Giz Wiz for Week of October 29, 2013, Netcast 1440

Gadgets I discovered at the PHOTO PLUS EXPO 2013.

Leo has demo’d a couple of quad copters on The Giz Wiz in the past couple of years, but I may have found one he doesn’t know about yet.

The company is Rotor Concept and their newest helicopter is the Discovery. According to Rotor Concept, this quadcopter is 95% assembled, and truly made for the beginners. Watching a mini-demo right inside the Javits Convention Center, I’d say there’s a bit of learning involved in flying this techie device. Here are some more details via the company: The all new Rotor Concept Discovery features the GPS altitude hold system, which allows the quadcopter to have a relative hold and lock on to the correct altitude, position and orientation. This allows it to take off and land steadily and safely, giving you a completely new flight experience. Night flying is now possible w/the built-in navigation light system. The Rotor Concept Discovery also features a GPS Auto Pilot Function, enabling it to return back to its original starting point. This quadcopter also has brand new "One Key to Go Home" technology, making the quadcopter automatically land in the home position by radio switch. It also returns home when the battery is getting weak. Best of all, the flight time of the new Discovery quadcopter is around 15-20 minutes & the flight distance is up to 1/2 mile diameter. The payload is up to one pound and they showed a model holding a SLR camera. Included in the kit is the Discovery quadcopter, a 7 channel, 2.4GHz Spread spectrum controller, 11.1v rechargeable lithium battery pack, li-po balance charger, and 4piece propeller set. The kit sells for $649, but they were selling it for $399.99 at the convention center. So perhaps if you find them a trade show, you can get a similar deal. I don't see it on Amazon.

http://www.rotorconcept.com/Discovery.asp

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1440

Ever hear of a cinemagraph or a "Living Photo"? I didn't until I learned about Flixel.

I don’t normally cover apps. But Flixel is something quite different. I show a demo of it at the Photo Plus Expo and it was really eye catching. Flixel calls them Living Photos. Here’s how it works. Using Flixel you take a very short video and then freeze it. Then you select just a tiny portion of the video that you want to re-animate. For example you shoot a picture in a park where’s there a waving flag. You can freeze all the action in the park, and then running your finger over the flag image, make the flag wave while everything else is motionless. Here’s how the company describes it for commercial use: “Historically, agencies & brands have had two visual media types to choose from: photo & video. Cinemagraphs combine the best of both worlds; the timeless quality of photography, and the captivating aspect of video. Flixel can transform the way brands promote their products through creative storytelling. With Flixel, a hint of motion brings breakfast to life as bacon sizzles away and steam endlessly rises from a cup of coffee.” And now back to me. It’s for the iPad only at this point, with Android in the works. I don’t have an iPad, but Myra does. So she did some playing around with Flixel and said the free app is very limited and offers no instructions what-so-ever. But she figured out how to use it on her own, and I’ve linked to a couple of Living Pictures she was able to create with the free version. I think the candle image she did is great; the candle flickers, but not the reflection. There’s a free version, but the Pro version is only $10.

Here are the links to Myra’s videos: 

First is water being poured into a bowl:

http://flixel.com/flixel/37xmr9a2fzq65l5q60hb/ 

Here's one of a candle. You can see the reflection of the candle is not moving.

http://flixel.com/flixel/cpdtz6eyjqqiy1jsfbc4/ 

Company website: www.flixel.com

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1440

Gary Fong's gadget has a very long life!

A gadget that has a life of more than nine years is pretty amazing. I learned about Gary Fong’s Lightsphere on The Daily Giz Wiz back in August, 2007. (The show was 12 minutes long!) Leo talked about the Gary Fong Lightsphere II. The first Lightsphere debuted in 2004. It’s more than 9 years later and version 5 has just been released.

Since I use a simple point and shoot digital camera, and more often just my Galaxy S4 camera, I’m not set-up to use one of Gary’s Lightsphere devices, but here’s below is info from the Gary Fong website about the latest version. Also at the link below, the 1^st video gives a good demo of how the Lightsphere helps eliminate shadows and gives people a much more natural skin tone, while making the entire shot feel more like it was done in natural light.

