The Giz Wiz Show 1611 for February 24th 2017, Our 95th Independent Production.

Thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters The Giz Wiz Show not only continues, but is heading toward the end of its 2nd year of independent production. 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/  You can also contribute just once via the PayPal link that's there too. And thank you for doing that! Our show wouldn't exist without our viewer's support.  

This week for the next week week's we dive into Toy Fair 2017! 1000 companies put on a huge display of toys, many of them STREAM toys. What are STREAM toys? Some years ago many toys started being identified as STEM. That meant they embodied the important concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Then STEM became STEAM, when an “A” was added for “Art” Now it’s getting more comprehensive as Robotics are added to the trend – transforming STEAM to STREAM. We'll see some examples of them among the clever new toys I found at the show.  

I always stop at Be Amazing Toys. Their aim is to helps kids discover the wonders of the world around them and the joys of creative play. It's original founder, Steve Spangler, (who you'll see in the Giz Wiz video) was described in TIME magazine as “the science teacher you always wanted to have in school.” Each year at Toy Fair Steve gets people to stop at the booth by performing some fun experiment. Last year he had a bed of nails for people to try and this year -- well, you'll see that in the video too.

After I had fun with Steve I played with Be Amazing's “Just Add Water”. You'll see what I made in the video. I can't find that eact product online yet. (It may not be out yet.) But here's something just like it, from BE AMAZING TOYS. It's Amazing Spheres. Amazon says: Grow humongous clear balls and monster colored marbles! Just add water. Package includes one test tube, clear spheres, garbled marbles and instructions. Recommended for ages 4 and up. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years. WARNING: This set contains chemicals that may be harmful if misused. Conforms to ASTM F963. Imported. (Well those warnings cut down the fun a bit, but I guess it's necessary.) Under $10.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/UCNpf-Us2HE 

http://www.beamazingtoys.com/blog/ (Start at 4:30)

If you look up "water beads" on Amazon, you find something that looks like the same thing. But you'll get a LOT more for your money.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1611 

A Smart Go-Cart, designed for kids 5 to 9.

Wow, kids are lucky these days. There are some amazing toys on the market. You probably know about go-karts, but have you heard about Smart-Karts? Activ Motors has come up with the Arrow Smart-Kart -- a fun, safe and affordable go-kart aimed at five to nine-year-old kids. Kids from five to nine will not only love driving the Arrow, they can also personalize their driving experience by downloading synthesized engine sounds. The single bucket seats boasts twin built-in speakers. The Actev App also lets kids monitor stats such as total driving time, total distance, and maximum speed. But wait, there's more! The parents can also monitor how fast the kids are driving, where they're driving and they can even limit the speed they drive at. Top speed of the arrow Smart-Kart is 12 mph and it's not designed for any public road. Another amazing feature is a crash-avoidance system. The Arrow Smart Kart is $999.95. They're ready to ride, but if you want, you can add a body kit in red or silver. That retails for an additional $199.99.  

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/HymXJ8NJ0wM

Tech Specs & more: http://www.actevmotors.com/

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1611

Crayola helps bring animation to a kid's made-up story.

When I stopped by the Crayola booth at Toy Fair 2017, the first question I asked was "does Crayola still make crayons?" Yes, they do. But over the years they sure have branched out into all sorts of fun creation devices for kids. One of the newest on display was the Crayola Magic Scene Creator. As you'll hear in the video, the spokesperson says that kids love to make up stories and this new fun toy can help bring their stories to 'life'. It comes with 70 motion cards and six markers. The motion cards can be things like the sky, the ocean, etc., or animals, butterflies and other things kids relate to. The motion cards appear stationery just before you place them on the Magic Scene Creator. But once on the back-lit device they appear to be animated. By today's standards it's not a lot of animation, but I think very young kids will think it's magic. Kids can use the included markers to draw on the screen or even the moving images. When they're done they can erase what you've drawn on the screen with a dry or damp cloth. There's room to store the markers and motion cards in the back of the Magic Scene Creator. It should start to appear in stores in July, 2017, and sell for less than $20. 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/7cjxcubvgGo

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

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1611

Chad's Crappy Corner & The Final 'Cheap Desk Toy' - His Theme For February, 2017

Chad polled our great Patreon members to pick a theme for February. They picked “toys for the desk”. You know things you could have on your desk to entertainment yourself or guests, when you don't feel like working. Chad's final crappy desktop gadget for February is the Connex Soccer Fever Kit.

Chad got his at Five Below, but it's also available on Amazon at a higher price. Here's what Amazon said about it: GOAL! Build your own goalkeeper, then see how many goals you can score on him with this Soccer Fever Kit. Contents: battery compartment, ON/OFF switch, spring connector, box base with holes, gear box & cap, sliding base track & platform, goalkeeper components, mini-soccer ball, soccer shooter, connecting bridge, sticker, & instruction manual. Play on your own or with a friend for the ultimate portable soccer match.

 And Chad's take? Chad liked this kit. Although there were a few (small) pages of instructions and a fair number of small parts Chad said it only took him about 15 minutes. That includes a tiny bit of wiring. (But don't forget, Chad's a professional in this area!) Chad was a little baffled that there were a couple of extra parts left over, but didn't worry because it shows the extra left over parts on the box cover too! It's a simple little kick soccer ball game which you can see Chad play with in this week's video. Chad thought kids would like this a lot, especially at the $5 price he paid at Five Below.  

It was not on the FiveBelow website when I checked, but they do have some other Connex Games available: https://www.fivebelow.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=connex+soccer+fever

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1611

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

This week's viewer video arrived with this email:

Hello the maddest writer & crew,

I'm Denis - long time show listener and also a creator of Garadget - open source smart garage door controller. I had a successfully funded and fulfilled crowdfunding campaign last winter and now offer my little gizmo online for general public. You'll love it because it has WiFi and lazer and it addresses a range of real life problems. Please check out my campaign video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Vartsq8Qc  

Denis Grisak

It's $89.00 on Newegg:  

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAD3U5AY6100

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1611

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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 (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.

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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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Letter of the week:

Bryan Musgrave

Heard you talking about this as a kick starter. Looks like they pulled it off.

(Fidget Cube) Only $1.00

Buy it now on Wish: http://www.wish.com/c/5848ff2f5df5556a6a51f6f7  

Bryan