Weekly Daily Giz Wiz, Week of July 18th, 2011, Netcast 1323

Another new feature-filled HD webcam from Logitech.

I’ve been using two different Logitech web cams over the past couple of years for my portion of the Daily & Weekly Daily Giz Wiz. I used the Logitech C910 for a long time and then switched to the Logitech C510. I liked the C510 because it added “swivel” to the cam. So on weeks where I had a guest in the studio it was easy to swivel the camera toward them for the intro. Now it looks like the C510 is going away and will be replaced with the new C615 HD webcam. Like the earlier model, it folds compactly for easy travel and it also swivels. That makes it perfect for video calling and HD recording on the go. This new version is at home on a PC or a Mac. In addition to the fold-and-go design, auto focus and the almost 360-degree swivel, Logitech has added a tripod socket. That’s kind of neat, because just a few weeks ago I checked the underside of my C510 to see if I could mount it off the laptop. There was no tripod socket on mine, but now the new one has it. (I wanted to try mounting it higher than the edge of my laptop for the WDGW. Logitech says their new HD Webcam C615 lets you make video calls in HD 720p on Skype, FaceTime for Mac, Logitech Vid HD and Windows Live Messenger, as well as video calls on Yahoo! Messenger, iChat, AOL Instant Messenger and other popular instant messaging applications. It also includes one-click HD video and photo upload to Facebook. The webcam comes with a 3-foot USB cable, but if want more flexibility, there’s a 3-foot USB extender in the box . There’s also a built-in mic, although for the WDGW, I use a separate Heil mic. If you want to take stills the capture software-enhanced 8-megapixel images offer something called Fluid Crystal Technology. The Logitech HD Webcam C615 is available in the U.S. now for a suggested retail price of $79.99. It’s about $75 on Amazon, but as it become more widely available, I suspect that price will drop more.

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/webcam-communications/webcams/devices/hd-webcam-c615

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1323

A unique new iPad/iPhone/iPod dock.

The Stem TimeCommand dock for iPhone, iPad and Ipod is one of the more unique iOS device docking stations. I didn’t quite understand why the Stem Innovations decided on circular design. But after hearing it, I think I know one of the reasons. Because the sound doesn’t come directly at you, but aims to your right and left, you really hear excellent stereo separation out of a device with a diameter of less than eight inches. You may not know the name Stem Innovations, but you probably know the name XtremeMac. Stem Innovations was started by the former CEO of XtremeMac, Gary Bart. There are other features that make the TimeCommand more than your basic iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone dock. There’s SafeWake, a back-up battery alarm that will sound at the preset time even if the power goes out. If there’s a power failure, instead of showing the time on a steady display, it will blinks every 10 seconds or so to alert you that there is no AC power to the unit. There’s also a 5-band graphic equalizer and bass enhancer to customize the sound. I was also surprised to find there was free Internet radio with about a dozen music style choices. Great if you get tired of the tunes on your iOS device. When I saw the large power plug had an AC outlet on the side I thought it was an AC pass through for another device. But it turns out that it’s designed as a place for you to plug in your bedroom lamp. Once plugged in, you have the ability to dim your light as you fall asleep and even ‘wake to light’ if you want. This feature is only for lamps with incandescent bulbs – and I assume for the new ‘clearly marked dimmable LED bulbs’. When setting up the unit for the first time, the digital clock doesn’t have to be set because it syncs with the clock time on your iPad/iPhone/iPod when it’s docked. But wait, there’s more! The Stem Connect App (free from iTunes) lets you control the brightness of your bed lamp, set alarm times and sounds, and set nap/snooze controls. The curved LED display is fully dimmable up and down, at the touch of a button on the unit itself. And something else unique is the pivoting dock connector, which can accommodate devices even if they’re in their protective case. TimeCommand is compatible with devices running iOS 4.2 and higher. Available from Apple Store at about $100.

http://tinyurl.com/476yozs

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1323

Here’s a modern version of the String Ray from last week’s Gadget Warehouse.

