14 posts tagged “toy”
Beat Blender
Music Mixer
Link: Wild Planet Instructions techdweeb
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Released in June 2006 and designed by Eric Shank, the Wild Planet Beat Blender was a music mixer that had 3 tracks controlled by 3 beat selector buttons (Drums, Rhythm and Lead). Each track had 4 or 5 music samples, plus a silent beat. There were 4 tempo settings. From these controls, you could make your own loops. You could even piggyback more than one Beat Blender together to create longer songs. Wild Planet does not make it any more, but hacked versions can be found on the web.
Got Audible
Regular correspondent Steve Miller spent 2 hours trying to get Paul Minshall's Audible Theme out of his head. In the end he had to go to the Audbile website, and bought himself Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a book previously recommended by Leo and Paul Thurrott of Windows Weekly.
Weekend Pursuits
If you're in NYC at the moment, Dick recommends an exhibition organised by Gladstone Gallery of works by Basil Wolverton, dubbed by a New York Times article as "The Michelangelo of MAD". Then head off to the High Line Park.
Listen to Episode 890
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
Wowwee Flytech Bladestar
Toys
Link: Wowwee
From Wowwee, the Flytech Bladestar is billed as an "indoor flying machine". Not quite a helicopter, just the blades. The infra red remote control uses 6 AA batteries, which can be connected to the blades for charging. 10 minutes of charging gives you 5 minutes of flight time. It has an avoidance mode, so it can steer away from obstacles such as a wall. Comes with 2 spare wings. If you buy two, you can get a "dog fight adapter" so the two can duel with each other.
Propeller on a Stick
If you want a full helicopter, Dick has talked about the PicooZ Helicopter before (Episode 204), or you can get the Dragonfly that Leo mentions. For something simpler, try looking for the retro toy propeller on a stick, or make one yourself - with full instructions on sci-toys.com.
Pitchmen
If you want a full helicopter, Dick has talked about the PicooZ Helicopter before (Episode 204), or you can get the Dragonfly that Leo mentions. For something simpler, try looking for the retro toy propeller on a stick, or make one yourself - with full instructions on sci-toys.com.
Pitchmen
Dick and Leo have recently talked about infomercial-man Billy Mays (in Episode 820). Discovery Channel has a documentary on Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan, called Pitchmen.
Learning English on Audible
Paul Griswold, who's visited Dick at his office at MAD, has found another use for Audible. Paul has a Japanese wife, who finds listening to Audible books, along with the book itself borrowed from the library, a great way of learning English.
Bat Boy The Musical
Bat Boy was a fictional creature (half-bat, half-boy) featured in the old tabloid Weekly World News, and made his way into an off-Broadway musical, in which he started learning English by watching Masterpiece Theatre (originally hosted by the late Alistair Cooke, now by Laura Linney). There's even a recording on CD of the musical by the original cast.
Listen to Episode 833
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Learning English on Audible
Paul Griswold, who's visited Dick at his office at MAD, has found another use for Audible. Paul has a Japanese wife, who finds listening to Audible books, along with the book itself borrowed from the library, a great way of learning English.
Bat Boy The Musical
Bat Boy was a fictional creature (half-bat, half-boy) featured in the old tabloid Weekly World News, and made his way into an off-Broadway musical, in which he started learning English by watching Masterpiece Theatre (originally hosted by the late Alistair Cooke, now by Laura Linney). There's even a recording on CD of the musical by the original cast.
Listen to Episode 833
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
BuckyBalls
Magnetic Game
Link: GetBuckyBalls
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Leo has been having an embarrassment of riches recently for TTTT, and today he gives Dick 2 choices, a big ball or a small ball. Dick goes for the small one. From Zoomdoggle, BuckyBalls are "rare earth magnets" in the shape of tiny balls which can be shaped, molded, torn apart from one another and snapped together. Each set contains 216 of these balls (made of neodymium iron borate according to the chatroom), and the challenge is to turn them into different shapes. Leo is trying to make a necklace out of them for Jennifer as an anniversary present. They're not replacements for iron pills, Dick adds, so do not swallow.
