Have trouble hearing your MP3 Music in noisy environments?

Dick’s Gadget Warehouse Friday, November 13^th, 2009, Netcast 960

The Boostaroo may be just what you need. I thought this device was long dead. It’s been in the warehouse for about 15 years. But it turns out the company is still in business, and still making the Boostaroo. It has been improved a bit, and it looks a little different with a see-through (translucent) plastic housing. Something that was missing from the original that’s incorporated now is a simple LED to let you know the unit is on. On the original model, if you forgot to shut it off, you would soon find the batteries – 2 double AA’s -- dead. The Boostaroo is a headphone audio amplifier that will double the available volume of your portable audio player. (With no more than 1% harmonic distortion according to the company.) Plus, it separates the signal into individual stereo channels to drive 3 separate headphone sets or portable speakers. The audio splitter lets up the 3 listeners share one stereo audio source. But don’t try to run in different directions because you all have to remain within the cable length of the headphones connected to the Boostaroo. Flexible output compatibility lets you use either (almost) any brand of headphones or mini-speakers. (There’s more about compatibility at the company’s website.) The input is flexible too. You can connect CD players, computers, PDAs, MP3 players, games --- anything that uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack out! Cost is under $30.

www.boostaroo.com

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw960

Update on November 16, 2009 by The Giz Wiz

Dear Dick, On dgw 960 you mentioned you didn't see any stores selling the boosteroo. I bought one at Radio Shack a few months back before an Amtrak trip from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. The Part number is 33-118 ( http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2732095  )

Keep up the great work. Jason Reighard, Toronto, Ohio USA

If you live in a cold weather area, a humidifier can make your home comfortable.

Thursday, November 12^th, 2009, Netcast 959

The new Honeywell Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM-350) features an automatic moisture balance system and 3 moisture output settings to eliminate dry air in medium-size rooms. This humidifier continuously works to eliminate up to 99.9% of water-bred germs and bacteria for clean, healthy moisture. Unlike like other current humidifiers on the market, this system utilizes a germicidal chamber to eliminate bacteria and other airborne allergens, including mold and spores. This can be a big help for those with sensitive allergies. There’s an easy-to-fill wide mouth 1.1-gallon reservoir. It unit output 2.0 gallons of water per day. Thanks to the Protec antimicrobial treated filter, this product eliminates up to 99% of all germs in your humidified air. The company says that the antimicrobial treated filter helps prevent the growth of mold and odor-causing bacteria on the filter.  Overall, natural and effective evaporative humidification helps relieve coughs and congestion for adults and children of all ages. There’s a great pilot light that turns red when it’s time to replace the UV light. Honeywell says it will last about 3,000 hours. The unit doesn’t shut off when the tank is empty but the tank is designed so you can visually observe the amount of water left. (I’m not a doctor so I can't verify any health claims, but UV light is known for killing germs.) The lowest fan speed is really quiet, so choose that if don’t like noise when you sleep. I prefer hearing a bit of noise, so I use the medium speed. In a quiet room you will hear the fan running on medium and high speeds, but I like it. List price is $100, but if you do a web search you can find it for about $80. Dimensions: Height: 10.8"  Width: 12.75"  Depth: 18.66" 

It’s $79 & it ships free from the website below.  (I found this retailer by doing a web search, but I haven’t bought anything there.)

http://www.compactappliance.com/HCM-350-Honeywell-Germ-Free-Cool-Mist-Humidifier/HCM-350,default,pd.html?mtcpromotion=Become%3eAir_Quality%3eHumidifiers%3eCool_Mist_Humidifiers%3eHCM-350&src=BECOME

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw959 

Like to Twitter? Good, because that’s all this device does!

