The Giz Wiz Show, Week of October 22nd, 2013, Netcast 1439

LED Light Bulbs, now at a great affordable price!

LED lights are newest, inexpensive way to relight your home. They’re even more efficient that CF (compact florescent) bulbs. The 1^st LED I showed on World News Now about 3 or 4 years ago cost $80! The Cree 40-watt LED bulb is the 1^st LED bulb that sells for under $10! The 60-watt LED Cree bulb is under $13. These bulbs look and light like incandescent bulbs but use at least 84% less energy. And they’re dimmable, unlike most CF bulbs. Delivering up to 25,000 hours of light, they’re a really easy fix-up for your home. Another bit of good news, they don’t contain Mercury, which is found in CF bulbs. Cree LED bulbs are a Home Depot exclusive. When you get to their website page scroll down for individual bulbs. The prices you see near the top of the page are for case lots.

http://www.homedepot.com/s/cree+led+light+bulbs?NCNI-5

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1439

Open a door, even if your hands are full.

Here’s an easy way to update your doorknob and add convenience at the same time. Brink's Home Security PUSH PULL ROTATE Knobs and Levers are a new, novel way to open a door. Use a finger, an elbow, or your hip, to push or pull your door open. It’s great if you have your hands full. Loaded down with laundry...use your hip. Coming in from the backyard BBQ with a tray of food...just pull with your finger. PUSH PULL ROTATE locks feature classic architectural styling with no visible screws. I installed one in about 30 minutes. The kit comes with larger roses (that round thing) to cover blemishes left on the door by an old lock. They’re available in four finishes, for interior or exterior doors. The exterior version comes with lock and keys. They’re available online and at Lowe’s stores starting at about $25.

http://www.brinksppr.com/

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1439

Giz Wiz Video of the Week - It's coming next year: A Do-It-Yourself Security Check In.

I went to a preview of a new mega-gadget, the Qylatron. This is a gadget you won’t be buying, but you may be using next year. Qylur is the company that builds these self-service, automated multi-threat checkpoints for mass public venues. Their Qylatron is the first fully integrated security screening system that uses sensor-based fusion technology to power the fast, safe and reliable screening solutions. I saw in action, and even tried using it twice. It is user-friendly and once in distribution should help eliminate long lines and other inconveniences associated with current screening. It’s designed for large venues like stadiums, amusement parks, mass-transit facilities, and airports. It’s already had successful trials at venues like The Statue of Liberty, an International airport and a major sports stadium. The company says their industry-first Qylatron can scan guest IDs and screen bags five times faster, detects multiple security threats, reduces security costs with up to 50-percent less staffing, while improving the customer experience. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently granted Qylur its Support Anti-Terrorist by Fostering Technologies (SAFETY) Act designation, paving the way for commercial deployments of the Qylatron, the first of which is expected in early 2014. Visit their website for more info:

www.qylur.com

Giz Wiz Qylatron video: http://youtu.be/vZPdy2peFuQ

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1439

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

Leo’s Gadget of the Week is once again, a one-of-a-kind gadget. Back in the 1960’s Leo worked at KKSF radio. They played rock and roll music there, and the studio had an off-beat “on the air” sign. It actually read: “Right On The Air”. Leo loved that sign and when he left the station, he was able to take it with him. But the sign just sat on his desk. He wished it would light up when he was on the air the way it would in a working radio studio. While Leo was away JammerB (John Slanina) make Leo’s wish come true. John had a special box made for the sign by Tap Plastics and he wired the sign with modern LED’s. So now when Leo turns on his microphone, his “Right On The Air” sign will go on too! Leo’s a happy camper.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1439

Back to Dick's Gadget Warehouse! With another viewer video & how to sumbit your video!

Getting your video on the show starts with a letter and a link, like this one. (All the details are below the letter.)

Dear Dick, Leo (and, of course, Jason and whatever intern is vetting this),

I am a coffee geek. Wait—make that Coffee Geek (like Leo's buddy Mark Prince), and, in all the world of gadgets, I love coffee gadgets above almost all others. I have two home coffee roasters, three brewers, multiple drip systems, a French Press, an Aeropress, three espresso machines, all vintage, a half-dozen vintage hand grinders, a commercial espresso grinder and a commercial dosing grinder for my drip coffee makers, even a percolator. Don't even get me started on cups and the like. Needless to say, I like coffee a whole bunch.

Above all other coffee gadgets, I especially love manual lever espresso machines and the aesthetic satisfaction of making the entire shot by hand. So, I though I'd share a video of my favorite gadget (well, one of my favorite gadgets, as I'd hate to insult the others). It ain't Tonx, but it's tasty.

http://vimeo.com/76016144

Thanks for the years of absurdity and gadget lust, so frequently piled one atop the other.

George Van Wagner (aka GVDub on virtually ever coffee forum known to man)

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1439

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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. 

REMEMBER! 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 some of the crap he’s collected. So there's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video!

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv

Letter of week:

From: Byron S.

Subject: PRODUCTS: Ostrich Pillow Light :)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ostrich-pillow/ostrich-pillow-light

At least it looks a little better, just a little, better than the original one.

Byron