The Giz Wiz for the week of October 9th, 2012, Netcast 1385

Turn your smart phone into a full-featured Radar Detector.

Cobra Electronics introduced their new iRadar 200 at the CTIA Wireless 2012 trade show. This is an updated version of their popular iRadar 100. The new device is designed to detect all models of radar and laser guns on the market, although you can pick and choose if you like. All iRadar app versions are supported, including those with iRadar Community. This allows users to share alerts with one another in real time. The iRadar 200 can be paired with either the iPhone or most new Android smartphones. The previous models were platform specific. They’re still available and about $40 cheaper. The iRadar 200 works hand-in-hand with your iPhone, iPod Touch, or Android device to become a full-feature radar detector. If you do not have a compatible phone, you can still use the iRadar 200 as a standalone detector, but you’ll miss out on a lot of the important features. The unit itself is about the size of a pack of playing cards. It’s sleek black, with almost no noticeable switches or lights. After you download the free app, there’s a switch on the side of the unit for iOS or Android operation. When you set up the unit you choose between city and highway modes to help filter false alerts. One thing that doesn’t come with the iRadar 200 is a car! Those who know me, know I have never owned a car. (I have owned 26 boats, though!) But I figured I’d try this device anyway. It was easy to pair with both my iPod Touch and my Galaxy 3 via Bluetooth. A red LED on the iRadar 200 turns blue and sounds a chime to tell you they’re paired. No pass code was need. Once paired with my phone I had a local map (via my phone’s GPS), a car battery voltmeter, speedometer and a list of driving hazards. I used a 12-volt converter to power up the iRadar 200 in my apartment, but I was to see there were traffic cameras at two major intersections near me. The iRadar 200 comes with a suction cup windshield mount and an 12 volt cable that has a USB port so you can power and charge your smart phone as you drive. Cobra says the iRadar 200 app gives you access to speed and red light camera location alerts. These locations are 100% verified and updated daily through Cobra’s exclusive AURA Camera & Driving Hazard Database. The display shows the type of alert and the strength of the alert in proximity to you. You can operate it in Dashboard mode or Map View. If you like, you can keep a history of your alerts on your smart phone and display them on a map. On Amazon, the iRadar 100 is about $85 and the new iRadar 200 is selling for it MSRP of $129.95. Once it’s in the marketplace for a while, I expect discounts will be available. 

More info and phone compatibility is the company website: 

https://www.cobra.com/detail/cobra-iradar-smart-detection-for-iphone-and-android-devices.cfm 

It’s available on Amazon here: I haven’t shopped at this link: 

http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-IRAD200-Detection-Android-Devices/dp/B008CXYPE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1349747254&sr=1-1&keywords=iradar+200 

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Samsung Invents A New Category of Electronics.

So you probably know about the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S3, but it’s possible you don’t know about the Galaxy Camera! Yes, AT&T will be the first to launch this new electronic category from Samsung. I got to see this new device at an ATT preview event early in October. The Samsung Galaxy Camera combines a high performance point and shoot camera with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. On one device you have your camera and access to all of your favorite Android applications from the Google Play market via ATT’s 4G service. You can shoot, edit and share your photos and video easily and quickly without connecting to a laptop or PC. The Galaxy Camera features a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD screen, boasts a 21x optical zoom lens and a super-bright 16MP BSI CMOS sensor for shooting in low light conditions. This device is powered by a quad-core 1 GHz processor. If you have other Samsung equipment, you can share images and videos between a Galaxy Camera and a range of Galaxy devices including the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II and Samsung HDTVs, laptops and other devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Automatically send still images taken with the Galaxy Camera to other Galaxy S III, and Galaxy Note devices up to 200 feet away. It also instantly and automatically tags faces of existing device contacts in photos making it easy to share with them. Pricing for the Galaxy Camera will be announced when it goes on sale in the coming weeks. For more information on AT&T, please visit

www.att.com   

Info on the Galaxy Camera:

http://www.samsung.com/in/promotions/galaxycamera/

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ZAGG Introduces New Lineup of ZAGGsparq Portable Batteries