The Other BuckyBalls
Buckyballs is also the name given to spherical fullerenes - carbon molecules in the shape of hollow spheres - named after architect and inventor Richard Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller, because they resemble geodesic domes which are often associated with Buckminster Fuller who popularised the idea: photo below from Wikipedia Commons.
Buckyballs is also the name given to spherical fullerenes - carbon molecules in the shape of hollow spheres - named after architect and inventor Richard Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller, because they resemble geodesic domes which are often associated with Buckminster Fuller who popularised the idea: photo below from Wikipedia Commons.
The World's First Geodesic Dome
Fuller did not invent the idea and design of the geodesic domes. A German, Walther Bauersfeld, working for Carl Zeiss, did that in about 1922, for the Planetarium at Jena, the world's first geodesic dome. Photo from zeiss.de/planetariums.
The Littlest Giz Wiz Fan: It Makes Its Own Brandy !
Yesterday, Dick read the letter from David Sanders, whose children, aged 5, 8 and 10, sing the Monday Theme in the morning. Today, Leo also has a letter from another fan whose young son sings another Daily Giz Wiz theme. Sage from Olympia, Washington, has a son Brayden who was born 4 months after the launch of DGW (which was in February 2006). 3-year-old Brayden can now sing the Gravy Jingle, DGW's closing theme, even though it sounds like "It makes its own brandy!" You can watch it on YouTube.
The Daily Giz Wiz Torment
Brayden is not the only toddler to be captured on video singing the Gravy Jingle. Last year we had a 4-year-old singing it on YouTube.
A Show for the Incontinent
Dick thinks that the age for their show's audience is either 2-4 years old, or 50-90. Yes, Leo says, if you can't hold it, we've got a show for you.
Listen to Episode 827
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Yesterday, Dick read the letter from David Sanders, whose children, aged 5, 8 and 10, sing the Monday Theme in the morning. Today, Leo also has a letter from another fan whose young son sings another Daily Giz Wiz theme. Sage from Olympia, Washington, has a son Brayden who was born 4 months after the launch of DGW (which was in February 2006). 3-year-old Brayden can now sing the Gravy Jingle, DGW's closing theme, even though it sounds like "It makes its own brandy!" You can watch it on YouTube.
The Daily Giz Wiz Torment
Brayden is not the only toddler to be captured on video singing the Gravy Jingle. Last year we had a 4-year-old singing it on YouTube.
A Show for the Incontinent
Dick thinks that the age for their show's audience is either 2-4 years old, or 50-90. Yes, Leo says, if you can't hold it, we've got a show for you.
Listen to Episode 827
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
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
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.
New York Subway in the Snow
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.
A Professional
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.
Fuzz That Wuzz
Soft Toys
Link: Mary Meyer
Fuzz That Wuzz is a line of cuddly soft toys or stuffed animals made from recycled plastic bottles, designed by Mary Meyer. Each toy contains at least the equivalent of at least 10 plastic bottles that are saved from being dumped into landfills.
The Giz Wiz Musical
Leo has taken yesterday's letter rather too literally. He's treated it as a licence to write his own libretto and sing to his heart's content.
Railroad Riding in Sonoma Valley
Dick was given a link to people having fun on a hand-car on abandoned railroad tracks in the Sonoma Valley. Dick is very jealous. Here's the link.
Dick was given a link to people having fun on a hand-car on abandoned railroad tracks in the Sonoma Valley. Dick is very jealous. Here's the link.
Whine Train
Leo is still feeling contrite about not having arranged anything for Dick when Dick last visited Petaluma for GizWizLive. Next time he's going to take Dick on the Napa Wine Train.Wine Tasting
Dick was once taken to a wine tasting event by Bill Gaines. At the end of it, he could tell red wine from white. For more on the story, see Episode 87 and Episode 718.
China Contacts
Ron Schmidt's daughter has worked in Beijing for 15 months, speaks Chinese and teaches English there. Ron has kindly offered her as a contact for Leo on his Far East tour (from 3rd to 18th July) in case he needs any help.
