Tis the season to find good discounts!

The Giz Wiz, Week of Dec 17, 2013, Netcast 1447

Here's a pocket, that goes into your pocket.

Every year Scott at SCOTTEVEST introduces new clothing with more pockets. This latest introduction leaves out the clothing altogether, because Scott is introducing pockets! Not ordinary pockets of course. These are designed to protect your phone, credit cards, and passport from hackers and even the NSA. Scott says his new Blackout Pocket turns you into an untraceable secret agent. Using a technology similar to what law enforcement and the military utilize to preserve electronic evidence, the Blackout Pocket is a flexible Faraday cage. It’s lined with proprietary RFID Armor™ material to protect your digital valuables.  By dropping your items into the pocket, they essentially become invisible to RFID skimmers. Blackout Pocket is a standalone pouch that can be carried in a vest or jacket pocket, or attached with hook-and-loop. It’s packaged in a highly durable bag that doubles as a TSA-approved toiletries bag. The Blackout Pocket is available in three levels of protection. Level 1 provides a basic level of RFID blocking security, to guard your wallet, passport and credit cards from RFID skimmers. This is useful for everyday use and travel to urban areas and foreign countries, where “digital pickpocketing” is on the rise. Some newer SCOTTEVEST jackets and vests have Level 1 protection built into a specific pocket; this Blackout Pocket extends that protection as a standalone pocket. Introductory Price: $15 / Regular: $20. Level 2 is an industrial grade pocket. In addition to the Level 1 protection of RFID-enabled credit cards and passports, you can drop any consumer cell phone in the pocket, seal it and be “off grid” within 3-5 seconds. No service, no GPS, no way to track you.  Introductory Price: $30 / Regular: $40. Level 3 is available only to law enforcement, government and specialist organizations. You have to email tactical@scottevest.com for special orders.

Available exclusively at:  www.SCOTTEVEST.com/blackout

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1447

Giz Wiz Video Of The Week: Fake TV!

A burglar is most likely to target a totally dark house rather than one where it looks like people are home watching TV. When you’re out at night, or even away on vacation, instead of leaving your giant HDTV set on, you can use the Vaas FakeTV.  Flashing LED’s recreate the light of a real HDTV television. So from outside your house or apartment, it looks like someone is actually home watching TV. The unit I have is marketed as Vaas FakeTV, but units that look just about identical are available as just plain Fake TV on Amazon and elsewhere. I think these units make a better theft deterrent that a regular lamp on a timer. I reported on a Fake TV device about five years ago on The Giz Wiz, but this newer unit is said to be three times brighter than the earlier model. Controls are very simple. A built-in light sensor turns the Vaas FakeTV on at dusk. Then it stays on for four or seven hours, depending on where you set the switch. You can of course, leave it on all the time because it consumes about the same amount of power as a night-light. It’s powered by the included AC adapter. If you’re interested in buying one, it looks like the Vass Fake TV has been on close out. That’s probably why it was just $18 on one of those deal of the day offers, but I’d get the one advertised as 3 times brighter than the original. 

Giz Wiz Fake TV YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/dhJ1cy-uG9k

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1447

A fun family game - no batteries required.

This is a fun game from Spin Master called Boom Boom Balloon. Blow up one of the included balloons and put it into the Boom Boom frame. Then roll the die to see how many sticks you need to click before your turn is over. You can push one stick in multiple times, or several sticks once to equal the number you rolled on the die. Everyone gets excited as they watch the balloon change shape as it gets closer and closer to bursting. The first person to pop the balloon loses the game. Boom Boom Balloon comes with 12 balloons, 10 sticks, a die and an easy-to-assemble frame. When you run out, you can use a regular balloon, or buy extra Boom Boom balloons. The company says their balloons are tougher than normal for more play time. Under $20. Toys 'R Us had the best price as of 12/15/13. It was much higher in price on Amazon by about $10 on the same date, so it's best to do a web search for the lowest price.

This is the Toys R Us link: http://www.toysrus.com/buy/active/boom-boom-balloon-game-6021932-23197526

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1447

Leo's Crap! (But sometimes it's good. Occassionally, very good!)

Leo & I only have one more show to do before Chad takes over as co-host on The Giz Wiz. (This will allow Leo to take two days off a week starting in 2014.) So on this show, Leo did three gadgets left over from the Jeff Needles days.

