The Giz Wiz Show for October 8th, 2013 Netcast 1437

Welcome to the ShutterBall.

Maybe it’s my big fingers; maybe I’m a klutz, or maybe snapping pictures with a smart phone isn’t all that easy. Pressing the shutter often tends to make the camera shake, resulting in a nice blurry photo. Or if you’re trying to do a selfie, you hold your phone at a weird angle, press the shutter and get a nice picture of the wall instead. Another problem is when you hand the camera to someone else to take a picture. They hold it and accidentally push a button that takes your phone out of camera mode. Well that strange looking gadget in the photo, (which would have made a great ‘What The Heck Is It?’ game gadget) can help you take great photos by avoiding all those pitfalls. It’s called the ShutterBall from Audiovox and it’s a remote Bluetooth shutter for Android and iOS smartphones. It’s a breeze to set up. Just download the correct app for your iOS device from iTunes or from Google Play for Android devices. Turn on your Bluetooth and tap the button on the ShutterBall to pair it. Now you’re free to snap a picture up to 60 feet away from your phone. Of course, I assume you’ll want to be a lot closer to your phone unless of course, you’re a spy. You snap a picture by pressing the single button on the handheld ShutterBall. The button glows for a split second to show you’ve tripped the shutter. If you put your camera phone into video mode, then tap the ShutterBall once to start video recording, and once again to stop it. But wait, there’s more! There’s even a little folding clear plastic easel/stand for your smartphone in the box. That saves you from having to figure out how to prop up your smartphone with things around the house. Audiovox says the Shutterball will work with the iPhone 5, 4, 4S, iPad Mini, iPod Touch 5th Gen, and the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and Note. I’m using mine with Galaxy S4. This clever gadget is not only good for a self-portrait, but it’s good for group photos you want to be in, or for getting a shot of the kids or pets without standing there to distract them. An installed 2032 cell battery powers it, and is replaceable. However Audiovox said the battery already in the unit should last up to five years. Shutterball comes in blue, pink, green and black. $24.99. It should be available by the time you read this.

http://www.myshutterball.com/

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1437 

Giz Wiz Video Of The Week: TV Glasses!

I’m not sure they’re exactly the same, but those “As seen on TV Glasses” are also available on Amazon where they’re called Prism Glasses or Bed Prism Spectacles. Basically, they’re all optical glasses that allow you to read in bed or watch TV while lying flat on your back. They could also be helpful for people with limited mobility. Using prism glasses can help prevent neck cramps or eye strain from trying to read or watch TV in strange and awkward positions. The Prism Glasses turn your view downward at a 90-degree angle, which eliminates the need for head movement. Lie on your back or with your head on a pillow, and you'll be able to read a book resting on your chest. The “As seen on TV” version is $10.00 plus $6.99. You can get a second pair “free” by paying another $6.99 Shipping & Handling. So one pair is $16.99 and two pair is $23.98, so the two-pear deal makes them more like $12.00 a pair.

Here’s the As Seen on TV website. I’m not sure the ones I bought are exactly the same, but they do the same thing:  http://www.gettvglasses.com/

Giz Wiz Video Demo: http://youtu.be/CNGdWUwxFx8

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1437 

Turns out I was not so smart when I bought Zmart.

The press release made this device that turns a smart phone into a universal remote control sound amazing! Here’s a bit of it: “Ever dream of controlling everything in your home with one single remote? Zmart Remote is the first and only remote APP that works on both Apple iOS and Android phones. This powerful universal remote controls everything in the home including, CD Players, Blu-rays, stereo equipment, projectors, even the coffee maker, from the convenience of your Apple or Android phone. Zmart impressively controls a combination of 200,000 devices and covers 95% of brands in the market with a built-in learn command, making it the most powerful universal remote in the world. Suggested retail of Zmart Remote is $19.99. So Zmart!” And now back to me. I received an email offer to buy the Zmart Remote for $10, so I bought it. When it arrived, I activated it with the provided code as instructed and excitedly start to set it up. After 20 minutes of the app freezing and crashing, I get the Zmart Remote to only control the “up channel” button on my Time Warner Motorola cable box! Then it generates a complete remote on my Galaxy phone screen – one that does not control anything on my cable box. But wait, there’s more (bad news)! The remote it generated is not entirely displayed on the large screen of my Galaxy S4. That means you have to scroll up and down to access the different buttons. And if that isn’t bad enough, there are ads! Ads that block the lowest set of buttons that appear on the screen! So even if the remote it generated worked, it would be hassle to use. I discovered there’s a newer app called Zmart RemotePro. Maybe it’s better. So I downloaded it and after entering all the codes and info, it crashed. It crashed four times in a row. So my Zmart is going directly into the Zgadget Warehouse. I see now why the app is so badly rated and why the reviews are Amazon call it junk and useless! Wish I had read them before I bought mine.

