Giz Wiz Show #1577 July 1st, 2016 - Our 61st Independent Production!

We didn't win as “Best Tech Podcast Of the Year”, but we'll forever be a "2016 Podcast Award Nominee!"
Thanks to everyone who voted for us often daily, or even once. It was very exciting to do the show ourselves getting nominated.

It's thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters that The Giz Wiz Show continues. If you'd like to support OMGChad & DickDe in our independent venture (we pay for everything ourselves) 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! Our show wouldn't exist without our viewer's support. 

There were two big events in June for gadget lovers. CE Week, a sort of mini-mid-year Consumer Electronic Week, and Digital Focus, a Pepcom event also featuring new technology.

From CE Week, I'll start with my favorite up-coming technology because I know of nothing else like it up to now. It's the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. Lenovo touts this as the world's first smartphone to include Tango—a new technology from Google. What does it do? It enables augmented reality (AR) gaming and utilities. All you have to do is look through the Phab 2 Pro, and you'll see objects and information overlaid onto the real world. You can measure objects with just your phone. Or visualize furniture like a new table or sofa to see how it looks in your home. Or simply play with your virtual pet. Wherever you go with the Phab 2 Pro, there's always more to explore. Phab 2 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor, optimized for Tango. It features a 6.4" QHD (1440 x 2560) display which adapts to variable lighting conditions like sunlight or light reflections. There's a 16 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera offering .3 second super-fast focus. But wait, there's more! Dolby Atmos 5.1 Audio Capture via 3 mics with 360 voice & noise-canceling technology. All this in a 8.9 mm aluminum unibody with a curved glass screen. And, I almost forgot, a fingerprint scanner too. To power all this is 4050 mAh battery. There's 64 GB ROM and 4 GB RAM. Available in Champagne Gold or Gunmetal Grey. My favorite app I saw at CE Week was via Lowe's. Find the item you want and see how it looks in context before buying—whether a refrigerator or a hanging light, simply view through your phone and place items anywhere in your home. Arrange things with the tip of your finger. Really clever and very useful. Price starts at $499.00. Expected to be available some time in August, 2016.

Lenovo Video: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tango/#mwc (Go here and click top row video on the right that says WORLD'S FIRST)

More info: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tango/index.html

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1577

Use your smart phone to call your refrigerator and actually see what's inside!

I saw an Amazing Samsung refrigerator at Digital Focus and wondered why it was there because of Master Card. Turns out there's something new called Groceries by MasterCard. According to MasterCard, grocery sales are in the $600 billion range yearly. They figure that each weekend shoppers lose valuable time visiting an average of four stores to find all the items & ingredients they seek. But with Groceries by MasterCard, the first grocery shopping app integrated into Samsung’s The Family Hub refrigerator, shoppers can restock their refrigerator from the comfort of their kitchens. Shown at CES earlier this year, it's now available at major retailers such as Home Depot, Sears, Lowe’s, Best Buy and others. With the free app you can browse and order groceries from FreshDirect and ShopRite by via the 21.5” LCD Wi-Fi-enabled touchscreen on the refrigerator. As you “browse” through selections, the app provides details on the products as if you’re reading a label in-store. If you are on-the-go, you can add to the cart via the app available for iOS and Android. All items are added to a single, family cart, which can be built throughout the week by all members of your family. You’ll pay for items in a simple checkout that accepts any U.S.-issued credit and debit cards, and can get the items delivered to your home or pick it up at your convenience. You can even view the inside of the fridge with your smartphone while grocery shopping. Three tiny, high quality cameras positioned inside the refrigerator capture an image each time the doors close. Now, if you are at the store and trying to remember which food items to buy, you can view inside the refrigerator through a smartphone app. You can also use the screen to access your favorite music, television content or access recipes rated and reviewed by millions of cooks, as well as cooking advice tips and how-to videos. There are several models in the line starting at about $4999.99. Be aware that similar models from Samsung are available without the screen, video cameras, etc. for a lot less. 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/EINZ2ZHyllE

MasterCard info: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/videos/introducing-groceries-by-mastercard-on-the-samsung-family-hub-refrigerator/

Samsung info: http://www.samsung.com/us/explore/family-hub-refrigerator/?cid=ppc-

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1577

Chad's Crappy Corner and his final cheap gadget that has something to do with “Science!”

