39 posts tagged “camera”

Leo was tempted to buy the Palm Pre (Episode 862), but after Apple announced the features on the latest iteration of the iPhone, Leo got the iPhone 3GS instead.  It has a faster processor and hence the "S" suffix for speed.  In addition to the GPS which already existed in the iPhone 3G, the 3GS has a compass (as on the Android G1 in Episode 686) which in due course will enable more applications based on the magnetometer, e.g. like the Layar browser on Android.  The Find Me feature on the Mobile Me service will help you locate your phone based on its network connectivity.  The Kill Switch can remotely erase all your personal data on the phone via the internet in case you have lost the phone.

The auto-focus camera is now 3 megapixel, with the ability to change the focus after you tap a particular point on the LCD display, which also adjusts the white balance and exposure.  It's now capable of capturing video (640 x 480), with software to do simple editing or trimming on the phone itself.

Some of the other more commonly requested features, such as "copy and paste", MMS and tethering, have finally found their way into the iPhone 3GS.  Multitasking, however, is still restricted.

Video Trimming on the iPhone 3GS
Leo has tried the video trimming function oh his new iPhone 3GS, and it works for him.  Here's Apple's demo video:

Scott-E-Vest Wardrobe in a Tom Bihn Bag
For his China Tour and MacMania 9 Geek Cruise, Leo has packed an almost exclusively Scottevest wardrobe, in his new Tom Bihn Tri-Star (see Episode 865) which, it is hoped, Leo will cover on a TTTT.  Right now, Leo has finished the trip in China and should be in Japan on the Costa Classica.  Follow his AudioBoos, and view Leo's gallery on Smugmug.

Ed McMahon Dies
Ed McMahon, whose appearance in the Johnny Carson Show is often the subject of reminiscence on the Daily Giz Wiz, passed away on 23 June 2009, aged 86.

Another Cheesy Infomercial
Jayzee, better known as Toyota Boy, notes that cheesy infomercials have often been the subject of conversation on the show, and has recently seen a really cheesy one.  It's the Comfort Wipe, a toilet paper extension arm and holder.  The original infomercial can be seen on YouTube, but perhaps a more interesting version is a spoof of it shown on Jimmy Kimmel Live, featuring President Obama, also available on YouTube.

Bidets Rule Supreme
Alex Lindsay is much enamoured with the bidets in Japan which wash your behind (and some even blow-dry you), and offer choices of water-jet speeds and temperatures, and temperature-controlled seats.  They are available in the US and Alex has bought one for his family.  An extreme example is the Bio Bidet Supreme BB-1000 with Remote that leaves nothing to the imagination, but there are more reasonably-priced toilet add-ons on Amazon for your more basic comforts.



Listen to Episode 872
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Suzy Snapshot

Flash-Sensitive Doll

Link: Amazon

Galoob (acquired by Hasbro) made the Suzy Snapshot Doll in 1991.  The doll came with an imitation camera which did not take photos but would only flash.  The doll itself was light-sensitive and would change her pose upon detecting the flash.

eBay Rehabilitated

Leo had a bad experience trying to buy something on eBay, but was ready to give it another chance, and recently bought his new mixer on eBay.

In Episode 781, Dick talked about the snow in New York and how the subway might be affected.  Chris Pashoni works as a train operator at the Coney Island Subway Yard in New York, and has written in to tell Dick how snow does affect the New York Subway.  While other people may get a day off, they have to fight their way to work.  Trains where possible are moved to underground storage locations.  Trains exposed to the snow may cause the automatic brakes to activate; signals can freeze; and there are other potential problems.  They have to go to work 2 to 4 hours early to prepare the trains for service.  They also use special Sweeper Trains to clear the tracks of snow.

Dick is still very impressed by Leo's professionalism on the day they did Match Game Memories together (video available at odtv.me).  Leo had done hours of programming already, but as soon as the Match Game theme came up, Leo was ready.  Leo wished he were Gene Rayburn, doing a show like The Match Game.

Picture this.  A one-time use Polaroid instant camera.  The Pop Shots camera from the late 1990's gave you 10 instant shots (using Captiva film).  Although it was disposable, you were encouraged to send the camera body back to Polaroid using the mail envelope that came with the purchase of the camera.  Dick has not just one, but two of them, one in its unopened packaging, which might still fetch $200, or less.

