Targus Universal AC Adapter PA160U
Portable Charger
Link: Targus
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Back in 2000, Targus introduced this portable charger, the Universal AC Adapter PA160U, a similar idea to the Charge4All in Episode 883 this week, only 9 years earlier. It was half an inch thick, and weighed only 7.5 ounces, which in those days was pretty light-weight. It also came with power tips for charging your notebook and other accessories. This model is no longer available, but Targus is still making other newer models.
Edison, Ford and Firestone
Aaron Martina has been listening to the Daily Giz Wiz since Episode 1, and is an avid consumer of Leo's other podcasts. Back in Episode 870, Dick and Leo talked about Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Aaron lives in Fort Myers, Florida, whose claim to fame is having been the winter home of not only Edison and Ford, but also Harvey Firestone (founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company), who were all friends. The 3 houses and their workshops are now museums - precursors to Dick's Gadget Warehouse.
Listen to Episode 885
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LG enV3
Cellphone
Link: LG
The third iteration of the LG enV (version one in Episode 219), the enV 3 is available in the US at Verizon.
This time it has a 2.6" internal LCD screen (320 x 240 pixels), a 3 MP
camera (stills and video), a qwerty keyboard, a microSD card slot, and
supports bluetooth stereo. Plays music and video. The headphone jack
remains a 2.5mm jack, though. Comes in Slate Blue and Maroon.
The Wine Train for Dick
Dick is booked for a visit to Petaluma for Episode 900, and for the Napa Valley Wine Train, which Leo hasn't been on yet. Dick is looking forward to the train, while Leo is looking forward to the wine.
iPres
Chris Van Amburg writes in to tell Dick that while Leo was away in China, he was elected President of the Internet by Tech Republic.
The election featured as candidates Leo, Molly Wood, Marc Andreessen
and Jason Calacanis. A last-minute dash pushed Molly Wood to 31% of
the votes, second to Leo's 41% (3773 votes). Leo has named his cabinet, which makes hilarious reading. Leo asks Dick to be Secretary of Fun, but forgot to include the post in the final line-up. In celebration of his inauguration, Leo dons a crown for the occasion.
Podcast of the Year
Leo promises to have the Daily Giz Wiz nominated for Podcast of the Year, in one of the categories at Blog World Expo. Please remind Leo when the time comes for nomination.
Charge4All
Portable Charging Mat
Link: Charge4All
The Charge4All Charging Tube rolls out into the Portable Charging Mat, which can charge up to 4 devices, from a single AC source (110-240V). It comes with 5 charging tips: iPhone/iPod, microUSB, miniUSB for Blackberry and Motorola, Samsung SCH phones and LG Chocolate. Other tips are available for sale on the website.
For other charging mats covered by Dick, see Episode 748 (the Powermat and the Wildcharger Pad).
The Bengal Lancer
When asked what the Charge4All might be, Leo guesses that it's a cavalry bugle. This reminds Dick of his hero Sid Ceasar in the Sid Caesar Show, where he played a Bengal Lancer.
Another Lost Reader
Leo has taken his evangelisation of the E-Book Reader to new heights. Not only has he been spreading word of them, he's positively seeding them around on airplanes. His latest Kindle was the second E-Reader he left behind on a flight.
Another Dead Musician, Another Jingle?
With the recent surmise of Michael Jackson, Leo is wondering if he will join the ranks of the dead Letters Jingle Singers. Calling Dan Lueders ...
Terracotta Chia Pets
Talk of China's Terracotta Warriors has prompted another letter from Alessandro Abate. The Chinese invented paper currency (and paper itself), gunpowder, noodles and the compass, but among the less well-known of their inventions was the Chia Pet (see Episode 752 for the Chia Obama). The Terracotta Soldiers were actually the Emperor's private collection of Chia Pets, but the Chinese forgot to water them. Terracotta, Alessandro adds, is Italian for "baked earth". It was the ancient Romans' first failed attempts on making pizza. Thankfully they switched to baking dough in time.
The Man Who Loved China ...
... and it's not Leo. Recommended by Alessandro, this book by Simon Winchester is about Joseph Needham, the British scientist who, starting in the 1940's, became fascinated with China and its scientific achievements. It was the Audible Pick of the Week on MacBreak Weekly 135, but Leo has not got round to reading it yet. The Man Who Loved China is available on Audible.
