The Giz Wiz, Week of May 28th, 2014, Show # 1470

Even more gadgets from the 2014 National Hardware Show.

Before I give you my take on this new product, here’s what Gorilla says about their new bags: Gorilla self-standing bags are so thick they stand on their own. A heavy-duty project bag that's extra thick, extra strong, and makes even the toughest projects on planet earth easier to tackle. Self-Standing Bags are uniquely constructed with tough projects in mind. Your cleanup awaits. -- And my take? The bags are thick, 3.3 Mils, which is at least 10% thicker than other bags. They are sturdy and as you’ll see in the video, it’s fairly easy to get them to stand up. Once you add the first shovel of leaves, debris, etc., the bags should stay wide open at the top making it easy for one person to dispose of trash. Larger packages of these bags may be coming along, but for now it looks like they’ll cost about $1 a bag. A spokesperson said a 12-bag box costs $12 at Wal-Mart. In the package you also find zip ties for easy closure once the bag is full. They’re supposed to hold up to 200 pounds, but who in the world would be able to move that kind of weight around! In addition to trash, I think these heavy-duty bags would be great for storage items; to cover chairs in the basement, outdoor furniture in the backyard, etc. 

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/Si99oIooW8I 

Company website: http://www.gorillatough.com/index.php?page=self-standing-bags 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1470 

Handy Magnetic Mini LED Lights from Honeywell.

Something new and very handy: Honeywell LED Magnetic Lights. These clever Mini-LED lights have a magnetic backing so you can stick them on tools, keys, scissors, pretty much anything magnetic. That way the bright LED light will shine exactly where you need it. Each LED light has its own on/off switch. The folks at the Honeywell booth at the National Hardware show said they should be coming to market sometime late August. Packs of three should be under $5, but the actual price hasn’t been set yet. Batteries are not replaceable, but LED’s usually burn for a very long time on a little bit of power. I don’t have a link to post because they’re not online anywhere yet. I’ll post one when they become available. The final packaging may look a bit different from the photo.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1470 

You can recharge this high tech flashlight via USB, AC, or DC.

The Coast Rechargeable A9R Flashlight has been in the marketplace for several months now and has gotten some great reviews on Amazon. This is a small, thin flashlight, just a touch over 6” long and pencil thin. It weighs only 2.1 ounces, so folks will never notice you’re carrying a flashlight in your shirt or pants pocket. It has a rubberized, stainless steel pocket clip which adjustable and removable if you don’t want to use it. Coast says their A9R casts a nearly perfect circle of smooth and consistent light, making it a great penlight for all types of professional users. Charging is extremely easy and versatile. To charge the flashlight, simply slip the Pro Flex Charging Cap over the head of the light and connect to an AC, DC or USB power source. All those charging connectors are included in the kit. The stainless steel body is both durable and attractive. It’s backed by Coast's lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. The bright 54-lumen light output offers a 3-hour runtime. Charge time is said to be 3 hours too. Coast says the beam reach is 72 feet. It comes with a rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery, and the company offers spares for under $13.00. MSRP of the A9R is $59.95, but it’s available for under $40 on the web. 

Amazon. Coast A9R Rechargeable Flashlight As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/yMyHR6XArtY

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1470 

Chad's Crappy Corner! All we know is that it's something that lights!

Wow, I haven’t seen it yet, but Chad’s Crappy Corner seems to be something very interesting! It’s a 6 LED Multipurpose Light. Here’s what Amazon says about it: 

6 LED Nightlight/Worklight with Auto Sensor turns on when area gets dark • Nightlight 4-position switch - On/Off/Auto-Lo/Auto-Hi • Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery • Induction Charging Technology • Flashlight simply slides in and out of charging base • Charge lasts up to 15 hours on Lo and 3 hours on Hi • Batteries and LEDs never need to be replaced, and LEDs are always cool to the touch • Modern design • Lightweight & durable. 2 lights in the package. It’s $31.50 and on Amazon Prime. So free shipping for Prime Members. 

And Chad’s take: Chad liked this device a lot because it does so many things. Also he thought the price was good, less that $16 per unit. They’re sold in pairs. 

The Energizer Fushion Technology Flashlight Chad talked about was already on The Giz Wiz, but don't tell Chad. Here's all the info:

The Energizer LED 3 in 1 Lightis equipped with Light Fusion technology. A glowing panel that throws off a lot of soft, white light. The 3-in-1 tripod light panel features LEDs that never burn out or need replacing. The panel has several hundred tiny dots etched on it to evenly spread the light emitted by the LEDs. It also features smart-dimming technology, which lets you vary the brightness to suit your needs and prolong battery life. With three distinct features: task light, area light, and directional light--all in one small unit, theEnergizer 3-in-1 tripod light offers exceptional convenience and a compact size that fits easily into a drawer, bag, or tool box. But wait, there’s more! The flashlight has a pivoting head, which allows you to spotlight any task that calls for extra light. The foldout legs can act like an extra hand when it's needed the most.​ Here are some specs from Energizer: Up to 150 lumens of area light for up to 100 hours or 100 lumens of focused beam for 10 hours, Water Resistant, Includes 4 Energizer MAX AA batteries. And remember this! After you play with it in demo mode – (the way it is when you buy it) you will need to disable by removing the batteries, waiting 10 seconds and re-inserting them. I just took the cover off the battery compartment, waited ten seconds, and put it back on. That did the trick! MSRP $29.95. It’s here for under $22 on Amazon: 

Don't tell Chad but we also did this light on The Giz Wiz. The Might D Light, is a clever folding LED worklight. TheMight-D-Light folds into the shape of the letter D when closed. I assume that’s where the D in the name comes from. When the D is opened, there’s an array of 80 LED's – 40 on each side protected by a polycarbonate lens. I wanted to try it out, so I looked for a dark place to light up. I went into the bathroom since they are no windows there. I shut the lights off & I thought they didn’t go off. But they had gone off. The Might D Light was as bright as the normal bathroom lighting. This cordless rechargeable unit comes with both an AC and a DC charging adaptor for use in the car, boat, van, etc.  It charges in about four hours. When you first plug the charger to the unit, a red light comes on. When it turns green, the built in battery is fully charged. The company, Cooper Lighting, says a full battery should power the light for about two hours.  I was surprised there was no “high-low” switch or a way to turn on 40 LED’s at a time. The Might-D-Light can stand upright; lay flat on its back or be positioned at many different angles to shine the light right where you need it. A nylon hook at the top allows you hang the device. But wait, there’s more! Powerful Neodymium magnets allow the Might-D-Light to be secured to metal surfaces like tool boxes, car hoods, car doors, pretty much anything metal. Another nice touch are reflectors on backside of the unit for increased visibility during roadside applications.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1470 

Dick's Gadget Warehouse. And how to submit your video to the show.

This week’s viewer video is about a gadget that will never end up in a gadget warehouse. That’s because the gadget Sam bought was such a piece of crap, she demolished it with a hammer! The email Sam sent us was short and sweet:

Here is the link to my video!

http://youtu.be/Eh9La39U2CE

Best Regards,
Captain S. L. "Sam" Pirtle
Accredited Marine Surveyor

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1470 

                                                                 _+++++++++++

We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show.

Here’s what we’re looking: Your home shoot 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 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! 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 will now be awarded with some sort of prize. Like an autographed MAD magazine and some piece of crap. So that's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video! 

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

Letter of the week:

Hiya Dick, 

Saw your latest TWIT epidode that featured 

the purse key hook. 

Well they've been around many, many years. 

Here's mine made of titanium. 

Little bottle opener and bit driver integrated. 

Paz,
Glenn Blanchard