Giz Wiz Show #1560 for March 4th, 2016 - our 44th Independently Produced Giz Wiz Show

Thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters The Giz Wiz Show continues in 2016!

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 this link: 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.

 This week (and maybe one more gadget next week) we'll wind up our look at fun (& sometimes educational) gadgets and gizmos from Fair 2016!

Meet the new Wowwee COJI

Kids as young as six can learn to code with the COJI Robot. COJI gets its name from Coding with Emojis. It's the new coding robot pal where STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) comes together to teach children basic programming skills using the “language” of visual emojis. Kids will have fun testing their problem- solving skills and playing games with their new robot friend. They use the free app on any smart device to control COJI’s actions. As you'll see in the video, Bluetooth is used to send a child's commands to COJI to follow. COJI also reacts to physical stimulation such as tilting and shaking. He comes with an LCD screen, dynamic sounds and thousands of animations. It’s coding and learning fun with a smile(y)! MSRP $59.99 Coming in the fall of 2016 It's for kids 6 & up. 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/bKLZE3_D444

Company Website: http://www.wowwee.com/

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1560 (Goes live late Friday, Mar 4, 2016) 

The Awesome Folkmanis Puppets.

We just roam the floor at Toy Fair like big kids every year and we stop at things we find interesting. But we always make sure to stop Folkmanis Puppets. Every year they introduce a dozen or so new creations. They’re always so cute, and so well made, I really love them. The folks who demo them also love them and do great demos. But they're more than just toys. From their website: “Folkmanis believes imagination is the key to a healthy childhood, encouraging play and discovery to develop the skills necessary in life. The company has been making the most innovative and engaging specialty puppets in the world since 1976, delighting imaginations and winning nearly every industry, child development, and kid-tested award. This year they've added a new bear, butterfly, and raccoon. (You'll see them in the Giz Wiz Video, link below.) Another great thing is that they are reasonably priced. Finger puppets range from about $8 up to about $80 for the big stage puppets.

Giz Wiz Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU15PFoZjC0&feature=youtu.be

Company website: www.folkmanis.com

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1560 (Goes live late Friday, Mar 4, 2016)

Wowwee Lumi Drone

Wowwee's LUMI drone combines exciting drone action while taking some of the fuss out of flying an indoor quadcopter. LUMI can literally fly itself while you play, direct and command it using the app-based game play for Gamified Flight. With any smart device, you can select motions, maneuvers, stunts, or just take control and fly LUMI with ease. Various game modes include challenging the player to follow sequences of flashing lights and music while LUMI flies and dances in the air, reacting to your performance! The ability to choreograph flight moves and record them for sharing with friends on social media is just one of the features which makes LUMI a fun experience for today’s tech culture. MSRP $79.99 Coming fall/winter 2016 Recommended for age 8 and up.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/C9JeN_Hpqsk

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

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1560 (Goes live late Friday, Mar 4, 2016)

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

Chad emailed our loyal (and much appreciated) Patreon supporters and asked them to pick a March, 2016 theme of the month they would like to see. They voted and the winning theme this month is “Crappy Gaming Gadgets”. That seems to be a category that's perfect for Chad! Here for his first gadget for this week's show Chad picked the:

USB Optical Finger Mouse by Unlimited Quantity Com

Here are the features as described on Amazon:

Plug-and-Play, no installation needed.

Can be used on any surfaces. No mouse pad is required.

Ergonomical design - reduce fatigue effectively.

Adjustable velcro strip to fit your finger size.

Real hardware resolution 1200dpi - the fastest in the world, best buy for professional designers, and game fans.

And Chad's take? Chad thought really was a piece of crap! Although from the photo is looked like you could aim the mouse toward the screen it turns out you move the mouse by dragging it over a hard surface. The response of the mouse was terrible and the mouse buttons and scrolling wheel didn't work much better. Chad's advice: Forget It!! 

It's here on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Qvx0YH As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1560

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

Our viewer video of the week arrived with this email:

We are going on a cruise to Alaska in June to celebrate my retirement from high school teaching after 40 years. That will happen the end of May. Well, I want to take my DSLR but not the big gadget bag I use with it. So I started going through our closet to look at other bags we've bought over the years in hopes that one of them might work. That led me to two camcorders we've owned: one is an RCA, which we bought for $1,800 in 1986. The other is a VHSc JVC "compact" camcorder, which we bought in 1998. I think we paid in the neighborhood of $450 for that. On the cruise we're planning to use our iPhones (6 and a 6s) for moving pictures and some stills. That got me to thinking about doing the Giz Wiz video on the three generations of cameras and how it might be an interesting 2-minute video. 

https://youtu.be/F42r9nxAbOE

Dan Diercks

Hagerstown, Indiana

(pronounced Dirks)  

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1560 (Goes live late Friday, Mar 4, 2016)

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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.

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 outside of those two places. (Thanks for understanding.)

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv

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Letter of the week:

From: Dwain Main

Subject: Old Hard Drive

Good morning fellows,

I’ve attached a couple images of a hard drive I acquired a few years ago. I have been unable to find any details of the make/model of the unit on the unit itself or searching through Google images online.

If you can provide any info I would be very appreciative. I enjoy your episodes.

Regards, Dwain Main

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada