11 posts tagged “toilet”

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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The Early Choices Toilet Seat is a combo toilet seat for both adults and babies.  The baby seat can be fitted on to any standard bowl over the adult seat and can be flipped up and down.  A new model is coming which will fit an elongated bowl.

Clomping in Klompen
TWiT fan Michelle from Utrecht in the Netherlands has paid a visit to Leo at the TWiT Cottage, and brought him a pair of wooden clogs.  Leo puts them on and dances to the Monday Theme.

Model Trains
Dick as we all know is a model train enthusiast, with an LGB G-scale model train set in his backyard, which he first talked about in Episode 1.  Dick talks about the different scales in model trains (for more info see e.g. Model Train Scales Explained), while Leo talks about a model dream estate of a friend of his, complete with a train set.  You can see his model train in action on Dick's archive website gizwizbiz.com or on YouTube.


Answers in Surround Sound
In Episode 829, Dick and Leo asked about the possibility of doing the podcast in stereo sound.  Answers came back in surround sound.  Frank Bailey from Japan who listens to the show on his daily commute on his bike says no, as he listens with only one earphone so that he can listen out for what's happening around him.  Ditto for James Glenn.  Curt Estridge from Vienna, Ohio listens to the show at work also with one earbud, leaving his other ear or half of it for his boss.  Ditto for Eric Burke from Prior Lake, Minnesota, and another listener from Iowa.  That's an overwhelming number of one-ear listeners.


Listen to Episode 841
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Back in Episode 220, a listener wrote in about a partly-automated pet toilet, called LitterMaid.  The CatGenie, on the other hand, is a fully-automated toilet for the cat.  The unit is connected to your bathroom's fresh water supply and waste disposal plumbing.  It has a toilet bowl with Washable Granules sitting over a grid/filter (which rotates during cleaning).  After the cat has done its business, infrared sensors will automatically activate (although you can choose manual activation) the cleaning process - a long, extensive and elaborate procedure including filtering, scouring, pulverisation, a number of water cycles, draining and hot air drying.  The whole process takes 15 minutes according to Dick, although a user on YouTube says it's more like 30 to 35 minutes.  It's best to watch the video to see how it works.

To complete the setup, GenieDomes, Genie Sidewalls and GeniePaws are available as accessories for different covers for the CatGenie and your cat.

Dusty the Cat
Sadly Leo's old cat had to be put down recently.  Meanwhile, Dick has got in new stock for his GizWizBiz Caps, and Alfred E Neuman is standing underneath David Blaine the illusionist waiting for some loose change to fall down.

WizneyLand
For a catchy name for Dick's mansion, Aston from Plymouth, England suggests WizneyLand, or Taj My Hall.  Leo learns, to his surprise, that Mickey Mouse has yellow feet (or shoes).

Toilet Tunes consists of 2 parts, a motion sensor which you stick to the underside of the lavatory lid (waterproof and washable), and a music player.  Keep the lid down at all times.  When the lid is lifted, the motion sensor will send a wireless signal to the music player which will start playing music or nature sounds of your choice (jazz, modern, Latin guitar, rain, ocean waves, mountain stream).  An idea of screenwriter Lewis Green, the intended purpose is to alert others that the toilet is being occupied.  A unique toilet privacy solution.

Or you can lock the bathroom door.

New Thursday Theme
The new Thursday Theme by Dan Lueders gets aired today.

GizWizBiz Ice Cube
The GizWizBiz Ice Cube is not available for sale, but comes free if you order 2 or 3 GizWizBiz Caps.

The Ancient Sounds of Tetris
19-year-old Samuel Lewis seldom gets nostalgic over Warehouse Friday gadgets, but he was born in the year the Nintendo Game Boy (Episode 595) came out, and had one of them when he was old enough to play it.  He now plays a Nintendo DS, but still has the tune of Tetris in his head.


Listen to Episode 604
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The gadget with the lowest tech and lowest price, according to Dick.  The TT Pack is a restroom kit which contains a toilet seat wipe, toilet seat cover, hand wipe, tissue, paper towel and disposable gloves.  Brought to you by Eye 2 Eye Ideas.

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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Leo was sent the MOTOROKR S9 along with the MOTORIZR Z8 from across the pond (Episode 380).  The MOTORIZR is not available in the US, but the S9 is.  It's a pair of bluetooth stereo headphones, particularly good for listening to music.  Works with any phone or bluetooth device supporting A2DP.  The battery "bulge" is behind your neck, so you don't need to look like a borg, as Leo puts it.  Comes with red or black lining.

Music playback, volume control and call-answering can be done via touch-sensitive controls next to the earpieces.

Wait-For-Dick Jingle ...
... or perhaps a Wait-For-Leo-To-Play-The-Jingle Jingle would have been more appropriate.  Dick has to answer the door for a UPS/Fedex delivery.  This is the moment we've been waiting for since Episode 346, when Paul Minshall made the Wait-For-Dick Jingle, only to have Leo spoil it for us.  Dane Golden has obviously declined to edit out the long wait, to let us have a fly-on-the-wall experience.  At least Leo redeems himself by giving us a a good farce.

Dyson Airblade
Dave Gross from Blackpool, England writes in about a hand dryer that blows out air at a phenomenal speed which Dick mentioned in passing in an earlier episode.  On a recent trip to the Eden Project in Cornwall, Dave saw one of those in the men's room.  It's the Dyson Airblade.  For a picture of and a link to the Airblade, see Episode 394.

A Men's Room Story
Dick has a story to tell about an NBC man with an umbrella.

Listen to Episode 417
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With an automatic sensor for the perforations in the paper towel roll, the iTouchless Towel-Matic dispenses one sheet, two sheets, or the new half page sheet.  You do have to press a button to make your selection, and pull off the sheets yourself. Dick asks, "Why?"

Dick likes the Touchless Trashcan series rather better.  The lid opens as you approach the bin.

Yale Celebrities
Leo knows a few celebrities from Yale, including Donna Dubinsky, founder of Palm, and Stone Phillips of Dateline NBC.  He's just come back from a Yale college reunion.

Leo, Leo, Leo
Kyle White, a web designer for Techlogica, writes to Dick, and talk about Leo, Leo, Leo.  Dick is a little peeved.