www.myzmartproducts.com

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1437 

Leo's back from his three week vacation! Hope he found some crap somewhere for this week's show!

It turns out there were a lot of packages waiting for Leo when he returned from his 3 week trip. One of them was the Alpha, the newest pocket-laden jacket from ScottEVest. Leo showed us two huge pockets accessible from the front that can store a full sized yellow pad, or better yet, an iPad. I don’t own an Alpha jacket, but here’s info from the company website:

The Alpha is not just a great looking jacket designed in collaboration with #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author, Brad Thor... and it's not just the latest concealed carry jacket from SCOTTEVEST. The Alpha is much, much more. Anyone can make a "tactical" jacket that looks tactical. The real finesse comes when a jacket helps you blend into a crowd. After all, when it comes to concealed carry garments, it's not concealed if they know you are carrying it (whatever "it" you choose to carry). This is the philosophy behind the espionage concept of a Gray Man... someone who is eminently capable, but from all outward appearances is just another person going about their business. As Sun Tzu wrote, "All war is deception." The Brad Thor Alpha Jacket by SCOTTEVEST is the most deceptively capable concealed carry jacket the world has ever seen. $200. 

http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Alpha_Jacket.shtml 

Leo says he loves very high end knifes for cutting and cooking. And to prove it, he pledged $599 to the Vmattter Cutlery project on Indiegogo! Here’s some more info on the amorphous ally knife system from the company:

We have been forced to buy and use knives that are sharp when new, but which become dull in a matter of months--even when they have not been used.  Over time, knives microscopically corrode, dulling the edge, and there has been no alternative. Until now. VMatter Cutlery is introducing the first amorphous alloy blade to the knife market. James Kang, VMatter's CEO, has been working toward bringing VMatter (amorphous alloy) to the world since he first experienced it in a lab at Caltech over twenty years ago. However, when one of his employees told him that the knife he had fashioned out of VMatter five years prior had never gotten dull, James thought about the properties of VMatter that made this possible, and the idea for VMatter cutlery was born.

This is a photo of the actual VMatter knife that was used on a daily basis for more than five years, never losing its edge, corrosion free, and virtually no wear. Our Lifetime sharpness guarantee is made possible by VMatter’s building blocks of strength, 2 ½ times stronger and nearly 3 ½ times more elastic than steel, and guaranteed to be corrosion proof. 

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vmatter-cutlery-kitchen-knives

And that classy bathroom stand that holds a roll of toilet paper, and features a gooseneck iPad holder that was under Leo’s desk when he got back from his trip? That’s from BH Photo. It's about $40. Remember, iPad not included. Here's the link: 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=CTA+ipad+toilet+paper+holder&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1437 

Dick's Gadget Warehouse: Another viewer's video and how to submit yours!

Here’s a typical video submission and how to submit yours is below that. 

Greetings Dick and Leo, 

I designed and built this all digital darkroom timer back in 1980, used it in my home darkroom for several years, and then brought it to work to time long term experiments.  Hope you enjoy it and it is worthy of a box of crap. 

Jason, please feel free to edit out the ugly transition in the beginning. (Sorry Bob, we never edit anything!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TywuYNCqZo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Never miss a show, 

Bob Ingalls,  Hooksett, NH

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1437 

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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! 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. 

NEW! NEW! NEW! 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 all the crap he's collected doing this show. So there's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video!

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv