Giz Wiz Show #1529 July 30th, 2015, our 13th Independently Produced Giz Wiz

Watch us record our show live every Thursday, 7:30 PM EDT / 4:30 PM PDT. Drop by and watch us record the show and hopefully you'll join our friendly live chatroom. It’s all at http://www.gizwiz.tv/. (All Giz Wiz shows are there too, even when we’re not live.) Since we now produce our show ourselves if you care to back us, click on the Patreon link at that website too. And now to this week’s show!  

SWEET SUITE BLOGGER BASH - JULY 2015

This event is a lot of fun. Especially this year when they picked Chelsea Piers right on the Hudson River as the location. Basically it's more toys that companies expect to be big for the holidays. The first one is aimed at kids ages 8 and up. When parents get something they use a lot like a tablet or a smart watch, toy companies usually come up with a kid's version. Now that 3D printers are start to go mainstream Tech 4 Kids has partnered with Irwin Toy to come up the first kid-friendly 3D Creation Maker. It's not really a 3D printer, but I think kids will have a lot of fun with is. Using a mold and an applicator with a unique gel, children fill the design on the template with the colors they choose. Then it's inserted into the 3D Creation Maker. In about 30 seconds, using UV light, the gel turns into a solid, allowing kids to build multi-dimensional structures. The company says that unlike other 3-D design systems, their patent pending process is done safely with light and not heat. You don't have to use a mold, but can draw something freelance on the included blank template. The gels are available in multiple colors, including a special glow-in-the-dark formula. The kit consists of 3D Creation maker, a variety of pre-designed templates, and three different color gels. Additional gels and templates are available. Shipping in August, 2015, the kit will be under $40.00

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/5eQnLp4UAKc

Company website  www.tech4kids.com (Was not their website yet as of 7/30/15)

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1529 (Goes live Friday 7/31/15)

Girl Scout Cookies, now you can enjoy them year-round.

If you saw the video above about the 3D Creation Maker (link above), you heard us mention 'The Easy Bake Oven'. Well, as I walked through the Sweet Suite Blogger Bash the next I saw was the Girl Scouts Cookie Oven! Now while it looks a touch like The Easy Bake Oven, this new toy doesn't rely on a lightbulb. It has two PTC, (Positive Temperature Coefficient) ceramic, tiled heating elements that will evenly bake the cookies while a viewing window lets young bakers safely watch the entire process. This Patent-Pending Heating Technology allows for anything to be baked like a real oven in just 15 minutes – approximately 5 minutes to pre-heat and 10 minutes to bake. The company says it's designed to allow young cookie bakers (girls and boys) to create delicious treats inspired by some of their (and our) favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavors, including Thin Mints and Trefoil. I asked about not seeing Girl Scout Cookies all year long and it turns out they're only available in January, February and March of each year. But now The Girl Scouts Cookie Oven makes them available year round. The oven even has a warming station to heat and melt cookie coatings and frostings. The Girl Scouts Cookie Oven comes with mix packets to create Thin Mints-inspired cookies, a spatula, a baking pan and “The Perfect Cookie” measuring tool. SRP is $59.99. Basic refill packs flavors include Thin Mints, PB Sandwich, Trefoils, Chocolate PB, and Caramel Coconut. SRP is $6.99 per pack. How many cookies you can bake will depend on the size you make them. Deluxe Refill Packs give you four refills for $14.99, so that's a far better deal. By the way, I tasted a couple of cookies baked in  a GS Cookie oven and they were excellent. Coming Fall, 2015.  

Company website: http://www.wickedcooltoys.com/

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1529 (Goes live Friday 7/31/15)

Water Balloon Fight! Perfect for a hot summer day.

People love water balloons. They're fun, mainly in hot weather, but filling them up is a lot of work. Filling takes a while and tying them is the ultimate drag. So a guy name Josh Malone found a way to solve this problem. He has a lot of kids and they like water balloon fights. Josh created a hose attachment called Bunch O Balloons that really streamlines the water balloon making process. It lets you fill up 37 balloons at a time! And ---- (fanfare) automatically ties them! Turns out Josh was not alone in wanting a fast way to make water balloons. He put his Bunch-o-balloons invention on Kickstarter with the idea of raising $10,000. He got his $10,000 in just 12 hours and ended with more than $936, 000! His device is ingenious. It's a hose attachment that holds about 37 balloons. You fill them all in about 30 seconds after you turn on the water. Once filled, turn off the water and shake the balloons a bit to automatically tie them. (Each balloon has an o-ring that seals the balloon as it detaches from the device. So clever! Josh says you can make over 100 water-balloons in under a minute! Although Kickstarter says you should get them August, 2015, I saw them on the Bed, Bath & Beyond, plus the Wal-Mart website. 3 sets, over 100 water-balloons, retails for $12.99. There's an ad online at the link below. They're selling over 100 water-balloons, plus a hose attachment for about $19, including shipping and handling. Since I tried a set on my own, I find you don't need a hose attachment as long as you can conveniently turn the water on and off once you've attached Bunch-o-balloons. My experience making water balloons quickly was good. I was really impressed with how fast they inflated. Two of them were duds, but you few extra balloon to make up for the ones that don't inflate. Reading the reviews on line it seems you need to throw them with ten minutes of inflating them or they start to go flat. I left a lot of mine in the bucket of water and hours later they still seemed fine to me.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/LlWPJg6OXL0

