The Giz Wiz Show 1677, June 1st 2018 Independent Show #160

The Giz Wiz Show recently started it's13th year or production, and it's fourth year of Independent Production! (The first show was February 20th, 2006.) That's thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters! If it wasn't for them, the Giz Wiz Show would be gone. If you'd like to support OMGchad & DickDe in our independent venture (we pay for everything ourselves, including travel) 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 for doing that! Our show wouldn't exist without our viewer's support, but a bit more support would be a big help. (As we can say honestly “asking for more Patreon supporters is not to make money”, it helps us lose less money doing The Giz Wiz. Thanks!)

And now onto the show!

Acer offered several new Chromebooks at their Lincoln Center 2018 Next @ ACER event. Updates to their 15-inch Chromebook include two top-firing speakers to the right and left of the keyboard. It boasts a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 15.6" IPS Corning Gorilla Glass touch display on the higher end model, and a Gorilla Glass Touch Pad too.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 15, which Acer claims is the world’s first 15-inch Chrome OS convertible is powered by a choice of 3 Intel processors, from two dual-core Celeron chips to a quad-core Pentium CPU. There's also a choice of 4GB to 8GB of memory and 32GB to 64GB of eMMC storage. A higher than before 13 hours of battery life was also announced.

There's USB-A & USB-C and a microSD card reader. The Acer Chromebook 15 series starts at $349 and the 360 degree SPIN version adds $100 ($449) in stores and online, coming this July.

And there's also the new Chromebook Tab 10, which Acer says is the 1^stChrome OS Tablet for education. With a 9.7” 2048 x 1536 IPS display the Chromebook Tab 10 has a 1600 x 1200 webcam on the front and a second cam on the back. There's a headphone jack at the top with a type-C power input at the bottom. At the bottom left corner is the parking spot the included Wacom EMR stylus. Weight is 1.2 pounds. Inside is an OP1 processor and graphics card with 32GB of eMMC storage, 4GB of RAM with a 9 hour battery life according to Acer. The price should be about $330, but it's being pitched for the education market, so it make not show up in stores right away.

In the lobby display I saw the 13.5” IPS touchscreen version with 3:2 ratio, the first-ever Chromebook with Intel's 8th generation processors. An Acer spokesperson told me that their aimed for the business market. The Chromebook Spin 13 available with 8th-gen Intel Core i3 or i5 CPUs and up to 16GB of RAM. Storage can be 32GB, 64GB or 128GB. (Resolution of 2256x1504), all-metal chassis, and a built-in Wacom stylus. Price and delivery dates for the 13” business models were not available at the time.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/kOaPFN1kt2I  

Acer New Products: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/nextatacer-newyork-2018  

See or hear this episode: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1677  

Warm the baby's bottle in the middle of the night via remote control!

Here's how the company describes their unique product. Now, it's easy for new moms or dads to warm a bottle from the comfort of their bed! With a simple, one-touch remote, the First Years 4-in-1 Remote Control Bottle Warmeroffers a sleep-friendly solution that lets you streamline middle-of-the-night feedings. Simply put a bottle in the unit before bedtime, and the included ice packs will keep it cool for up to 8 hours. Preset the length of time you want the bottle to warm and then to drift off to sleep. (A pull-out tray tells you the warming time based on the formula and the type of milk in the bottle.) When your baby’s ready, (probably indicated by a bit of crying), a simple push on the remote’s button on your night stand starts the warming cycle. There’s no need to download an app or deal with bright lights from your phone. Just enjoy a little extra snooze time as the bottle warms! A blinking orange light lets you know the bottler warming has started and a steady orange light indicates it's ready. First years said their RC Bottle Warmer also easily heats baby food jars. MSRP: $74.99

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/mbhTCFXjr2s 

Company website: http://thefirstyears.com/products/4-1-remote-control-bottle-warmer 

Target link $62.99: https://www.target.com/p/the-first-years-remote-control-bottle-warmer-white/-/A-52707296

See or hear this episode: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1677  

