WDGW – Week of March 19th, 2012, Netcast 1357

Would you like more landscape for your laptop computer without buying a bigger model?

The AOC USB Portable 16” Monitor, model e1649fwu could be your answer. AOC calls it the ultimate laptop accessory. Using this 16:9 LED monitor is unbelievable easy. First I downloaded the software. Then I connected one end of the included USB cable into the built-in USB port on the monitor and the other end into my computer. The single USB cable receives both power and signal for a true plug-and-play connection. And after a few minutes my AOC monitor came to life. I took one program from my main screen and using the “extend right” software control, slid over the new screen. I just about doubled my screen space! The monitor offers impressive image quality with a 1366 x 786 resolution. The actual screen size is 15.6” viewable image size, diagonal. The hardware is enabled by DisplayLink’s DL-125 chip. The AOC 16-inch USB Monitor easily integrates with existing desktop / notebook environments and is supported on all leading operating systems including Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7 & Apple MAC OSX Tiger / Leopard and Lion. (Linux support is also available through many of the standard distributions.) The AOC USB Monitor features a handy built-in Smart Stand that pivots out when needed and stores flush against the back of the monitor when not in use.  The foldable stand supports both portrait and landscape display. I like the button-free e1649fwu monitor. It has a clean and high tech look complemented by a black piano-polish finish on the bezel. (Yep, you will have to clean off fingerprints from time to time.) A hard glass screen offers protection for the monitor. AOC says that one laptop can support multiple USB Monitor connections to create a multi-monitor setup. And they say every AOC monitor is manufactured to meet the most stringent green standards. Along with being mercury free, the packaging for the eco-friendly USB Monitor is made from recycled materials. And here’s some really good news. From March 16 through March 31, 2012, the monitor will be available for $99, which is $40 off the MSRP of $139.

http://us.aoc.com/monitor_display/e1649fwu#buy_online

Amazon has the $99 sale price. Most other websites I checked, didn’t as of 3/16/12

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_8_4?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=aoc+e1649fwu&sprefix=aoc+%2Caps%2C165

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This link usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record the show.

Video of the week - And this week the video was shot in Sadona, Arizona!

Sony invited 18 journalists to Sadona, Arizona to try various new products as we took pictures and videos of the area’s famous and amazing “red rocks”. More info on the trip is here:

http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/dicks-blog-log/ 

One of the products I selected to try was the Sony MHS-TS55 Bloggie Live Camcorder introduced at CES 2012. This handy compact cam shoots up to 1920 x 1080p video & takes up to 12.8 MP stills. It’s WiFi enabled, so you can stream live video via Qik.com, a video streaming platform. Then you can invite friends to actually watch your Bloggie Live video stream. The metal case is sturdy and very attractive. It’s easy to frame your subjects on the 3.0" touch screen LCD display. Buttons are kept to a minimum, with a very large red-outlined button to stop and start video recording next to the LCD screen. On top of the camera is the still picture shutter. Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilization is built in. It has an LED light for low-light situations and a flip-out USB arm for uploading footage and for charging the internal battery. The Bloggie Live supports up to three hours of video with 8GB of internal flash memory. There’s Auto-Macro for versatile close-up shooting. Other features include Face Detection, and an Exmor CMOS sensor. Since you can shoot extremely clear HD footage, there’s an HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV so everyone can enjoy your efforts. The Bloggie Live is compatible with both a Mac and a PC, but the software is Windows only. There are on-screen one button uploads to Facebook, YouTube, and Sony's PlayMemories Online service. Videos and photos are converted to an optimum format for faster uploading and viewing on Smartphones, tablets, computers, and HDTVs, allowing you to share content easily with friends and family. At the link below you can see the “Video of the Week” I shot with the Bloggie Live. You’ll the image and the sound quality are top notch. It’s available now. MSRP: $249.99. Giz Wiz Video:

http://thegizwiz.smugmug.com/gallery/21950578_R6RNP6#1748581016_knHNzCV-A-LB

Sony Bloggie Live web info: http://tinyurl.com/6sbhwos

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1357

This link goes usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record this show.

An under $7 gadget that I've tried to find for years!

Okay, where’s the on/off switch?

