Top
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

Search Giz Wiz Biz
  • Contact Me

    This form will allow you to send a secure email to the owner of this page. Your email address is not logged by this system, but will be attached to the message that is forwarded from this page.
  • Your Name *
  • Your Email *
  • Subject *
  • Message *

Attention: Starting October 1, 2022

If you're using 

www.gizwizbiz.squarespace.com 

please start using:

www.gizwiz.me or www.gizwiz.biz

This site will no longer update as of October 1, 2022.  

   Gadgets I showed on WORLD NEWS NOW are here the new site:            

  https://www.gizwiz.me/world-news-now


(This site uses a very old Squarespace format that has become too unstable. Google has also marked this site: "Not Mobile Friendly". The new site meets Google's mobile standards.)  

Entries from December 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

Friday
Dec182020

Giz Wiz Show #1810 December 17, 2020 Independent Show #290

This is our 5th year of Independent Production! (First Giz Wiz show was February 20th, 2006.) Thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters we're now going into year 15. If it wasn't for our supporters the Giz Wiz Show would be gone. If you'd like to support OMGchad & DickDe in our independent venture (we pay for everything ourselves, including travel) just click the Patreon link at the top of our show web page: http://www.gizwiz.tv/  

On this week's show we start with a gadget that makes shooting smartphone video selfies or instructional videos by yourself easier. It's the Vibe Selfie Foldable Smartphone Stand. I noticed from Gadget Warehouse videos we receive for the show, that often it's different for the sender to shot the video since they're often alone. That means they have to hold the camera while they try to operate the gadget with one hand. So when I saw the Vibe Foldable Selfie Foldable Phone Stand, I had to buy one. The box copy says that it's perfect for selfies & shooting instructional videos. It features a fully adjustable stand (holds phone in vertical or horizonal plane), can raise up to about 19" & has a suction base. I wasn't so sure about the suction base, because most of them that I've used simply don't work. But you'll see how this one does on this week's show. Best of all was the price $5 at Five Below. It was also available online, but there's a $5.99 shipping charge. But that price cover shipping for everything in your order. If it's sold out online it may still be available in Five Below stores.

 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/ckVLHMxvKn8  

 

https://www.fivebelow.com/products/selfie-foldable-phone-stand  

 

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1810

Friday
Dec182020

A Chad Extra On Every Show in December!

Chad's extra gadget this week is the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker. Chad says he likes coffee, but maybe just once or twice a week. So even though he already had a Keurig K-Cup machine, he didn't like that the reservoir held a lot of water. That's because it sat there on the counter unused for long periods of time and he was afraid it might attract dust, mold, etc. That's why he bought this single serve K-Cup Mini brewer. Just before you make your coffee you fill the machine with 6 to 12 oz. of water, and that's how much coffee you make with your K-Cup. No water left over. It's also small, less than 5 inches wide. Other features I see online are built-in cord storage, removable drip tray that accommodates travel mugs up to 7.0 inches tall and holds a full accidental brew for easy cleanup. Plus an auto off feature that turns off your coffee maker 90 seconds after your last brew, helping to save energy. Chad paid $59.99 on Amazon:

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/34jgyer 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1810  

Friday
Dec182020

Can't Find The Right Transformer Plug In That Junk Drawer? Here's The Solution!

If you're a gadget freak, chances are you have a drawer, a box, or in my case, 2 crates full of Transformer plugs. So many, that you need one, it's pain to find the right voltage, the right wattage, the right polarity, and the right pin size that will fit the port of the device you want to power up. Here's an easy way to find what you need. It's the ProTech Trader 30w Universal Power Supply Reversible Polarity 3v-12 Volt DC 30 watt 2.5 amp with USB Port & 8 Adapter Tips. Info from the company: This multivolt 30 Watts (30w 2.5 amp) replacement switching power adapter supply is compatible with 1000s of small electronic devices using requiring 3 volt, 4.5 volt, 5 volt, 6 volt, 9 volt, or 12 volt up to 2.5a or 30 watts including many Electronics, Tablets, Routers, Smart Phones, Speakers, etc. Please NOTE USB Port Limit is 1.0amps Includes 8 Interchangeable DC Tips/Plugs of the most popular sizes. Please make sure your device is one of these size jacks on it for proper fit and the standard center positive polarity. This new upgraded model comes with a USB port built inREVERSE Polarity DC Tip. See it in operation on this week's show. Under $18 as of 12/17/20

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/oNcRcbP23Rs

 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LLglKB

 

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1810

Friday
Dec182020

Chad's Crappy Corner & his third gadget for his new December Theme.

For December our loyal Patreons picked “Gadgets & Gizmos $10 and under”. And Chad's third cheap gadget is the Adumtil Wrapping Paper Cutter.

Here's what the company says about it: Wrapping presents has always been a chore, but with Adumtil that is no more. Do it in just few steps: Slide Adumtil over one end of the paper roll. Pull paper through the device opening. Measure the paper to the desired length. Gently push Adumtil away from you getting the amazing cut!

 And Chad's take? This is a demo you have to watch. Things do not go anywhere as smoothly as he (and we) thought it would. 2/under $9 as of 12/17/20

 

This is the brand Chad bought: https://amzn.to/38e63u7   

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1810 

Friday
Dec182020

Dick's Gadget Warehouse & How To Submit Your Video & Win An Autographed MAD Magazine.

This week's viewer video is from our most frequent contributor, Mo Torres. (Mo starts using it as a WTHII gadget with his family. I thought I knew exactly what it was. But I was wrong. See if you can guess before he reveals it on this week's show.

Here's his email:

 Hi guys

 I have another gadget, that I thought you guys would like.

 Check it out:

 https://youtu.be/D2GuKOoiXl8

 Mo

It's here on Amazon: (Under $40 as of 12/18/20) https://amzn.to/2J6O9kq 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1810

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show! 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 (favorite old, or favorite new): 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 earn a tiny amount of fame (hopefully). And if you live in the US, you'll also get an autographed 38+ year old Alfred E. Neuman picture and a MAD surprise (most likely the current issue of MAD.) But no matter where you live outside of US, I can autograph an Alfred E. Neuman photo to you, scan it & email you a high res copy if we show your video. Just print it out, frame it, or just hang it up and no one will know it's a copy. We've tested it out and fans say they look terrific! If you submitting warehouse videos for a second, third time, etc., you'll get the current issue of MAD as a thank you.

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Letter of the week:

Wow, look who our email of the week is from!

Hi Dick and Chad,

With all of the fires in California and Colorado this year, I thought that this technology might be of interest to the great GizWiz viewers.

 Droneseed is a company that reforests areas using drones. While airplanes and helicopters have been used in the past to reforest areas, Droneseed has a seed packet that improves the chances of the seed forming a tree and they claim that the drone pattern is more efficient than a plane or helicopter drop.

Here's a 45 second video showing off their technology on their website. Note that there is no audio on this video: https://www.droneseed.com/videos?wix-vod-video-id=9bc395c264b24921b0442f8dabbf6b2b&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-k41lkt5q

Here's a link from the Today show. I recommend playing from 1:13 - 1:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe-784cGFzY&feature=youtu.be

Looking forward to your GizWiz New Year's Eve celebration and saying an energetic goodbye to 2020. 2021 has to be better - right?

Selina Johnson aka OMGMom (Yep, Chad's mom!)