Leo's China Geek Cruise
Leo studied Chinese (History) at Yale but has never been to China. He's very excited about this tour, the first week of which will be a land tour, during which he will be visiting places in China including Beijing, Xian (terracotta soldiers), Guilin (the scenic Li River). The cruise, which starts at Tianjin, will include Cheju Island in South Korea, Fukuoka and Nagasaki in Japan, where Leo would like to take Henry to see the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims. That's a lot of mileage to cover in 2 weeks, but then Leo is used to doing 10 things at a time.
Listen to Episode 789
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Uncle Milton's Force Trainer / Mattel's Mind Flex
Mind Games
Link: starwars.com telegraph.co.uk
More from the Toy Fair. The Force Trainer from Uncle Milton consists of a wireless headset which reads your brain waves through dry sensor technology to detemine the level of focus or concentration. The data is sent wirelessly to the main unit at the base of which is a fan. The higher your concentration, the stronger "the Force", and the stronger the power of the fan, which will send the ball (or Training Sphere) higher up the cylinder.
Mattel's Mind Flex works in a similar way. The setup is a little more complicated in that you are supposed to levitate the ball to different heights and sideways through an obstacle course (with the help of a control knob). Both games use a form of EEG (electroencephalogram, as Leo explains). The Force Trainer measures the alpha, beta, gamma and delta brian waves and uses an algorithm to interpret the data to arrive at your level of concentration, while the Mind Flex measures your theta brain waves to arrive at your degree of focus.
To see Dick trying out the Mind Flex at the Toy Fair, watch the ABC World New Now video: Toy Fair Extra.
Taking Failure To Heart
Dick and Leo are still smarting from the letter yesterday complaining about their singing (or at least Leo's). As performers, they take any suggestion of failure to heart. They're not singing today's jingle.
TWiT Dependants
Dick wonders if he can get 0.1% of the TWiT audience as dependants for tax deductions.
Customs Regulations
Ernest Bergstrom, 63, has been a MAD fan since forever and thanks Dick for all the laughs. About Dick's parcel to Ludwik in Poland (see Episode 773), Ernest remarks that Dick and Ludwik have been lucky. The Customs Regulations provide that you may not send printed matter of any kind.
The Ultimate Ludwik Package
Apart from taking failure to heart, Dick has also taken Leo's suggestion in Episode 773 to heart. Dick has created "The Ultimate Ludwik Package", on sale at GizWizShopping. The package contains the following GizWizBiz items: the LED Cap, the Ice Cube, the Lighted Folding Pen, the Cliphanger, the USB Smart Button, something new called the Mini-Strobe, and an autographed copy of MAD. Since there are only 6 Ice Cubes left, only 6 of these packages are available, for just under $50 (with a saving of $24).
Byte
Leo has a "Leo Laporte Beanie Baby" - named Byte.
Listen to Episode 778
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
To see Dick trying out the Mind Flex at the Toy Fair, watch the ABC World New Now video: Toy Fair Extra.
Taking Failure To Heart
Dick and Leo are still smarting from the letter yesterday complaining about their singing (or at least Leo's). As performers, they take any suggestion of failure to heart. They're not singing today's jingle.
TWiT Dependants
Dick wonders if he can get 0.1% of the TWiT audience as dependants for tax deductions.
Customs Regulations
Ernest Bergstrom, 63, has been a MAD fan since forever and thanks Dick for all the laughs. About Dick's parcel to Ludwik in Poland (see Episode 773), Ernest remarks that Dick and Ludwik have been lucky. The Customs Regulations provide that you may not send printed matter of any kind.
The Ultimate Ludwik Package
Apart from taking failure to heart, Dick has also taken Leo's suggestion in Episode 773 to heart. Dick has created "The Ultimate Ludwik Package", on sale at GizWizShopping. The package contains the following GizWizBiz items: the LED Cap, the Ice Cube, the Lighted Folding Pen, the Cliphanger, the USB Smart Button, something new called the Mini-Strobe, and an autographed copy of MAD. Since there are only 6 Ice Cubes left, only 6 of these packages are available, for just under $50 (with a saving of $24).
