14 posts tagged “av”
Belkin Powerline AV+ Starter Kit
HomePlug Network Adapters
Link: Belkin
Today's gadget arrived during the recording of yesterday's episode, and Dick and Leo play "What's In The Box?" again. It's Belkin's Powerline AV+ Starter Kit. The set uses the HomePlug technology to set up a network within your house using the power circuit, for sharing internet connection.
The Starter Kit consists of 2 Network Adapters. Plug the first adapter (which has only 1 ethernet port) into a wall outlet and connect it to your router. Plug the other adapter (which has 3 ethernet ports) into a wall outlet and connect up your computer or other devices into any of the 3 available ethernet ports. Your internet connection can then be accessed on such computer or devices (such as AV equipment or game console).
Data transfer is encrypted using 128-bit AES. The rated data transfer speed is 200 Mbps, useful for areas of your house which are difficult to reach by WiFi or ethernet cables. The transfer rate is claimed to be good enough for "HD Movies".
There is another, cheaper, model called the Powerline AV Starter Kit (without the + sign). Same specs but both adapters have only 1 ethernet port.
Match Game Moments
Last Saturday Dick appeared live on Stickam for his Match Game Moments.
An Oasis of Laughter and Silliness
Aaron B has been a fan since the early 1720's when Dick and Leo used to bellow at each other about the latest innovation in quills. Life is a rollercoaster but through thick and thin Dick and Leo have provided him with an oasis of laughter (and silliness, adds Leo). He saw the R2D2 Soy Sauce Bottle on the Star Wars Shop and felt compelled to share it with Dick and Leo. It's also available on Amazon. The soy sauce pours through the Holo Projector.
A Sea Captain
Dick was once told by a psychic, who detected the salt spray in Dick's beard, that he had been a sea captain in a previous life.
Christmas Schedule
Leo is off to France for Christmas, but they will be pre-recording some shows which should cover much of Christmas.
Data transfer is encrypted using 128-bit AES. The rated data transfer speed is 200 Mbps, useful for areas of your house which are difficult to reach by WiFi or ethernet cables. The transfer rate is claimed to be good enough for "HD Movies".
There is another, cheaper, model called the Powerline AV Starter Kit (without the + sign). Same specs but both adapters have only 1 ethernet port.
Match Game Moments
Last Saturday Dick appeared live on Stickam for his Match Game Moments.
An Oasis of Laughter and Silliness
Aaron B has been a fan since the early 1720's when Dick and Leo used to bellow at each other about the latest innovation in quills. Life is a rollercoaster but through thick and thin Dick and Leo have provided him with an oasis of laughter (and silliness, adds Leo). He saw the R2D2 Soy Sauce Bottle on the Star Wars Shop and felt compelled to share it with Dick and Leo. It's also available on Amazon. The soy sauce pours through the Holo Projector.
A Sea Captain
Dick was once told by a psychic, who detected the salt spray in Dick's beard, that he had been a sea captain in a previous life.
Christmas Schedule
Leo is off to France for Christmas, but they will be pre-recording some shows which should cover much of Christmas.
iSoniCast
iPod Accessory - Wireless Streaming
Link: Monster Cable
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
The iSoniCast enables wireless streaming from your iPod to your home stereo or other powered speakers. Monster Cable calls it a "wireless audio bridge".
Connect the base station to AC power and to your home stereo and to one of the audio inputs of your home stereo (via the mini-jack to RCA cable provided). Plug the transmitter into the iPod (which draws minimal power from the iPod), start playing and the music will be streamed by 2.4GHz wireless technology (with a bandwidth of 4 Mega-bits per second) to the base station receiver. The iPod doubles up as a remote control.
Mad Currency
Randal Schwartz, Perl expert, co-host of FLOSS and long-time fan of DGW, came across an entry on Wikipedia about fake denominations of US currency and found that the Mad currency (3-dollar bill) which Dick talked about in the past (see, e.g. Episode 121) has made its way into that entry. Dick goes on to describe the Alfred E Neuman postage stamps that Mad used to make.
Spork Cartoon
Dick and Leo mention in passing a spork cartoon which listeners have written in about. Leo says he is going to save it for the Letters Section, but naturally he forgets. While we wait for Dick and Leo's memory to come round, here's one which is pretty good, by Jakin J Waldock.
Listen to Episode 567
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
iConvert
USB Turntable/Vinyl Records Digitisation Device
Link: Brookstone
A stereo combo complete with amplifier, AM/FM radio, speakers and a turntable, from Brookstone. On the front panel of the iConvert is a USB port, where you can plug in a USB thumb drive, and an SD/MMC card slot, where you can insert a flash card, to convert your 33⅓ or 45 rpm vinyl records into MP3 files and store on to your flash memory. Choice of encoding bit rate from 32 kbps to 256 kbps. No need for a computer. You can also connect it to your home stereo system via the line-out.
The iConvert is a cheaper option than the Crosley Songwriter in Episode 229 (which plays 78 rpm vinyls and cassette tapes as well, but records directly on to CDs). Another option often suggested by Leo and mentioned in this episode is the ION USB Turntable (TTUSB) which is even cheaper, and plays 78 rpm records, but needs to be hooked up to a computer.
Dick also refers to the iConvert in Episode 6 of Don Reisinger's The Digital Home Podcast, and talks about many other things, including, naturally, Mad.
Dane and Dean
Recently Dick has been calling Dane Golden, TWiT's Editor-in-chief, a different name - Dean. That hasn't dented Dane's enthusiasm for the show, who has recently posted a YouTube video of an old footage of Dick on the 50th Anniversary of Mad Magazine. Read Dane's blog on InsideTWiT.
Favourite Days of the Week
B Schwartz writes to Dick to say that his favourite days of the week are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He also asks Dick to forward the following email to Leo: "My favourite day of the week is Tuesday!"
Listen to Episode 529
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Dick also refers to the iConvert in Episode 6 of Don Reisinger's The Digital Home Podcast, and talks about many other things, including, naturally, Mad.
Dane and Dean
Recently Dick has been calling Dane Golden, TWiT's Editor-in-chief, a different name - Dean. That hasn't dented Dane's enthusiasm for the show, who has recently posted a YouTube video of an old footage of Dick on the 50th Anniversary of Mad Magazine. Read Dane's blog on InsideTWiT.
Favourite Days of the Week
B Schwartz writes to Dick to say that his favourite days of the week are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He also asks Dick to forward the following email to Leo: "My favourite day of the week is Tuesday!"
Listen to Episode 529
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Coby's Digital Photo Frame DP-5588
Digital Picture Frame/PMP
Link: Coby USA
A digital frame which Dick came across at CES 2008. From Coby, the DP-5588 has a multi-card slot for the major digital camera flash cards. Its 5.6 inches LCD screen (has a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. It can do the usual slide show, but has extra functions. It has integrated stereo speakers, for playing mp3 and wma files. It can even play video files (mpeg 1, mpeg 2, mpeg 4, composite audio and video output for connecting to your home theatre, USB2 connection to your PC, and comes complete with an analogue alarm clock.
Generic Drugs
Lee Paterson, who was one of the winners for a WTHII contest, was going to pretend that he lives outside North America to get a plug of his website. He came clean after all, got his Mad Magazine prize, and a plug from Dick for his website Drug Price Info.
Mad Hits the New York Times
The New York Times has reported on the March issue of Mad, which contains an exposé of "Why George Bush Is In Favor of Global Warming", with illustrations by 10 Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonists. You can see a slide show of the cartoons on the NY Times website.
Listen to Episode 504
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Generic Drugs
Lee Paterson, who was one of the winners for a WTHII contest, was going to pretend that he lives outside North America to get a plug of his website. He came clean after all, got his Mad Magazine prize, and a plug from Dick for his website Drug Price Info.
Mad Hits the New York Times
The New York Times has reported on the March issue of Mad, which contains an exposé of "Why George Bush Is In Favor of Global Warming", with illustrations by 10 Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonists. You can see a slide show of the cartoons on the NY Times website.
Listen to Episode 504
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
AudioEngine 5
Powered Speakers / iPod Accessory
Link: Audio Engine
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Approximately 10" (H) x 7" (W) x 8" (D). 14 pounds for the left speaker and 9 pounds for the right. Available in black or white.
Also available is the AudioEngine 2 (A2) which is designed for the desktop, smaller in size and less powerful, without the built-in iPod and Airport Express connectivity.
The Amazing Criswell ...
... the psychic weather man or woman and DGW listener, writes again (see Episode 176). In Episode 438, Leo thought Election Day is the first Tuesday of November. Criswell corrects Leo. It's actually the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Listen to Episode 442
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
BIC Beam Box FM10
Electronically Directable FM Antenna
Link: Audio Heritage
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
BIC (British Industry Corporation) used to make very high end turntables, and import other audio equipment such as Garrard turntables, Luxman amplifiers and Wharfedale loudspeakers. It still makes loudspeakers. From 1977, the Beam Box FM10 was the first Electronically Directable FM Antenna. You could fine tune an FM signal by simply turning the knobs on the Beam Box.
