Beware of flying bungees!

Thursday, June 17^th, 2010 Netcast 1114

The folks at Nite Ize say that they can’t look at simple everyday tools without thinking of ways they could improve them. (The famous key chain Inka Pen is a Niteize innovaton.)  Now they’ve done a makeover on the old-fashioned bungee cord. The result is the KnotBone Adjustable Bungee. There are a lot of unique improvements. For example, with out-of-date bungee cords, the open-end hooks can easily slide off under tension and really do some damage to you, or to what you’re trying to tie down. Instead of hooks, the KnotBone uses locking carabineer clips at each end. That way they not only attach to your anchor points, but they lock there. Instead of elastic that loses its stretch over time, the KnotBone Bungee has a durable, high quality cord that threads through each end. But instead of trying to find the proper length bungee cord for the job you need done, the KnotBone is adjustable. They’re available in two sizes: a 9mm cord that adjusts from 48” – 10”, and a 5mm cord that adjusts from 28” – 6”. Price are about $7 and $10. Available at Amazon. (I haven't shopped here:)

http://tinyurl.com/2u3ka9a      Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1114

This device could prevent a nasty fall!

Wednesday, June 16^th, 2010 Netcast 1113

                                                                      I found Safety Socket at the National Hardware Show. Here’s how it works: Plug the three prong Safety Socket into an electricial outlet. Then plug the power cord from your electrical appliance into the Safety Socket. Say for example you’re working out in the yard and you plug a power saw or power trimmer into the Safety Socket. If someone walking or running by trips over the power cord a magentic coupling lets go disconnecting the cord instead of causing a fall! Once disconnected, snapping the magnetic socket back together turns the power back on. This patented breakaway outlet is designed to prevent tripping, and to minimize the risks of accidents, repairs, and broken appliances. It could be a great help in households with children and/or the elderly. I asked if there was a way to judge exactly how much pressure was needed to cause the Safety Socket to disconnect. A spokesman at the Hardware Show explained that if there were enough pressure to cause a fall, the Safety Socket would disconnect first and avoid the fall. My guess is that you can’t figure out exactly what will happen in every case, but it’s a great safety assist for less than $20. (Plus S&H.) 

http://shopthencc.com/index.php?main_page=index 

There’s a demo video on the website above and also here: http://tinyurl.com/27odk99

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1113 Video versions: http://feeds.twit.tv/dgw_video_large

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Leo falls in love with another cellphone. Again!

Tuesday, June 15^th, 2010, TTTT  Netcast  1112

Leo love his new Sprint EVO from HTC. The best way to understand why he loves the phone so much is to watch & listen to him run through all the features. Now that there’s a video version of the Daily Giz Wiz, you can do that in a bunch of high-tech ways. On iTunes, subscribe to the video version. Or watch us at www.youtube.com/twit  By the time you read this the Daily Giz Wiz should be available on your Roku Box. Click the TWiT logo. Then you’ll be able to watch The Daily Giz Wiz on your HDTV. (Trust us, we don’t look any better than on the little screen. Actually, probably worse.) Here are just a few features Leo talks about. The EVO 4G offers Wi-Fi wherever you go. And it gives you instant internet access for up to 5 computers. There’s a built in HD camcorder that lets you watch your vidoes on an HDTV via the HDMI output. Leo says the EVO is best phone screen he’s seen so far --- BUT REMEMBER the new iPhone was not released when this netcast was recorded. But the EVO does have a giant 4.3" screen and its the first 4G phone on the nation's first 4G network. Of course a feature just made for Leo is Broadcasting live in 3-2-1. Launch the live-streaming video app and just like that, you're broadcasting live to anyone with an internet connection and an invitation to watch the show. (Isn’t that pretty much what Leo’s been doing for years via TWiT! More info on the Evo: http://www.htc.com/us/products/evo-sprint

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1112   Video versions on iTunes, Mediafly & here:

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Ever lie in bed & think “Did I lock the door?”

Monday, June 14^th, 2010  Netcast 1111

You won’t have to walk all the way to front or back door to check if you locked the door, if install the LED Night-Hawk Security Indicator from Can-do Innovations. This device has a blinking red LED light you can see from across the room in the dark. You’ll know in a second if the door is locked or not. My NYC apartment is so small I can tell from my bed if I locked the door or not using this device! It works by using a magentic screw that ships with the unit. You replace one screw with the one in the package. Then when you flip the deadbolt into the locked position, the magnetic screw activates the blinking red LED. Right now it only fits one lock which the company says is in very wide use. It’s Schlage model B360N. They are working on an updated and more universal Night-Hawk Security Indicator to be introduced next year. The unit has 2 built in batteries, which the company says should run for about two years of continuous normal household use. The Night-Hawk slides directly onto the locking lever of your current Schlage model B360N lock. Change one screw and installation is finished. I jury-rigged one to fit a much older lock, but it took some doing. If have the proper lock, you should have it installed in a couple of minutes. The Night-Hawk Deadbolt Security Indicator has a color molded plastic shell that's available in Brass, Nickel, and Dark Bronze. The interior of the device consists of a circuit board, light-emitting diode, switches, and batteries. Not bad for $8.99. (Plus S&H)

www.nighthawkled.com 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1111

Fall 1992: Minolta introduces worlds smallest 3.2 MP digital camera. What do you think it cost?

Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse, Friday, June 11^th, 2010 Netcast 1110

The camera was called the DiMAGE Xi. Leo & I both thought Minolta could have done a lot better with the name. People weren’t sure how to pronounce it, but the camera was great! For its time, it had a lot of neat features. Most unique was a 3X folded optical zoom lens that operates totally inside the camera! Nothing sticks out of the approximately ¾ inch thick camera body. Minolta zoom lens technology allows the lens to "zoom" vertically within the camera body. The 3x optical zoom lens is equivalent to a 37mm - 111mm on a 35mm camera. Other features included user-selectable ISO settings, optional date imprinting, spot auto focus (AF), and an improved anti-reflection LCD screen. And this was impressive for the time: 3.2 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images. The pixel resolution of the CCD will produce 10 x 14 inch (B4-size) 150dpi photo-quality prints. A 16 MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card was included for image storage. Notice that it’s 16 MB, not 16 GB! The copy said the SD card is “about the size of a postage stamp”. Notice in the photo that the LCD screen is also about the size of a postage stamp! And the price of this beauty some 18 years ago? $499.00. Imagine what features you can get today for the same amount of money, or for less money!

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1110