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About Me

 

Known as MAD's Maddest Writer, co-host of The Giz Wiz with OMGchad at www.GizWiz.TV, The Giz Wiz on ABC's World News Now, and on Tech Guy Labs with Leo Laporte on www.TWiT.TV

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Entries from May 1, 2022 - May 31, 2022

Saturday
May282022

Show #1885 Week of May 26th 2021 Independent Show 360 

AMAZING!! We're now in year 17 of The Giz Wiz Show!

(The first Giz Wiz Show – called The Daily Giz Wiz back then – was February 20th 2006!) If it wasn't for our loyal supporters, 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

 

 

Like Big Digit Clocks You Can See From Far Away?

 

I think this is a great clock, but it has one of those strange names on Amazon: The Yaboodn Large Display Digital Clock with Temperature and Humidity. Description continues: 14.3 Inch Digital Wall Clock with Red Large LED Numbers for Bedroom, Office, Clear Read for Elderly (Red). The Large Display Digital Wall Clock has contrast clear jumbo digits (4.3-inch high and there is a red and green version available.) There are 4 brightness levels of the digits to meet different needs, including AUTO dimming which adjusts the brightness according to the time. It's brightest from 7 to 17:59, which is 7 AM to 5:59 PM, I think. It comes with 37.5” usb cable with a pin connector that goes into the clock. You can set an alarm, but there is no 'snooze' feature. You can also set directional monitoring of time, temperature, humidity displays, or as I did, set it just to show time, temp & humidity. The company adds: “only one alarm can be set, it is not the main function of this clock”. The USB connector can be powered from your computer, but it does not come with a USB to AC adapter, which is one of the reasons it got bad reviews on Amazon. $34.99 as of 5/28/22. (There is also a green digit version available.)

 

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

 

Check the latest price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39X9UzY

 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

 

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1885

Saturday
May282022

I'm A Fan Of This Fan – It's Folds To Fit In Your Pocket!

This is a very versatile fan, with a sort of strange Amazon name: JISULIFE . It's folds small enough to fit into a pocket and it has a 4800 mAh battery that can double as an emergency phone charger. And a flashlight that can double as a task light as you'll see on today's show. After a full charge which takes 3-4 hours the company says it can get up to 46 fan hours at speed 1 (low), 35 hours at speed 2 (med.), and 13 hours at speed 3 (high). Maximum RPM's is 3400 rpm which is enough for personal use to keep you cool. The Power Bank Function is 5V/1A which is slow, but probably enough in an emergency. The flashlight feature works when fan is not spinning since they both use the same button. The flashlight is quite bright the task lights works great too. With the included lanyard you can hang it on your wrist or travel backpack. Safety wise, if you touch the blades, the fan instantly stops! With feature plus surge and short circuit protection, this sounds like a handy, safe gadget. Was $18.99 on 5/28/22

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

 

Check the latest price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ae6x80

 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

 

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1885

Saturday
May282022

A Different Kind Of Solar Powered LED Light.

Meet the SUNFACE Solar Deck Lights that also can be used as fence post lights, dock lights and more. They can glow with an amber light, or color changing RGB lights. (You can't set it for one color, the colors fade & change continuously in the RGB mode.) The selected light turns on automatically at night and how long it stays on will depend on how much sunlight you get. Reviews from people with plenty of sunlight say the lights stay on all night long. Here in NYC, it's more like 4 or 5 hours, but we're not having a lot of sun so far this spring. Said to be IP65 waterproof and heatproof they can be great outdoor security night lights for walls, patio, garden, porch, pathway, roof gutter, etc. If I still had my boat, these would have been great to mark my boat slip at night. Although they do have an on/off switch it's not easy to get to. They're designed to be left on.

Easy installation with included screws. Under $30/6 as on 5/26/22

 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/KN7t_9b5chs

 

Check the latest price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PNZLpN

 

As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

 

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1885

Friday
May272022

Chad's Crappy Corner and his final gadget for his May Cheap Gadget Theme.

Chad's Cheap Gadget Theme For May, picked by our loyal Patreon is: “Cheap Computer Gadgets”! Chad's final cheap computer gadget is the MicroCenter Mini Mic.

Chad had a lot of trouble getting this mic to work and when he finally did, it sure wasn't worth the effort. He hoped the external mic would sound better than the mic built into his computer, but it wasn't. You'll hear a test of this mic on this week's show. Chad certainly doesn't recommend it, and even if he did, neither of us could find this mic online anymore. Well, I guess this really is a case of 'you get what you pay for, because the Mini Mic was just $9.99. But, a bit of advice from Chad that might be helpful is that if you're looking for an inexpensive mic for voice, getting a headset mic is a good choice. With those you can place the mic directly in front of your mic at capture your voice and block out background noises. Also be sure to know what kind of mic jack your computer needs. Many of the newer computers have a single mic jack designed for a mic/earphone.

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1885

Friday
May272022

Dick’s Gadget Warehouse & How To Submit Your Video To Win An Autographed Copy of MAD Magazine.

A gadget warehouse video from a surprise guest, submitting one for the 1st time!

Hi Dick and Chad,

 

The promise of 5 seconds of fame was too much to pass up. This is my first gadget warehouse video but hopefully not the last now that I have retired. This is definitely a "warehouse" item as it was produced in the 1950's and sat in my mother's kitchen until recently.

 

https://youtu.be/nwDDcj_eY8I  

 

The link I found when researching this gadget to find out how to use it is: http://olioscourge.blogspot.com/2013/02/from-out-of-past-comes-spouto.html

 

Thanks so much for entertaining us weekly. I love the show and what you both do.

 

Selina Johnson (aka OMGMom)

 

Chad found some used versions of this on eBay. Just type “Spouto” in search.

 

See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1885

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We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show! 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 38+ year old Alfred E. Neuman picture and a MAD surprise (most likely the current issue of MAD.) But no matter where you live outside of US, I can autograph an Alfred E. Neuman photo to you, scan it & email you a high res copy 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! If you submitting warehouse videos for a second, third time, etc., you'll get the current issue of MAD as a thank you.

 

All show submissions go to mail@gizwiz.tv

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Email of the week!

 

Our email of the week is from Ranger Rick & Magoo who write:

You'll love this – We were just watching YouTube & came across a show from the UK called Guess the Gadget! It's from ITV.

Enjoy, Magoo & Ranger Rick

 

The Giz Wiz searched for a link and found this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lij4yt4Fvw