20 posts tagged “remote”
Remote Buddy
Remote Control Repository and Locator
Link: stuckontools.com
Remote Buddy (not to be confused with the Mac/iPhone app, or the TV-B-Gone in Episode 102) is a 4-compartment repository for your remote controls. The Remote Buddy comes with 4 colour-coded receivers (one for each of the remotes) that go on to the backs of the remotes. If you need to locate a remote, press the corresponding button on the main unit and a beep on the remote will let you know its location.
For a previous remote control locator, check out the Gadget Warehouse resident Magnavox Remote Locator (Episode 265).
More Candidates for the Home Office
Suggestions for the TWiT Home Office's location keep coming in live from the chatroom - Mud Lick in Kentucky, Bald Knob in Arkansas, Batt's Arm in Newfoundland, Toad Suck in Arkansas, Hookersville in West Virginia, Skullbone in Tennessee, Come By Chance in Newfoundland, Two Egg in Florida, and Punkeydoodles Corner, Ontario. Leo is sticking with Cheesequake, New Jersey for the time being.
For other suggestions, see Answer Giz Wiz Questions, where Newfoundland has had the lion's share of funny names. Way back in Episode 164, a listener has written in about some of them. You can listen to it again on twit.tv.
The Question To The Answer
Dick and Leo do a Carnac the Magnificent session (a segment on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson). Prescient answer: Sis Boom Bah. Question: Dick and Leo can't remember, but it's something to do with an exploding sheep. Prescient answer: Butterfield ate 8000. Question: How many hamburgers did Butterfield eat. Here's a good example of Carnac's routine.
Another Qualification on Dick's Resumé
When Johnny Carson took his leave in the summer, the Tonight Show used rotating hosts, each taking a week. One of them was Gene Rayburn, who once brought Dick on to the team of writers. Dick even appeared on the show as representative of the National Safety Council, which is still on a kinescope recording somewhere. Dick has also written for the American version of That Was The Week That Was (TW3).
Mr Podcast
As Milton Berle was called Mr Television, so Leo should be called Mr Podcast, says Dick. Leo is not sure about that title, and Dick has asked what should Leo be called, on Answer Giz Wiz Questions. Check out the answers there.
Titanic - A New Musical
Zud from the chatroom suggests to Leo the musical version of the Titanic on Audible. While Zud may have been pulling Leo's leg, there was a broadway show called "Titanic - A New Musical", and you can find the original cast recording on CD.
Morbid Subjects for Cruise Lectures
Dick has been on the QE2 as a guest giving lectures and talks (see Episode 225). He found out that apparently one of the more popular subjects for lectures is sunken ships, like the Titanic and the Carpathia.
Giz Wiz Lessons Learnt
Ken Ronkovitz from New Jersey had to resubscribe to shows on his iTunes, and rather than subscribing to individual shows, he decided to subscribe to Radio Leo. Lesson 1: Leo has a lot of podcasts. Ken was falling behind with the Daily Giz Wiz and was going to delete some unlistened-to DGW shows, one of which was Episode 750, the Panasonic Travelvision, until a voice told him not to, as he had actually owned the Travelvision. He listened to the show, and to his pleasant surprise heard his previous letter being read by Dick. Lesson 2: Never delete a Daily Giz Wiz episode.
Allen v American Apparel Inc
Woody Allen sued American Apparel for using an image of him as a Hasidic Jew from Annie Hall, with the caption "the high rabbi", on advertising billboards. On 18 May 2009, the case was settled for $5 million. Read the Reuters article. For a picture of the billboard, see the Jewish Journal.
Listen to Episode 844
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
For a previous remote control locator, check out the Gadget Warehouse resident Magnavox Remote Locator (Episode 265).
More Candidates for the Home Office
Suggestions for the TWiT Home Office's location keep coming in live from the chatroom - Mud Lick in Kentucky, Bald Knob in Arkansas, Batt's Arm in Newfoundland, Toad Suck in Arkansas, Hookersville in West Virginia, Skullbone in Tennessee, Come By Chance in Newfoundland, Two Egg in Florida, and Punkeydoodles Corner, Ontario. Leo is sticking with Cheesequake, New Jersey for the time being.