The 1^st gadget Leo showed was the Instant Beer Stein Can Grip Handle! This red plastic handle snaps onto your beer or soda can to create an instant stein. It's will keep your warm hands from warming up your drink. It's made of red plastic. Although the copy says: “Sleek comfortable handle design easily snaps onto cans”, Leo had to enlist the help of Burke at the Brick House to use some force to snap the Instant Beer Can Grip Handle in place. But once it was on, it seems that it would keep your hands dry from moisture on the can. About $4, but shipping adds $5 or so. Maybe if you order 6 or so, the shipping would still be same, but I’m not sure.

Gadget #2, Leo showed us, not one, but two EZ Eyes Large Print US Keyboards. Amazon says: Trying to type on a small keyboard hurts the eyes and your self-esteem. You deserve the big, the bold, and accurate EZ Eyes 104-Key Large Print US Keyboard and Optical Mouse combo pack!!! With letters 4x larger and higher contrast colors than a regular keyboard, the ZK-520 keyboard suits your eyes perfectly. And there is a USB optical mouse to acommpany your new found accuracy. They both use the USB 2.0 interface and are both Plug & Play compatible which means you can just plug the keyboard and mouse in and forget it! It's also PC and Mac supported giving you flexibility across different machines. Even if your eyes are really bad and you lose your keyboard and mouse, we throw in an extra keyboard and mouse just in case. That's right - you get two USB keyboards and two USB optical mice for the same cheap price. That's right, $11.99, plus free shipping, so just about $6 for each keyboard/mouse combo!

The Stapler that doesn’t use staples was another gadget Leo showed. Amazon give this description: Perfect for College Students, Kids, Small Business and anyone who ever needs to staple papers. Never Buy Staples Again! Staples are history! You'll never have to run out of them again. The Staple Free Stapler cuts out tiny strips of paper and uses the strips to stitch up to 5 pieces of paper together. Environmentally friendly. Safe for kids.  Leo’s take: It sort of worked. It does make holes in the papers to bind them together, and it looked like they didn’t stayed joined all the time. But it’s cheap to buy.

The last gadget we really didn't get to see, because Leo just read the name on the package and passed on opening it. But I was able to find it on line. It's the Bobino Slim Pen, a super thin ballpoint pen. Here's what I found on Amazon:

For the first time in your life you will never be left without a pen. Slim Pen was designed to be as thin as possible. At only 1/8 inch thick, your notebook cover closes with ease. Slim Pen is easily removed or reattached to its docking tab affixed inside the front or back or your notebook or agenda. It sells for $6.40 on Amazon, and it's free shipping if you're an Amazon Prime Member. You can also find other choices on the page where the pen sells for less, but then the shipping cost brings the price back up again.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1447

Dick's Gadget Warehouse: Another viewer's video and how to submit yours!

Video submissions include an email, like this one:

This is a submission for the GadgetWarehouse segment on TheGizWiz on the Twit.tv network.

In it I describe how my Raspberry PI has caused me to clear out all my old gadgets. The two that remained is a SmartMedia Floppy disk adapter and the other is a Xircom PE pocket ethernet adapter. I also mention the Third Annual HackerPublicRadio NewYear 26 hour show. 

Ken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I89WJIEDbQ 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1447

                                              *******

We'd love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show.

Here's what we're looking for: Your home made Videos -- two to three minutes long - in the 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.

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 something you just bought too. 

Post them on YouTube and send our producer, Jason, 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 will now be awarded with some sort of prize. Like an autographed MAD and some piece of crap. So that's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video!

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv 

Letter of the week: There were many emails about Joe Rinaudo and the FotoPlayer that we featured on last week’s Giz Wiz Show. People were amazed and amused at this incredible invention from the 1920's. I picked one of the emails that included another incredible selection of music performed by Joe at his FotoPlayer.

From: Andrew Rhynes

Subject: Episode 1446 That Stupid Spider

Hey Dick, I saw you posted about Joe who plays that crazy photo piano. I have a better link I think you would like... This comes from a Public TV show called California's Gold (hosted by Huell Howser) where he talks in great length about these Piano's. This clip is mainly just when Joe Plays the Piano but is the best version I have seen of how much work the piano really is... Joe ends up in a sweat in less than 2 min. My wife says I have an old soul (or does she call me old...) anyways These pianos has me wish I could have seen them in use...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0JZszqC7mk

Keep up the "great" work,

Andrew Rhynes
Podcast Host
http://www.otrwesterns.com  (Old Time Radio Westerns)