The Giz Wiz, Week of March 26, 2013, Netcast 1409

Shine on, shine on Maxsa Solar Light!

Maxsa introduces the all new and most powerful security solar flood light on the market. Their Motion Activated Solar Security Light SMD LEDs provides long-lasting, super-bright light. They say it’s the brightest Solar Flood light on the market!! I spoke to the folks at Maxsa and they said their engineering experts were able to pack 650 lumens in super compact device. High-efficiency, super-bright 16 SMD (Surface Mounted Diodes)  LED's use a fraction of the power of a normal bulb and last virtually forever. This unit has a black finish which looks clean and sleek. It’s perfect for decks, pathways, sheds, garden areas, entryways, etc. The sealed lens is totally weatherproof and has an IP44 weather rating. You can set the duration of the illumination from ten seconds to one-minute. (Of course it will stay on as long as it detects motion.) You can also adjust the motion-sensitivity and light/dark sensitivity. Light automatically turns on when motion is detected at night for security, safety, and convenience. Easy DIY installation and need to call an electrician. The 15 feet of cable for the solar panel lets you mount the light itself anywhere, even inside. The light can activate up to 180 30-second intervals on a single charge. Includes a long-life 4.5 Ah Lead-Acid rechargeable battery - Solar Panel - 15-foot solar panel cable - Mounting hardware - User Guide. Weights 4.6 pounds. Dimensions 10.9 x 10.6 x 8.3 inches. Plastic case. $129.99. Since this model 44640 is brand new I don’t see discounts yet, but Maxsa makes a complete line of solar powered motion security lights. Many of those are at discount prices, but none are as bright as this newest model. (In comparision, Maxsa's 100 LED Security Light puts out 413 lumens, compared to 650 lumens for this new model.) Available on Amazon at the link below. I have not shopped here. (This is a TWiT link. TWiT gets a pittance if you purchase, but you pay the same price.)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BI3HSI0/?tag=twnene-20

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Forget 'singing in the rain', how about 'texting in the rain'?

Stay dry in the rain with the compact Brolly rain umbrella. The Brolly features a unique finger hole grip that is comfortable to hold, durable and is a great conversation starter. It's the only rain umbrella that allows you to text/e-mail in the rain and stay dry at the same time. And, it is the perfect umbrella to carry on-the-go, as it fits in a small briefcase, purse or backpack. I tried texting with a normal small folding umbrella and then the Brolly. It’s definitely easier with the Brolly. With the regular umbrella, you can sort of text, but the umbrella tends to fall side to side depending on what keys you’re touching. If you have the need to text in the rain, this is a great solution. Here's more info from the company website: The focal point of the Brolly umbrella is its grip. It has two distinguishing characteristics: finger holes and an ergonomic handle. There are four finger holes on the Brolly grip that provides a firm, comfortable and strong hold, which you will not find on inexpensive umbrellas. Each finger hole is lined with rubber material to provide maximum comfort and flexibility. And, the outside of the finger holes are made of ABS plastic to reinforce the strong Brolly grip. The grip features an ergonomically-designed handle consisting of rubber material that conforms to your palm to provide maximum comfort. The rest of the handle is made of ABS plastic -- strong enough to hold up in wet and windy conditions. $19.95. It’s on Amazon at the link below. I have not shopped here. (This TWiT link doesn't add anything to you price, but TWiT gets a pittance.)

http://amazon.com/dp/B008NN8UGM/?tag=twnene-20

There's a video on the company website: https://www.brollytime.com/

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Viewer Video of the Week -- And how you can submit your video for the show.

This week's Viewer’s Video: I Invented This!

It’s entirely possible that this will be the first Holiday Video of 2013 that you're seeing!

That's partly due to the fact that we received the submission in January, 2013….but Dave's Invention will be good for the coming Christmas too! Here's Dave's email:

Dave's subject line was: Invention for The GizWiz. - One that I cannot live without!

Hi Dickie D and Leo!

This is  link for The GizWiz show as one of my inventions.

