Here’s a tiny solution to a huge problem!

Wednesday, January 5^th, 2011, Netcast 1258 

A close up of the eyeglass screws with snap-off tab attached.Ever lose that tiny little screw from a pair of your favorite eyeglasses? Even if you can find the screw, then you can’t find a screwdriver that tiny. And even if you find the proper screwdriver, the next problem is getting that tiny screw in that tiny hole. Now there’s a great solution. Eyeego has introduced the Snap-It Screw Kit, an eyeglass repair kit that contains a new type of eyeglass screw designed to simplify repairs. The screw features a feeder tab that allows it to be handled with ease. The “feeder tab” is actually like a handle attached to the bottom of the screw. Just guide the tab into the hole in the eyeglass hinge, tighten the screw and snap off the feeder tab. (I fixed a pair of glasses I had in a couple of minutes.) And it comes with the proper sized screwdriver. The Snap-It Screw Kit can be ordered by calling (518) 487-1550, or at web site below. This kit was invented by a lady who broke her only pair of glasses while doing volunteer work in a third world nation. She was far from being able to find replacement screws, or a proper screwdriver. Determined to solve this problem for everyone, she invested most of her life’s savings, ($250,000) to develop the kit and bring it to market! (I've mention on the Daily Giz Wiz many times, getting a new product to market isn’t cheap!) You can see a video demo at their site. Each kit comes with 4 Snap-off screws, a screw driver and a convenient carrying tube. Cost is $4.98 plus S & H. 

www.eyeego.com.                     Video demo at link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAX0TqPdjv0&feature=related

SEE or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1258  

If you have your own mini-studio, you should know about this.

Tuesday, January 4^th, 2011, Netcast 1257

I just know a little bit about this Turn The Table Tuesday. It’s something Leo’s been using lately at the TWiT Cottage studio. It’s the Korg nanoKONTROL. Since I’m impressed with it because Leo’s impressed with it, and it looks really techie, I have to rely on the Korg website for an explanation of what the nanoKONTROL does. Here goes: “It’s The Most Expansive Array of Controls For Its Size – Period! The nanoKONTROL features a plethora of controllers to help you get the most control out of your software for the size and money. nanoKONTROL offers nine faders, nine knobs, 18 switches and a full transport section. For each of the four programmable scenes the nanoKONTROL offers, you can set the controllers any way you need them. That means that you can transmit a total of 168 different MIDI CC (Control Change) messages, as well as MIDI notes with the switches. The six transport buttons can each transmit either MIDI CC messages or MMC messages to control functions such as: start, stop, loop, or record on your DAW software. Imagine taking full control of your software – transport, a full track’s worth of faders, pans and mutes - or how about precise dedicated control over the many parameters of software synths, samplers or virtual drum machines. It’s all possible with the nanoKONTROL.” Okay, now back to me! Does a lot, no? Best of all, it retails for just $49.99. Even not totally understanding what it does, I just may need to get one just for the tech look! I think it would great at Gizneyland.

[http://www.korg.com/nanoseries

SEE or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1257. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you all the best in gadgets for 2011!

Monday, January 3^rd, 2011, Netcast 1256

The Giz Wiz finds there’s more than one way to send Video between apartments!

As I reported on Daily Giz Wiz 1243, www.twit.tv/dgw1243 I used the TV Orb to send video from my office to my apartment, which are back to back in a Manhattan brownstone. Basically I wanted to use my Roku box in my living room where there is no WiFi. Although the Orb worked with the doors open, the video was less than good with the doors closed. So I figured wired was the way to go. But I didn’t want to drill a hole through the wall for the cable, so I came up with another solution. Western Digital offers a gadget that lets you stream high-speed encrypted video and data wirelessly to connected devices via electric lines anywhere in the home.  It’s called the Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit. Belkin offers a similar solution, but I’ll tell you what Western Digital added to make it more convenient to share your WiFi.  The Livewire Powerline AV Kit features two adapters, one for the room where the WiFi source is, and one for the room where you want WiFi. While the Belkin unit offers an adaptor that handles a single WiFi line, each of the Western Digital units offer four ports that allow users to connect the router to seven Internet-enabled appliances. (One of the eight ports requires the WiFi in cable.) One WD adaptor plugs into an available electric outlet in each of the two rooms you’re connecting to create a high-speed network. (Western Digital says the system is capable of handling up to 200 Mbs - megabits per second). Installation is easy, but there is one warning you should pay attention to! Do not use these units with power strips or UPS units. They should be plugged directly in an AC outlet. When I was setting up the units I found the two required AC plugs, but I couldn’t see where they plugged in on the adapters. Then I realized the place the AC wire & plug go had a warning stickers covering the port. That warning was the one NOT to use extension cords, power strips, etc. Of course I had to see if that was true, and it was. It doesn’t work. But when connected as instructed, they work fine. A green LED light on each unit lights to let you know they’re connected. Now I can watch Netflix on my HDTV via the Roku box using the WiFi that’s in my office! Works perfectly. The Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit lists for $139.99, but if you do a web search you can find them right around the $100 mark.

http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=310

SEE or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1256