The new Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount boasts the newly designed mounting system, which allows photographers to securely attach and switch out modifiers in seconds. Once in place, photographers can rest assured that the Lightsphere® Collapsible™ Speed Mount will stay securely in place, offering an equally tight fit for nearly all flash sizes. Translucent horizontal rings provide soft, even illumination with a minimum loss of power. Folds flat. $64.75. (On sale for $59.95)

Gary shows a demo of the Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount here. It’s the top video:

http://learn.garyfongestore.com/blog/

It’s $59.95 Amazon here:

Gary Fong GFLSC01 LightSphere Collapsible Flash Diffuser

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1440

Here’s a link to the original Daily Giz Wiz Show from August, 2007:

http://www.gizwizsearch.com/episode-377.html

Leo's Crap! (But sometimes it's something good. Occassionally, very good!)

Turns out Leo's gadget is quite a piece of equipment. While we were recording this show Leo looked like he was getting warmer and warmer. I noticed a bit of sweat gathering on his forehead. There had been a bit of secrecy about Leo’s gadget for the day. I suspected he was doing something under his desk, like walking on a treadmill to generate electricity to run his computer. It turned out I (and a few in the chat room) were almost right. Leo was walking on a treadmill since we started recording the show, but not to generate electricity. Leo was on the Lifespan Fitness TR1200-DT5 Treadmill Desk. No one watching, including me, could see below the top of Leo's desk, so we didn't know until the reveal what his gadget was. The Lifespan Fitness Desk TR1200-DT5 is a way to work and exercise at the same time. It can used for folks of different heights and the desk has a manual height adjustment. There’s a lot more info at the company website. JammerB found the Lifespan Fitness TR1200-DT5 desk on Woot at a bargain price for a piece of equipment like this. Instead of $1500, it was priced at $999.00. Thinking a healthy employee is a better employee; Leo bought the desk to demo on the Giz Wiz show, and said that JammerB could take it home to use as a way to lose weight and keep in shape! Now that’s a great boss!

http://www.lifespanfitness.com/workplacesolutions-treadmill-desk-and-bike-desk/tr1200-dt5-treadmill-desk.html

I see it for $1260.00 on Amazon, and it's Amazon Prime, so free shipping for Prime members:

LifeSpan TR800-DT Treadmill Desktop (2013 Model)

(This is a Giz Wiz link. If you decide to buy one, you pay the same price, but Giz Wiz Biz, gets a pittance to buy more stuff for The Giz Wiz. Thank you.)

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1440

Dick's Gadget Warehouse & Another Viewer's Video. Plus how to submit yours!

This viewer video has better production value that anything we’ve shown on the Giz Wiz before. But don’t be discouraged about submitting yours; low quality videos are still accepted. They make our videos look better than they really are.

Video submissions to The Giz Wiz start with an email like this one:

Hi Jason,

I prepared this video about the Brookstone Virtual Keyboard that just hit the market. In a Doctor Who parody, I claim it's from my gadget warehouse from the future.  I think Dick and Leo will get a kick out of it and if you think Leo and Sarah might want to show it on iPad Today, please pass it on. In case they want info on it, I shot it using my iPhone 5 and edited it using iMovie on my Mac Pro. I've been a TWIT fan from the very beginning and have never missed a Giz Wiz, Mac Break Weekly or TWIT episode. Thanks for viewing it.

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WkTUaufgLw&feature=youtu.be

Bruce B. Mittelman

If you’re interested in the keyboard featured in Bruce’s video, it’s here:

http://www.brookstone.com/laser-projection-virtual-keyboard

The Brookstone keyboard looks like an update of the Celluon Magic Cube Laser Projection Keyboard.  That keyboard costs a lot more at about $150-$160 on Amazon. I don't know if they're made by the same company.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1440

We'd love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show.

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! 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.

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 something you just bought too.

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, 4 MAX! Low production value is fine. Even welcomed! That way our stuff doesn't look bad by comparison. We've set the bar low. Don't trip over it.

If we select and show your video on The Giz Wiz you will now be awarded with some sort of prize. It's Leo's way to get rid of somel the crap he shows weekly on The Giz Wiz Show. So that's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video!

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

Letter of the Week:

From: Patrick Piper

Subject: Weird Gadget

Message: Hi Dick. I was browsing Amazon today, saw this, and thought of you. Thanks for the great show.

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Back-Company-10100000003-Buddy/dp/B0006VJ6TO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382212510&sr=8-1&keywords=dildo

You're right, Patrick. That is a weird gadget. I'll show it to Leo on the air and see if he'll bite and buy one to demo on The Giz Wiz! Thanks for sharing.  Dick De