The Nov/Dec "What The Heck Is It?" gadget is actually a useful one.

The “What The Heck Is It?” game from the November/December 2014 game was the Storacell Battery Caddy. This is actually a neat little gadget if you deal with lots of batteries. Here’s what Amazon says about it. The Storacell Battery Caddy solves the problem of how to conveniently store your batteries in a compact and easy to find holder. Originally designed for pilots, the Battery Caddy is also great for photography, camping, travel or home use. The Battery Caddy is durable and break resistant and the slim and lightweight design makes it portable. There are no sharp edges to catch on clothing or bags. Storacell's patented locking system snaps batteries into place; batteries snap into place and remove easily. When ready to use, simply push the battery out with your thumb. Keep fresh batteries separate from used batteries by turning them in opposite directions. The Storacell Battery Caddy provides the best terminal protection at both ends. Batteries left rolling around in a drawer, bag or container have the potential to cause a fire. 9V batteries can be a hazard if the double terminal comes in contact with metal objects; an electrical spark can be created causing a fire. The Battery Caddy is great for a variety of uses including outdoor activities, photography bags, emergency kits, by emergency responders and for home organization. And this is one for sure that  you can bet Batteries not included! Price depend on the Storacell Battery Caddy you need, but they start at about $5.50. They are available for AA, AAA, and 9V batteries, even versions that can take all three kinds of batteries in one caddy. Here’s the link for the 4 AA Caddy: 

Company website: http://www.storacell.net/

A peek ahead to CES 2015 with a jacket unlike any I've ever seen before.

The Visijax Commuter Jacket with turn signals has a total of 23 integrated high intensity LEDs. There are both front (white LEDs) and back (red LEDs), plus motion-activated, self-canceling turn indicators that feature Visijax’s IMASS® proprietary technology. The jackets use Dupont Teflon-coated rainproof and breathable fabric, all round ventilation. So you don’t have to fumble with controls Visijax offers the convenience of one-touch operation, powered by a USB rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, which when charged can power the jacket for up to 30 hours. The company says that many customers turn on the front and back LEDs even when using the jacket during the day since it makes the wearer more visible in all traffic and all weather conditions. Their proprietary iMASS technology, with its amber flashing indicator lights, enables those around you to see when you are about to turn even when you have two hands on the handle bars. And the gentleman I spoke to an CES Unveiled said: “Just remove the battery pack” and the rest of the jacket, LEDs and all is washable. Price will be about $170. It’s already on AmazonUK, and it will be coming to the US soon. 

See more at:http://www.visijax.com/products/view/productdetails/virtuemart_product_id/3/virtuemart_category_id/1#sthash.Lcc7GAB0.dpuf

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/GWdokBTq0HQ

A unique exercise band that doubles as a Bluetooth headset!

At a recent Pepcom event I almost passed by a unique gadget thinking it was just another exercise band. But Sean from Huawei, told me why their new TalkBand B1is different. This exercise band is also a pop-out Bluetooth headset! The integrated Bluetooth earpiece with 1.4 inch OLED display features accept and reject buttons for phone calls. Want to accept a call and talk, push a button and pop-out the Bluetooth earpiece. As an activity tracker it can automatically track steps/distance/calories burned; in sleep tracking mode it automatically tracks sleep time and quality! It’s Bluetooth 4.1 as well as NFC for easy pairing. Another great feature is the built in USB connector for charging; it’s right at the end of the wristband. That means you don’t need to carry any sort of charging adapter. The TalkBand B1 supports IOS and Android and is water resistant and dust-proof (IP57). The company says it can run up to 7 days on a single charge. MSRP $129.99.

Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/JJRLgp7uITM  

3 unique stocking stuffers, each under $10.

The Eggheads LED Wobble Nightlight is a very small and handy light. This versatile LED light won't tip over and is activated by a simple tap or a shake. Need to get out of bed late at night. Keep one of these on the nightstand. Just tap it, and it goes on, carry it to the bathroom or any place you have to go. In case you forget to tap it or shake it so goes off, an auto-timer will shut it off after about six minutes. The super bright LED bulbs last for more than 100,000 hours. It’s available in colors and is $7.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond. We may already set off a run on this neat little light because it’s now showing “out of stock online”. 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/  

The QuikStand from Nite-ize was designed to eliminate the use of assorted books, coffee mugs, and cereal boxes we use to try to prop up our smartphones and tablets. It’s made with sleek brushed aluminum and sturdy, yet flexible polypropylene. The QuikStand is the size of a credit card and be easily carried in your wallet. But when it’s in use, it can be adjusted to different angles to hold your device securely in either portrait or landscape orientation. The company says it fits smartphones and tablets up to 7" with or without cases. The QuikStand is great for travel. I first used on my flight back from CES in Las Vegas to NYC. I placed it on my snack tray and watched movies I had recorded on my Galaxy S4. It worked perfectly. And it’s priced under $11. Company website:  

http://www.niteize.com/product/QuikStand.asp

The Nest is a very clever solution to the problem of tangled and damaged earbud-style headphones. Storing earbuds inside The Nest takes only a few seconds and leaves the earbuds and cable completely protected. The earbuds can then be instantly removed, safe and tangle-free, with a single pull. Another feature is that The Nest is small and flexible so that it fits easily and comfortably inside a pocket, purse, gym bag, etc. It’s made from a single piece of high-quality silicone that’s washable, highly durable, and feels great to the touch. And it’s now available in three colors for about $10.00. 

Giz Wiz Video Demo of these 3 products: http://youtu.be/AP4kuGmUz_4

The Nest $9.99.

Here's a short video where I demo each of these gadgets: http://youtu.be/AP4kuGmUz_4

A Shockingly New Gadget To Help You Stop Bad Habits.

A bit of background from the company website: A few years ago Maneesh Sethi hired a girl to slap him in the face whenever he used Facebook. His productivity increased 4x --- so he knew he was on to something. A few weeks later, he asked his friend Dan Kaminsky if they could build a shock collar that shocked him when he went on Facebook. Dan said: Let's go to RadioShack. So they built a prototype, and were fortunate that an incubator in Boston, Bolt, decided to invest. They then introduced Maneesh to his co-founder, Jim Lynch --- the original inventor of LEGO Mindstorms and the senior engineer on the Roomba Floor Cleaning Robot. AndPavlok was born. Different people want to change different behaviors and the company says Pavlok can help you. "How does Pavlok know what I'm doing?" you ask. Pavlok uses an ecosystem of apps that will run on both your computer and phone. These apps can track and monitor any number of things that you choose. For examples the PAVLOK FIT app will allow users to select their gym from a list of gyms in their area. Then, using the geo-location on your phone, Pavlok can tell when you go to the gym and how long you stay for. Don’t go to the gym – shock (up to 340 volts)! I had a live demo at one of the 'milder' shocks and trust me, you will feel it. Download the Pavlok software and it will monitor your online activity. You get to plugin your 'blacklisted' websites, such as Facebook, Reddit, Buzzfeed, etc. Once you do this, Pavlok intervenes (with a shock) when you 'accidentally' visit these sites. Their Indiegogo campaign has ended and it seems people are very interested. They were looking for a $50,000 goal and they got $254,133. To buy one, which doesnt ship until mid-2015 will cost $199.99.

Giz Wiz Video:  http://youtu.be/MklqivSeHv8%C2%A0 

Company video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP88Gji98sU 

www.pavlock.com