Leo's Gallery on China Tour
Leo is still enthusing about his tour of China, and was much impressed by the 8,000 odd Terracotta Warriors, each about 6-foot tall and every soldier is different. Check out his photos on Smugmug or Flickr.
Listen to Episode 883
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
For other charging mats covered by Dick, see Episode 748 (the Powermat and the Wildcharger Pad).
The Bengal Lancer
When asked what the Charge4All might be, Leo guesses that it's a cavalry bugle. This reminds Dick of his hero Sid Ceasar in the Sid Caesar Show, where he played a Bengal Lancer.
Another Lost Reader
Leo has taken his evangelisation of the E-Book Reader to new heights. Not only has he been spreading word of them, he's positively seeding them around on airplanes. His latest Kindle was the second E-Reader he left behind on a flight.
Another Dead Musician, Another Jingle?
With the recent surmise of Michael Jackson, Leo is wondering if he will join the ranks of the dead Letters Jingle Singers. Calling Dan Lueders ...
Terracotta Chia Pets
Talk of China's Terracotta Warriors has prompted another letter from Alessandro Abate. The Chinese invented paper currency (and paper itself), gunpowder, noodles and the compass, but among the less well-known of their inventions was the Chia Pet (see Episode 752 for the Chia Obama). The Terracotta Soldiers were actually the Emperor's private collection of Chia Pets, but the Chinese forgot to water them. Terracotta, Alessandro adds, is Italian for "baked earth". It was the ancient Romans' first failed attempts on making pizza. Thankfully they switched to baking dough in time.
The Man Who Loved China ...
... and it's not Leo. Recommended by Alessandro, this book by Simon Winchester is about Joseph Needham, the British scientist who, starting in the 1940's, became fascinated with China and its scientific achievements. It was the Audible Pick of the Week on MacBreak Weekly 135, but Leo has not got round to reading it yet. The Man Who Loved China is available on Audible.
Leo's Gallery on China Tour
Leo is still enthusing about his tour of China, and was much impressed by the 8,000 odd Terracotta Warriors, each about 6-foot tall and every soldier is different. Check out his photos on Smugmug or Flickr.
Listen to Episode 883
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
Samsung NC20
Netbook
Link: Samsung
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
These days Leo goes through his netbooks the same way he goes through his netcasts - lots of them. After his Asus Eee PC (Episode 447) and MSI Wind (Episode 762), the latest addition to Leo's line of netbooks is the Samsung NC20, with the following specs:
- VIA Nano ultra low voltage CPU (1.3GHz)
- 12.1-inch, WVGA (1280 x 800) glossy display
- 97% full-size keyboard
- Integrated 1.3MP webcam
- 160GB 5400rpm hard drive
- 1GB DDR2 memory
- Wifi b/g, bluetooth
- 3 USB ports, an SD card slot
- 11.5" x 8.5" x 1.2" and 3.3 lbs
- 6-cell Lithium Ion battery (5900 mAh)
- Windows XP Home
Leo likes the Samsung NC20 (having made quite a number of upgrades), and hulu plays fine on it. For major reviews of the Samsung NC20 on the web, check out the links on TestSeek.
The First Letters Jingle: An Encore
Andrew Rodriguez welcomes Leo home, and wants to remind everyone of the very first Letters Jingle. He is good enough to attach the jingle to his email. Dick and Leo can't remember who was responsible for it.
It's the Finnish Letters Jingle, by Henrich Antonin from Finland. Billed by Dick as the jingle with the "big finish", it was played from Episodes 151 to 160, and superseded by George Wood's Letters Jingle in Episode 166.
Listen to Episode 882
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Lift N Lok Professional Toolbox
Self-Fastening Toolbox
Link: PDY Systems
The Lift-n-Lok is a toolbox with 3 compartmentalised drawers and a storage bin at the top. The neat feature is, when the handle is lifted, the cam connected to the ends of the handle not only fastens all the drawers but also lifts the drawers to remove the spaces between them to prevent spillage. It's best to see a demo.
Catching Up
It's been 3 weeks since Dick and Leo last talked, and they take the opportunity before the recording of the show to catch up:
- Dick has worked out that if he and Leo should take a week off for
the Christmas holidays, the recording of Episode 1000 will fall around 4th January (it should be Tuesday 5th January). Dick can then come
out to Petaluma to do the show at the TWiT Cottage, and then go on to CES in Vegas, which will take place from 7th to 10th January.