Wednesday, November 11^th, 2009, Netcast 958

First came the Peek so folks who didn’t want a computer could get a send emails. Then came the Peek Pronto, which lets you get and send emails with attachments and photos. After you buy that device for about $99, you can use the QWERTY keyboard for checking/sending emails and/or sending SMS. Service costs about $15 a month. Now comes their latest device: TwitterPeek.  As the name implies, this device does just one thing – it lets you get and send Tweets via Twitter. If you pay $99 you get the TwitterPeek, plus 6 months of nationwide service. But if you’re convinced you’ll be using Twitter forever, you can pay $199, which includes unlimited Twitter service for a lifetime. It features always-on instant tweet delivery. You’re notified via a flashing blue light. You get nationwide coverage. It uses cell phone technology, so no WiFi signal is necessary. I like the full QWERTY keyboard, which is backlit. There’s also a color screen and a click scroll wheel. Scroll to the option you want, then push in on the wheel to enter it. Pretty simple which is good because this will appeal to non-techies. And another benefit, there are no contracts. TwitterPeek is available exclusively on Amazon.com and

www.TwitterPeek.com

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw958

Be in SYNC with this high tech system available on many 2010 Ford cars!

Turn The Table Tuesday, Tuesday, November 10^th, 2009 Netcast 957

So Leo now has a high-tech company car! It seems the folks at Ford were considering sponsoring some shows on TWiT, including The Daily Giz Wiz. The idea was not so much to sell cars, but more to help people learn about all the technology offered by Ford SYNC. Ford Sync gives the driver hands-free control of most any mobile phone or media player in their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury car or truck. SYNC listens to your voice, so you can make calls on your mobile phone hands-free. It lets you find and play your favorite, tracks, playlists and podcasts without touching a button. And you can get turn-by-turn directions while keeping your eyes on the road. It’s possible to do this and more with SYNC by using simple voice commands. This all sounded great to Leo, but before any sort of a deal was made, he wanted to check out the Ford Sync system for himself. Evidently Leo liked it a lot! In fact he liked it so much he bought a Mustang with Ford Sync! A red one! Now that’s going to be the company car. I haven’t driven in about 20 years, but I am going to try to talk Leo into buying a Mustang with Ford Sync for Gizneyland!  I mean, it’s really like the east coast TWiT office. As an intro to this neat, new product you can learn more about SYNC and have a chance to win an iPod Nano or Microsoft Zune with the “Tweet to Win” contest at the following website: 

www.syncmyridepodcast.com   (Offer will end on December 8^th, 2009)

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw957

A dock piling that has a place to "dock" your iPod.

Monday, November 9^th, 2009  Netcast  956

PVC piling hides iPod docking/charging station, has built-in speaker.Early in November I was at Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show looking for gadgets for both my Powerboat Magazine column, and of course, for the Daily Giz Wiz. At one exhibit I found a brand new product called “Dock Tunes”. It’s from a company called Tuff Dock Systems. This company offers specially compounded PVC pilings engineered and manufactured to be rugged and to resist the rugged marine environment. In addition to making normal PVC pilings they offer coordinated dock pilings of the same durable material that can hide all sorts of dock accessories. They make pilings with built-in lighting; one designed to hold a coiled water hose or even a fire extinguisher. The newest addition to the Tuff Dock line is called Dock Tunes. Dock Tunes is a place on your dock to dock your iPod. (And they might be one of the only company that didn’t use the lowercase “i” in the name of their product!) Dock Tunes consists of two PVD dock pilings. One side has a cover that lifts off so you can dock your iPod. That same piling contains a 20-watt amplifier and a 6” Poly-Planar 3-way speaker. The other PVC piling contains another 6” Poly-Planar Speaker. The piling takes 110 volts and uses a step-down transformer to convert it the proper voltage for charging your iPod. You need to run the included speaker wire from one piling to the other to have stereo music on the dock. The docking station charges your iPod and the system comes with remote control. It’s expected to be about $600 for a pair. (Hey it’s a MARINE gadget!) There was nothing on the company’s website about Dock Tunes since it was brand new and I asked them to get something up there quickly. When I went back to their website they had an icon that says: “New! Dock Tunes!” And when I clicked it --it came back to my website! I expect them to have new info up there soon.

www.tuffdocksystems.com

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw956