves) just click the Patreon link at the top of our show web page:  http://www.gizwiz.tv/You can also contribute just once via the PayPal link that's there too. And thank you! Our show wouldn't exist without our viewer's support.  

We finish our two weeks of fun electronics and tech toys from Sweet Suite/Blogger Bash, which took place in NYC on July 13^th. The event was held aboard aboard the Majesty Yacht, docked at Pier 81 in New York City.

Just in time for 'Back To School”.

I hadn't heard of Bixbee before, but I was glad I stopped by and found out about them. Not only do they make colorful, fun and practical backpacks, they have a great 'give-back' program. As you learn in the video, their mission is called "One Here. One There." That means that for every backpack purchased, Bixbee donates a school bag filled with school supplies to a child in need. Bixbee is their brand name as well as the name of their mascot, Bixbee the bee. To us older folks backpacks probably don't mean too much, but here's what Bixbee CEO Luis Manuel thinks: “We can all remember the days before school started, when you packed and readied your backpack for that first day. Then on that day you placed your backpack on as if it were a magic cape that was to start you on a new adventure. Have you ever stopped to have an actual conversation with a kid? Their imagination serves as an endless source of inspiration for my work. Wings, sparkle, sharks, zombies in a smart design combined with our buy one, give one mission makes for a feel good, ‘gotta have it’ product.” And some of them feature LED's! That's the Space Racer LED Kid's Backpack in the photo: $43.99, similar one without LED lights is $29.99.

GizWiz Video: https://youtu.be/gaDrVxWVPps   

Company website: http://www.bixbee.com/

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1582