Is that an HDMI projector in your pocket - or are just happy to see me?

Brookstone not only sells some great inventive gadgets, but they also create a lot of them. One of the newest, released June 21, 2012, is the Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector. A little bigger than a pack of cards, it can fit in the palm of your hand. This ultra portable micro-projector uses Texas Instruments DLP Technology, the same technology used in many high end HDMI projectors. Amazingly, you don’t need an AC power source, however, so you can project an HDMI image just about any place. The Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector, uses a rechargeable onboard battery that offers about 2 hours of projection time. (It also works on AC power.) The company says you can project movies, presentations and games with a crisp image up to 60” on any flat surface. Of course, the darker it is, the better it is. At the Digital Experience I saw this device running a video, and I must say the picture was quite sharp. It was being projected at close range, maybe about three feet from the screen, but the room was fully lit and the image wasn’t washed out. The new HDMI Pocket Projector uses an 85 lumen LED light source to deliver ant 1080p HD image. There are also two fully integrated speakers. You can use this with your Apple, Android, or Windows smartphone or tablets for an instant high-definition viewing experience. It also can connect to most HDMI-supported devices like a computer, video player, game console, digital camera and more. Interestingly, the spokesperson said the Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector provides the same brightness and detail when running on the battery as when it does when plugged in. Here are some more specs from the company: The super bright, 85 lumen LED lamp offers 20,000 hours of life. 854x 480 (WVGA), 1080p HD projected image with a 16:9 Aspect ratio. Two 1-watt speakers and 3.5 mm Aux audio output. Rechargeable 3500mAh battery with 5V USB charging output for smart phones. Product includes a three-foot HDMI cable, a Micro HDMI adapter and a Mini HDMI adapter. (Apple devices require an Apple Digital AV adapter that is sold separately). The HDMI Pocket Projector will be available at Brookstone stores and online July 1, 2012 for $299.99. Pre-orders can be placed now at

http://www.brookstone.com/hdmi-pocket-projector

Here's a new really giant LED TV that pretty much needs it own wall!

June 22, 2012

Forgot those puny 60, 70 and 80 inch TV's. At the Digital Experience, Thursday night, (June 21st), I saw the just introduced 90-inch Sharp TV. It's the biggest LED high-definition television on the market; for now anyway. The questions is, do you a place to hang this new Aquos LED TV? It's 4 feet tall and 6 feet, 8 inches wide. It's not as razor thin as smaller LED TV's, coming in at a bit less than 5 inches thick. And it weighs more than that 37" LCD I bought -  114 pounds! I must admit the picture was pretty amazing. From a few feet away you feel like you're standing in front of an iMax theatre screen. While I was there they were showing non-3D content, which was fine with me. With a set this size you don't have to worry much about viewing angles from the side. It's big enough that whole family can sit in front of it! With the wonderfully creative name: The Sharp LC-90LE745U, it's now largest of the 3D line of AQUOS LED Smart TVs. Sharp adds: This 90” Class (90-1/64” diagonal) model with brushed aluminum black bezel features our 1080p 3D full array LED panel, delivering one of the most natural, vibrant pictures available. And with built-in Wi-Fi and our intuitive SmartCentral user interface, you can access today’s most popular apps or even browse the web." ........And now, what you've been waiting for, the price. Guesses ---------------------------  ?  Okay it's

$10,999.99.

http://www.sharpusa.com/ForHome/HomeEntertainment/LCDTV/Models/LC90LE745U.aspx

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Squinting as you read this? Then read on! Help is on the way.

