Give Your Music A Boost!

We all know the audio from a cell phone, tablet, PDA, etc. is pretty awful. You can buy an external Bluetooth speaker, assuming your device is Bluetooth enables. Or you can buy the iFrogz Boost NearField Audio speaker. Just put nearly any smartphone or digital media device on top of the Boostand it magically amplifies the sound. Have the sound playing on the device and make sure the speaker on your device faces the blue “on” light of the Boost. Then lay it on top and it works. No wires. No Bluetooth. No Synching. No problem. An auxiliary line-in jack is provided for devices without external speakers. I also think there’s better bass sound when used with a wired connection, but a lot of the “magic” is missing! If you think theBoost has a hidden microphone, you’d be wrong. The Boost uses iFrogz’ patent pending NearFA technology that actually syncs the audio signal from inside your device before pumping it out the two high-quality 2W x 2RMS speakers. The company says: “Your tunes are boosted with room filling sound.” I don’t know about that, but it sure does make it loud enough for several people to enjoy. The Boost gives up to 15 hours of play time when powered by three AA batteries - or can be powered by a Micro USB cord (sold separately). Remember that this is not a stand, so it’s not ideal for amplifying sound from a video you might want to watch on your cell phone, or other device, but it probably will work with a little jury-rigging. MSRP is $39.99. If you do a web search, you can find a lower price.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/ed78/?srp=1

The Giz Wiz video demo: http://youtu.be/fxyaii65EnE

Smallest Charge And Snyc Cables I've Seen.

First Scoshe came out with their flipSYNC keychain USB charge and sync cables. Now they’ve introduced a newer version called clipSYNC. These useful charging cables are pocket-sized, ideal for travel. Each one is about the size of a car alarm remote control, but offer users a convenient syncing cable when on the go. The newer version is reinforced with aluminum and has a built in carabineer clip. Clip it on a belt loop, back or fanny pack, even a key chain.  There are two versions. There’s clipSYNC that features an iPhone/IPod 30 pin connector at one end and a regular 2.0 USB connector at the other. The second unit clipSYNC features both Mini and Micro USB connections on one end, and a standard 2.0 USB connector on the other. Retail for each 19.99. You can find the earlier plastic version for about half that price if you do a web search. They were called flipSYNC.  

www.scosche.com

Summer fun gadgets with The Giz Wiz as seen on World News Now. ...Video link will be posted soon.

No deposit, No return --- Because you make your own soda at home.

Tired of lugging soda bottles home from the store and taking the empties back for your deposit? Why not make soda at home? Yep, you can turn water into soda in seconds with the SodaStream Jethome soda maker. The Jet is just one of the models available, but I picked it, because compact and it retails for under $80. Set-up is real easy. Screw in the CO2 gas cartridge and click the two parts of the machine together. To make sparkling water, fill the SodaStream bottle with tap water and attach to the soda maker. Then push the only control, a single button at the top of the machine! It will make a sound when your water has low, medium and high carbonation. You’ll learn to adjust the pushes of the button to get the fizz you most like. Once your soda is carbonated add one of 30 regular or diet soda flavors. None of them are made with high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame. It’s all pretty simple. Soda whenever you want it. No AC power, no wires, and no batteries. You use the BPA-free reusable bottle, so there’s no recycling. Each concentrated diet or regular sodamix container ($5 to $7.50) makes the equivalent of 33 cans of soda. That means thousands fewer cans and bottles from a family of four each year going into landfills. After the cost of the SodaStream, making sparkling water costs about 25 to 30 cents per liter. Flavored soda is about twice that, but far less than I pay here in NYC. The company offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. The Jet soda maker has a MSRP of $79.99. In the box is the  SodaStream Jet home soda maker, 1 reusable CO2 carbonator (makes up to 60 liter bottle refills) 1 liter reusable BPA-free carbonating bottle, and a 6-count Sodamix Variety Sampler Pack to make 6 liters of flavored soda). There are many ‘value’ pack options where you can choose from over 30 varieties of regular and diet flavors. When the CO2 cartridge runs out you exchange it for a new one for about $15 at one of the hundreds of retailers who carry this product. One cylinder makes about 60 liters of soda, depending on how fizzy you make it. I like this system a lot! In the long run it will be a money saver, and an arm saver because you won't have to carry those two-liter bottles of soda that often go flat before you finish them. At Target I see they sell the Jet for $79.99 and offer a $10 gift card with purchase. I don't know how long that offer will last. It was available as of 6/27/12.

www.sodastream.com

The Giz Wiz Gives It The Gas –YouTube video with a slightly different SodaStream model, The Genesis: http://youtu.be/Sm7HEh7_S-E

Gadgets to help you keep your cool.

Twist and Mist is an inexpensive handy way to stay cool. The 36” highly flexible tube offers a versatile outdoor cooling solution. You can wrap it around the backyard umbrella, lounge chair, etc. Then hook it to an ordinary garden house and cool off in the ultra-fine mist it creates. The company says it cools air up to 30 degrees, which could turn a hot environment into a comfortable one. Ideal for sunbathing, outdoor sitting areas, pet areas, and can even be used for watering plants. Just attach to an outdoor garden hose and place into the desired position. Under $8.00. It’s at the link below at Kmart and online at dozens of outlets.

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_028W003124926000P?sid=KDx20070926x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=028W003124926000

Like to walk or jog with a bottle of cold water? Then you should check out the Water Bottle Stick Ice Cube Tray. This neat silicone ice tray lets you make ice cube sticks that you can slide into the narrow neck of a water bottle. These are a clever way to keep a drink cold without spending time trying to get ice cubes small enough to fit into a bottle. The Water Bottle Stick Ice cubes slip right thru the neck of most any water or beverage bottle. Tray is approximately 8" X 5". Just $5. ThinkGeek.

www.thinkgeek.com

A boombox you can take into the pool, or even the ocean.

EcoTerra Boom Box  Here’s a neat gadget for the beach, mountains, pool, etc. This floating (IPX7) waterproof iPhone/MP3 player case is fully submersible in water. It’s powered by 4 C-Cell batteries, (not included) or via the included AC Power Adaptor. Two full-range 3" forward firing speakers can be played in virtually any position, even in the water, where they’ll float facing up! The internal waterproof storage compartment holds and protects keys, MP3 player, credit cards, etc. Although you can use any MP3 player via it’s headphone jack, (assuming it fits inside the case) you have the most control over iOS devices, like the iphone, iPod, iPod Touch. With those devices you can play, pause, advance or go back in your music library. With other devices, you can control the volume with the dials on top of the unit. The EcoTerra Boom Box amplifies tunes, but it doesn’t charge the device you use. MSRP: $150.

http://www.gracedigitalaudio.com/eco-terra-p-159.html