Wait For Dick
Another gadget delivery for Dick during the recording.  Leo is ready with the jingle, twice over.  It's from SuperAlert, which Dick will talk about on Monday.

Schlage LiNK at TWiT
Dick has sent a Schlage LiNK (Episode 768) Leo's way, which Leo will install at the TWiT Cottage.  Leo has taken over the last remaining part of the TWiT Cottage and there will be a guest room available for Dick next time he visits.

The Power Behind
Leo might start selling the TWiT Set.  There's nothing in it except for the power behind it.

A Neverlate Round the World Trip
When Frederick Baronet heard about the Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock (Episode 761), he knew it was for him.  With its coverage coming from New York and California, Frederick ordering it from the UK, to be shipped to his holiday home in France, where he would pick it up and take it with him to Beijing where he works, the country where the clock was probably made in the first place, the Neverlate has done a truly international circuit.

More Match Game Memories
Dick will do his Match Game Memories (or Moments) again, and Leo will channel Dick through TWiTLive.  It's likely to be on a Sunday evening after the recording of TWiT itself, 29 March 2009.


Listen to Episode 785
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 A suggestion from a listener Caleb Mixson.  The Intra-Oral Mini-USB Tooth Camera is shaped like a toothbrush, and when connected to a PC via USB, will power on (with 4 white LED lights to illuminate your teeth) and can take 800 x 600 pictures of your teeth.  Windows only, and no Vista support.  You can use it on your skin too!

Although the gadget is described as a wireless tooth camera on TWiT and in the MP3 Tag information, the gadget today is a wired USB tooth camera.  There are wireless tooth cameras out there, such as the Chinavasion Wireless Dental Camera, which are more expensive.

Favourite Episodes Vote Results
Results of the Favourite Episodes Vote held by Ludwik Trammer at GizWizSearch are out.  It's a tight race at the top.  Leo's hot favourites the Spork and the Toothpick Bird were narrowly edged out by Dick's UroClub.

There were exactly 666 votes.  Rumour has it that there have been unusually intense voting activities from IP addresses traceable to around Amsterdam Avenue and 83rd Street in New York City, and Petaluma in California, although at this stage the rumour cannot be verified.

Here is Ludwik's announcement:

"So ladies and gentleman - 10 favorite Daily Giz Wiz episodes of all time (from 10 to 1):

10. Cruzin' Cooler (Episode 101)
An ice chest you can ride on, with gas or electric models.

9. GFX-100 Indoor Dish Antenna (Episode 670)
From about 1990, the GFX-100 Indoor Antenna distinguished itself by its advertisement.  "No cable fees because you're not getting cable."  "No sateliite fees because you're not using satellite technolgy."  "Works indoors like ordinary rabbit ears."  "Captures signals right out of the air!"

8.  A Visit To The Gadget Warehouse (Episode 246)
A special episode on Dick's Gadget Warehouse recorded in the warehouse itself when Leo was in New York City filming Regis & Kelly.

7.  Key Buoy (Episode 149)
Dick and Leo call the Key Buoy a marvel of engineering.  If you go boating and accidentally drop your keys into the sea, the key buoy will expand and eject an upright 14" bright orange air tube above the water. The episode also includes an important health advisory.

6.  Vat19's Talking Photo Album (Episode 463)
From VAT19, this photo album holds a total of 24 4" x 6" photos and you can record a 10-second message, description or commentary for each page which can be played by pressing the "Play" button. Despite Leo's ADD condition, always trying to do ten things at a time, he seldom slips up really badly. But this time Leo just doesn't get it. One of Dick's favourite episodes.

5.  A Tribute to William M. Gaines (Episode 76)
The first DGW not to feature a gadget, this is a tribute to William M. Gaines, the founder of Mad Magazine.  Dick has created a website in his memory at www.williammgaines.com.

4.  Zelco PurseGuard Ultra (Episode 406)
The PurseGuard Ultra is an anti-theft hanger which you put near the edge of a table, from which you can hang a handbag, shoulder bag, backpack or your shopping.  It sounds an alarm if anyone tries to lift the bag off the hanger. It's not often that Leo gets a real chance to trash Dick's gadgets, and Leo isn't about to let it slip away.

3.  Titanium Spork (Episode 182)
A hot favourite, on Halloween. Dick calls it El Crappo Plus, but the audience love it, and it still gets talked about in fan emails.