On June 2^nd, Ed "HawksPost" Hawxhurst from the TWiT chat room came by Gizneyland to watch us record an episode of the WDGW. Ed didn’t come empty-handed. Being a fan of the show, he knows I love coffee, so he brought a two-pound bag of Hawaiian coffee beans. And he gave me a neat little pair of Foster Grant folding magnifiers. His gift was very timely, because a few days later, David Pogue of the New York Times Tech Section, did a column on gadgets he carries with him. Foster Grant Gideon reading glasses were on his list as “cool fold-up emergency reading glasses”. These folding reading glasses have spring hinges and telescoping temples that slide closed for compact storage. The hard plastic case almost looks like a thick cigarette lighter (if you can remember those) and can easily slip into pocket or purse. You may also see these same glasses sold under the MicroVision brand. I saw them available for sale in 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 magnifications, but they might be more available. The size of the lens is very decent for such small folding glasses and they feel very comfortable when wearing them. They retail at US$24.99 at places like Wal-Mart and Walgreen’s. On Amazon they can be found for a couple of bucks less if you search. I saw a pair on Ebay for $18.00.

Here’s the Ebay page. I haven’t bought from any of these retailers.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=foster+grant+gideon+reading+glass

Every wonder if the Magic Mesh Screen Door you see on late night commercials really works?

I wondered too, so I bought one. There’s a big mosquito problem on the upper west of Manhattan, and I have luxury of a small backyard. My dog Fairway, and Dennis’ dog Maggie love to go in and out of the backyard frequently. So a screen door they could use themselves really appealed to me. Magic Mesh is advertised as a “Removable, walk-through Patio-Door Screen that allows fresh air in, but not insects!” Although they’re sold on TV, I bought mine at K-Mart for $18. That’s about the same price as on TV when you add S&H. You can install it easily with no tools if you use the included Velcro. They include tacks if you want to nail it in place, but that makes it harder to take down in winter. Magic Mesh does give you hands-free entrance and exit and our dogs learned to use it very quickly. The magnetic auto-close feature does automatically shut the screen each time you walk through it. You'll hear the click of the magnets locking behind you after you walk through. There are 18 magnets, 9 on each side. There are sometimes little openings in the areas where the magnets are not installed, so it’s more like 95% closed. The Magic Mesh Hands-Free Screen is built with height and width adjustments. Up To 39 Inches wide and it adjusts to fit doors 78-Inch-80-inch in height. But be careful! You get two separate panels and it’s easy to accidentally install one upside down. When you do that, the magnets don’t line up properly. I saw that compliant online in several reviews of the product. Not paying attention to top and bottom will cause it. The instructions tell you how to tell which is which. I have no idea how Magic Mesh will hold up in the long term. Within about 2 to 3 weeks two of the magnets fell off, but they can be easily snapped back in place. Outside of the clicking of the magnets, which I like, there is no slamming screen door, or screens left open. Magic Mesh is $19.95 online + you get one free, but you pay $7.95 EACH for shipping and handling. So it comes to roughly $18 each. I paid $17.99 at K-Mart for 1, which all I needed.

Giz Wiz YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/WLjhQc-M3wc 

https://www.buymagicmesh.com/

Let there be light -- 30 days of light!

At the National Hardware Show, eGear launched the newest edition to their line of LED Lighting products: the 30-Day Lantern. The lantern, as the name plainly implies, will run for thirty days using three standard “D” size alkaline batteries when set on “low”. The folks at Revere said no one has ever produced a lantern could run for 30 days. The lantern is water-resistant lantern and protected from shocks with rubber padding. The 30-Day Lantern has four settings (high, medium, low and SOS Flashing). Even set on “high” the batteries will last 32 hours, 3.5 days on “medium” and 15 days when in the SOS flashing mode. The lantern houses an unbreakable, 300 lumen LED. The lantern can be easily converted to a down light by simply unscrewing the globe, turning the unit upside-down and hanging by a built-in hook. This is great energy-efficient LED light for an outdoor adventure, or a home power outage. You should be able to get through your camping trip without worrying about carrying, or looking for a set of spare batteries. It runs on 3 D cells, which are not included. The 30-Day Lantern will be available for delivery June 2012. MSRP is $59.99. 

It’s not on the eGear website yet, but it should be up there soon on this page: 

http://www.egear.com/egear_site/Root/led_lanterns_lobby.html