The Giz Wiz, Week of Oct 30th 2014, Show # 1492

Light Head Magnifying Glass 

A couple of months ago I reviewed the 20X Magnifying Glasses. They were too powerful and the magnification was not adjustable. These multi-functional LED Light Head Magnifier Magnifying Glasses are way better. Although they’re cheap to buy, and very cheaply made, they do work pretty well. You get the LED magnifier headband, and 4 different optical grade lenses: 1.2X, 1.8X, 2.5X, and 3.5X magnification. The headband is powered by 2 x AAA batteries, which are not included. There’s a wide field of view and the you can easily use this headband over your own reading glasses. The bracket can that holds the lens can be rotated upward or downward for 60 degree, and left or right for 25 degree. The efficiency of LED lamp is over 10 times of ordinary the peanut bulb. (Even though the instructions tell you how to replace the peanut bulbs, there are none. They’ve been replaced with much brighter, more efficient LED bulbs.) This device does let you can see small things very clearly, including fine print, but make adjustments carefully because everything is made with cheap-feeling plastic. It’s sold under many brand names and at many prices on Amazon.

No longer available.

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/9yxmjxaNw7w

NSee or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1492 

A watch that 'watches' you don't fall asleep at work or in school.

Spark bills itself as the watch that keeps you awake. It’s designed for those times when you doze off in the middle of a day, or even in the middle of The Giz Wiz. Spark’s job is to know when that happens and to gently vibrate to wake you back up. A team of high school students, tired teenagers who know about snoozing in the classroom designed it. Spark uses motion-tracking algorithms developed in conjunction with sleep researchers to analyze an individual’s motion patterns throughout the day. Using this data, the watch can detect when its user has fallen asleep at an inconvenient time. It’s equipped with a 12V vibration motor to rouse the user if he/she falls asleep. The Spark has two functions and two buttons. It tells time, and vibrates to wake you if you doze off. And those can be two very important things. The preorder price is $49, while retail will be $79. (As of 10/30/14, if you click the “order” button on the company website – link below, the $49 price was shown.) 

Company video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgd0_6gnBPA#t=104 

Company website: http://wearblanc.com/ 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1492 

Highly Rated HyperX Gaming Headphones for under $80.

According the hundreds of reviews on Amazon and New Egg, if you’re a gamer you will probably like the HyperX Cloud Pro Gamer Headset. Kingston says their  HyperX Cloud cradles your head in a super-soft padded headband, memory foam ear cushions and leatherette-padded cups so even your late game will be comfortable. It’s affordable, so there’s no pain in the price either. Pro-gaming optimized, HyperX Cloud is Hi-Fi capable and delivers intense audio. Plus you’ll look cool while playing, thanks to the unique HyperX design available in black or white. I’m not a gamer at all, but listening to music on the HyperX offered very decent sound from the 53mm drivers. There’s a detachable microphone which doesn’t match up to the quality of the rest of the HyperX Pro. It’s probably fine for playing games, but not for recording or podcasting. You get a choice of two soft padded memory foam cups for maximum comfort. I prefer the red velour cups which seem to offer better fidelity. Comes with a carry case, mic volume/mute box, headphone extension cable, airplane jack and Y-cable. Available in black or white. Forget the MSRP of $149.99. You can find them for $79.99 on Amazon and on New Egg. At Wal-Mart on the other hand, the price is closer to $100. (Prices as of 10/30/14) 

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/csl9Po2J4Zw 

No longer available.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1492 

Chad's Crappy Corner! The final gadget in Chad’s theme for October: Halloween.

Chad's final Halloween gadget this week is the Power Tek Premium 51 LED 395 nm UV Ultraviolet Blacklight Flashlight. Talk about spooky! According to Amazon you can use this Power Tek UV Flashlight to: Spot Scorpions, Pet Urine, Counterfeit Money, Bed Bugs, Minerals, Leaks. The company says their flashlight is 30% brighter than our competitors' flashlights! Essential tool for law enforcement, postal inspections, customs, medical forensics, HVAC repair. 51 UV 395 nm LED bulbs cover a larger area than most UV flashlights. Water resistant design uses 3 AA standard alkaline batteries. It’s excellent for hunting scorpions, searching for minerals, hotel room inspection, and rodent contamination. (Wow, what fun!)  Price: $41.95  (on 10/30/14) 

And Chad’s take?  Chad LOVED the Blacklight Flashlight. He went all over the studio shining it on things. He sprayed his hair (again) with hair spray that glows under black light and the effect was very eerie. Now the bad news. The price of this flashlight varies widely. A couple of people in the Brickhouse bought them for $16. 

 No longer available.

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1492 

Dick's Gadget Warehouse. And how to submit your video to the show.

Our viewer video starts with an email like this one:

Dick/Chad:

This is my gadget, the Tekna Micro Knife. I've had it for a very long time. It's an OK knife, a little bit different than most pocket knives.

http://youtu.be/THpdl1HZGjs

David Phillips

Winston Salem, NC

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/giz1492                            

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We’re looking for more Viewer Videos! We’d love to include your video in an upcoming Giz Wiz Show, so let’s go going!

Here’s what we’re looking for: Your home shot video – 2 to 3 minutes long, in 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. No professional ads please.

 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 a new gadget you just bought too.

 Post them on YouTube and send our producer, Jeff Needles, 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, but we should be able to hear you and see you! If we select and show your video on The Giz Wiz you will now be awarded with some sort of prize. Like an autographed MAD magazine and some piece of crap. So that's one more (so-so) reason to send in your video! 

All show submissions go to gizwiz@twit.tv  

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Letter of the week:

Dear Dick DeBartolo Mad's Maddest Writer and the Giz Wiz and Chad

Johnson TWiT's Maddest Co-Host, 

While out browsing our local Staples, I stumbled upon this nifty little flash drive.  It's from Emtec and while there isn't really anything remarkable about the flash drive itself, the shape may make you want one.  It's fairly cheap at $7.99 and would make a cute novelty gift for the mustachioed man in your life.  Attached are two pictures I took of the Flash Stache while in the store.  Thanks for keeping up the crappy work and thanks to Chad for taking the reigns when Leo found that he needed more leisure time to be with his gal. 

Yours in Merth,

Chad Masters (aka bluegreenyoshi)