A submission always starts with an email like this one:
Dan Linder / Subject: GizWiz gadget warehouse viewer submission
I'm a long time listener to the GizWiz show. I've written in a couple times but this is my first viewer submission. Here is the video URL:
http://youtu.be/_IHGPTSBEG0
It features my very reliable Magnavox AM/FM clock radio purchased in November 1988. It met my need of having two alarms - one I could ignore and sleep through, and a louder one set for a later time that would drive me from my slumber. (Good for me since I was beginning my senior year of high school.)Now, 25 years later, I have a wife and two kids to make sure I'm awake in the morning, but this little guy is still ticking along. One feature that sets this apart from other clock radios I've seen is the "high/low" setting on the display brightness. When I first used the clock, the low brightness setting was more than plenty (and high was like a lighthouse in a dark room). Over the years the LEDs have started to dim, and this past month I finally had to turn on the high brightness setting full time. Thanks to this simple design addition by an engineer 25+ years ago I'm able to continue to use this radio - hopefully for another 20 years. Sadly, much longer than any other electronic device I've purchased in the past couple decades...
Thanks for the great show. Dan from Bellevue Nebraska
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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: I picked an email from a company that's going to be at CES. I always find so much of the 'same old stuff' at CES. This looks VERY different.
Dick, I wonder if you may be going to CES next week? If so, I wanted to reach out to you regarding Panono, a throwable ball camera, which has recently announced that it has upgraded the camera modules to boost the camera from 72 to 108 megapixels.
This makes the throwable ball camera the first consumer camera to cross the 100 megapixels mark -- and they are about to close their $900,000 funding campaign on Indiegogo, possibly later today.
The ball-shaped Panono is simple to use - you throw it in the air, and at its highest point all the 36 cameras fire simultaneously to capture a richly detailed panorama of everything, in every direction, including the photographer. It is available to pre-order at a discounted price of $499 on Indiegogo.com for the next week.
Do let me know if this may be interesting to you. If so, I can set up a conversation with the founder, Jonas Pfeil, as well as a hands-on demo where you'd be welcome to try out the throwable ball camera if you wished to. Pia
January 1, 2014 
NEW! TWO SPECIALS FROM CES, with Father Robert Ballecer and The Giz Wiz. (Cick show title to view either special.)
At the NY Boat Show I saw a very interesting gadget that seemed totally out of place in a marine environment. It’s the SkySaver, designed to be a life-saving personal rescue device to get you out of a high-rise building in an emergency. That’s why I’m not sure why it was at a boat show. SkySaver is a self-contained, cable carrying backpack, or as the company calls it, the ultimate piece of survival gear for high-rise occupants. Simply strap it on, affix the fireproof cable to a secure anchor point, and safely descend down the side of the structure. Although in the video I saw, a guy connects the cable to a hook-eye bolt to the wall, the spokesman said you can pretty much hook it to anything large in the room, like a desk, bed, etc. Depending on the model, it’s effective for use in buildings up to 25 stories tall. The SkySaver Model ’160′ weighs 22 lbs and has a carrying weight range from 66-300 lbs. The cable length is 160 feet, which is approximately the height of a 15 story building. An automatic hydraulic braking system lowers users at a rate of 3-6 feet/second and is fire resistant up to 1500° F. The model 160 will probably retail for about $500 to $600. This is not on the market yet, but should be out in 3 to 6 months. You can get more info and sign up for updates at: 
