Giz Wiz Show 1606 for January 20th, 2017, Our 90th 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. 

And now, on to the show! MORE CES 2017

InFocus keeps coming out with new versions of its Kangaroo brand mini-Windows 10 computers. At CES 2017 I saw the newest addition, the Kangaroo Notebook. It's a way to keep your personal and family computer activities separate. Or parents and kids computer use separate. And I'm talking about really separate, like each having their very own removable Kanagroo Mini stick. Yes, the Kangaroo’s Notebook comes as a package with two modular PC Minis that can be swapped in and out of the laptop dock. Each mini is a self-contained PC running Windows 10. Inside, the modules are 2GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC flash storage, and a quad-core 1.44GHz Intel Atom “Cherry Trail” x5-Z8350. There's also an SD card slot on each mini which accepts cards up to 512GB.The dock offers an HD 11.6-inch display (max resolution of 1366 x 768),full keyboard, trackpad, battery, webcam, microphone, speakers, and two USB ports, one 2.0 and one 3.0. While 2GB of RAM is not much, it works fine as long as you understand this notebook is for basic computing chores, web searching, viewing videos, but not video editing or intense video gaming. 

Available at Newegg. Suggested retail is $299.99, but it is on sale for $269.99 till Monday, January 23^rd, according to the Newegg website when I checked on 1/18/16

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/V7F2mCgtkpM

Newegg Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834680447&cm_re=kangaroo-_-34-680-447-_-Product

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1606 

A new take on a tiny keyboard from Lenovo.

With a mini-keyboard being an important part of a 'home entertainment system' Lenovo has come to market with a very innovative product. Called the Lenovo 500 Multimedia Controller, it looks like a traditional mini-keyboard, but it's not. Even though this wireless device fits in your hand like so many other keyboards, you won't find a dedicated mouse pad. And why not? Because they've designed it so the entire keyboard is the touch pad. Hit the keys with your thumbs (or any fingers) to type, or run your fingers over Lenovo 500 media Controller entire surface to scroll, open and close windows, etc. But wait, there's more, Lenovo says their 500 Multimedia Controller has a larger-than-average wireless range of 65+ feet. MSRP is price is under $55.00 and it will be available from starting April 2017. 

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

More info at Lenovo website: http://tinyurl.com/LenovoCES17  

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1606 

Tiny gadgets, big, ugly chargers.

Smaller is better, especially when packing AC adapters.

The folks at Kado were able to generate a lot of attention with their compact phone charger and their notebook charger. It's almost a joke sometimes that you can carry a tiny phone or a mini laptop, but you also need to travel with over-sized AC chargers to get them running. Well Kado is changing that with two devices they showed at CES 2017 Eureka Park. One is a small USB phone or tablet charger with fold-flat AC prongs. It's flat enough to fit into a wallet. It comes in two interconnecting pieces that hook together. One of the charger, and the other is 2' of USB charging cable on a mini-spool. They make a slightly larger charger with enough juice to power your laptop. That one doesn't fit in your wallet, but it also has fold-able prongs and when closed could fit into a jacket packet. They're expect out in the Spring. The littlest one has a price of $50 and the larger laptop charger is expected to be $100. You can find out more about them and sign-up for updates at the company website.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/w5NSa5E7348

Company website: http://www.kado.tech/

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1606 

Chad's Crappy Corner

Chad is continuing his series for January of 'gifts he received for the holidays'.

This week he reviews the Angry Mama Microwave Oven Cleaner

Use steam to clean the crud from your microwave! just add vinegar and water, then microwave for 7 minutes. The steam comes out of mama's head and softens microwave dirt and stains for easier cleaning! to use: first remove Angry mama's hair and head from body, then add vinegar and water to fill lines on the body. Add a squeeze of lemon Juice (or essence) to Liquid for a pleasant odor.

And Chad's take: Chad did a demo showing how you put water in Angry Mama and then add vinegar. Then Chad microwaved it for 7 minutes. At the end of 7 minutes Chad said the kitchen had a strong smell of vinegar so walked into another room. It smelled of vinegar too, as did the whole house. Even his cats kept putting their noses in the air trying to figure where the smell was coming from. As far as cleaning goes? As you'll see in the video of this week's show Chad's oven was pretty clean to begin with. But he did get some stains on the oven walls out rather easily. His verdict?: This is just a so-so gadget. And the price? Chad paid about $5. It looks like many companies buy the same product and market for what they like. If you want to buy 10,000 of them, they're under a buck over at AliEXpress!

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1606 

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

Our link to this week's viewer video arrived in this email:

Hi Dick and Chad,

Thanks again for a wonderful show. I wrote in once or twice years ago but have been wanting to share some of the items from my museum case at the university where I work. 

Work always seems to take up all of my time when I am there on campus though but I was finally able to grab a few video clips the other day to edit together at home so sorry if it looks a little odd in places. I tried to keep it under your 3 minute limit and almost succeeded at 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

Let me know if you want to see any more items from the collection and I will record some shorter single item clips to send in.

These are a few of my favorite oddities but there are many more in there. Old media and computing equipment that we used in the classrooms in years past, donations from retiring faculty and staff and some items on loan from some of our technicians. Slide, filmstrip, film, video, audio recording, telephone, computer, and electronics equipment dating everywhere from the 1890's through the beginning of this century. 

If anyone is interested in donating them, we are still looking for an old chopper-wheel television set, a Syquest magneto-optical drive and something called a "Hectograph" apparently the precursor to the ditto machine, basically a big block of gel that you would put some sort of resist on, ink up, and print copies from on at a time.

Cheers, Bruce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfL3QRiWnHE&feature=em-share_video_user

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1606 

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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:

From: Braden Williams

Subject: Something you guys might like, Rechargable CR2032 batteries

Not sure if you have had something like this but I found these after getting tired of buying CR2032’s to put in my SmartThings presence Keyfobs. I would suspect they could be used in just about anything that uses the 2032 battery size.

Amazon.com: Zackees Rechargeable USB Coin Cell Charger. LIR2032 (LR2032) Batteries Included, Replaces CR2032 batteries

https://www.amazon.com/Zackees-Rechargeable-Charger-Batteries-batteries/dp/B01BA1CLN6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479684330&sr=8-2&keywords=rechargeable+cr2032

Before I found this device above I would take the CR2032’s out of computers and use them until they started getting low and then put them back into a PC I have

apart that’s used for testing items and let it charge up for a few days! heh

Thanks and love the show!

Braden Williams

Senior Systems Engineer

Genesis Systems, LLC

http://www.genesissys.com