Vincent DeDomenico Dies
Vince DeDomenico, son of Italian immigrants and who turned a neighbour's Armenian family recipe into the Rice-A-Roni - "The San Francisco Treat", died on 18 October 2007, write Marilyn and Daryl Holmquist. Vince also built and ran the Napa Valley Wine Train.
Listen to Episode 440
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Sony Video Walkman
Portable Hi8 Player/Recorder
Link: Wikipedia on 8mm Video
Dick's Gadget Warehouse Live
This is the first Gadget Warehouse Friday recorded live in Dick's Gadget Warehouse, complete with the Jingle Singers. For production trivia relating to this episode, read InsideTwiT's blog.
The Sony Video Walkman played and recorded on Hi8 tapes and had a 4" colour LCD screen. Dick's model was the GV-S50. Back in those days, Sony even released films on Hi8 tapes. Dick's collection included Ground Hog Day, Falling Down, A Few Good Men, and Crying Game.
Crosley Disc Brakes
Episode 229 on the Crosley Songwriter CD Burner reminds Jeff from Knoxville, Tennessee of the Crosley Disc Brakes. LOL
Listen to Episode 250
Go to TWiT
StarTech CPNT410IR
4-to-1 Component AV Switch
Link: StarTech
Running out of Component inputs at the back of your TV? The StarTech Converge 4-to-1 AV Switch gives you a few more. Connect the box to a component input on your TV. At the back of the box are 4 component inputs to which you can connect 4 input devices. The remote control allows you to choose which input to use.
The Best of DGW
George Wood has prepared a "best of" episode for hoilidays, but unfortunately it arrived after Leo had left. Leo promises that it will be played.
Beach Experience
Even though Dick has owned many boats, he hates the beach. Leo was once in Nassau in the Bahamas with Sumi Das for an appearance on TechTV, but all they had was 17 minutes in which to run down to the beautiful beach, dip their toes in, and run back to get on with the journey ...
Dick in London
... and that reminds Dick that he was asked to go to London to promote the Snake Light for Black and Decker, and they had lined up 31 programmes for him, leaving him no time to see London.
[Update: For a more recent version of the Snake Light, see Episode 298, the LED Snake Light.]
Not For Sale
The Daily Giz Wiz is not for sale to companies that sell digital cables with gold-plated jacks, but long-term lease enquiries are welcome.
Microsoft Bob
Steve L from New Jersey points out that the product manager of Microsoft Bob (Episode 215) was one Melinda French, now Mrs Bill Gates.
The Social
Leo looks up the Merriam Webster Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary for the meaning of "social" (The Zune, Episode 202) as a noun. He tries to find the British Heritage Dictionary. Really. How about something from Oxford?
No Mad Minute
No Mad Minute yet. Leo has yet to sort out the tapes.
Listen to Episode 221
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Sonic Impact V55
Portable AV System/iPod Accessory
Link: Amazon
Connect your iPod to Sonic Impact's V55 and you can watch your video on a bigger screen, or just listen to your music.
Gnip Gnop
Patrick from Atlanta, Georgia explains the name of the previous listener Gnip Gnop (Episode 184). Over 30 years old, Gnip Gnop is a board game, with "Ping Pong" spelt backwards, even though it has little to do with Ping Pong.
Mad Minute
Leo must have run out of Mad Minutes.
iHome2Go
Portable iPod Speaker System/Alarm Clock
Link: iHome
iHome2Go is another
iPod acessory, a portable speaker system with a dock for all iPods (including the Shuffle) and an alarm clock, so you can wake up (or sleep) to the sound of your music. Comes in a travel case, with a remote control. Black, white or silver. Runs on 4 AA batteries, or AC, and the dock acts as a charger when it's connected to AC.
Waking up to the sound of DGW
Jan from Germany now sets DGW to play in the morning to wake him up.
It's Official
Paul Minshall's gravy jingle is now the official jingle for DGW.
Jingle from Dougall
Leo plays a jingle by Dougall/Dugal from Australia - an echoed version of Leo/Dick singing "It makes its own gravy" and "I'll be here".
Album Art
Leo mentions that at the request of some listeners, he's put a picture of the gadget, instead of Dick's smiling face, into the album art. It started with Episode 121.
Listen to Episode 124
Read Dick's Write-Up
Go to TWiT