2.  Toothpick Bird (Episode 282)
Exactly 100 episodes after the Spork comes another piece of crap from under Leo's desk. Leo was to have his revenge in Episode 413 when Dick gives us another bird, Squawkers McCaw.

... and the title of the favorite Daily Giz Wiz episode of all time goes to...

1.  UroClub (Episode 598)
The UroClub gives true meaning to the word "portapotty".  Made to resemble a golf club in appearance, it is a hollow tube with a cap which unscrews, to help a male golfer who can't find a restroom nearby to answer the call of nature.

Congratulations!

Ludwik"

The UroClub
As Dane Golden puts it on TWiT, "You're in the right place when you go golfing with the UroClub."  Check out Episode 598 again, and also Episode 601 for a listener's reaction while answering a different call of duty.

In celebration of the UroClub's victory, here's a new DGW Avatar:



Favourite Episodes of 2009?
Ludwik wasn't planning on having another vote for 2009, but heck, if Dick says there is one, then there will be one.  Maybe.  On every page of each episode on Ludwik's GizWizSearch, in the Episode Information section, there is a Vote, with 5 stars for rating.  Just click the number of stars you think the episode should get, and that's your vote.  You can rate as many episodes as you please.  So type in the episode number and click the stars, just for the fun of it.

GizWizSearch and InsideDGW
Dick gets the two sites a little mixed up today, about what's happening where, and who's doing what.  Who can blame him?  Leo tries desperately to put him back on track.  If you want to vote, go to GizWizSearch.  For everything else, go to GizWizSearch, too.

Third Anniversary Coming Up
DGW started on Monday 20 February 2006 with the Docupen, and the 3rd Anniversary is just around the corner.

WTHII 0901
The January '09 WTHII gadget picture was turned upside down by Dick.  Answers include a Marie Antoinette Lego head, a Halloween Frankenstein mask, and a pasta extruder,



It's the Airyusha Robotan Toilet Paper Holder.  You can read about it on The Green Head, and buy it on audiocubes.com.  As you might imagine, it's Japanese-made.




Listen to Episode 759
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Kodak and other camera companies joined forces in 1991 to develop the Advanced Photo System (APS), which was introduced at PMA in Las Vegas in 1996.  It was intended as an alternative to or replacement of the conventional 135 film format.  APS film was 24mm wide, compared to 35mm of the 135 format, and the surface area was only 56% of 135 film.  It offered 3 aspect ratios - C type (Classic, conventional 3:2 aspect ratio), H type (HDTV, 16:9), and P type (Panoramic, 3:1).  Consumers could choose an aspect ratio for individual films on the same cartridge.  It also offered Magnetic Information Exchange which could record exposure information, date and time and other personalised information on a magnetic coating, which could be printed on to the backs of photographs.

The film cartridges manufactured by Kodak were marketed as Advantix Film.  In January 2004, Kodak announced that it would stop selling APS cameras.

Polaroid at CES 2009
Speaking of old-timers, Polaroid announced a digital camera at CES, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera.  It's a camera and a PoGo Printer (Episode 683) in one.  Little is known about the specs of the camera itself (apart from the PoGo printer capability).  It seems Polaroid is still hanging on to the idea of instant prints.


Getting Smug
Steve Miller thanks Dick and Leo (especially Leo) for introducing him to SmugMug to which he has moved from Flickr.  Now he is putting his old pictures and slides on to SmugMug.

All Things Obama
Mad has just had its 3rd Obama cover out, while the previous two are selling on eBay.  Leo has been invited to the inauguration ceremony for his campaign contribution, along with the rest of the public, and has been invited to buy all the official Obama merchandise.


Listen to Episode 745
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Leo was going to talk about this gadget last Tuesday but he forgot.  It's the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a full frame digital SLR camera.  Leo bought the 5D for his wife Jennifer, which he ended up using, including on this trip to Tasmania.  Canon had been leading the field for a while until Nikon caught up by vastly improving low light performance on its D3 through advances in noise reduction and eschewing pixel count increase.  Canon has now released the 5D Mark II which has bridged the gap with Nikon in terms low light performance, although it can be imagined that the improvement must have been limited by the increase in pixel count to 21 MP.