For other suggestions, see Answer Giz Wiz Questions, where Newfoundland has had the lion's share of funny names. Way back in Episode 164, a listener has written in about some of them. You can listen to it again on twit.tv.
The Question To The Answer
Dick and Leo do a Carnac the Magnificent session (a segment on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson). Prescient answer: Sis Boom Bah. Question: Dick and Leo can't remember, but it's something to do with an exploding sheep. Prescient answer: Butterfield ate 8000. Question: How many hamburgers did Butterfield eat. Here's a good example of Carnac's routine.
Another Qualification on Dick's Resumé
When Johnny Carson took his leave in the summer, the Tonight Show used rotating hosts, each taking a week. One of them was Gene Rayburn, who once brought Dick on to the team of writers. Dick even appeared on the show as representative of the National Safety Council, which is still on a kinescope recording somewhere. Dick has also written for the American version of That Was The Week That Was (TW3).
Mr Podcast
As Milton Berle was called Mr Television, so Leo should be called Mr Podcast, says Dick. Leo is not sure about that title, and Dick has asked what should Leo be called, on Answer Giz Wiz Questions. Check out the answers there.
Titanic - A New Musical
Zud from the chatroom suggests to Leo the musical version of the Titanic on Audible. While Zud may have been pulling Leo's leg, there was a broadway show called "Titanic - A New Musical", and you can find the original cast recording on CD.
Morbid Subjects for Cruise Lectures
Dick has been on the QE2 as a guest giving lectures and talks (see Episode 225). He found out that apparently one of the more popular subjects for lectures is sunken ships, like the Titanic and the Carpathia.
Giz Wiz Lessons Learnt
Ken Ronkovitz from New Jersey had to resubscribe to shows on his iTunes, and rather than subscribing to individual shows, he decided to subscribe to Radio Leo. Lesson 1: Leo has a lot of podcasts. Ken was falling behind with the Daily Giz Wiz and was going to delete some unlistened-to DGW shows, one of which was Episode 750, the Panasonic Travelvision, until a voice told him not to, as he had actually owned the Travelvision. He listened to the show, and to his pleasant surprise heard his previous letter being read by Dick. Lesson 2: Never delete a Daily Giz Wiz episode.
Allen v American Apparel Inc
Woody Allen sued American Apparel for using an image of him as a Hasidic Jew from Annie Hall, with the caption "the high rabbi", on advertising billboards. On 18 May 2009, the case was settled for $5 million. Read the Reuters article. For a picture of the billboard, see the Jewish Journal.
Listen to Episode 844
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Belkin Flip Wireless
Wireless KVM Switch
Link: Belkin
Dick has recently got himself a new high-end computer from HP, and although he still has the ClickFree Backup Drive (Episode 629) to back up stuff from his computers, he is still keeping the old computer and he finds himself having to swtich between the two. So he has ordered the Belkin Flip, a KVM switch. There are different versions of the Flip, but Dick's version is the Flip Wireless, which enables you to connect both computers to one set of keyboard, video monitor and mouse.
Just press the small round remote to make the switch. You can even configure it to share speakers.
Audio Issues
Leo has been having audio issues in this recording session (Episodes 719 to 724). He hopes that they can be removed in post-production.
Pet Project
John Cleig has adopted "The Animal Rescue Site" as his pet project. He wants to thank Dick and Leo for generating significant traffic to the site.
WTHII 0811
The November '08 WTHII gadget is the Tube Press, for squeezing the last drop of toohtpaste out of the tube. It turned out that Walgreens started doing a promotion of the item after Dick posted the picture for the contest, and lots of people got the correct answer.
Dick started the What The Heck Is It game before the Daily Giz Wiz, probably at the time of The Screen Savers. Check out the Dec '08 WTHII gadget, which is a listener contribution, which stumped Dick.
Audio Issues
Leo has been having audio issues in this recording session (Episodes 719 to 724). He hopes that they can be removed in post-production.
Pet Project
John Cleig has adopted "The Animal Rescue Site" as his pet project. He wants to thank Dick and Leo for generating significant traffic to the site.
WTHII 0811
The November '08 WTHII gadget is the Tube Press, for squeezing the last drop of toohtpaste out of the tube. It turned out that Walgreens started doing a promotion of the item after Dick posted the picture for the contest, and lots of people got the correct answer.
