How much do you think a SanDisk USB 512 MB SD memory card cost just a mere 5 years ago?

Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse, Friday, July 30^rd, 2010, Netcast 1145tr

It was a big deal back in 2005. I showed it on Tech Guy Labs. Leo loved it. We all marveled at it! It was the SanDisk USB Ultra II 512MB USB Secure Digital Card. It had something truly unique: a pop-up USB 2.0 connector built right in! Yep the SanDisk Combo SD/USB Memory Card turned the 512 MB SD card into a USB memory device. How could it that? The SD card itself is hinged and split right in the middle. Folding the back half up 90 degrees exposed a flat USB 2.0 connector, which could and still can slide into any standard USB port. That was a warning that the SD would not work with low-powered USB ports (100mA) found in certain accessories, but would work with USB high-power port hubs (500mA).  And the 512MG SD card was --- wait for it ----- a mere $110! Today you can get a 16 GB, not MB card for way under $100! Speaking of memory prices, 2 years earlier, suggested retail prices for the non-folding SanDisk Ultra II SD cards were $129.99 and $289.99 for the 256MB and 512MB cards, respectively! 

Hear or SEE this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1145

Give your car “a new engine” for under $40!

Thursday, July 29^th, 2010, Netcast 1144 

Okay, to the SoundRacer doesn’t actually add a new engine to your car. (But you knew that!) It can however, let you experience the “hot sounds” of a new high horsepower engine! Imagine starting up your modern, boringly wimpy car and having the interior fill with the thrilling sound of a powerful Super Sports Car engine…Shift in the first gear, hit the gas pedal and the driving experience will really excite you! In every phase of driving - accelerating, decelerating, shifting, cruising and idling — the sound is so convincing it actually fools your senses to believe that you are driving the real thing, a Super Sports Car! Installation is so easy! Just plug SoundRacer into the cigarette lighter socket, select a frequency for the car stereo receiver and turn up the volume. There’s one more quickie step to let the SoundRacer get in tune with your car. You race the engine until the unit sounds off with 3 beeps. Now it’s in sync. If you get tired of the exciting engine sound you can use Sound Racer to listen to your favorite music. Just plug in your MP3 player and the music will sound loud and clear in your car stereo system. SoundRacer works on most car models including diesel and FlexiFuel models. Check the SoundRacer website for compatibility. $39.99 

http://www.smartmadness.com/servlet/the-818/soundracer-sound-racer-smart/Detail 

See or HEAR this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1144

Ever accidentally kick over the dog’s water or food bowl? Yep, me too!

Wednesday, July 28^th, 2010, Netcast 1143 

Neater Feeder is a clever new pet feeding system that takes the mess out of meal times. It contains the spills and splashes and reduces the mess and damage that often occur around pet feeding areas. The Neater Feeder has a two-container system with protective walls and a unique colander-like draining system. This system separates spilled food from spilled water. Spilled food is contained in the upper reservoir so it can be safely eaten or easily discarded. Spilled water drains into the lower reservoir, and can be reused for your pet, your plants, or discarded. And the Neater Feeder’s clever design is ant-proof, keeping your dog or cat’s dining area more sanitary. The small Neater Feeder is appropriately sized for cats and dogs up to 35 pounds, and the large model is designed for breeds 35 to 100-plus pounds. Optional leg extensions increase feeding height for an elevated feeding position that is shown to be beneficial for dogs’ digestion and joint health. Prices start at about $35.00

www.neaterfeeder.com 

See or HEAR this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1143

Leo loves this new Panasonic SLR camera for a strange reason. For the video it shoots!

Turn The Table Tuesday, Tuesday, July 27^th, 2010, Netcast 1142 

Yep, Leo says this new Panasonic GH1 is unique because it can shoot full HD movies with single-lens-reflex photo quality. Sure you can shoot incredible photos, but you can also shoot video in full HD (high-definition) (1920 X 1080) at 24 frames per second, or smooth HD (1280 X 720) movies at 60 frames per second in AVCHD format (MPEG-4/ H.264) with continuous auto focus. You can record for a longer time without running out of memory because AVCHD stores less data than Motion JPEG while maintaining stunning image clarity and detail. A separate button on the back lets you instantly start recording movies while shooting photos, without having to make any extra settings. This kit lens boasts a focal length of 28-280mm (35mm camera equivalent) and supports a continuous auto focus function that works for both photos and movies. The aperture adaptively adjusts to each scene, letting you capture the kind of delicate, softly focused movies that only a digital interchangeable lens camera can produce. Thanks to a silence design that helps suppress lens drive noise, the GH1 with its new kit lens records sounds with amazing clarity. This kit lens also incorporates MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) that helps eliminate blurring from hand-shake. $1350.00. I don’t own this camera so a lot of this info came from the Panasonic website. You, however, can hear Leo’s thoughts and full review on this camera just by clicking on thehear or SEE this Netcast below! 

http://tinyurl.com/39g6cu6   

Hear or SEE this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1142

A “hot” cook top that’s really cool!

Daily Giz Wiz, Monday, July 26^th, 2010, Netcast 1141

The Fagor Countertop Induction Burner doesn’t have a very glamorous name. It’s called Item # 670040610! But the technology behind this device is amazing. Induction cooking heats only the food and the pan - not the cooking surface! There are no open flames or heating elements, so the glass induction surface remains cool to the touch. So cool in fact, you could place an ice next to the cooking food, and it wouldn’t melt! An induction cooktop has a series of copper coils under the glass surface. They generate a powerful magnetic energy current when the cooktop is turned on. This high-frequency electromagnetic field induces a heating reaction in iron and steel based vessels. This way, the heat that will cook your food is actually created in the pot: in other words, the pot itself becomes the heat source, not the cooktop! This eco-friendly cooktop can be used wherever an outlet is available. There are 10 power settings, a built-in count down digital timer, and even a child lock out. Another nice feature is that the stove won’t turn on until a proper pan is in place on the burner. You do need pans that have a magnetic surface, but any pan you have now that a magnetic will stick to, will work. Perfect for tabletop cooking, for use as an extra cooking area.  Its lightweight construction and portable size is also well suited for college dorm, boat & RV’s. Induction cooking has been around for a long time but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to catch on and go mainstream. Price used to be part of the reason, but this new Fagor Induction Burner can be found on the web for just about $100.           

http://www.cookware.com/Fagor-670040610-fgr1101.html 

See or HEAR this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1141