The biggest buzz of the 5D Mark II, for the time being, is its capability to shoot 1080p H.264 Quicktime HD video at 30 fps, up to a maximum file size of 4GB (usually about 12 minutes), with HDMI output - one up over the Nikon D90's 720p video capability.  Automatic White Balance and Autofocus work during recording.

For sample videos, go to Canon's website for the Vincent Laforet video (scaled down resolution), or Digital Photography Review for full resolution short clips.  For Leo's interview of Vincent Laforet, check out The Tech Guy Episode 495, starting at 1:39:58.

Slow Down
It took a trip to Vegas for CB to catch up with the Daily Giz Wiz.  Slow down, says CB.


Listen to Episode 742
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The Yashica KC600, also called Kyocera DR350, hails from 1997, with 640 x 480 resolution, removable memory, and optical viewfinder.  With an included 2MB CF card, it could take 8 photos and sold for $599.

DGW fan Pablo recently (in Episode 722) heard about Dick's first digital camera (the Casio QV-10, Episode 15) and wanted to donate the Yashica KC600 to the Gadget Warehouse.  He got it for $300 but had to pay $150 for a 6MB CF card.

CES Reports on Stickam
Dick intends to talk about CES on Stickam from his hotel room in Vegas.  Follow him on Twitter and TWiT Army to get the details.

Apple Quicktake
Three years before the Yashica KC600 was the Apple QuickTake 100, same resolution, 1MB storage for eight 24-bit photos, cost $750.

Dick and Leo surmise that at this CES, they will see 64GB USB sticks.

Time to be Born
Leo asks Dick, if he could choose any time to have been born in, what time would he choose.  8.30 pm, says Dick.  Leo would like to be born as late as possible, because he wants to see what the future holds.  Dick wants to have been born in 1900, but with all the gadgets he now has.

Radio Leo
Jeff Royal from Braunfels, Texas (who last wrote in Episode 563) heard the request by a listener for a single weekly download of DGW (Episode 730), and thinks that there should be a single weekly download of all of Leo's podcasts.  Not quite, but Leo already has something like that, an RSS feed of all of Leo's podcasts, all under one roof, called Radio Leo.


Listen to Episode 740
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Leo finally gave something to Jennifer which she loved, but sadly she has lost it, but Leo may well buy her another one.  It's the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, a compact camera.  It's at the high end of compact/point-and-shoot cameras.  Instead of simply upping the pixel count meaninglessly on a tiny CCD sensor common in compacts, Panasonic has decided to stay at a decent 10 MP, but on a larger CCD sensor, which means less noise, especially for high ISO images.  Available in silver and black.

The Leica lens range is 24mm to 60mm (35mm equivalent), which is very wide, with a small sacrifice of the zoom range.  It offers 3 aspect ratios - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2, but all shot with the same angle of view.  Image stabilisation is by way of lens shift technology.  The lens is a very fast lens for a compact, with aperture values from F2.0-F8.0 at the wide end, and F2.8-F8.0 at the telephoto end.  On the back is a 3" LCD screen, but no view finder (although an expensive view-finder accessory is available).  Supports RAW and JPG.  ISO values from ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with an additional high sensitivity mode (1600-6400).  Has an off-axis pop-up flash, with AF Assist Lamp.  Takes movies at resolutions up to 720p at 24 fps.  It also has a hot shoe for add-ons, such as a flash or viewfinder.

The combination of a fast lens and image stabilisation means you need resort to high ISO values less often, but if required, high ISO performance is better than most cameras in this category due to the larger CCD size and the resulting lower noise, outperforming the Canon G10 and Nikon Coolpix P6000 at ISO 400.

A real advance from the first sub-$1,000 consumer digital camera, the Casio QV10 (Episode 15).

For a detailed review of the camera, see Digital Photography Review.  For Scott Bourne's mini review, go to TWiPPhoto.

Off to France
Leo is off to France today to visit Abby.  The pre-recorded shows should cover most of the holiday season.

Guest Appearance
Jennifer has always been shy of the camera, but today she makes a special appearance with Ozzy.



Letters Jingle Special Mixes
Dan Lueders is still at it, giving us more versions of the Letters Jingle (the original and festive versions written and performed by George Wood aka the Jingle Singers, from Scotland).  Leo plays some of the new versions:  Disco, Elvis, Beatles, Santana, and Punk renditions.