Dick started the What The Heck Is It game before the Daily Giz Wiz, probably at the time of The Screen Savers. Check out the Dec '08 WTHII gadget, which is a listener contribution, which stumped Dick.
Multi-Colour LED Light Bulb with Remote Control
LED Light Bulb with Remote for Colour-Changing
Link: Think Geek
Another heads-up from a listener, Dan McCormick from Sewell, New Jersey. The Multi-Colour LED Light Bulb with Remote Control can display different colours with its 5W LED, which can be set using the remote control that also adjusts the brightness level and lets you select from a choice of 4 transition effects (flash, strobe, fade and smooth). Think Geek has the following example of one of the uses for this light bulb.
Entertaining The Troops
Back in Episode 43, Dick told us that he received emails from listeners all over the world, including people serving in Iraq. Here's one, if not from a soldier, then at least from a civilian in Iraq. In Episode 694, Dick and Leo wondered if celebrities still go and entertain the troops for the USO. Cory was in Baghdad, Iraq as a civilian from July 2006 to July 2007. The answer is yes, and performers include WWE stars, cheer leading groups, Toby Keith, Kid Rock, and Carlos Mencia.
Dick and Leo wonder if the troops would like to see them demonstrating the use of the CartStopper (Episode 701).
Past Old
Henry Laporte thinks Leo is 20 years past old, and Dick thinks in that case it is appropriate that Leo should give Henry a piece of crap for Christmas.
Listen to Episode 704
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Back in Episode 43, Dick told us that he received emails from listeners all over the world, including people serving in Iraq. Here's one, if not from a soldier, then at least from a civilian in Iraq. In Episode 694, Dick and Leo wondered if celebrities still go and entertain the troops for the USO. Cory was in Baghdad, Iraq as a civilian from July 2006 to July 2007. The answer is yes, and performers include WWE stars, cheer leading groups, Toby Keith, Kid Rock, and Carlos Mencia.
Dick and Leo wonder if the troops would like to see them demonstrating the use of the CartStopper (Episode 701).
Past Old
Henry Laporte thinks Leo is 20 years past old, and Dick thinks in that case it is appropriate that Leo should give Henry a piece of crap for Christmas.
Listen to Episode 704
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
VCR Co-Pilot
VCR Time-Recording Remote Control
Link: Joseph Enterprises
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Inspired by the VCR Plus in Episode 560, listener Karl M. from Phoenix, Arizona saw the VCR Co-Pilot at Goodwill for $1 and bought it for Dick's Gadget Warehouse. The VCR Co-Pilot was designed to avoid having to set your timed recording on your VCR via the on-screen menu which was not always intuitive. The website is still there, and there's even a quick guide for using the Co-Pilot.
Karl is obviously interested in past gadgets. He last wrote in Episode 640 asking Dick if he had the Rabbit Video Multiplier in the Warehouse.
Make Me Mad
For his retirement fund, Dick has been storing a case each of all the Mad books he's written, kept in the Gadget Warehouse, thinking it must be a gold mine. A recent tot-up of the rent for the Gadget Warehouse for the past 20 years (currently $380 a month) makes him realise that his retirement plan doesn't quite add up. So he's selling a lot of his old Mad stuff. A recently discovered case of paperback Good Days and Mad sold out in 6 hours after Dick mentioned it on Twitter. A case of Good Days and Mad hard covers is beckoning. Over the next few months, Dick will be offering to listeners other Mad stuff such as Mad stationery and other things Bill Gaines had, on MakeMeMad.
The Day I Fell Off My Ball
Dick thinks that Leo should one day write about his life, which should make a neat little booklet. "The Day I Fell Off My Ball" maybe, thinks Leo. For previous ideas about Leo's biography or autobiography, see Episodes 320, 324 and 589.
Listen to Episode 665
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Karl is obviously interested in past gadgets. He last wrote in Episode 640 asking Dick if he had the Rabbit Video Multiplier in the Warehouse.
