The Giz Wiz for the week of October 23rd, 2012, Show 1387

HURRICANE SANDY IS UPON NYC -- People have been asking about my 25' work boat. It's bouncing around a lot, but doing okay. I have a Dropcam aboard shooting through the front windshield. It's been going on and off, but as I'm posting this it's on. If you get seasick easily, don't follow the link!

https://www.dropcam.com/p/xsIXNn

The Audio 'Costume' from ThinkGeek!

ThinkGeek calls their new Mega Stomp Panic an audio reality costume. And what exactly is an audio reality costume? Here’s how Think Geek explains it. “Traditional costumes are a disguise based upon VISUAL appearance. In a traditional costume you take the way you look regularly and cover it up with clothing, masks and makeup. The Mega Stomp Panic creates a costume using SOUND only. The sounds from the Mega Stomp are synchronized to your steps and stomps, giving the illusion that you are generating them yourself.” Now there’s an excellent chance people won’t really think you’re generating the sounds yourself, but using some clever electronic device. And that’s what Mega Stomp Panic is. Here’s how it works. Clip the control box/amp/speaker to a side pocket. Clip the mini control to your belt buckle area. Then walk. I found the sounds work better, and you look better, when you take exaggerated steps. With every step or stomp, the mega stomp senses your movement and plays the sound effect you've choosen to complete the audio illusion. You can sound like a robot, a zombie, a monster, or even a person walking and splashing in the rain. What makes the Mega Stomp Panic do that? A solid-state accelerometer senses the vertical movement of your body every time you take a step. If your body moves more, it assumes you have stomped and generates the sound you selected. There are nine sound banks effects including: Hydraulic Robot (robot walking, crushing things), Rainstorm (walking in puddles, splashing in puddles), Zombie Attack (squishy walk, dragging a dead limb, zombie attack RAWR!), Gigantic Monster (city-squishing monster walk, crushing buildings),   Gunslinger (walking with boots & spurs, shotgun pump & fire), Medieval Knight (walking in plate armor, swords clanging), Pegleg Pirate (every other foot is your peg leg!, pistol firing, swords clanging), 8-Bit Gaming Hero (video game walk, coin collecting, pew pew!), Steampunk Giant Robot (hydraulic robot walking, steam, crushing things). You can cover the Mega Stomp Panic electronics with a costume, but I like the look of high-tech dark blue LED lights on both units a lot. Think Geek warns that if you want one for Halloween, order right away. The first shipment is just arriving at the warehouse and they’ll be in short supply at first. $39.99.

 http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ef56/#tabs

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Two Doggie Gadgets from The NY Pet Expo

Dogs should have their own point of view!

Dogs are curious, they want to know what's happening out there! The PetPeek window can easily make that possible.  Yep, dogs, like people, love to see what’s on the other side of the fence. In my backyard, Fairway likes to peek through the pickets on the fence to see what the neighbors are doing. It certainly can't be much of view since the pickets are pretty close together. But now there’s a device that makes it real easy for your hound to see if the grass is greener, or what’s going on – on the other side of the fence. The PetPeek window is a durable, clear, hard acrylic dome 9.5 inches in diameter, with a black trim-ring and all necessary hardware for easy do-it-yourself installation into your wooden or vinyl fence. It is an attractive addition to your fence.$34.98, plus S&H. But there’s free standard shipping if you order 2 PetPeeks. Maybe you can offer your pooch two different views, or if you have two dogs, they can each have their own PetPeek. . (US Shipping only.)

www.petpeek.info

Giz Wiz & the PetPeek on YouTube: 

http://youtu.be/EaYr1Ii3sSU

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BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! A treadmill for your hound dog!

The Minipacer dog treadmill has been engineered with the smaller dog and smaller spaces in mind. It’s small, but rugged. It’s built from carbon steel and can support dogs up to 55lbs. The Minipacer is completely portable and can make indoor exercise a breeze. I asked how easy it was to train a dog to use the Minipacer and David Ezra, who works for the company said: “Let’s find a dog and I’ll show you.” He stopped a lady walking by with a cute Papillion (the little dog with the large ears) and asked permission to teach her how to use a treadmill. With just a little coxing and a few snacks, the Papillion got the idea in just a couple of minutes! (There’s some video at the link below.) Among the benefits the company lists are: No weather concerns. Every day is a perfect day for exercise when you are indoors. Can help prevent obesity. A consistent regime of exercise and diet will lead to a healthier, happier and longer life for your dog. They also point out that as your dog ages, exercise can help reduce vet future bills. And no matter how sensitive you or your dog is to pollution, pollen and weed allergen, your dog can still get his/her needed exercise at home. Finally, it can reduce worries about walking your dog at dawn or late at night or on a busy street. Dogpacer says exercising your dog indoors can eliminate many problems, but don’t forget they also like to interact with other pets, so make sure you and your pet get plenty of outdoor quality time too. Dimensions: Long 42”, Wide 21.5”, high 28.5”. Running degree of angle - 4.5, weight: 48.4 Lbs. Good for pets up to 55 lbs. Speed: from 0.5 to 7.5 mph (0.1 increments). 110v AC. $479.00. Dogpacer also makes a larger model for dogs up to 179 pounds for $20 more.

www.dogpacer.com

A dog tries the DogPacer for the 1st time! http://youtu.be/LqnNtyx7i2E

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1387  

AnimAlarm - temperature protection for dogs in cars!

If you’re traveling anywhere with your dog in a car, camper or RV, you have to watch the temperature carefully if they leave them inside your vehicle. The inventor of the AnimAlarm, Victoria Davidson (from the UK), told me that temperatures in cars shoot up really fast in the sunlight – faster than most dog owners realize.(See the fact below.) AnimAlarm will alert you via text message to high and low temperatures that could drastically affect the well-being (and even the life) of your dog. AnimAlarm works on the mobile phone network, so you have to be sure both the AnimAlarm and your mobile phone have a signal to receive text alerts. If they are, there’s no limit on where you can be in order to receive an alert. But keep in mind, you’ll need someone close by to attend to an emergency with your pet in temperature extremes. AnimAlarm works on the GSM network. (Not 3G.) So you will need a SIM card, either pre-paid, or a contract one. I got to play with a unit, and it’s pretty easy to setup. When it sends you the temperature where the main unit is located, it also sends the amount of battery charge. That way you’ll know when it time to recharge. Right now AnimAlarm is only available via the web. It retails for $179.00 and you provide your own sim card. You can order one through the company too. And you “meet” Victoria Davidson via my YouTube video, where I talked to her at the NY Pet Expo.  Company website:

www.animalarm.co.uk  

It's $7 cheaper in the US here at Pet Gadgets: AnimAlarm

My chat with Victoria: http://youtu.be/_p-aWqH6Zic

Facts About Dogs and Hot & Cold Cars from AnimAlarm.

Most people do not realize how hot it can get in a parked car. Research shows that the traditional remedies of leaving windows partially open or cranking up the air-conditioning before parking have very little effect on the interior temperature profile of the vehicle once stationary. With an external temperature of 25°C (77°F), the internal temperature of a car parked in the shade can exceed a fatal 33°C (91°F) and hit a horrendous 60°C (140°F) if left in full sunlight in a very short space of time. These temperature changes happen very quickly - typically 50% of the temperature increase occurs in the first twenty minutes after parking. So this can mean when it is a temperate 18°C (64°F) outside, in your car it can reach 34°C (93°F) in 20 minutes and a staggering 50°C (122°F) in a matter of an hour.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1387  

Leo's Check's Out This Week's "Crap From The Sky Mall Catalog" Winner.

This week The Giz Wiz audience voted on the iPhone Helicopter from Sky Mall. So Leo bought one. Actually, he thinks he accidentally type in wrong number because ten of them showed up at the Brick TWiT House! What does Leo think of them? First, here’s the Sky Mall description.

It's up, up and away with commands from your Apple device. 20-foot flying range!

The iPhone Controlled Helicopter is now one of the most popular toys of all time! Use your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to control a modern, fast, and stable helicopter. Download the free app and control the chopper using the intuitive buttons or simply tilt your device and the helicopter will follow your commands! Includes two extra rotors and tail rotors and USB charger. 9"H x 6"W x 3-1/4"D. $39.95

Leo opened one of the iPhone Helicopters and tried to charge it. The charge lights didn’t do what the instructions said they were supposed to do. That’s when he found a sheet in the box which said the instruction book was wrong, and THESE were the correct instructions. So Leo started charging the helicopter the right way and opened a second helicopter to take out the charger so he could also charge the controller at the same time. If you buy one of these you'll have to use the one charger included to charge each unit separately. (No big deal.) Once everything was charged Leo let it fly! At first it seemed to crash everywhere – without breaking – so it’s pretty rugged. Then OMGChad told Leo the ‘copter used infrared technology and was a ‘line-of-sight’ flyer. Leo’s later flights were much more controlled. Actually Leo kept flying the iPhone helicopter again and again - with rousing music dropped in by producer, Jason Howell! Leo said he liked the helicopter a lot! Folks in the chat room said that people should do a web search if they want to buy one, because you can find the same iPhone Helicopter on other websites for a lot less than $39.95. For some reason Leo thinks he paid only about $20, but the Sky Mall page does show $39.95.

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=204440913&c=

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1387  

Dick's Gadget Warehouse!

This week’s warehouse gadget is another “Viewer Video of the Week!” 

Learn how to submit your own video at the bottom of this column.

And now -- My own Gadget Warehouse gadget via Lance Seidman. He posted his YouTube video about something he's held on to for many, many years -- his Walkman with FM radio attachment! What will they think of next? Well, back in the 1970's this little add-on gadget was quite amazing. I had one too. I bet I still have one, lost in the bowels Dick's ----- gadget ----- warehouse!

http://youtu.be/MbRCD073FOM

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

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1387