Here's a low cost safety/security gadget that can do a lot.

MAX is a very versatile security device for not a lot of money. It has a built in motion detector that can sound an alarm and set off a bright light when it detects movement. You can use it as a nightlight that goes on when you get out of bed. (No alarm, of course.) But wait, there's more! You should have multiple smoke alarms in your home, but what if you can't hear them? The Max plugs into any outlet and listens for your existing smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm. If they go off, it sounds its own high and low frequency alarm to ensure that everyone hears it. At the time it automatically lights up and flashes brightly to help wake you up and find your way out. Push a button to turn off the area light and use MAX as a flashlight. Finally it has USB plug-in that will allow you to use the flashlight to use your cell phone is the charge is low. I spoke to the company and the battery inside MAX is just 500 mAH, so you won't use it to fully charge your phone, but it can help you make a few emergency calls if your cell phone is low on power. Best of all is the price. It's under $40 at Home Depot, Costco or at the company website.  

http://www.maxsmarthome.com/

You don't need to use your hands to shoot HD video with Pivothead Smart Glasses.

 I first wrote about Pivothead glasses in 2012. I used them at CES 2013 to shoot video. Pivothead glasses contain a small, almost hidden 1080P video camera built right into the frame of a pair of glasses. It's taken a couple of years, but now Pivothead is introducing their next generation: Pivothead SMART. And SMART stands for Simple Modular Application-Ready Technology. (I doubt if you'll ever hear that phrase again!) Like the original Pivothead glasses, the new SMART provides full 1080p high definition (HD) video and 8 megapixel photo capture. But the new model add Smart Mods. And what are they? SMARTMods are accessories that add power, connectivity, and apps. There is 16GB of internal memory in the Pivothead glasses, but you can add removable micro SD memory with mods. Interchangeable fuel Mods let you continuously add replaceable power to the glasses. You also control your glasses wirelessly from your smartwatch, smartphone, & more. Quick Pairing instantly pair via Bluetooth with integrated NFC. Android and iOS apps are available. The new model is available in plain glass, or customize them with your own prescription. Retail of the model is $349. The original Pivothead glasses are now marked down to $199.00.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/-F0yBRmARtQ

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

Add a nightlight or a USB charging port to an outlet - in a snap!

The folks at SnapPower set a goal we all can appreciate: create simple and convenient solutions to power home electronics with 'snap' easy installation. And they've done it with two gadgets so far. In 2014 they launched the SnapPower Guidelight which is a replacement for the standard plug-in night light and the hardwired guide lights found on the market. Their Guidelight installs in seconds and requires no wires or batteries. (Watch The Giz Wiz Video.) It's designed to look like and replace the standard electrical outlet cover plate in the home. The Guidelight is equipped with diffused LED lighting to provide helpful illumination by night, while keeping both outlets available for use at all times. For convenience, The SnapPower Guidelight includes a light sensor that automatically turns the LEDs on in the dark and off in the light. Now they've come up with the SnapPower USB Charger. No more worrying about finding that bulky AC plug-in charger that came with your cell phone or other portable electronic devices. Like their SnapPower Guidelights, the SnapPower Charger uses the same prong technology to draw power directly from your electrical outlets. They require no wires or batteries and they install in seconds. The USB Charger is perfect for any room in the house and it’s low profile design allows for easy access to a USB charger in dozens of locations. This started as a Kickstarter project and lots of people liked the idea so much they successfully raised $839,301 USD with 18,604 backers!

http://www.snappower.com/

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/7D1l501RKw0

This new Vizio UHD (4K) TV is almost bigger than my wall!

I attended an event in NYC on October 6 (2015) where VIZIO and Dolby Laboratories announced availability of the all-new UHD (4K) VIZIO Reference Series, the industry’s first-ever complete High Dynamic Range solution with Dolby Vision playback technology. There are two models. One has a MSRP of $5,999.99, and that's for the 65" class model (RS65-B2) and one has a MSRP of --- (sit down) $129,999.99. That astounding model that is almost theater-size at 120" class model (RS120-B3). That's a 10' foot wide UHD TV! This premium collection is designed for true cinephiles. Here are a few specs from Vizio, some of which I don't even understand. But if you're one of those cinephiles the Reference Series is aimed at, you'll should be really excited! Equipped with Ultra Color Spectrum for a wider color gamut, and a quantum dot panel in the 65" class model, the high-end Reference Series features an 800-nit, Full-Array LED backlight and 384 Active LED Zones for a stunningly vivid Ultra HD picture. Customers will receive immediate access to certain Warner Bros. Home Entertainment 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision mastered titles via the popular video on-demand streaming service, VUDU. Additional Dolby Vision titles from other content providers will soon be available through Netflix. Interested consumers can submit their orders now at VIZIO.com and will then be contacted by a local custom installer to arrange delivery and a white-glove setup service. As for me, I loved seeing the newest technology, but I was thrilled they didn't introduce a new 43” UHD TV. That's because I just bought one at Best Buy. Amazingly, it was only $549.99 on sale. (Normal price is just $599.99.) At least now I know it will remain the lastest model at least till the end of the year. 

www.vizio.com

Epson introduces five new Supertank all-in-one printers.

The new Epson EcoTank all-in-ones come loaded and ready with two years of ink right inside the box. There are five models in the new line. The lowest priced (MSRP $379.99) Expression ET-2500 EcoTank wireless all-in-one comes with four bottles of ink, enough for up to 2 years of printing in the box. That’s a lot of ink — enough to print up to 4000 black/6500 color pages, and equivalent to about 20 ink cartridge sets. It delivers unbeatable convenience with ultra low-cost replacement ink bottles and innovative refillable ink tanks. The ET-2500 with built-in wireless allows you to print from tablets and smartphones; and offers fast, one-touch copying; all via user-friendly control panel buttons. Epson says when replacement ink is needed, the cost will be as low as $12.99 per bottle, or $52 per set of four bottles. For comparison, athink of the cost of approximately 20 sets of cartridges to print the same number of pages using the ink included with the EcoTank printer.

More info on the five EcoTank printers is here:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Landing/ecotank-super-tank-printers.do

The Epson ET-2500 EcoTank is under $367 on Amazon here (as of 10/2/15) 

Epson Expression ET-2500 EcoTank Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer