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About Me

 

Known as MAD's Maddest Writer, co-host of The Giz Wiz with OMGchad at www.GizWiz.TV, The Giz Wiz on ABC's World News Now, and on Tech Guy Labs with Leo Laporte on www.TWiT.TV

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Entries from August 1, 2016 - August 31, 2016

Wednesday
Aug032016

Barbie adds STEM leaning with her new Barbie STEM kit.

Science Saves the Day! (Hopefully.) The new Barbie STEM Kit is story based and aimed at girls. The idea is that the Annual Animal Shelter Gala is just hours away! Girls have to help Barbie and her friend Nikki prepare for the party as they learn important STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills. A full-color storybook manual guides their journey through seven building projects and more than seven experiments. They build a spinning closet rack, washing machine, jewelry holder, hammock, dress designer platform, shoe rack, and greenhouse with fan. And they make a chromatography dress, leaf-print dress, and optical-illusion origami dresses. The kit lets them build one project at a time since many of them use the same pieces. MSRP: $29.99, but it's already at Target for $24.99. It's on Amazon for more than the retail price, so don't buy it there until it's in wider distribution and the price drops. That should should have in September 2016. 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/Qivv2IDpzbw

 

Company website: http://www.thamesandkosmos.com/index.php/product/category/science-kits/barbie-stem-kit-barbie-220

 

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

Wednesday
Aug032016

Your kids will most likely be attracted to these magnetic kits!

Kids can build a walking robot or even dream cars. In the video we look at the Magformers XL Cruiser Car Set. It's let a kid (or anyone into fun) create colorful, original cars that are durable and fun to play with. Special silver bordered pieces enhance your designs and give all your models a super sleek look. The starter set includes 16 squares, 12 triangles, 2 hexagons, and 2 wheel sets. The company says their kits are made from high quality ABS Plastic and 1/3" rare-earth NEODYMIUM magnets. This kit did very well on Amazon with 4.6 out of 5 stars from 267 customer reviews. List Price: $54.99 It's $48.99 on Amazon. They're are dozens of other kits there too. 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/Ny_5UEwjX84

 

Company Walking Robot Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knvG2UDO8Tc

 

Whoa, talk about a knock-offs! Check out how many companies are doing it:

 

http://www.magformers.com/counterfeits

 

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

Wednesday
Aug032016

Chad's Crappy Corner and a brand new theme for August.

Chad's new August theme (As voted on by our loyal patrons) is “Crappy Smart Home Gadgets” and Chad's first cheap gadget is The GlowBowl. 

Here's what Amazon says about it: The GlowBowl is the Highest Quality Toilet Light on the market. GlowBowl will transform ANY toilet into a nightlight in seconds. No more missing your target or stumbling around in the dark - The GlowBowl is motion-activated and light-sensitive. GlowBowl solves all your nighttime bathroom problems and more. With the touch of a button, you can choose from seven different colors: blue, purple, aqua, yellow, red, white or green. With The GlowBowl, you no longer need to worry about turning on the blinding light again. The Glowbowl's dimming feature allows you to further customize it by selecting the level of brightness you desire. From a nice subtle glow to a brightness that radiates beyond the bowl! Great Gift idea for the person that has everything. Do not be fooled by "like" products that use ineffective 2-way sticky tape or suction cups that do not stay in place. Our patented design allows you to create a snug fit on any toilet in seconds that will stay in place forever. GlowBowl is also Ultra-Water Resistant and can be cleaned with most household cleaners! $15.99 and Amazon Prime.

 

And Chad's take? This gadget looked pretty neat in the video Chad made and showed us. It can change eight different colors. You can pick the one you like, or let it cycle through all 8. Chad showed us there's even a way to set the brightness level if you like. He also showed us a gasget for the battery compartment to help keep it dry. All for under $16. Chad might find it more interesting once I tell him I found it for a little less than half that on Amazon. Chad thought this wasn't a bad gadget, even though the instructions aren't very clear. So if you like LED's and a 'smart home' gadget that seems to work, check it out.

 

http://amzn.to/2aXraqF  

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/1582

Wednesday
Aug032016

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

Our viewer video of the week arrived with this email: 

Hey Dick and Chad,

 

Here is my gadget video. https://youtu.be/BnFYu27KS2M

 

It is a Digital Wallet, it lets you copy files off of a memory card and store them on it's internal 6GB hard drive. I used it on a few trips, it probably got the most use on a motorcycle trip I took and where I didn't have space to carry a laptop computer with me. At the time I had mainly 64 megabyte cards and if I remember right when I bought the digital wallet the cards were around $1 per megabyte.

 

Here is an old review of it. I think I bought it as a close out so I don't think I paid $499 for it, at least I hope I didn't pay $499 for it.

 

http://www.cnet.com/products/minds-work-digital-wallet-blue/

 

Eric Matt

 

Giz Wiz adds: I think the best part of the review is the price and how it was cheaper than buying spare memory cards!

 

Its only big problem is the $499 price tag, which could quite possibly make it more expensive than your digital camera. However, the Digital Wallet is more versatile than flash media; you can even use it as a portable hard drive to tote big files from one PC to the next. And despite its price, it gives you more bang for the buck than you'd get by buying several spare memory cards.

 

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

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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