Here’s a new ‘spin’ on the idea of using string to make colorful patterns. The new toy is called FyrFlyz and it’s a really simple, but fun device. There are 2 color LED lights attached to the middle of 2 strings. At the end of each string is a holding device with holes for your fingers. Hit the mini on/off switch to turn the LEDs on, and then twist and spin them to make awesome colorful patterns. To be really effective they really should be used in the dark, either indoors or out. (The instructions warn you to make sure you’re not near anything you can accidentally hit as you spin the LEDs.) The most fun is when you make large loops and let the strings twist. Then when you pull the strings apart, they spin really fast in the opposite direction making some really unique patterns. Sometimes if you’re not paying attention, the strings can get tangled in ways you don’t want, but it’s fairly easy to get them untangled. They are powered by 2 CR1620 button batteries, which are installed when you buy FyrFlyz. Since there are just two LEDs, battery life should be fairly decent. And the batteries are replaceable. There are three different FyrFlyz color combinations available -- so each person can create their own color coordinated flying designs. The company has dubbed the three models as Blue Angel: Multicolor and blue; Cyclone: Green and white; and Nytfyr: Red and white. I was using Nytfyr on this YouTube video. (Link below.) They’re recommended for kids 8 and up. That String Ray device from last week’s show cost about $80 and that was 26 years ago. FyrFlyz cost about $10 for each of the variations. They’re available now in limited markets, but should be available everywhere in the next month or so. (This was written on July 15^th, 2011)

YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/0hbdcj3RecM?hd=1 

Company Link: www.fyrflyz.com  

See or hear this link: www.twit.tv/dgw1323

And now it's time for Leo's Turn The Table Turkey!

Leo sees the light!

Thankfully, just when Leo thought he had nothing for this week Turn The Table Turkey an fan stopped by the cottage and gave him an Maratac AA Extreme LED flashlight. And what a flashlight it is! It’s said to be the brightest single AA battery flashlight made. So it’s both tactical and practical. The flashlight sure look rugged and has user-friendly ergonomics.  The Maratac AA Extreme features an advanced R2 LED for greater brightness and efficiency. In the High Position It gives off a light of 120 lumens. Wow, that is bright! In the position, which is just  1.5 lumens, the battery will last quite a bit longer. You press and click the back thumb switch to turn on the light. Lightly press once more for low mode switching. Press and click anytime to turn the light off. It is small -- 4.15” length overall, and about an 1 inch in diameter. It features Type 3 Military Grade Anodizing and is available in black and olive green. The runtime on high is 2 hours. At low it’s more than 100 times better, at 225 hours. The Introductory Price for the Maratac AA Extreme is $ 41.95. But wait, there’s more! I mean less! There’s a New Release Summer Special Price of $35.95! If you need a super bright, super tiny flashlight, this is one to check out. Leo loves his.

http://www.countycomm.com/aatactical.html

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1323

A visit to Dick's Gadget Warehouse.

One of the gadgets I talked about on last week’s Weekly Daily Giz Wiz (www.twit.tv/dgw1322) was a cable from Griffin Technology that helps turn your iPad, iPhone or even (as in my case) your iPod Touch into a sophisticated DJ mixer complete with twin turntables. It has to be used in conjunction with the Djay app found in iTunes. The cable cost less than $20 and the Djay app is under $20 for the iPad and as low as 99 cents for the iPod Touch. But moving back some 35 years, it took a heck of lot more equipment and a ton more money to achieve the same DJ recording mixing results. You needed twin turntables, a mixer, cables, headphones, etc. My GLI Disco 3800 came from a high end audio retailer called Harvey Radio in Manhattan. In early 1976 they were selling the GLI Disco 3800, a high end professional mixer at the time. It could handle the output from two stereo turntables and was unusual in that it could also handle the output from a stereo tape deck. There was a headphone jack that let you ‘audition’ the next song you were going to fade to. Or you could listen to the output from the tape deck while the first recording was still playing. Many famous discos in the 70's used them and they sold for $325. (I didn’t know of any discounting back then.) Add in the cost of two turntables and headphone and you could easily spend close to a $1,000 to get the same results you get today with the Griffin Djay cable and the Djay app. I did a search on Ebay and yes, there is a GLI Disco 3800 for sale. Don’t know if it’s still there, but in these digital days why would you need it?

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1323