This is the 1^st time we've recorded a show in one month for playback the next month. Since we recorded it in June when Chad's Crappy Corner Theme is cheap gadgets that have something to do with science, we decided Chad would have two Crappy Corner spots on this show.

His first crappy corner is a cheap 'scientific' gadget. And it's the 4M Science on Your Palm Pocket Volcano. Here's what Amazon says about it: Watch the lava flow with the 4M Science on Your Palm Pocket Volcano. Perform your own "volcanic eruptions" on the tabletop, in the bath, or even inside a glass. Watch as this awesome science gadget captivates your attention and amazes your friends. This fascinating science project requires baking soda and vinegar (not included). Detailed instructions explaining the step-by-step scientific process are included. Made using safe and high quality materials, this product is designed to last. Give the gift of science with toys and gadgets that foster curiosity and encourage scientific learning. Recommended for ages 5 and up.  

And Chad's take: This 'science' gadget was sort of okay. But even at $7 dollars it didn't do much. As Chad showed us and you'll see in the video is that you can get bubbling stuff just by mixing baking soda and vinegar without using the mini-volcano. But the volcano added a bit of fun and color, so for the very young, it might be worth it.

http://amzn.to/299G8HQ -As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1577

Chad's Crappy Corner and a brand new theme for July.

Chad's Crappy Corner new theme for July (Voted on by our loyal patrons) is “Cheap Bluetooth Gadgets”! And Chad's 1st gadget is the iBitz Unity Adult Fitnesss Tracker. 

Here's what Amazon says about it: The adult model, ibitz Unity is an activity tracker that can track the whole family's fitness activity by syncing to the Unity app. Track daily steps, distance, calories burned, weight as well as historical views of activities by day, week and month. ----- Now back to The Giz Wiz. Looking at the reviews, it seems it only works with recent iPhones and iPads, not anything Android.

And Chad's take: Before we tell you that, let's talk about the price. I have never seen such a wide range of prices EVER on Amazon. From $1.99 to $49.99 for what appears to be the exact same device! Chad paid only $1.99 plus $4.99 for shipping, a total of less than $7! Before we knew this, I said $29.99 when he asked me to guess a price. Chad got the version in black, but if want the same thing in red, it's $49.99! Chad got it to sync with his iPhone and it registered some steps as he moved around the Giz Wiz set. He's going to give us an update after he uses it for a while, but he seems to think the only thing it can do is count steps. If that's true, you're only buying a pedometer for $7, and that function is already built into Chad's iPhone. But again, it was just $7.00 with shipping included. There's no display on the device, you see everything in the app on your iPhone or iPad. So unless you have a recent model device, it's not even worth the $7. But we'll learn more from Chad after he uses it.

http://amzn.to/296Fqvb As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1577

It's 4th of July, 2016. Let's Wave The American Flag.

This gadget is long out of production, but it’s still available on Ebay if you do a search. It’s called The Wave because it was billed as the first windless, self-waving flag. You push a button to start the realistic flag waving action. And as the flag waves, it plays one of three songs: The Star Spangled Banner, My Country Tis of Thee or Stars and Strips forever. The Wave is a touch over 17” tall.  There's a built in volume control which can be turned all the way down to zero if you just wish to watch the flag’s self-waving action.  It's battery operated and it runs on three AA batteries. SRM Entertainment, partnered with the co-inventor of the Atari 2600 and a co-inventor of Furby to develop The Wave technology. This was back in 2005 when it hit the marketplace and sold for about $60. If you do a web search, you can find a couple of places that still sell it for about $60.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/K1iezQ2YRF8

As of 6/30/16 there was one exactly like mine for sale on Ebay for $19.99, plus $10 S&H here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-WAVE-STARS-AND-STRIPES-AMERICAN-FLAG-SELF-WAVING-PLAYS-3-PATRIOTIC-SONGS-/151785907984?hash=item2357252710:g:uMIAAOSwgQ9V1MCC  

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1577

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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 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.

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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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The letter of the week:

It's a holiday weekend, so here's a timely place to visit if you live near Asbury Park, NJ or Delray Beach, Florida:

Bob Davis writes:

Here is a place for Dick to check out, it is a pinball museum. It is about 30-40 miles south of NYC on the oceanfront.

Silver Ball Museum – Asbury Park, NJ   (And one in Delray Beach, Florida.)

http://www.silverballmuseum.com/  

Bob Davis