A Christmas Tree Hydration System.  An alternative way water a tree with none of the crawling <under the Christmas tree.>

http://youtu.be/YjnAsgbudXA

Thanks.  --dave--

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1409

We'd love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show. Here's what we're looking for:

Your home made Videos -- two to three minutes long - (four maximum) in the 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! Do 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.

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 something you just bought too.

Post them on YouTube and send our producer, Jason, the link! We'll do the rest. (Or possibly nothing, but that's unlikely.) Remember, videos should be just 2 to 3 minutes long, 4 MAX! Low production value is fine. Even welcomed! That way our stuff doesn't look bad by comparison. We've set the bar low. Don't trip over it.

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

It's Leo's 'Crap I Got From Sky Mall' Time! And a poll on what Leo should buy next!

This week Leo talks about the Jensen DJ Scratch Mixer (Model: JDJ-500). First here’s a list of the features from the SkyMall website: 2 Built-in auxiliary input jacks for connecting your iPod, MP3 player or other digital audio players. /    Cross-fader between 2 Aux-in sources / Scratch jog wheel / EFX/Tempo/Mic Control/Cue Controls / Multiple sound effects: 3 scratch/6 beat/2 voice/3 drum cues/3 digi cues / Line out jack for connecting to your home stereo system or portable amplified speaker (but you’ll need to have your cable to do that) / Power: 120V AC Adapter (included). About $55.

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/search.htm

And Leo’s take on this gizmo? Although it looks like there’s an iPod dock in the photo, you actually connect your phone via the headphone jack. You can connect a second music device the same way. That means you can use any phone or music device with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Leo played with the Jensen DJ Scratch Mixer for a while and thought the controls didn’t offer a lot of variety. (He was using for the first time right out of the box and only connected one sound source.) At $55 it might entertain a ‘wanna-be’ musician, but maybe not for a lot of time. Personally, I happen to like knobs and dials, so I might rate this a bit higher. But high enough to buy one.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1409

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE LAST SKY MALL POLL! Leo has enough Sky Mall gadgets to continue doing our now world-famous "crap from Sky Mall" spot for another couple of months. But we're running out of fun stuff for fans to vote on, so this will be your final chance to vote on the next (and last) piece of Sky Mall Crap Leo will buy!

Back to Dick's Gadget Warehouse!

Name a company that's been making variations of the same product since the 1930's?

This is one for sale on Ebay.Did you guess it right. It’s the handy, not used quite as often now, stapler! And the company name most associated with the stapler, yes Swingline. Here’s some background via Wikipedia:

Swingline was founded in 1925 in New York City by Jack Linsky. At that time, it was known as the Parrot Speed Fastener Company and opened its first manufacturing facility in Long Island City in 1931. Eight years later the company changed its name to Speed Products and, more importantly, created a product that revolutionized stapling. This new stapler opened up on top to allow an office worker to easily drop in a full strip of staples. This design quickly became the industry standard. In 1956 the company was renamed Swingline and sold to American Brands in 1970,[1] which later became a division of ACCO under Fortune Brands in 1987. Today, Swingline is a division of the ACCO Brands Corporation and all present production is located in China. The company is now headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

I have quite a few staplers. The biggest is a Swingline 94-41 that I took from my office when Goodson Todman, later Mark Goodson Productions, closed. No, it wasn’t stealing. We were invited to take whatever we liked because most everything was going to go into dumpsters. This was back in the early 1990’s. Want your own 94-41. There one was on Ebay on March 25, 2013:

          VINTAGE SWINGLINE STAPLER 94-41

Military Brown Stapler, Approx. 8" in length. Great gift for Dad. Father's Day will be here before you know it!

If it’s still there, you can “BUY IT NOW” for $18.00.  + $7.76 economy shipping. If it’s gone, heck, I’ll sell mine for the same price!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SWINGLINE-STAPLER-94-41-NICE-MILITARY-BROWN-COLOR-/290882550795?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b9f37c0b

Opps, this auction just ended!! It didn't sell. Actually, I don't believe it got any bids.

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