- Sunday In The Park with Leo
Leo had a walk in the park one Sunday evening in the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing, and was ready to meet the Chinese version of the Sharks and the Jets or the Crips and the Bloods. Instead, he chanced upon a group of middle-aged Chinese women doing a co-ordinated dance, and before long, another troupe came along to perform Beijing Opera.
TV Vegas Style
Leo's account of CNN's story on the Xinjiang riots being blocked in China reminds Dick of how Howard Hughes, before the days of the VHS or DVR, used to ask his TV station to rewind parts of a TV programme - while it was being broadcast.
He Said, She Said
Comedian Steve Allen and his actress wife Jayne Meadows were a great couple. They never got an answer wrong on He Said, She Said. The story goes that one night, Jayne Meadows had a dream in which she was caught in a building on fire, and Steve Allen in his own dream rescued her from the building. Both Dick and Leo think highly of Steve Allen, and David Letterman has also admitted he has been very much influenced by Steve Allen, too.
A Fine Analogue
15-year-old Steven Rodriguez, better known by his handle optionshiftk, is in the chatroom while Dick reads his letter. Steven wonders if Dick and Leo are familiar with the raconteur and radio show host Jean Shepherd, famous to modern audience for his Christmas Story, but who for many years hosted a show on WOR Radio in New York, telling stories and anecdotes, reading poetry and making observations about life in New York. Steven has not had the benefit of spending nights with Shep, but the Daily Giz Wiz and other shows on the TWiT Network provide him with a fine analogue.
Leo grew up listening to Shep, which decided Leo's career for him. You can get Jean Shepherd on Audible, or follow the links provided in the website Flick Lives.
Leica DISTO
Laser Distance-Meter
Link: Leica DISTO History
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
The first Leica DISTO was introduced in 1993, and Dick's model dates back to about 12 years ago. After 16 years, and despite its price tag, it is still going strong, with many models to choose from. Here's how it works:
The Leica Disto D8
The latest model is the Leica Disto D8. A 360 degrees tilt sensor enables you to use angles and distances to take a particular measurement (up to 650 feet). A 4x zoom high resolution 2.4" display lets you see the target point easily. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to send data wirelessly to other devices, such as your PC, for use in programs such as Excel and AutoCAD.
- A red laser pointer makes it easy for you to pinpoint the far point for the distance measurement.
- The device emits laser light pulses of a particular frequency and wavelenth.
- Some light pulses are reflected, internally, back to a "reference receiver".
- The rest are allowed through and sent out to the target, which are then reflected back, via a different path (the external measurement path), to another receiver, the "measurement receiver", in the instrument
- The phase difference between the two signals is proportional to the distance between the target and the instrument - which calculates the distance.
The Leica Disto D8
The latest model is the Leica Disto D8. A 360 degrees tilt sensor enables you to use angles and distances to take a particular measurement (up to 650 feet). A 4x zoom high resolution 2.4" display lets you see the target point easily. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to send data wirelessly to other devices, such as your PC, for use in programs such as Excel and AutoCAD.
Creative Advertising
Joshua O'Connell, who has a marketing background, enjoys listening to Dick and Leo discuss some of the creative wording in advertisements. He works for a newspaper (probably the Connecticut Post), and has noticed in the paper an ad headlining a new easy-to-use laptop computer for $188. In smaller type, it advises the reader that the computer is for the buyer to keep for another payment of $188. To create a sense of urgency, the ad predicts that at 7.30 in the morning, hordes of people will jam the telephone hotline. It goes on: It can be used right out of the box because it's pre-loaded with Windows XP! Well, it's just a Comptec.
Listen to Episode 880
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
Joshua O'Connell, who has a marketing background, enjoys listening to Dick and Leo discuss some of the creative wording in advertisements. He works for a newspaper (probably the Connecticut Post), and has noticed in the paper an ad headlining a new easy-to-use laptop computer for $188. In smaller type, it advises the reader that the computer is for the buyer to keep for another payment of $188. To create a sense of urgency, the ad predicts that at 7.30 in the morning, hordes of people will jam the telephone hotline. It goes on: It can be used right out of the box because it's pre-loaded with Windows XP! Well, it's just a Comptec.