At Tech Day 2018 I Found The Padcaster Ultimate Studio

The Padcaster Ultimate Studio transforms your iPad into an all-in-one mobile production studio. The company says it's rugged and so versatile you can create professional video anywhere and anyway you want. With the included wide-angle lens, Padcaster unidirectional microphone and dual mic/headphone cable, all you need is an iPad and your imagination. Use with your favorite apps to shoot, edit and upload video on the fly – or stream live right from the iPad. The Ultimate Studio features: Padcaster Case / Wide angle lens / LED Light/ Unidirectional Mic / Stick Mic with Clamp System /Lavalier mic /Audio Splitter /Tripod /Green Screen /Mini Teleprompter /Backpack $1299.99.  

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/j1u23YOv5NU   U

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

Ultimate kit: https://padcaster.com/products/padcaster-ultimate-studio-for-ipad-10-5  

See or hear this episode: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1677

Chad's Crappy Corner & His Final Gadget For His May Theme!

Chad polled our loyal Patreon members and asked them to vote on his cheap theme for May. Their choice was “Cheap DIY Gadgets”! This week Chad's final May DIY (we recorded this in May) pick is “Build Your Own Air Conditioner” Kit.

Chad found “Lady Lee's Homemade AC Unit”at the link below. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to a real air condition and have a bit of DIY skill, you can build this 'air cooler' for about $20 and change. Lady Lee adds: “I watched some cool videos on YouTube on how to make a homemade AC unit and at the end, made up kind of my own simple design that doesn’t require the use of a drill or any power tool.” You'll see Chad build his in under 30 minutes with just a few things from a big box store. You need a foam cooler, a 4 or 6” fan and some PVC connectors, which are available everywhere at places like Lowes or Home Depot. And finally the only tool needed, a utility knife. Watch Chad build this and then show us how it actually did reduce the temperature as it ran! (And remember it's an air cooler, but it does 'condition' the air.)

https://ladyleeshome.com/homemade-ac-unit

See or hear this episode: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1677

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

This week it's Chad's Gadget Warehouse! Chad's gadget is one that's been sitting in his closet unopened for a couple of years. So on this week's show you'll see Chad unbox the Emerson Portable Electronic Key Finder. It's said to "Find keys from up to 45 feet away / Locate keys in hard to find places / Distinct alarm directs you to keys / Included tabletop cradle for storing remote transmitter." – Well, turns out Chad found this device big and sort of ugly, neither which mattered, because it works so badly he'd never use it. Neither it seems would most of the people who purchased it. It has 13 reviews on Amazon with 69% of them giving this piece of crap - er, giving this device 1 star out of 5. As of 5/30/18 it was roughly $20 with shipping.

https://amzn.to/2s7GA0V - 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.

This never affects how we rate Amazon gadgets since we mostly buy everything we review.

See or hear this episode: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1677

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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 (favorite old, or favorite new): 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 earn a tiny amount of fame (hopefully). And if you live in the US, you'll also get an autographed 35-year-old Alfred E. Neuman picture and a MAD surprise (most likely the current issue of MAD.) But no matter where you live, I canemail an autographed to you Alfred E. Neuman photo if we show your video. Just print it out, frame it, or just hang it up and no one will know it's a copy. We've tested it out and fans say they look terrific!

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv

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Letter of the week:

It's an email from Johnny Jet to all his followers including me ---

lt asks a question --- Why You Should Bring a Mini Plunger When You Travel?

Got an answer? I bet you didn't guess the answer below!

At the airport Johnny overheard an interesting story. On a crowded train he saw a lady pull out a mini plunger and stick it to the ceiling so she had something to hold onto. I thought this was brilliant. I've been on plenty of trains too crowded for me to grab a pole on, or where I haven't wanted to touch the nasty railings, and I’m not always tall enough to stick my hand to the ceiling. A mini plunger with good suction solves this. Just make sure the plunger is clean (obviously) and be prepared for people to take pics of you labeling you as a crazy person.

https://amzn.to/2Lv1cIu