The Giz Wiz, Week of Nov 20th 2014, Show # 1495

Even more gadgets from Engadget Expand. And these are very different gadgets. Well, at least two of them are!

The 3D Fruit Printer rates as one of the most unusual gadgets I saw at Engadget Expand. Actually it’s the most unusual gadget I’ve seen in a dozen years! Here’s how the company describes it, along with a few comments from me in brackets: Dovetailed has developed a 3D printer that can make edible fruit. (I told you it was unique!) By combining individual liquid droplets with different flavours (they’re English) into a desired shape, it allows the creation of interesting bespoke fruits in a matter of seconds. (When you watch the video, I think you’ll agree ‘in a matter of seconds isn’t exactly right.) It is aimed at chefs, foodies and anyone interested in making creative dining experiences. No specialist knowledge of cuisine is required to rapidly create fresh and organic 3D fruits on demand. The 3D fruit printer was revealed on 24th of May at a Tech Food Hack – an experimental dining hackathon event in Cambridge, UK, where a small group of foodies, hackers and designers came together to re-think and make new dining experiences. The event was co-organised by Dovetailed and Microsoft Research Cambridge. The company hopes their 3D fruit printer will open up new possibilities not only to professional chefs and food companies but also to kitchens in our home – allowing us to enhance and expand our dining experiences. We have re-invented the concept of fresh fruit on demand.” (I don’t even have room for a toaster on my counter, so a 3D fruit printer won’t be for me.) There’s no price yet, or shipping date. 

Company video: http://vimeo.com/96510739 

Company website: http://www.dovetailed.co/ 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1495 

A solution to lost or tangled Apple ear buds.

The folks at MousCase (they don’t use the “e”) say that people hate losing their headphone (or earbuds.) They claim that recent research shows that 79% of us would rather trip in the street in an embarrassing fashion or drop the sandwich filling from our lunch onto a new pair of shoes than lose our headphones. This is just one problem, if you actually have your headphones good luck with keeping them tangle free. MousCase feels that technology is able to bring us slimmer, lighter phones – headphones, unfortunately, the wires still get very tangled.  Fortunately there is hope, in the form of the innovative new start-up, Mous, and their iconic Musicase. The Musicase offers a sleek and original way to store and use your headphones that they claim is as aesthetic as it is practical. It is the super stylish, iconic and user-friendly iPhone case that will stop you from losing or tangling your headphones ever again. I did see them at Engadget Expand and they look and work well. They said they must talk in “pounds” because of Kickstarter rules, but in US funds, the Musicase should cost about $24. It’s available in a variety of color combinations. 

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

www.mous.co  

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1495 

A new, and to me, a strange way to cook.

I never heard of sous-vide cooking until the Engadget Expand event where I saw the Nomiku. Then today (11/20/14) a big article in the New York Times talks about how technology is able to put sous-vide cooking in the reach of the home cook. Seems that sous-vide is the premiere way to cook food in warm water; anything from eggs to steaks and everything in-between. Unlike my idea of sous-vide cooking, which is "boil-in-a-bag," sous-vide cooking still involves a plastic bag. You seal the ingredients in a plastic pouch to make sure there is no air inside. You can use a bag sealer, or just Ziploc-type bags. Food is cooked in constant temperature circulating water for minutes or hours or sometimes days. (Yep, Nomiku cofounder and CEO Lisa Fetterman said ‘days’ in some cases.) The portable Nomiku unit is the size of a hand blender and can work with a large pot or container that you already own. When Sous-vide cooked, the result is said to be the best tasting food ever!  At the show Lisa told me the White House uses her device, as do many top-notch restaurants. She also explained that in the past professional sous-vide cooking units started around $1,500. The Nomiku is making it far less expensive with their device, which will retail for $359. There is a discounted price of $299 available on the company website with shipping in 6 to 8 weeks. (As of 11/20/14). But wait, there’s more! If you can wait until Spring 2015 they’ll be a new wifi version so you’ll be able to download new recipes and perhaps exchange info with other sous-vide chefs. It will also be $299. (My own opinion? I'd opt for that.)