Listen to Episode 880
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
Energi To Go AP, SP & XP Lines
Portable Chargers
Link: XPAL Power energizerpowerpacks.com
Energizer has partnered with XPAL Power to introduce their new lines of Energi To Go portable power supply products (quite different from the existing Energi To Go cellphone and iPod chargers). All chargers use Lithium Polymer rechargeable batteries which are lighter, more stable and non-inflammable. Most importantly, they can be shaped into any forms which accounts for the shapes of the AP line of chargers. The 3 lines are:
All models come with the appropriate charging cables and tips. Dick has also been told that Energizer will offer Free Tips For Life - allowing 2 new charging tips every year for owners, during the lifetime of the chargers.
Comedy for a Wedding
Bill Gaines liked Henny Youngman so much that he hired Youngman to perform at his wedding.
- AP series (AP1000 & AP1500) - each charger is just like an ordinary iPhone case with a dock connector into which the phone is slotted.
- SP series (SP 1000 & SP2000) - they contain solar cells for using light energy to charge the batteries (which can also take AC).
- XP series (from XP600 to XP18000) - the standard line of chargers, with power capacity ratings from 600mAh to a whopping 18000mAh, weighing from 1.2 oz to 7.9 oz.
All models come with the appropriate charging cables and tips. Dick has also been told that Energizer will offer Free Tips For Life - allowing 2 new charging tips every year for owners, during the lifetime of the chargers.
Comedy for a Wedding
Bill Gaines liked Henny Youngman so much that he hired Youngman to perform at his wedding.
That New Great Invention
A warm welcome back, to Phillip White from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who last wrote in Episode 406. Phillip heard in Episode 798 about the Digivina, the ultimate in retro style, and snapped it up in no time. The CD-to-vinyl press certainly impressed Phillip, who has been converting his huge CD collection to vinyls. Check it out at digi-vina.com, and look out for Digivina Portable.
A warm welcome back, to Phillip White from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who last wrote in Episode 406. Phillip heard in Episode 798 about the Digivina, the ultimate in retro style, and snapped it up in no time. The CD-to-vinyl press certainly impressed Phillip, who has been converting his huge CD collection to vinyls. Check it out at digi-vina.com, and look out for Digivina Portable.
SPI Shower Radio
Bathroom Radio
Link: SPI Inc, Texas
The SPI Shower Radio is a water-resistant radio for use in the bathroom. It has an FM radio, 2 small speakers, and a liquid crystal analogue clock (an analogue dial using liquid crystal display), and an anti-fog mirror for shaving and grooming. It comes with an FM transmitter to plug in your MP3 player (or any audio source with a headphone jack), for transmitting audio from within 50 feet to the bathroom.
If, like Tim from southern Australia (Episode 47), you want to listen to the Daily Giz Wiz in the shower, this Shower Radio is the one for you.
Born To Kvetch
Peggy Grant is a telecommuter and like Tim, she listens to the show every morning, which gets her off to a great start. She has an Audible book to recommend, Born To Kvetch by Michael Wex, all about Yiddish culture.
DrMom on Yiddish
After Leo botches the pronunciation of "kvetch", chatroom stalwart DrMom (or Dr Lillian Banchik) decides it's time for a lesson in Yiddish for Leo. She calls in on Skype and explains, among other things, the difference between a shlemiel and a shlimazel. Leo gets it immediately. The shlemiel is the hapless one who spills the soup; the shlimazel is the luckless one who gets the soup all over his lap. We get it too: on TTTT, Leo is the shlemiel and Dick is the shlimazel. Watch the clip here in which Dr Mom expounds the intricacies of the Yiddish language (video from odtv.me):
If, like Tim from southern Australia (Episode 47), you want to listen to the Daily Giz Wiz in the shower, this Shower Radio is the one for you.
Born To Kvetch
Peggy Grant is a telecommuter and like Tim, she listens to the show every morning, which gets her off to a great start. She has an Audible book to recommend, Born To Kvetch by Michael Wex, all about Yiddish culture.
