The Giz Wiz, Week of February 19, 2012, Netcast 1404 - Our 7th Anniversary Show!

Leo and I both loved the Air Hogs Battle Tracker that came out last year. Right after I talked about it on the Giz Wiz, Leo immediately ordered one. Here's the original Netcast about the Battle Tracker: http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/dicks-blog-log/2012/8/9/can-you-make-the-remote-control-helicopter-outwit-the-rc-aut.html.

At this year’s Toy Fair I was excited to see what was new from the Air Hogs division of SpinMaster Toys. Inside their 'invitation only' showroom, I found a nifty little gadget called the Air Hogs Elite Helix X4. It’s not just a new helicopter; the Air Hogs Elite Helix X4 is a high-performance Remote Control quad-copter heli. Here are some details from Spin Master: Utilizing state-of-the-art 2.4GHz radio control, gyro stabilization, and 4-ducted fans, the Helix X4 is aggressively maneuverable and incredibly fast! Built with two distinct control modes, beginners can easily learn to fly, while advanced pilots can work to master flight. The Helix X4 features incredibly crash-resistant materials protecting the rotors and delivering superior durability. Its full 4-channel control enables the Helix X4 to easily outfly any obstacle and charging is quick & easy using either the controller or the included USB charge cable. Air Hogs brings you the future of flight with the Elite Helix X4! Age: 12+ Suggested retail price: $89.99 Batteries: 8 AA. It will be in stores August, 2013.

Thanks to ABC News producer & cameraman Peter Martinez, here’s a bit of the Elite Helix X4 in HD Video:  http://youtu.be/LapQlhjDC4c

See or hear this episode: www.twit.tv/giz1404

The iPad goes where no iPad has gone before....to the iPotty!

iPotty for iPad – iPotty is shipping soon. It's available for pre-order on Amazon for about $40. Here's the description from their website:

Parents can give children a comfortable and fun place to learn to use the potty with the child-friendly iPotty from CTA Digital. It features a special stand to securely hold your iPad and safely entertain kids while they play with apps. The adjustable stand can be rotated 360° to switch between horizontal and vertical views and also includes a removable touchscreen cover to guard against messy hands and smudges. Parents will be pleased with how simple it is to keep the iPotty clean and minimize messes, with its removable inner potty bowl, potty seat, and splashguard. A clip-on seat cover can be attached to convert the potty to a child activity seat, so they can safely play apps, read and watch videos on the iPad at any time. The stand can also be adjusted to 3 positions or removed entirely to make extra room and easily store away. So, take a step ahead in potty training, delight children and make the learning experience easy and fun with CTA Digital's iPotty for iPad. Specifications: • Compatible with iPad (3rd and 4th Generation) and iPad 2 • For children 18 months and up • Supports up to 43 pounds Package includes: (1) iPotty for iPad (1) Removable Potty Bowl with Handle (1) Removable Potty Seat (1) Attachable Seat Cover (1) Attachable Splashguard (1) Adjustable Stand for iPad (1) Removable Screen Guard Cover

http://www.amazon.com/CTA-Digital-iPotty-Activity-Seat/dp/B00B3G8UGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360900205&sr=8-1&keywords=ipotty

See or hear this episode: www.twit.tv/giz1404

Viewer Video of the Week -- And how you can submit your video for the show.

As usual, our viewer video pick of the week always starts with a letter like the one below. Recently, on the list of Crap from Sky Mall viewers voted on, was the ACM Wallet. It didn't get picked, but Jason owns two of them, so he provided us with his own personal video review. 

Dick & Leo

I uploaded a video review for you guys for the ACM Wallet....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1X5ngTJiNo 

Sincerely,   Jason C Cleanthes

Effen Dunn Studios

See or hear this episode: www.twit.tv/giz1404

We love showing videos from our fans! We'd love to show one of yours too, but you need to send it to us first! Here's how:.

Want to be a part of The Giz Wiz Show? Then submit your own video! 

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! Do 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!

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, 4 MAX! Low production value is fine. Even welcomed! That way our stuff doesn't look too bad by comparison. We've set the bar low. Don't trip over it.

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

Leo's "Crap From The Sky Mall Catalog!" Pick Of The Week!

Winner of a past viewer poll – The Talking Dog Collar! It finally arrived. Before I give you Leo’s opinion, let’s look at the Sky Mall description:  

Give your pet a voice! Surprise your friends, meet new people or call your dog home! Use for fun or safety. Just record your voice calling your dog to come inside or a funny phrase to talk to an unsuspecting person. Record a new message as often as you like! The included Remote Control with keychain attachment has 4 different recordable buttons. Remote control works up to 100 feet. Batteries included.

Transmitter Features:

Works up to 100 feet away from the receiver / Key ring attachment/ 4 Programmable buttons / 3 Replaceable CR2016 batteries included / Receiver Features: /4 Re-recordable 'paw' buttons / Loud speaker / Heavy-Duty FOB attaches to existing dog collar / On/Off Switch conserves battery when not in use. 1 Replaceable CR2450 battery included. $29.99. 

Leo’s take: The Talking Dog Collar works! It was fun recording four different funny phrases, which could be triggered from the remote. A slight problem is the paw-shaped speaker unit is big, and poor Ozzie (a small Papillon dog) hated it. He hated it more when Leo hit the remote control and a voice came out from the speaker hanging on Ozzie’s collar. So this would probably work much better on a bigger dog. But overall, Leo liked it and gave it “two paws” up! 

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/search.htm 

See or hear this episode: www.twit.tv/giz1404 

Don’t forget to vote in the new “Crap from Sky Mall” poll! It’s right here:

Gadget Warehouse Time! A Toy Invented 70 Years Ago.

No, I don’t have the original, but I do have a copy. It’s one of the ‘only’ 300 million Slinkys sold in the past 68 to 70 years! (It was invented in 1943, but made it's first department store showing in 1945.) In the year 2000 The Slinky was inducted into the Toy National Hall of Fame. Here’s a bit of background info from their website:

Mechanical engineer Richard James invented the Slinky by accident. In 1943, he was working to devise springs that could keep sensitive ship equipment steady at sea. After accidentally knocking some samples off a shelf, he watched in amazement as they gracefully “walked” down instead of falling. Along with his wife Betty, James developed a plan to turn his invention into the next big novelty toy. Betty combed the dictionary for an appropriate name and came up with “Slinky.” James designed a machine to coil 80-feet of wire into a two-inch spiral. The couple borrowed $500 to manufacture the first Slinkys. Initial sales proved sluggish but soared after Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia allowed demonstrations for Christmas 1945. The first 400 Slinkys sold within minutes. 

Additional info via Wikipedia: In 1998, Betty James sold the company to Poof Products, Inc. Slinky was originally priced at $1, and has remained modestly priced throughout its history as a result of Betty James' concern about the toy's affordability for financially disadvantaged customers. Slinky has seen uses other than as a toy in the playroom: it has appeared in the classroom as a teaching tool, in wartime as a radio antenna, and in physics experiments with NASA. In its first 60 years Slinky has sold 300 million units. They are widely available at toy stores everywhere, online and at amazon.com.

See or hear this episode: www.twit.tv/giz1404