Company video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhpNxIjBtTA&index=5&list=PL_RH8eV0RaE4fzwXm1WJ5UTh78RQdvck_ 

Company website: www.Nomiku.com

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1495 

Chad's Crappy Corner!

The theme for Chad’s gadgets for the month of November is Stocking Stuffers For The Holidays. Chad has two gadgets today. Here said he’ll be doing a more substantial higher priced gadget, and one little cheap gadget. And here they are, expensive one first: 

Dock+ for iPhone 6, 6 Plus, and all Apple Lightning devices. This will be in the Brick House so I won’t see it in person, but here's what their website says about it: Constructed of a single piece of solid steel, Dock+ is different from the rest. Featuring one-handed easy lift-off, a premium powder coated surface finish, and compatibility with almost any case on the market, dock+ is the dock, reinvented. Each Dock+ is made in Boulder Colorado, at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It is the result of a successfully crowd-funding campaign that raised over $100,000 in December of 2012. Price is listed as $90, but it’s sold out for right now. (11/20/14) But you can ask to be notified when it's back in stock. 

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

And Chad’s take?  Chad said the Dock+ is one heavy dock! It weighs about two pounds so there's no fear you'll actually pick it up when you're trying only to take your iPhone off the base. And the cable management system can accommodate an iPhone, even in its case. The downside? The price. $90! Even at that price it's sold out, but you can check the Dock+ website for the latest info on availability. 

Chad’s cheapie item is Macbook Keyboard Super Hero Skin / Vinyl Decals. 

Here’s what Amazon says about them: These are vinyl laminated skins, individually cut for each key. Not to be confused with silicon or rubber skins, although a clear silicone skin / cover will work over top of our skins/ decals. Decals for your Apple Keyboards. Modeled after some of the greatest heroes and villains of all time. Apple Wireless and Macbook keyboard Skin. Fits all Macbook keyboards, with the exception of the Mackbook 11" Air. Does not interfere with the backlit keys that some Macbooks have.  

And Chad’s take? Chad thought these were great fun. I asked if they would come off easily if you changed your mind about liking them, and Chad showed us they're stuck on the keys quite well. The company makes a variety of keyboard stickers, but they're only for MAC computers. Chad liked them and suggested people do a web search for KillerDuckDecals to see all the variations. Chad said the price was good too, under $15 with shipping. NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1495 

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

This week's Gadget Warehouse Viewer Video is from a fan who programmed a $1600 Robot around 1980 to predict winning lottery numbers! Here's his email:

From 1982 through 1990 I owned a computer store in Youngstown, Ohio. We sold a lot of the machines of the time, such as Kaypro, Franklin, and our own PC clones. Our most popular item was the Androbot robot line Which included this talking robot named Topo. This is a news clip from our local TV station, which came to interview me because everybody was looking for a way to use a computer to pick the winning lottery numbers. As the clip says this was the largest lottery jackpot in US history ie around 1980 something.

http://youtu.be/jyoTbM_jaQE

Mark Meszaros

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1495                             

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We’re looking for more Viewer Videos! We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show, so let’s go going!

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.

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 a new gadget you just bought too. 

Post them on YouTube and send our producer, Jeff Needles, 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 

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Letter of the week: 

Hi Dick & Chad!
Last night, while watching Giz Wiz 1494, I plugged my iPhone 5S into my MacBook Pro to sync & charge it. While you were finishing the discussion about the Bloomsky Weather Station, one of you said something that the phone thought was "Hey, Siri!" Of course, Siri started to record everything that you said, in order to understand some kind of request or command. Although my phone's language is US English, it might have been temporarily occupied by one of the authors of those Instruction manuals written in China, because I can't make head or tail of it. I have included a screen shot of Siri 's transcript. Maybe you guys can compare it to the show's transcript so that you can let me know what you were talking about.

Keep up the good work!  Thanks & best regards, Ken Berger Philadelphia, PA