Company commercial:  

http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7PMi/bunch-o-balloons-incredible-water-balloon-invention

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1529

Chad's Crappy Corner and his final gizmo for his theme for July, Travel

Chad's travel gadget this week is another one of those gadgets on Amazon with a huge long title. This gadget is the Book Light Music Stand Lamp LED 4 Bulb, Best Bright Reading Lights with USB Cord & AC Adaptor, Clip On AAA Battery Powered for Bed, Travel, eReader, Photography & Piano. Adjustable Brightness, Black. And here's what Amazon says about it: Whether you're a guitarist or a pianist, nothing's worse than struggling to read your sheet music in poor lighting. Certain Way's Music Stand Light provides focused illumination right where you want it-without disturbing the person sitting next to you. Are you an avid reader? Use this bendable LED lamp to read in bed when you don't want to wake your partner. It's also useful for nighttime car rides, studying, crafting, and camping. Since our light can be powered by batteries, electrical outlet, or USB, it goes wherever you go! Uses 4 ultra-bright, energy-efficient LED bulbs. 4 brightness settings let you control the amount of light. Clamp holds securely, no matter where you place it. All that for $16.95 and it's Amazon Prime, so free shipping for Prime Members.

And Chad's take? Chad liked this device a lot. He liked the fact that you can bend the arms to direct the light anywhere you. He also likes the lighting option of turning on one, two, three or four LED lights. Although Chad paid $16.95, there seems to a very similar model for $9.99. The possible difference is that the more expensive one is rechargable and the cheaper one is not. Also you get that tiny little separate LED light with the $16.95 model. I can't resist a bargain so I bought the under $10 model. (Prices as of 7/30/15)  

Links no longer work so removed them.

See or hear this show: http://www.gizwiz.biz/episode/1529

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

We've out of usable viewer gadget warehouse videos, so I'll do one of my own this week. Please see how to submit your videos below. We do joke on the show that we have no standards for videos, but we do have two. We should be able to see what you're talking about, and hear what you're talking about. There are a couple of viewer videos we unfortunately didn't use because they're really dark, or the voice is barely audible. Thanks! (If you sent us one that you thought was good, resend it please. Sometimes they get misplaced.)

Dick's Gadget Warehouse 

I have no excuse not to find something for this week's Dick's Gadget Warehouse. But if I wanted an excuse, I could have one. This gadgets is about eight year old and required one new battery to come back to life. It's the excuse-producing Xcuse Box, a.k.a The Instant Excuse Machine. It's for times when you're busy and someone calls who you just don't feel like talking to. Enter the Xcuse Box. It holds 10 full minutes of background noise to help you get off the phone quickly. Press a button to instantly playback sound effects like thunderstorms, crying baby, a phone ringing or any of the other 7 sound effects. It's small enough for your pocket so when you're out and need an excuse, you can hit the auto-shop sound effects, or airport sound effects, then give your excuse with real sounds in the background to backup your story. Each effect lasts one full minute, so make your excuse fast and get off the phone. (Watch the show at the link below to hear some of the excuse effects.) It sold for $12.99 some eight years ago, but I don't see it around now.  

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1529 (Goes live Friday 7/31/15)

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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 let’s go going! You’ll get an autographed copy of MAD Magazine and a 35-year-old Alfred E. Neuman picture if we show your video, and who knows, maybe you’ll be discovered by a YouTube Talent Agent!

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.

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.

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 a new gadget you just bought too.

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 elsewhere.

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv. (NOTICE! This is a new email address!)

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Letter of the week:

From: dclem19465

Subject: Another Floating Speaker 

Saw this floating speaker and immediately thought of your gadget on last weeks show.

http://www.amazon.com/ICE-Orb-Floating-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B00UW0MOCA/ref=lp_12034488011_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1438108450&sr=1-19

 kudbegud (could-be-good)