12 posts tagged “commercial”
The Peek
Email Device
Link: GetPeek
The Peek is a small, thin portable device that does nothing but email, not for the hardcore techie but aimed at those who find computers too complicated and just want to start using email. It's a take-off of the Blackberry in design, with a qwerty keyboard and a thumbwheel at the top right. If you use a web-based account (such as hotmail, gmail, AOL), all you need to do is key in your email address and password, and it will download your contacts for you. If you use an email account provided by your ISP, you'll need to call Peek Support. It supports up to 3 email accounts on one machine.
The backbone of the wireless service is provided by T-Mobile. You do need to open an account with the Peek, for $20 a month. It's a monthly subscription, and there's no need for a long-term contract. Available in 3 colours (aqua, red and grey) at Target stores and GetPeek itself.
20 Funniest Episodes
Eric Whistler has gone back to some of the older episodes, including the classic Episode 182, the Spork. Eric wonders if Dick and Leo have their favourite, say, 20 funniest episodes. Difficult to pick, but Dick remembers fondly the Purseguard Ultra (Episode 406), and the Talking Photo Album (Episode 463) in which Leo had a Gracie Allen moment.
The Burns & Allen Show
Dick recounts moments from the Burns & Allen Show, and Leo plays a YouTube video of an "embedded" commercial for Carnation Milk, and forgets whether they've read a letter or not.
Mr Microphone
Wireless Microphone
The report on Engadget was of a hack by kipkay who took the device apart and put in a high end mic into the gut. The main photo of above of Mr Microphone is taken from the video kipkay made of the hack.
DGW Commercials
Paul Newell from Yucaipa, California, in response to the letters of complaint in Episode 641, writes in to support commercials on DGW.
Cheesy Recipes
Talk of commercials reminds Dick of the awful recipes in the Kraft commercials, voiced-over by Ed Herlihy, and Leo drifts into the lyrics of MacArthur Park.
Listen to Episode 650
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NAJA King
iPod Touch/iPhone Accessory
Link: thoughout.biz
There is a similar model for the Nano, simply called the NAJA.
Colleen and Tony drove for 10 hours with all the camera gear to Vegas for New Media Expo, and had the camera on the way.
Inside the GE Genesis Diesel Locomotive
A Screensaver fan Bob, an engineer from Metro North (where Dick once lost, and found, a shoulder bag, see Episode 291), has taken Dick on an inside tour of a new diesel locomotive.
Skytel
Dick in Episode 635 thought that Skytel, the paging service, was no longer in operation. It turns out that it is alive and kicking, and a number of listeners still use its service, including DoctorMom (Twitter handle), Jeremiah from Detroit, and George Brickner.
DGW Commercials
A couple of DGW listeners are upset that the podcast is now "50% commercials" and will stop listening. There are always people who resist them, and those who support them, such as listener Trey, back in Episode 168, who wrote a nice letter to Dick about missing the first round of Visa commercials.
Listen to Episode 641
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AutoTether
Boating Safety
Link: AutoTether
The AutoTether solves this problem by doing it wirelessly. The main unit, which has a wireless signal receiver, is connected to the engine kill switch. A mobile remote unit worn by the operator (or any passenger) sends radio signals to the main unit. If the operator or passenger falls overboard, the radio signal transmission is cut off, since radio signals cannot travel through water. The main unit detects the signal cut-off, stops the engine and sounds an alarm at the same time. The system operates by AAA batteries, with low-battery warning indicators.
The AutoTether kit comes with one main unit and 2 mobile remote units. It can accommodate a total of 4 remote units (extras can be bought separately). Other applications include using it at a beach or around a pool, if you don't want a young child to go into the water unsupervised. You can also set a range for the remote unit so that when the remote unit goes out of range, the main unit will sound an alarm.
Dick has written a fuller article on this gadget in PowerBoat Magazine. Here's the link.
Did you know?
... that Dick was involved in the production of a Playboy Club musical Little Annie Fanny, and Leo did a TV commercial for Clarks Shoes.
Party Line
The PhoneMate Just In Case Beeper (Episode 540) brings back memories for Paul Pigozzo from London, Ontario, not only of his grandmother's rotary phone with 30 feet of cord, but also her "party line" - one telephone shared by several households, and the telephone gives off different rings for different households.
Naturally, whenever a rotary phone is mentioned, Leo inexorably talks about Steve Wozniak's Rotary Cellphone again.
Listen to Episode 614
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TT Pack
Restroom Kit
Link: TT Packs
Are We Related?
Trevor from Sebastopol, Australia was glad to hear that both Dick and Leo are watch junkies. So is he. He's got loads of watches, most of which have flat batteries.
Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair has done a special on Mad. See the article, with early Mad covers, online.
Spork Commercial
At Dick's request, Leo plays the Spork TV commercial.
Listen to Episode 558
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HP Printing Mailbox with Presto Service
Physical Mailbox for a Virtual Email Account
Link: HP
This gadget is a great idea for folks who do not have a computer but want to receive emails. Join the Presto service which will give you an email address, and when an email is sent to that address, the HP Printing Mailbox, which is a colour printer connected to a phone line, will print out the emails and attachments. It's like a real mailbox right in your house.
Crazy Calls
Scott from PA was much amused by Dick's stories of wacky answering machines messages in Episode 259, and has sent in a link for the old TV commercial for the Crazy Calls answering machine cassette tape.