Byte
Leo has a "Leo Laporte Beanie Baby" - named Byte.
Listen to Episode 778
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Rubik's TouchCube
Touch-Sensitive Toy
Link: Rubik's TouchCube Business Wire
Dick attended the Toy Fair in New York 2 weeks ago and one of the exhibits was the classic puzzle Rubik's Cube, now available in electronic form, called Rubik's TouchCube. The original cube sold 350 million copies. The new TouchCube, developed by TechnoSource, it features a touch technology to enable a swiping action to move the coloured lighted squares around. An accelerometer detects the positioning of the cube so that teh swiping action is restricted only to the top-facing side.
You can pause the game at any time and the built-in memory will restore the state of the puzzle when you last played it. It can also give you hints, or simply solve the puzzle for you. Comes with sound effects to choose from, and a display stand which recharges the TouchCube.
Skype Issue
If Dick's voice sounds less than perfect today, it's because the Skype connection during the recording of the show was a bit rickety.
Dripping Shower Award
Irishman Luigi Benedicenti writes in to inform Dick and Leo that the Daily Giz Wiz has won the Best Shower Podcast at the Dripping Shower Awards, also called the Drippies. Colleen, dressed in a fetching wet suit and wearing a golden neck chain, accepted the award (2-pound gold shower head with a single encrusted 30-carat diamond in the shape of a teardrop) on behalf of TWiT, who thanked Dane Golden for changing her life, since she walked away with a $50,000 gift basket.
You can pause the game at any time and the built-in memory will restore the state of the puzzle when you last played it. It can also give you hints, or simply solve the puzzle for you. Comes with sound effects to choose from, and a display stand which recharges the TouchCube.
Skype Issue
If Dick's voice sounds less than perfect today, it's because the Skype connection during the recording of the show was a bit rickety.
Dripping Shower Award
Irishman Luigi Benedicenti writes in to inform Dick and Leo that the Daily Giz Wiz has won the Best Shower Podcast at the Dripping Shower Awards, also called the Drippies. Colleen, dressed in a fetching wet suit and wearing a golden neck chain, accepted the award (2-pound gold shower head with a single encrusted 30-carat diamond in the shape of a teardrop) on behalf of TWiT, who thanked Dane Golden for changing her life, since she walked away with a $50,000 gift basket.
Leapster 2
Educational Hand-Held Gaming Console for Children
Link: Leapfrog
This is version 2 of Leapster from Leapfrog, for children 4 to 8. A learning system (or handheld gaming console) for children, with learning games. Now it can be connected to the TV as well. Parents can also check the progress of the child online.
Tug Boat Races
Dick was off boating over the Labor Day Weekend, and witnessed some tug boat racing, while Leo and Jennifer helped Abby pack before her trip to France.
A New Hat for Leo
Leo got a freebie from Cat of Let's Knit Together.
New Parking Meters
Another Festive Letters Jingle is played in the heat of September, while Leo sips his tomato and basil hot soup. Yowan Pearson from Montreal was listening to Episode 616 (Parking Meter Alarm) in which Dick and Leo talked about the price of parking. In downtown Montreal, most of the parking is 3 or 4 dollars an hour. Parking meters are now replaced by an electronic parking booth - no need for coins, but you cannot add time to your previous payment.
Listen to Episode 651
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Tug Boat Races
Dick was off boating over the Labor Day Weekend, and witnessed some tug boat racing, while Leo and Jennifer helped Abby pack before her trip to France.
A New Hat for Leo
Leo got a freebie from Cat of Let's Knit Together.
New Parking Meters
Another Festive Letters Jingle is played in the heat of September, while Leo sips his tomato and basil hot soup. Yowan Pearson from Montreal was listening to Episode 616 (Parking Meter Alarm) in which Dick and Leo talked about the price of parking. In downtown Montreal, most of the parking is 3 or 4 dollars an hour. Parking meters are now replaced by an electronic parking booth - no need for coins, but you cannot add time to your previous payment.