ZAGG makes a lot of neat products: cases, keyboards, protective screens and portable battery devices. They just released a new line of portable batteries for gadget lovers on the go. There are three sizes and charging options, the ZAGGsparq 1220, ZAGGsparq 3100, and ZAGGsparq 6000. The model numbers match the mAh per unit. ZAGG says their new ZAGGsparq portable batteries will charge any device that utilizes a USB, including smartphones and tablets. A nice feature of these devices is built-in AC prongs. This allows the device to double as a wall charger, eliminating the need for an extra power adapter. All three new models contain Lithium Polymer batteries and are made out of polycarbonate to protect the device from wear and tear. I have the ZAGGsparq 3100 and unfortunately I couldn’t get it to fully recharge my Galaxy Note 10.1. I don’t have an iPad, so I couldn’t try it on that. But I did find my old Droid2 smart phone that has been sitting in a drawer for months. The battery was dead, dead, dead. The ZAGGsparq quickly brought that back to life. So I’m not sure it’s something wrong with my ZAGG unit, or that the Galaxy 10.1 needs more charging power. Here are the MSRP. ZAGGsparq 1220, $39.99, provides supporting power for mobile devices utilizing its 1200mAh, 1A power source. ZAGGsparq 3100, $69.99, is designed to provide two recharges for mobile devices through its 3100mAh battery. ZAGGsparq 6000, $99.99, a heavy-duty portable power station that provides up to four recharges for a mobile device using a 6000mAh battery. It also maintains two USB ports for charging multiple mobile phones or a phone and a tablet. Zagg adds: The ZAGGsparq 3100 and 6000 feature the company's Hypercharge Technology, a proprietary technology that enables a mobile device to receive a full charge up to four times faster than when utilizing a standard USB charger. Discounts should be available when they units are fully in the marketplace but right now they seem to be selling for the full price.

www.ZAGG.com. I only see the 1220 ZAGGsparq on Amazon now and it’s at the full list price of $39.95. I have not shopped here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0084DVCNE/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_prime_new?ie=UTF8&colid=&coliid=&condition=new&me=&qid=&seller=&shipPromoFilter=1&sort=sip&sr=

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Leo's "Crap From The Sky Mall Catalog!" Pick Of The Week!

It’s a double header today! Two pieces of crap – or maybe not. It’s up to you to decide.

First, from Sky Mall comes the Tie Die Union Suit! Here’s their description:  

The suit design dates from the Revolutionary war. The tie-die gives it a counterrevolutionary edge. So comfy and soft, plus you get to enjoy its flower child warmth under any outfit. Ten-button front for easy on/off; ribbed cuffs and ankles. 90/10 cotton blend. 

Leo loved this, because it seems he was hard pressed to take it off. And I asked Leo, and yes it does have a back opening secured with a button. It’s kind of pricey at $49.95.

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=204139967&c=

 Leo’s second gadget came from Brickhouse Security – no relation to the Brick TWiT House! It’s the peephole camera. Here’s the Brickhouse description:

Make Sure Your Tenants Are Safe. If you're worried about vandalism or theft in your building, the solution could be as simple as recording video from your front door. Simply replace your current peephole with this camera, and always have a record of what's going on outside your door. No visible wires from the door's exterior, so the camera won't look suspicious. Records video in high and low light situations. Wide-angle lens makes it easy to capture footage of a corridor. On the inside of the door, connect this full-color, wide-angle camera to a DVR or TV and see exactly what's going on outside. No one on the outside will suspect that your peephole is different than any other standard peepholes because there are no wires showing on the outside. $89.95.

Leo’s take. The camera is pretty good, but beware. You get just the camera with no power supply! Burke at the Brickhouse was able to come with a 12 volt power supply, but the average customer may fit that a bit difficult. And you need to hook it up to your own recording device. So there are no wires on the front of the door, but there may be a lot of wires on the back of your door! And it doesn't stick out the front of door beyond a normal peephole, but there's about 3" that hangs out the back. So the choice may depend on how handy you are.

For some reason Brickhouse Security has asked us to remove their link on 10/22/2014.

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Vote on what Leo should order next!

Back to Dick's Gadget Warehouse!

The history of MAC mice as they hang by their tails, via Michael RichardsonYea! Another viewer's warehouse video. Just like the Giz Wiz, lots of people can't part with their old tech. Here's the email I received:

Hello Dick and Leo:

I've been using, selling, supporting and servicing Macintoshes since they were first introduced in 1984 (and before that, it was Apple II and Commodore 64s). For the past 14 years, I've been supporting Macs and PCs as a Faculty/Staff Support Specialist at Williams College in Western Massachusetts.

As you know, it's often hard to just get rid of pieces technology for historical and/or sentimental reasons. I've put a little video together to offer a few suggestions about what to do with outdated tech. 

Please note: I purposefully fumbled a bit on some of the words, in hopes of making it a perfect addition to "One Take Theater". :-)

Michael Richardson

Faculty/Staff Support Specialist

Williams College

-

The streaming webcam site is http://wozcam.org

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We'd like YOU to be part of the new Giz Wiz Show too!

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