The Giz Wiz for the week of October 30th, 2012, Show 1388

It's not a new gadget, it's something I talked about a few months ago, the amazing Pivothead Glasses!

I'm talking about them again, not only because I found a great new use for them, but because of how impressed I am with the results. Hurricane Sandy really whipped up the Hudson River. I wanted to shoot some video of the marina and my boat during the storm, but I didn't want to carry a lot of equipment. I remembered my Pivothead Glasses. I charged them up and headed down to the marina. They made shooting storm video a breeze. You can judge the results for yourself at the YouTube Link below. Here's a shot of the marina right after the storm:

GIZ WIZ PIVOTHEAD VIDEO: http://youtu.be/nC7OlMlWNFI

More Storm Photos: http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/dicks-blog-log/

And here's more info about the Pivothead Glasses:

http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/daily_giz_wiz_gadgets/2012/7/14/video-of-the-week-pivothead-hd-pov-video-recording-glasses.html

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/dgw1388

A new webcam system from Hovercam.

Hovercam’s Neo3 is a very unique webcam system. It not only lets you shoot close-ups of documents and objects, but it includes a second video camera.  This two camera system lets you do web or projector presentations showing your charts, visuals, etc. – while showing your face in any corner of the screen. I’m going to use the main Neo3 camera to do close-ups of gadgets I talk about, while using the second video camera to show my studio guests. A nice thing about the Neo3 is it’s small footprint. It was easy to set up. Just plug in the HoverCam Neo3 document camera and connect the USB cable to the computer. You can also use the VGA cable to connect to a projector. Then you’re ready to show your presentation. If you’re using a projector, you don’t even need the PC. You can use the built in annotation tools to draw or write notes on your presentation as you talk. The Neo 3's fully adjustable second camera displays the presenter and materials at the same time. And the price is right! $299. There are models under $200 if you do a web search ($219 MSRP) if you don’t need the second camera setup.

http://www.thehovercam.com/products/neo3

The Neo3 is sold on Amazon here. I haven't shopped here: 

http://www.amazon.com/HoverCam-Neo3/dp/B0083A1ULC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1351906048&sr=1-1&keywords=Neo3+Hovercam 

 

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1388

The Video of the Week -- From a viewer who says: "I Invented This!"

We like to show a "Viewer Video Of The Week" every week on the Giz Wiz. You can read how to submit yours below.

In the meantime here's the "I Invented This" video from Giz Wiz fan Jessie Dasher.  His invention is the Adjustable standing desk. Jessie says: "I designed and built this desk. It is 78" by 30" and can lower to about 25". It can adjust from sitting height to my standing height in 13 seconds. I also put it on wheels to make it easy to move. And it only cost $375 to build."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKFK1IpeeOI&feature=g-upl

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1388

What to be a part of The Giz Wiz show with your own video? Of course you do! 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. 

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

What is Leo's Lastest Crap from Sky Mall!

This week Leo unpacked his SomaWave Helmet, the device that won the “What New Crap From Sky Mall Buy Next?” poll. What did he think of it? First let’s see the Sky Mall description:

Melt away stress and tension. Enter a state of euphoria. It's like having thousands of tiny fingers stimulate your scalp! Vibration includes neck and back of head! Disconnect from the world you know. Release stress and tension from your every-day life. Euphoria is only moments away. Slip on our state of the art, scientifically designed SomaWave Helmet and feel your stress dissolve into the ultimate relaxation experience. Take the SomaWave Helmet anywhere you go. Use it at your desk, on your commute, or the while you relax in front of TV. It's easy to use and portable with a built in rechargeable battery. Caution: Do not wear while operating heavy machinery. The SomaWave Helmet's euphoria inducing waves may produce sleep or trance-like states of consciousness. Measures: 10"x 6.5"x 7". Uses: A/C adapter (included) or 3 AAA batteries, not included. $79.95

Leo’s reaction? You can use rechargeable batteries, but they aren’t included even though the description says “built in rechargeable battery”.  As put it on he said: “Ouch” several times, not a good sign. He turned the vibration level all the way up and said it made him feel like he was going to heave! He thought it was pretty awful, so asked Lisa to try it. Lisa’s first reaction: “Ouch”, this hurts, just putting it on. Lisa left it on for less than a minute and said it also made her feel sick. Leo pronounced the SomaWave a firm “Don’t Buy!”

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=102132455&c=

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And now it's time to vote on what crap Leo should buy next!

It's time to find something way, way old in Dick's Gadget Warehouse!

Due to hurricane Sandy, Dick's Gadget Warehouse is closed. So I hunted around Gizneyland to find something to show. I found something really neat, the Timex Data-Link 150 Watch! I did a quick web check and realized I talked about this watch more than six years ago, on Friday, March 17, 2006. It was Daily Giz Wiz number 20 and the show's length was listed as "About 11 minutes." OMG, we sure talk a lot more now!

The neat thing about my find is that my watch is in the original box! Here's some info on the watch via Wikipedia:  Timex Datalink or Timex Data Link was a line of early smart watches manufactured by Timex. As the name implies datalink watches are capable of data transfer through linking with a computer. The Datalink line was introduced in 1994 and it was co-developed with Microsoft. The early models included models 50, 70, 150 and model 150s (small size). The model numbers indicated the approximate number of phone numbers that could be stored in the watch memory. These early models were, at the time of their introduction, the only watches to bear the Microsoft logo. The watches have been certified by NASA for space travel and have been used by astronauts and cosmonauts in space missions. There had been an evolution over the years as to the number and type of entries that can be stored in the various watch models as well as the mode of data transfer between computer and watch.

And from a seller who has one for sale for $180! Send important information from your personal computer to the award-winning Timex Data Link® watch ...without wires or cables. In seconds, you can send up 70 entries in the first release and then 150 entries in the second release from the Timex and Microsoft-developed software that's included. The watch sensor reads flashing bars of light on the monitor... that's the data. The Timex Data Link watch is also a full-function timepiece. It's water-resistant to 100 feet, comes equipped with a three-year battery and popular Timex Indiglo night-light. Access information on your wrist. And all for about $180.00. By the way even though you could send up to 150 items of data to the watch from your computer, they were limited to 40 characters each!  

Here's one on Ebay in box for just $159.95.  Heck, I'll sell mine for less than that!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&item=251154087779&_osacat=0&_ssn=twinboom781&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l2632&_nkw=timex+data+link&_sacat=14324&_from=R40

 See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/giz1388