Listen to Episode 651
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Franklin Speaking Spelling Bee
Educational Toy
Link: Franklin
The Speaking Spelling Bee from Franklin is a handheld game station with a qwerty keyboard, for playing spelling games.
You can compete against the machine itself, or against your friends (up
to 6 players). It also has a Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Thesaurus and
Rhyming Dictionary. For children ages 8 upwards.
Happy Birthday
... to Henry Laporte who turns 14 today. Dick wonders what Henry is getting for his birthday, which explains his expressionless face resembling those depicted in Grant Wood's painting American Gothic. Henry is getting, with the help of Colleen, a skateboard made of aircraft aluminium, and Corinthian leather, just like the Chrysler Cordova, as advertised by Ricardo Montalban.
A Family Affair
The Epistle of the Day is from Brian Drake again, of Gallatin, Tennessee. Jennifer Laporte thinks the slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound" terrible. Since she is a mental health professional, she should start treating listeners of DGW.
Listen to Episode 645
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Happy Birthday
... to Henry Laporte who turns 14 today. Dick wonders what Henry is getting for his birthday, which explains his expressionless face resembling those depicted in Grant Wood's painting American Gothic. Henry is getting, with the help of Colleen, a skateboard made of aircraft aluminium, and Corinthian leather, just like the Chrysler Cordova, as advertised by Ricardo Montalban.
A Family Affair
The Epistle of the Day is from Brian Drake again, of Gallatin, Tennessee. Jennifer Laporte thinks the slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound" terrible. Since she is a mental health professional, she should start treating listeners of DGW.
Listen to Episode 645
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Yes Man
Voice Activated Talking Doll
Link: Rau Creations
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
If you need a bit of reassurance and affirmation in your life, the Yes Man talking doll would be perfect for you. Ask the Yes Man a question, and it would give you one of 8 affirmative, back-patting answers. You could also record your own answers. It also appeared on the Disney movie "My Favorite Martian". The Yes Man was from about 15 years ago, and the company Rau Creations is still in business.
It certainly sounds better than Squawkers McCaw (Episode 413), but it can't beat Real Talkin' Bubba (Episode 246).
Multiplying Rabbits
Karl from Phoenix, Arizona wants to know if Dick has in the Gadget Warehouse the Rabbit Video Multiplier (made by Gemini Industries), which was a VCR receiver-transmitter, that allowed you to watch a video in any room in the house from one VCR . Karl's version was a wired one. Dick once had the wireless version. A current version of the Rabbit seems to be available still, and there are other choices, including the Wavecom Junior, and Belkin's Pure AV Remote TV (Episode 57).
Calvin and Jobs
Mad's current issue has a spoof comic strip called Calvin and Jobs (being Steve Jobs), based on the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes. Someone has scanned it and posted it on Flickr. Dick was annoyed that no credit was given to the original artists, and he meant Mad writer Jacob Lambert and artist Gary Hallgren, not the original original artist Bill Watterson.
Listen to Episode 640
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
It certainly sounds better than Squawkers McCaw (Episode 413), but it can't beat Real Talkin' Bubba (Episode 246).
Multiplying Rabbits
Karl from Phoenix, Arizona wants to know if Dick has in the Gadget Warehouse the Rabbit Video Multiplier (made by Gemini Industries), which was a VCR receiver-transmitter, that allowed you to watch a video in any room in the house from one VCR . Karl's version was a wired one. Dick once had the wireless version. A current version of the Rabbit seems to be available still, and there are other choices, including the Wavecom Junior, and Belkin's Pure AV Remote TV (Episode 57).
Calvin and Jobs
Mad's current issue has a spoof comic strip called Calvin and Jobs (being Steve Jobs), based on the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes. Someone has scanned it and posted it on Flickr. Dick was annoyed that no credit was given to the original artists, and he meant Mad writer Jacob Lambert and artist Gary Hallgren, not the original original artist Bill Watterson.
Listen to Episode 640
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
