3D and you don't need special glasses to see it!

We’re talked about 3D printing quite a few times on the Daily Giz Wiz. That’s where you design a product like a new toy with a 3D program and then use a special printer to render a real life a 3-D model. (I know the word “print” doesn’t seem to really describe the process.) Wild Planet has one of the least expensive 3D printers, which costs about $60,000. But now there’s a way to design your own 3D model and have the folks at Shapeways bring it into 3D reality! For the first time, 3D artists, architects, product designers and consumers of all skill levels can order their 3D designs as physical printed objects easily online. Whether you want to create a new utensil, the ultimate toy or wacky piece of art, you can Do-It-Yourself. Shapeways lets users create modify their designs, or import them from popular 3D modeling software. And this is important! In a few clicks, Shapeways checks whether the object can be made and provides a real-time cost estimate. Within 10 working days, a tangible 3D product is produced and delivered globally. The instant price quotes for products are based on the material selected. The company says the average cost runs about $50 to $150. They told me to design something of my own and they would “print it” as a demo of what they can do. I used one of their templates to make that Giz Wiz vase in the photo. It says: “Dick DeBartolo, The Giz Wiz” in letters that circles around the entire vase. It really looks good with a glass inside. They sent me a gift certificate, but had I paid for it, it would have been $62.50 delivered. Objects can be created in White Strong & Flexible (SLS), Cream Robust (FDM), White Detail and Transparent detail. Additional materials will soon follow. I certainly had no 3D experience, and yet I found it very easy to create that vase. There is a ton more info at the company website:  

www.shapeways.com

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1073

Where oh where was my little car gone?

Sure you can use your key fob  to blink the lights and sound the horn to help find your car in a shopping mall parking lot, or at the ball game. But what about if your car is really far away. The horn/lights option works within a 100 feet or so, but Auto-Findercan guide you to your car from up to ½ mile away. This technology is superior to GPS because it guides you to what you are looking for without the requirement of open sky for satellite signals. To find your car, press and sweep the small hand-held finder and let it the lighted arrows and sound guide you in the right direction. Patrick Franz from Auto-Finder stopped by my office to give me a demonstration. I told him the best thing to do would be to park his car some place in the vicinity of my office and let me search for it. He did, and at first I thought the Auto-Finder was wrong because it kept pointing ahead from my office. I had told Patrick to go right or left, and that's what I thought it would have done. But for a more sure fire test Patrick went straight ahead and parked in the next block. I was able to find his car using the Auto-Finder. There are three different sweeping techniques to finding a car and it pays to watch the videos on the company's website. Sometimes one technique is superior to the others, depending on where you are. Patrick said in New York City you get signals bouncing off buildings, so it was good I did two different techniques to locate his car. The basic kit is $99 which is all is need for a single car. It includes the receiver which Velcros to the car windshield, the transmitter & case, plus the batteries. They also offer a travel kit and family kits. All the info is at their website.

www.auto-finder.com

Hear this Netcast: http://www.twit.tv/dgw1068 

Great for cars, boats, RV and the home for emergencies.

The powerful, new Cobra Jumpstarter/powerpack can be used to jump start cars, run your 12 volt auto accessories outside the car via its DC output and even power small appliances via the built-in AC outlet. It's good for tools and household appliances up to 400  watts. But wait, there's more! There's also a 5V USB port to charge cellphones or other electronic devices and a 260 PSI air compressor for flat tires, air mattresses, etc.  Use the built in LED worklight for nighttime emergencies. The powerpack comes in 4 sizes/models based on the amount of power needed.  It has auto, home and outdoor applications. Charge it from an AC outlet with the included AC adapter. Use the four LED power meter to see when it's time to recharge the Jumpstarter/powerpack. The most powerful unit (the one I showed on World News Now) puts out 1800 watts and can jump start an V8 auto engine. It costs under $130. Smaller units start under $50. You buy the amount of power and the onboard accessories you need. Be sure to do a price search on the web. I saw the 1800 Watt unit for about $112.00.  

http://cobra.com/categories/power-inverters

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1069

Collectable MAD garbage from Dick's Gadget Warehouse on Ebay.

The clock left is on auction. The watch right will be on auction soon.It looks like I found something that's probably worth something at Dick's Gadget Warehouse. It's the Alfred E. Neuman Clock that looks exactly like a GIANT version of the Alfred E. Neuman wristwatch. The clock face is a full 6" across. And the case is 24K plastic-looking gold. (Because it IS plastic, or somethinglike it!) It was put out in 1987 as part of MAD’s 35^th Anniversary. It was produced by Concepts Plus, Inc. In late 1987, or early 1988 Concepts Plus joined with, or became Applause. The clock/watch was not wildly popular, but who cares - that makes this one more valuable.  On the clock, as on the watch, MAD’s mascot Alfred E. Neuman is in a straightjacket with his often quoted  “What, Me Worry?” printed next to him. MAD publisher William M. Gaines didn't want Concepts Plus to merely take one of their regular watches and just put the MAD logo on it. He wanted it to really be a MAD Watch. So on this clock (and the Alfred E. watches) that's how Alfred ended up in a straight jacket. Since he can't use his hands, his animated legs function as the hands. In small print on left side of the clock dial it says: Concepts Plus, Inc. And one the right side of the dial it says: 35th Anniversary Edition ©1987 E.C. Publications Inc. The one pictured here hung on my office wall at MAD's 485 MADison Avenue address for a few years. Then when William M. Gaines passed on and Time Warner moved MAD Magazine headquarters to DC Comics, I packed up everything in my office and sent it to Dick's Gadget Warehouse. (Time Warner told us we'd have to be a lot neater at the new MAD offices.)  So this clock has been in the warehouse for almost 20 years. But the warehouse costs $355 a month and I've been storing crap, I mean, storing valuable memorabilia there for all those years and now it's time to sell stuff and pay down that bill! So this rare some-of-a-kind item will be offered on Ebay. I'll post a link when it's up t here. The fastest way to know about the auction & other MAD items I find at the warehouse is to follow me on Twitter. Add me as a friend www.twitter.com/thegizwiz

Here's a video with more about this unique Alfred E. Clock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev4M5prAkvI

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1065

The Whipping Boy is no longer available. But Craig still has Carey & me!

Back on Friday, August 22^nd 2008 on the Daily Giz Wiz we went back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse to meet the “YES MAN”. He’s a small talking head that always agrees with everything you say!  Hear that Netcast here: www.twit.tv/dgw640 

Whipping Boy (sometimes called the Whiner Doll) is a friend of the Yes, Man! Both were available starting in 1990 as fun gadgets produced by Rau Creations. How refreshing it was to know just about anything you do, no matter how bad, is not your fault! Yep, you can blame everything on the Whipping Boy.  Pass the blame onto him and he will immediately start apologizing. He’s voice activated. Say something to him like: “Why are these files so messed up?” Wait a beat and listen to what Whipping Boy has to say for himself! It’s always his fault! His responses include: 

"It was all my fault." / "How could I have been so stupid."

"I've screwed up again, why do you keep me around here?"

"Forgive me, forgive me, please."

"What a dumb thing to do. Fire me where I stand."

"I destroy everything I touch with my incompetence."

"I'm a disease, I make myself sick."

Even though you can still find Whipping Boy & Whiner Doll listed on many websites, I couldn’t find one that still had them for sale. Even though you can’t currently buy a Whipping Boy (Luckily Leo had Dane!) you can still hear him apologize here: 

http://www.mandrgames.com/WHINERDoll.htm 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1050