Make Me Mad
For his retirement fund, Dick has been storing a case each of all the Mad books he's written, kept in the Gadget Warehouse, thinking it must be a gold mine. A recent tot-up of the rent for the Gadget Warehouse for the past 20 years (currently $380 a month) makes him realise that his retirement plan doesn't quite add up. So he's selling a lot of his old Mad stuff. A recently discovered case of paperback Good Days and Mad sold out in 6 hours after Dick mentioned it on Twitter. A case of Good Days and Mad hard covers is beckoning. Over the next few months, Dick will be offering to listeners other Mad stuff such as Mad stationery and other things Bill Gaines had, on MakeMeMad.
The Day I Fell Off My Ball
Dick thinks that Leo should one day write about his life, which should make a neat little booklet. "The Day I Fell Off My Ball" maybe, thinks Leo. For previous ideas about Leo's biography or autobiography, see Episodes 320, 324 and 589.
Listen to Episode 665
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
VCR Plus
TV Programme Code for VCR
Link: VCR Plus
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
VCR Plus, started by Henry Yuen of Gemstar, was a system of codes for recording individual TV programmes on your VCR. Each programme had its own code, so that you could just enter the code into the VCRPlus-supported VCR machine or remote control, and your VCR would start recording the appropriate channel at the right time. Watch this TV commercial from 1987.
Audible Jingle
Geoff Smith has made an "Audible Pick of the Week" jingle for TWiT. Check out his ringtones on thegeoffsmith.com/.
Keyboard Cleaning
Mike of Eagle River, Alaska took Leo's advice to heart and put his keyboard into the dishwasher, let it dry for a few days, and even put it in the oven. The result upon reconnection? Sparks flew.
Listen to Episode 560
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Audible Jingle
Geoff Smith has made an "Audible Pick of the Week" jingle for TWiT. Check out his ringtones on thegeoffsmith.com/.
Keyboard Cleaning
Mike of Eagle River, Alaska took Leo's advice to heart and put his keyboard into the dishwasher, let it dry for a few days, and even put it in the oven. The result upon reconnection? Sparks flew.
Listen to Episode 560
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Logitech's diNovo Mini
Mini Bluetooth Keyboard
Link: Logitech
1000 Episodes
Avid listener FreeBSD loves DGW, congratulates Dick and Leo on the successful podcast, and hopes it goes on to 1000 episodes. He also has a story to tell which would go well with the Scala Rider Teamset episode (Episode 369), about teenagers text messaging while driving. He was sitting in Starbucks in Kingston, Ontario, when he heard a crash outside - a lady driver was text messaging while driving and rear-ended the car in front as she turned into the road outside Starbucks.
Episode 500
Dick and Leo are pretty tied up and Dick has not planned anything for Episode 500. Leo suggests that listeners can send in questions to them, and if they answer correctly, listeners can send them crap.
Did you know?
18% of car accidents are caused by women putting on make-up while driving.
Listen to Episode 498
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
ScottEVest Travel Vest
Travel Accessory/Apparel/Technology-Enabled Clothing
Link: Scottevest
And don't forget about the TWiTwear made by Scottevest.
Getting Rid of TV-Addicted Overstayers
Chris Ryden has a special way of getting rid of guests who are addicted to watching TV and overstay their welcome, by using a coax-antenna switch with remote control available from Radio Shack.
Listen to Episode 489
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
iPod 10GB (2nd Gen)
MP3 Player
Link: EveryiPod Engadget iPod Cemetry
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Dick was reminded of the iPod 10GB by a recent re-airing on ABC of an old clip in which Dick showed it on World News Now with Liz Cho.
From Dick's description, this is a second generation model. Introduced on 21 March 2002, it had 10GB hard drive capacity, 10 hours battery life and was firewire only. New to the 2nd Gen was a wired remote, the Touch Wheel (the 1st Gen wheel was a mechanical scroll wheel that actually rotated), calendar and artist search. It was also the first iPod that supported Windows.
Human, Technology, and Canine Time Scales
Dick and Leo talk about different time scales for humans, technology and even dogs, which sets Leo off on an Ethel Merman impression of "Those Were The Days", although Dick thinks it's more like Al Jolson, which should go straight to the Gadget Warehouse. They have previously talked about the different time scales in Episode 120, in which they invented the "gadget year".
iPod Vending Machine
Dick remembers seeing an iPod vending machine in Las Vegas. Dick first told the story in Episode 77, to Leo and Amber MacArthur (the only guest to have appeared on DGW).