Coming Soon: The 12 Days of GizWiz
Paul Minshall has also done a Christmas special for his favourite podcast the Daily Giz Wiz, for his GizWiz friends.  It's a video called "The 12 Days of Giz Wiz", which will be played soon.  If you can't wait, go to Paul's blog.

The 12 gadgets featured on the video are: (1) Nokia N93 from Episode 172, (2) Toothpick Bird from Episode 282, (3) Road Mice from Episode 698, (4) Power Squid from Episode 24, (5) Titanium Spork from Episode 182, (6) Scott-E-Vest from Episode 34, (7) Sony Walkman from Episode 55, (8) Palm Pilot from Episode 590, (9) CubiCaller from Episode 381, (10) Toilet Tunes from Episode 604, (11) Uroclub from Episode 598, and (12) Drobo Backup from Episode 332.


Listen to Episode 722
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The Konica Konpai or KANPA! came out in November 1989 and was the world's first voice-operated film camera.  Designed as a party camera, it came with its own automated motorised tripod, complete with shoes.  When you turned the microphone on, the fixed 34/35mm lens, autofocus camera would first sense the current level of noises.  It would then turn (within an arc of 45˚) towards a burst of noise above the prevailing level and take a "candid" picture.  "Products to Watch", said Fortune Magazine in March 1991.  The list price was $216 in 1991.

The name of the camera is KANPAI, not Kanpa, with the letter "I" looking like an exclamation mark " ! ".  "Kanpai!" is a Japanese phrase (there is a similar phrase in Chinese) which literally means something like "empty the glass", and is the equivalent of the English interjections "Toast!" or "Bottoms Up!" - in line with the camera's selling feature as a party camera.

When originally released in 1989, the camera was red in colour.  Later models came in black.

Coverage of this camera on English language websites is scarce.  Digicam History is one (thanks to G Arch in the Chatroom), the archived Fortune Magazine article (above), and CNet UK includes it in an article on Crazy Cameras: 7 Strange Snappers.  The camera smacks of a Japanese sense of humour, and as might be expected, you can find the camera quite easily on Japanese websites.

The top photo (black) is taken from http://arrow-camera.weblogs.jp/garakutayatsuhan/2008/09/kanpai-b930.html.  The second photo (red) is taken from http://canon-a.fantastic-camera.com/dasoku/kanpai/kanpai.htm.  The last photo (haha) is taken from CNET UK.

Konica, Minolta, Sony
Konica and Minolta, both long-time Japanese camera manufacturers, struggled in the digital age, and merged in 2003 to become Konica Minolta.  3 years later, Konica Minolta sold its camera manufacturing business to Sony, and all that remains is its office supplies (such as photocopiers) business.

Ego Searches
Dick and Leo compare Google search results on their names/handles.

From Dick's Store
Dick reminds us that he's unearthed more Match Game Cards, and paperback versions of his book Good Days And Mad.

Weekend Shows
Don't forget to catch up on the weekend shows, the Saturday Theme and Sunday Theme.



Barbara's Pick
Barbara our live studio audience has been sitting through this week's recordings, and she has a pick of the week.  It's an iPhone app called iRetroPhone.  It gives you the picture of an old rotary dial phone, and you use your finger on the touch screen to turn the dial to input the numbers, complete with visual animation and sound effect.  Cool!


No Letters Today
Dick gave us 2 letters yesterday, but today Dick and Leo forget to read a letter.


Listen to Episode 685
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Swann Communications' Flashlight DVR is a flashlight which can also take videos/snapshots.  It's a heavy duty flashlight, with 3 levels of brightness, and the infrared sensors provide night vision up to 13 feet.  But you can also turn it into a camcorder for taking videos (640 x 480 MPEG-4), or a camera for taking snapshots.  128MB built-in memory, but has a card slot for mini-SD, up to 2GB.  USB-enabled.

Off To France
Leo's daughter Abby is off to France today.  Leo and Jennifer are going to be a bit teary.

MST3K
Doug from Stanhope, New Jersey, knows Dick loves doing movie satire in Mad, and writes in about the old TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, which did running commentaries on bad movies.  The creators of the show now produce just the audio running commentary soundtrack which you can download from their website, and play it at the same time as the movie.  It's at RiffTrax.


Listen to Episode 648
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