The Giz Wiz for the Week of November 13, 2012. Show 1390

And the winner is --- 

At CES, the giant yearly Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, many Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are presented. Consumer technology manufacturers and developers have their newest products judged by a panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade press. So manufacturers can announce that their product has won a 2013 Innovation Award at the CES 2013 Show, the award are presented at the Fall CES preview in NYC. (This year it was on November 12^th.) Winning an Innovation Award in the Personal Electronics category is Liquid Image, famous for their scuba masks with built in cameras. They won for their new APEX HD+ Snow Goggles. This is the first snow goggle with full HD recording, built in Wi-Fi and a rotating camera lens. The wireless capabilities offer live streaming to an iOS or Android device. It also allows file playback, remote control and camera setting adjustments. The Apex HD+ WiFi Snow Goggles lets you video record to a 4GB Micro SDHC card, but you can replace it with a Micro SDHC card up to 32GB. The camera has Wind Guard Audio recording for crisp sound while in motion. Downloaded files to a computer via the USB cable provided, or you can just place the removable Micro SDHC card in a card reader on your computer. The rechargeable lithium battery records approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of video when fully charged. You probably won’t find an AC outlet while skiing, so you can carry an extra charged battery or two. (Batteries sold separately.) The Apex HD+ googles are available in black or white. MSRP is $399.00. They are shipping now. 

http://www.liquidimageco.com/collections/apex 

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Let Iris help you get control of home automation.

Another winner of a CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Award is Lowe’s for their Iris Smart Kit. Lowe’s entered the Smart Home market in July with the launch of its new, award- winning Smart Kit. It’s a way to simplify safety and efficiently for people who want home automation, but don’t want to have to learn a dozen different systems. Since Lowe’s is a huge retail chain, they asked many of their major suppliers to create an easier way for customers to manage home automation via their new Iris platform. Kevin Meagher, Lowe’s vice president of smart home puts it this way: “Current home monitoring solutions are expensive and inflexible to the extent that 80 percent of homes have no protection. Iris makes home security and management simple and affordable with free, entry-level services, no long-term contracts and a wide variety of products that are easy to install and manage from your smart phone.” At CES 2013, Lowe’s plans to unveil the next generation of Iris products and services that will allow consumers to do everything from managing home energy consumption to monitoring pet doors to check on the family dog throughout the day. Lowe’s currently offers a variety of connected products that are compatible with Iris from  partners like Schlage, First Alert, GE Jasco and Radio Thermostat of America. If you want to start right away, here’s a quick look at what’s available. Want to start with home monitoring? Check out the Safe & Secure Kit. Looking to start saving on your energy bill? The Comfort & Control Kit is your answer. Can't decide? The Smart Kit has everything plus a Range Extender. Each kit is $179, but you can save money with the kit that is a combination of the two. It retails for $299.00.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Iris_239939199_

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An emergency phone with a battery that can last up to 15 years!

 Here' a cell phone that can work when your normal one doesn't! It's called the Spare One Emergency Phone. What do you do when you break down in your car and your phone is out of power. Just power up your Spare One phone. This emergency phone runs on 1 AA battery. It comes with an Energizer Ultimate Lithium battery, which can hold its charge unused for up to 15 years. But it can also use any standard AA battery. Just insert your SIM card & you can have up to 10 hours of talk time. The phone will make emergency 911 calls without a SIM card, but that's all it will be able to do - but that alone can be a life saver! For calling other numbers you’ll need a SIM card to put into the Spare One phone. You can use your own SIM card or purchase one from any GSM network carrier, like T-Mobile or AT&T. The phone’s design is super simple. An emergency number can be programmed into the center button. If you need to call that number, just hold the red button for 2 seconds to call. You can also add 9 speed dial numbers for emergencies. And finally, there’s one other safety gadget built in – a small LED flashlight that can stay on for as long as 24 hours with the single AA battery. It ships in a waterproof pouch and you can operate the phone while it's in the pouch, great for use in storms. $99.99, but selling for $10 less on the company website right now. (Nov. 13, 2012)

http://www.spareonephone.com/product.html

It's here on Amazon, but it may not ship with the new waterproof pouch. However it's $57, not $89.99 as on the manufacturer's website: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008B291SQ/?tag=twnene-20

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Chad Gets To Pick The Next Gadget!

Chad finds a really nice external high capacity power bank charger from Anker. It has an ultra slim 0.4 inch profile with an attractive piano-style black varnish finish. Since it’s Chad’s gadget and I haven’t seen it in person, here’s some info from Amazon: Supply instant power to charge your device anytime, anywhere. High capacity: 3200mAh, 1 full charge or add 10 hours of talk time to your iPhone 4S / 4G / 3GS, 100+ hours audio playback, or 100% - 200% to the battery life of most mobile phones. Super convenient built-in Micro-USB charging plug frees you from carrying any extra cables when you're on the go; USB output also available for most all your other mobile devices; Convenient flashlight for night & low-light use activates after pressing the Power button for 2 seconds. Charges via Micro-USB power wire (included) or AC adapter (not included). Input: 5V 1A; Output: USB 5V 0.6A; Dimensions: 4.17 x 2.24 x 0.4 inches. Package includes: Anker External Battery / 1 Micro-USB tip / 1 USB to Micro-USB power wire. And now back to The Giz Wiz. And the price is right! MSRP $37.99, but on Amazon it’s just $22.99! And it’s on Amazon Prime, so you’re a member, shipping is free.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054U6CEE/?tag=twnene-20

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Chad picks a second gadget! Digits. 

Digits is a way to stay warm while staying connected. It’s from the folks at Quirky. The cold weather is here in a lot of the country. But you don’t have to let the cold keep you from your digital connections! Digits are mini conductive pins that attach to the gloves you already love so you can use electronic touch screen devices, like smartphones and MP3 players, even when it’s below zero. They’re simple to use. Digits separate into two pieces. Place the backside of the digit (with post) inside the fingertip of the glove and push through. Then twist the other side of the digit onto the post. Digits are made of conductive silicone, with a metal pin on the back for attaching to your glove. They’re black in color and come in packs of four so you can use them on multiple sets of gloves or give a set to a friend. You probably will use two Digits on the glove you use for your electronics. $11.99 a pack at the Quirky website. You should be able to find them for a buck or two cheaper if you do a web search. 

http://www.quirky.com/products/37-Digits-Conductive-Glove-Pins 

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Gadget Warehouse Time! And it's another interesting viewer's video! (Learn how to submit yours at the bottom.)

It's another viewer's warehouse gadget video. It started with this email to us:

Hello Dick and Leo (and producer),  (That would be Jason Howell.)

I have recorded a video presenting my Warehouse gadget: 1980's Fabulous Fred, a 10-in-1 electronic game, from MegoCorp. The link is below. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd-pKoYalCg

Thank you in advance for the time given my proposal.

Best, CIC

Dr. Caroline-Isabelle Caron, Associate Professor

Department of History, Queen's University

Kingston, Ontario  

Want to be a part of The Giz Wiz Show? Then submit your own video! 

Here's what we're looking for:

Your home made Videos -- two to three minutes long - in the 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! Do 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.

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. 

And a new category: My favorite gadget of all time! Show us what it is, tell us what it does and why you love, or loved it!

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. Even welcomed; so our stuff doesn't look too bad by comparison. We've set the bar low. Don't trip over it.

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

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