DrMom on Yiddish
After Leo botches the pronunciation of "kvetch", chatroom stalwart DrMom (or Dr Lillian Banchik) decides it's time for a lesson in Yiddish for Leo. She calls in on Skype and explains, among other things, the difference between a shlemiel and a shlimazel. Leo gets it immediately. The shlemiel is the hapless one who spills the soup; the shlimazel is the luckless one who gets the soup all over his lap. We get it too: on TTTT, Leo is the shlemiel and Dick is the shlimazel. Watch the clip here in which Dr Mom expounds the intricacies of the Yiddish language (video from odtv.me):
Altec Lansing T612
iPhone-Certified Speakers
Link: Altec Lansing
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
The T612 from Altec Lansing is a set of stereo speakers (60 Watts RMS) with an iPhone/iPod dock, certifed for use with iPhones, which shields the speakers from radio interference from the GSM phone. Henry Laporte has been using a radio clock as speakers which Jennifer got from Crate and Barrel. Leo thinks that his kid should start learning about proper sound quality. That's when the T612 came in. Henry happens to be in the TWiT Cottage and can attest to the quality of the speakers, in answer to blatantly leading questions from Leo. Totally unsolicited approbation, save for the $20 Leo hands over to Henry.
Leo also took with him to China another set of speakers from Altec Lansing, the inMotion iM4 which fold up neatly for travelling.
Gems from the Garbage Can
In Dick's neck of the woods, Thursday is big-furniture-put-out-day, and there are some great finds to be had. Another member of the Laporte family, Eva, who used to live in Brooklyn, can attest to that as well. Dick is still hoping that the pair of Altec Lansing 604 speakers (Episode 850), which his mother gave away years ago, might yet turn up one day, amidst the heap of unwanted, abandoned furniture.
This Is Why You're Fat
Depite Eva's help with his emails, and her very presence in the studio, Leo is still desperately searching for a letter to read. Toyota Boy (Jayzee) comes to the rescue again, and points to the site This Is Why You're Fat, with user-submitted pictures of high-calorie, high-fat dishes, including in particular, the 30,000 calories sandwich. Leo's answer to the question posed by the website is, he used to work at McDonald's.
Leo on McDonald's
Just before the show starts, Leo has an animated chat with Dick about his first job at McDonald's. Courtesy of odtv.me, watch and listen to Leo's exposé on the shelf life of a hamburger.
UniFunnel
Hands-Free Funnel Holder
Link: Unifunnel
Even the apparently simple task of pouring liquid through a funnel offers its own challenges, having to hold the funnel in place while at the same time grappling with the sometimes heavy, sometimes slippery, source container. The Unifunnel is a hands-free funnel holder, which keeps the funnel in place freeing your hands to deal with the load. The Unifunnel has a pair of pliers with spring torque action. Squeeze the pliers to insert the 4 stabilising prongs into any container or tank opening from 1 ¼” to 2 ¼” in size. Once the prongs are inside, release the pliers. This keeps the funnel in place. If necessary adjust the height of the rings. Funnel not included.
Lunar Landing
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11's moon landing, and Leo has succeeded in his first China landing.
The Wine Train
When Dick visits the TWiT Cottage for Episode 900, Leo will play the proper host and take Dick on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Dick, who has been to a wine-tasting session with Bill Gaines, is the ultimate sommelier. He can tell a red wine from a white with no difficulty.
Another DGW Guest
Leo's sister Eva, who now helps Leo handle his emails for the TWiT network, is a big MAD fan and used to read the magazine with Leo. She's over at the TWiT Cottage and goes on camera on TWiTlive, to meet Dick on the air for the first time. Dick is surprised to meet a pretty lady, nothing like Leo's description - facial scars, big ears, missing teeth. She's got the face and Leo's got the voice - and the perfect radio face, Dick observes. Meet Eva Laporte here (video clip from odtv.me).
Steve's Gadget Warehouse
Steve Miller, who has written before about his gadget-buying compulsion, has just come back from a vacation in Peru and is catching up with the back catalogue. Dick and Leo are now responsible for Steve's Altec Lansing Orbit, the Striker Magnetic Light Mine, the Stealth Flashlight, the SlushMug, and the Pogo Plug. Fortunately he already had the Dynaflex Powerball Gyroscope and the Logitech Nano VX Mouse, but he's just bought 2 pairs of tactical pants. He wants Leo to do more bicycle gadgets, as he has no interest in buying them, to save him some money. Leo suffers from the same affliction. Dick will always remember that when he was covering the Ready Kit Plus (Episode 29), Leo had ordered 5 of them before the end of the show (which was all of 7 minutes).
Back on the Ball
By the time this show is aired, Leo is back from his China Tour and it's business as usual at TWiT. Dick and Leo will be back at their Tuesday slot tomorrow recording another 5 episodes of the Daily Giz Wiz on TWiTlive.
Listen to Episode 876
Go to TWiT
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