HP35
The HP35 (Episode 415) has generated a lot of emails from listeners, including Graham MacDonald from Australia who has bought 6 of them, a graduate from Drexel University at Philadelphia who was a freshman in 1972 when the HP35 came out, and an Air Force recruit who spent one month's salary on an HP35 programmable calculator and later joined HP itself.
Listen to Episode 420
Read Dick's Write-Up
Go to TWiT
From Dick's description, this is a second generation model. Introduced on 21 March 2002, it had 10GB hard drive capacity, 10 hours battery life and was firewire only. New to the 2nd Gen was a wired remote, the Touch Wheel (the 1st Gen wheel was a mechanical scroll wheel that actually rotated), calendar and artist search. It was also the first iPod that supported Windows.
Human, Technology, and Canine Time Scales
Dick and Leo talk about different time scales for humans, technology and even dogs, which sets Leo off on an Ethel Merman impression of "Those Were The Days", although Dick thinks it's more like Al Jolson, which should go straight to the Gadget Warehouse. They have previously talked about the different time scales in Episode 120, in which they invented the "gadget year".
iPod Vending Machine
Dick remembers seeing an iPod vending machine in Las Vegas. Dick first told the story in Episode 77, to Leo and Amber MacArthur (the only guest to have appeared on DGW).
HP35
The HP35 (Episode 415) has generated a lot of emails from listeners, including Graham MacDonald from Australia who has bought 6 of them, a graduate from Drexel University at Philadelphia who was a freshman in 1972 when the HP35 came out, and an Air Force recruit who spent one month's salary on an HP35 programmable calculator and later joined HP itself.
Listen to Episode 420
Read Dick's Write-Up
Go to TWiT
Telectra TI 1000
Remote/Wireless Caller ID
Link: intlresources archive
From Dick's Gadget Warehouse ...
The maker was Telectra (not Telcetra as mentioned in the podcast). Dick has corrected it on his website. This gadget was sold before the phone caller ID service became common, with a wireless unit that you could keep away from the phone itself.
Ring Tone for Dick DeBartolo
Leo has a special ring tone on his phone for Dick's calls.
Inventory System for the Gadget Warehouse
Anish, which rhymes with quiche, writes again and asks what is the system of arranging the gadgets in Dick's Gadget Warehouse, after listening to Episode 246. There is none.
What the Tech?
Dick had some fun with Leo about his TV show "The Lab with Leo Laporte", which now has a fun game called "What the Tech?", a rip-off of tribute to Dick's "What the Heck Is It?" contest.
Sad News
Ronco, the gadget company originally founded by Ron Popeil (which he sold off in 2005), filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on 14 June 2007.
C. Crane LED Lights
Energy Saving LED Light Bulbs
Link: C. Crane
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
These are energy-saving LED light bulbs that work with standard light fixtures, from Robert C Crane (or Bob Crane), who is an inventor and radio fanatic. LED is more efficient in producing light, and with improved technology, it can produce stronger and more powerful light than before. It saves more engergy than incandescent light bulbs (recently banned in Australia) and compact fluorescent lights, and lights up instantly unlike the latter. The C. Crane website has a wide range of lights to choose from. Dick is particularly impressed by this TTTT recommendation, for a change.
Botts' Dots
In Episode 206, Leo mentioned the Bott's Dots in California. A listener says you would not find them in New York, as the snowploughs would scrape them off. He also mentioned that he was at CES 1979 when Pioneer did a demo of the Laser Discs - which gets Dick and Leo reminiscing about RCA's invention as a rival to the laser disc in the 1980's, the Selectavision video discs, or the Selectadiscs. Find out more at CED Magic.
Listen to Episode 277
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Botts' Dots
In Episode 206, Leo mentioned the Bott's Dots in California. A listener says you would not find them in New York, as the snowploughs would scrape them off. He also mentioned that he was at CES 1979 when Pioneer did a demo of the Laser Discs - which gets Dick and Leo reminiscing about RCA's invention as a rival to the laser disc in the 1980's, the Selectavision video discs, or the Selectadiscs. Find out more at CED Magic.
Listen to Episode 277
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