Gadget Collection
Steve Miller from Westerville, Ohio has bought the following since listening to DGW Episode 162: Sanyo Xacti HD1a, OpenX, Buddha Machine, Titanium Spork (x4), iTurbo, Invisible Shield, 6-in-1 Personal Safety Device (x3), Xpower Powersource Mobile 100, Dell WFP 24" Monitor, NewerTech USB2 Universal Drive Adapter, Spion Spy Voice Recorder, Slingbox, PowerSquid, Gorillapod, and the Absolutely Mad DVD.
Listen to Episode 279
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Temperature-Controlled Faucet Light
Faucet with Temperature Indicator
Link: Think Geek Hog Wild Toys
A new version of the Faucet Light (Episode 154). Now it streams blue LED light up to 89°C, beyond which it streams red LED light.
No Tostino Sponsorship
Leo finally finds out that he won't be getting any Tostino sponsorship, as the company is called Totino.
Gadget Purchase
Listeners have been buying gadgets covered in DGW, including Leo who is going to buy this Temperature-Controlled Faucet Light.
Father And Son Team
Young Rowan Ajenstatt has been listening since the 200th Episode and has bought Absolutely Mad (Episode 214). Dick and Leo give a shout to his father Frank who has been listening since Episode 1.
Listen to Episode 269
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Sportscaster
Portable XM Radio
Link: XM-Radio-Satellite
The Sportscaster is a portable XM radio. It's not limited to sports channels, but it's called the Sportscaster probably because it's small and sporty. It's about 4.5 inches wide, less than 2 inches high and 0.75 inches deep. Comes with a Car Kit (antenna, cigarette lighter adapter and remote control). There's also a Home Kit for it.
Dick heard on 1010WINS about some guy registering the word "netcast". Leo explains.
Leo on XM
Leo is trying to get his radio show on to an XM channel.
Letters Jingle
Leo refers to the Letters Jingle writer George Wood as being from London. Wrong again!
Commercials
A listener Trey misses the commercials, and has written to Visa about supporting the show. Leo says he's turned down sponsorship offers from GM, IBM, Proctor and Gamble, but he'll accept commercials for potholes.
Mad Minute
A visit to the Turbulent Air Maintenance Shop.
Listen to Episode 168
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Saitek Eclipse II Keyboards
LED-Backlit Keyboards
Link: Saitek
The Saitek Eclipse II Keyboard is an LED-lit keyboard, and you can switch the colour from red to blue to purple, with a dimmer function. This was the FedEx delivery to Dick during the recording of Episode 150.
You say ergonomical, I say economical ...
... Dick and Leo at cross-purposes. So what's new?
The Budding Businessman
Dick wanted to be a writer but his father would have none of it and sent him to a business school, where Dick learned touch-typing, which ultimately helped his writing. Dick's career as a businessman was nipped in bud when Mad accepted his article.
Did you know?
Dick's father made architectural bronze grilles for riverbanks. The railings outside the Oyster Bar near Grand Central Station in New York were all designed by him.
&^%&$#
Learn the art of swearing in print from Dick, which Dick puts to good use in writing for Mad about Chef Ramrod in Yell's Kitchen.
The Big Finish
The current letters jingle is from Finland, and according to Dick, the one with the big finish
DGW Commercials
A listener has written in to support the ads. Dick has to spend $12,000 to $15,000 a year going to all the fairs and trade shows.
Cool Cooler
A listener went to the LA County Fair recently and saw the cool Cruzin' Cooler (Episode 101) in action, plus the Scrolling LED Name Tag (Episode 109).
Match Game Special
The special programme on Match Game will air in October 2006 on the Game Show Network.
Mad Minute
Another repeat of sex therapist Dr Rude.
Listen to Episode 156
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Read Dick's Write-Up
Joby Gorillapod
Camera Tripod
Link: Gorillapod
The Gorillapod from Joby is a camera tripod that doesn't rely on a flat surface but rather can wrap around many different surfaces. 3 models: Original, SLR, and SLR Zoom, for different strengths. The height of the tripod, by twisting the legs, range from 2 to 8 inches. It's also easy to pack away.
Podcasts You Love ...
... From People You Trust. The first DGW to feature the TWiT Network intro. This version was to last for only 2 weeks.
1111
Dick has his PIN on the back of a card written backwards, which criminals and hackers couldn't see unless they have a mirror. It's 1111.
A couple of guys looking for stuff
Leo searches for a letters jingle submission while Dick looks for the Perry Como "We Get Letters" song.
Finlandia
Leo plays a letters jingle submitted by Henrich Antonin, a fellow podcaster from Finland.
Loud Commercials
Bob Kay from New Hampshire explains why TV commercials always seem to sound louder (Episode 140). Leo is getting hate mail for putting ads on the show. He has toyed with the idea of paid subscription, but doesn't think it will succeed.
The song Dick has in mind is the theme from the "We Get Letters" segment on the Perry Como Show, when he did requests. Check out its entry in IMDb. Perry Como also released an album called "We Get Letters" in 1957, but it did not include the theme itself. See Wikipedia. The theme did make an appearance, however in the 1958 album "Saturday Night With Mr. C" as "We Get Letters/Dear Perry": See Wikipedia.
The lyrics go: "Letters, we get letters, we get stacks an' stacks of letters . . . Dear Perry . . . would you be so kind, to fill a request, and sing the song I like best?"
Leo plays a recording of the song in Episode 303.
The song was later adapted by Paul Shaffer as the CBS Mail Bag theme on the David Letterman Show.
Mad Minute
A repeat of the sex therapist Dr Rude.
Listen to Episode 151
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