Many electric gizmos and gadgets today don’t have an on/off switch. They’re made to stay on in low power mode ready to wake up when you wake up. But, a lot of the electronics and appliances around your home use electricity even when they’re not in use. Yes, that’s what has been dubbed ‘vampire power’ sucking up your dollars as it wastes energy as it drives up your electric bill. I like LED tube lights, but they come with an on/off switch either. Belkin has solved the problem with the Conserve Power Switch. It completely shuts off power—including standby power— to your electronics and appliances with the flip of a switch, to help you save energy. It’s like unplugging—without having to unplug – and replug when you want to use it again. The Conserve Power Switch goes into the outlet first. Then any device – with a standard two or three prong AC plug goes into the switch. Now you have a fully functional on/off switch. But wait, there’s more! There’s also a built in pilot light. It glows as a reminder that the device is on. The Conserve Power Switch itself uses no power when not in operation, so standby power is eliminated. Under $7. (Strange, but the $6.99 price on the Belkin website is the lowest price I could find. It was about double that when I looked on Amazon!)

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=552818

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1357

This link usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record this episode.

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

Leo’s pick this week is a gadget you may have heard of. It’s the new iPad. Yes, a confusing name, since it’s the 3^rd gen, but that’s what Apple has dubbed it. Of course Leo ordered it early so he could have it delivered on the first day of sale – just in time for this week’s Weekly Daily Giz Wiz. In short, Leo loves it! Even over Skype video I could see how clear the new retina display is. Leo said it’s four times better, with a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution that results in a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. (I wonder who had time to do the counting!) Everything Leo showed us on the screen was bright and sharp. There's a new chipset too, A5X with dual core processing and a four-core graphics processor. Flipping quickly through many screens, Leo showed us fast the the new iPad responds. To show how good the 1080p videos looks (vs. 720p on the 2 Gen iPad), Leo showed some video he shot as walked to the TWiT Brick House. To block out the sun, he put the cover of his new iPad on his head to create a darker area so he could view the screen better he walked and recorded video. I can image how dorky that must have looked, but hey – folks on the street probably just thought: “There goes Leo”. Apps looked amazing on the new iPad display, especially the ones that have already been updated to take advantage of the new, higher resolution. Apple’s own apps, of course already support the new retina display. Leo pointed out that there are a ton of photo apps already available. Leo considers the addition of 4G LTE iPad a big plus. There’s a Verizon and an ATT LTE version. A real advantage of buying the 4G LTE Verizon iPad is that you also get a 4G LTE Verizon hotspot, without needing a contract. Folks in the chat room asked about battery life since LTE loves consuming battery power. Leo said the new iPad offers a bigger, more powerful battery in a case that’s pretty much the same size as the iPad it now replaces. All in all, Leo is probably still raving about right now. Prices start at $499, the same basic price as the 2^nd Gen. But now they go up to $799 with the LTE option. There’s a ton more info at the Apple site here:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/ 

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This link usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record this show.

Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse for a look at the world's 1st credit card sized memory device.

At CES 2003, Freecom introduced the USB Card PRO. This was billed as the first USB storage device available in the patented credit card format. It was metal and quite high tech for it’s time. Actually even today, 2012, it's still a great-looking device. The USB dongle is built right into the credit-card sized device, and you pop it out with a finger in order to use it. Here’s the manufacturer's description from 9 years ago: “For professional users who value their data as much as their money, who carry it along wherever they go, and who expect the most of ease-of-use while accessing their files, the Freecom USBCard offers the best in data reliability, speed and comfort. The most accepted form factor worldwide, that of a credit card, has been used to create a storage device in which a USB cable has been integrated. The cable can be clicked out when files have to be accessed, and folded away when you slide the Freecom USBCard in your wallet. The Freecom USBCard powers itself, no use for extra cables or power adapters! Comfort of carrying along is one important aspect. But professional users also need high speeds of data transfer. They need reliability, robustness and resistance to water. And the ability to label your storage card with your own name.” And now back to me. The original capacity was 128MB, and then in 2004, they introduced the 1 GB version. It was the talk of the show among reporters. I can’t remember the price of the 1 GB version, but online I found a press release that said the 2003 512 MB model was $270!

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1357

This link usually goes live Sunday, the day after we record the show.