The Giz Wiz, Week of Oct 9th 2014, Show # 1489

From the Time To Play Holiday Toy Spectacular, the Kid Trax Kia Soul Sing-Along DJ Ride-On Car. 

OMG, if I were a kid, I would think this was amazing. Hey, I'm an adult and I still love it. A kid can drive up to five mph in forward and reverse, but the parent can set the top speed for 2.5 mph if they want. There are real engine and horn sounds and working car doors. (Fortunately your kid probably won't face the frustration of trying to park this baby, except maybe in the bedroom!) Parents will probably also want to supervise this: There are two mega loud speakers with colored LEDs and two connected microphones to allow kids to have endless sing-along fun. There are audio jacks for your - or their - iPod, smart phone, etc., but the car does its own FM radio. The Kid Trax Kia Soul Sing-Along DJ Ride-On Car is available in 3 colors, green, orange and purple. I asked as a joke, but it turns out the car does come with two pairs of rock star glasses. (I’m wearing a pair in the video.) Role play is enhanced with daytime running LEDs and working headlights, tail lights, and even under body lights! Power Trax rubber traction strip tires provide better traction. The 12-volt battery charges via a regular AC outlet. This is a Toys R Us exclusive. $399.99. It can be preordered now for shipping early November 2014. (And it looks like the shipping is free. Check their website at the link below to be sure it can go where you are.)

Giz Wiz Kia Video: http://youtu.be/enzPXu5DlKg

Toys R Us Link: http://www.toysrus.com/buy/powered-riding-toys/kid-trax-kia-sing-a-long-soul-12v-ride-on-green-kt1157tr-33931396 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/dgw1489 

From The Luxury Show, a $45,000 custom 150 mph electric motorcycle.

Here and below are two incredible machines for those who love motorcycles and airplanes. For most of us too, the prices are up there is the clouds, but it’s still fun to see them and learn a bit about them. First up is the ENERGICA EGO. I’ve been a passenger on a motorcycle, but never driven one. So here’s some info via the company which says this is the world’s first all-electric superbike bred from the heartland of Italian racing legend: The Energica EGO. Designed and built by the same people who have designed and engineered racing performance from Formula One Racing to Le Mans 24h for over 40 years. Massive Performance, no emissions. At the heart of this thoroughbred is an electric motor which produces an astounding 195 Nm torque from 0 RPM to redline, an electronically limited 150 Mph (240 km/h) and a 0 – 100 time of under 3 seconds. All on just pennies’ worth of energy. Top of e line racing components, onboard chargers, and a range of approximately 120 miles of real world riding, with a phase 4 DC charge to 85% in just 30 minutes. Designed, engineered, and crafted by hand in Modena, Italy. --- And now back to the big question I’m sure you have - price! Energica Ego models start at about $35,000. They won’t be shipping until 2015, but judging from test ride reviews, it’s quite an impressive machine. And of course you can get lots of customized features. 

http://www.energicasuperbike.com/ 

YouTube Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B63LdK6RUuk  

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/dgw1489

An aircraft with a parachute big enough to land the plane and its passengers!

Seeing an actual aircraft with a 34.8-foot wingspan inside a relatively small exhibit space really got my attention! I even got to sit inside the cockpit. I was totally impressed that the entire aircraft and its passengers can be landed safely in an emergency via a built-in parachute. At first I thought it was a joke, but the CAPS video below (and many saved life’s) proved it’s not. Since I never owned an airplane and don’t know much about them, I had to rely on the company’s info. And here it is: Cirrus Aircraft is a recognized leader in general aviation. Its all-composite line of personal aircraft - the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T - incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective by Garmin avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). To date, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five million flight hours with 95 lives saved as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The plane in the video is the SR22 GTS, the flagship of the Cirrus Aircraft fleet. It incorporates many Cirrus custom upgrade packages, which is why it’s in the $700,000 range. There are many lower priced models. Check out the company website for more important information and specs. And if you’re looking for something really new, coming in 2015 is the Cirrus Vision SF50 jet, a new personal jet aircraft. 

Giz Wiz Video:  http://youtu.be/PScc9TGWH4M 

Company website: http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/

CAPS DEPLOYMENT VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_8qCTAjsDg 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/dgw1489

Chad's Crappy Corner & his 2nd gadget in the category for October: Halloween!

And Chad's gadgets are two fog machines for the eerie, scary effect. Here’s what Spirit Halloween Company says about theirs: 

There are all kinds of ways to decorate for Halloween but undoubtedly the very coolest decor is FOG. Nothing is quite so scary and so easy to set the scene for spooky fun - fog rolling in almost begs for the howl of a werewolf, the flapping wings of a bat and the floating specter of a ghost, goblin or ghoul. Set the scene with this powerful corded remote control 1,000 watt fog machine that pumps 4-5 more fog than any other fog machine available. This is a must-have! $79.99. 

http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/1000-watt-fog-machine/ 

Here's a fog machine from Amazon. I notice it's only 400 watts, so it's far less powerful that the one above, but it is cheaper.) 

http://www.amazon.com/Morris-Costumes-19100-Machine-400W/dp/B000GFJBIQ 

And Chad’s take: Chad loved both fog machines and said they were "a ton of fun". The larger $79.99 unit puts out a lot more fog, but Chad said he was impressed with the amount of fog the much smaller Amazon machine put out. Be aware that the fog machines on Amazon (as of 10/9/14) are only available through links to 3rd party resellers. So you have to add shipping to the $29.99 price. Either way, we Chad and I agree either machines will add a lot of fun to a party. The size machine you buy will probably be determined by the amount of space you want to fill with fog.

Jeff Needles told me the two fog machines were brought to the studio byTWiT producer Karsten Bondy... who apparently really likes to decorate for Halloween! Thanks, Karsten! 

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/dgw1489

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

Dick’s Gadget Warehouse Viewer Video started with this email: 

Hi Dick, Chad & Jeff, 

Here is my Gadget Warehouse video. My gadget is a Simpson Model 1000 Tube Tester. 

I remember getting funny looks from my co-workers when I would suddenly burst into laughter while listening to the Daily Giz Wiz on my first MP3 player, a Creative Zen Microphoto 8 GB. I still remember the first 2 shows on my daily playlist, Buzz Out Loud and the Daily Giz Wiz (the Zen listed them alphabetically). 

Dick, you and Chad make a great team. I look forward to many, many more years of Giz Wiz hilarity! 

http://youtu.be/dDM6bbE-aJg?list=UU01kF_TmX5pZdH4TWotLFxw 

Dennis Stephens (pronounced Stevens)

See or hear this show: www.twit.tv/dgw1489

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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:

From: D J porkchopgroove 

i wanted to let you know i found a listing on amazon for that light chad showed on last thursdays gizwiz. unfortunately he got hosed. better luck next time chad. love the show, keep up the poor work. 

http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Effect-Light-Rotating-Lighting/dp/B00BLVOQB6/ref=pd_cp_hi_2 

Via The Giz Wiz: OMG, the disco bulbs, or a knock off of them, is at the link above for under $4, with free shipping. I already bought and received one via Amazon Prime for about $15, but I ordered two more at the under $4 price. The shipping is free, but the delivery is s-l-o-w. An email says to expect delivery in a month to five weeks, so you can’t be in a hurry to get one.