50 posts tagged “video”
CCrane Z-Bar Desk Lamp
LED Desk Lamp
Link: CCrane
The Z Bar Desk Lamp from CCrane has 66 LED lights, using only 9.6W, giving 112 lumens focused within a 50 degrees viewing angle. The Z shape gives it flexibility while the weighted base gives it stability. If your desk is too cramped, it comes with a desk clamp so that it doesn't take up more desk space.
TWiT: The Early Days
Leo explains the origin of the name TWiT. When the old gang from G4/TechTV, including Leo, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, David Prager and Robert Heron, got together for the podcast, they originally called the show Revenge of the Screen Savers. They soon got a cease and desist letter from G4. Eventually they asked the listeners to make suggestions for the name, and the winning entrant would get a surprise box of stuff from Patrick's garage - the "box of crap". Entries included Revenge Of The Green Saviours, SledgeCast, Saved By The Geeks, and This Week In Geek, the last of which was closest to what Leo wanted. In the end Leo decided on This Week In Tech, shortened to the acronym TWiT which became the name of the site and his podcasting network.
For a summary of the early episodes of TWiT (0 to 9), you can get Episode 81 of TWiT: The Early Years. It is a collection of tidbits from the podcasts (but not a best-of) outlining how the podcast evolved in the early days, badly put together by none other than myself, which I would have called TWiTbits.
TWiT Trademark
Leo has trademarked the brand TWiT for virtually all media, including audio, video, variety show and musical. Leo's lawyer questioned Leo about his involvement in variety shows. Of course we do variety shows. The Daily Giz Wiz. What about musicals? The Daily Giz Wiz. The only 4 media left are vinyl, cylinder, 8-track and wire recorder.
Just don't talk to Leo or Dane Golden about TWiT and Twitter.
Leo's Life Stories
Dick and Leo have often talked about Leo's autobiography and its title, the last time in Episode 812. Tom Pruett has 3 ideas for Leo's book, all of which lend themselves easily to TV production as well.
The PodCouple - Leo Laporte has recently lost his job at TechTV. Despondent, he wanders aimlessly until his friend Dick DeBartolo comes to the rescue and the two do a podcast together. The trouble is Dick is neat and tidy and Leo is a slob ...
The PodFather - An aging patriarch of an organised podcasting dynasty, Leo Laporte, wants to transfer control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant friend Dick DeBartolo. A story of power and greed, culminating in the Toothpick Bird and Spork Episodes.
Podman Begins - Explore the Podman legend and his emergence into a force for good. A disillusioned tech journalist Leo Laporte travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and to turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He comes back as his alter ego Podman, a mass crusader who uses his strength, intelligence and vast podcasting network to fight sinister forces. Don't forget his butler, Leo adds, Dick TheBartolo.
MAD 500
MAD 500 is out, with retrospective looks into different parts of MAD Magazine's past issues (or episodes as Leo persists in calling them). By MAD 502, Dick will have completed 40 years of unbroken contribution to every issue of MAD. You can get MAD 500 along with the 2 Obama-cover issues as a collection autographed by Dick from MAD Stuff.
Listen to Episode 824
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
TWiT: The Early Days
Leo explains the origin of the name TWiT. When the old gang from G4/TechTV, including Leo, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, David Prager and Robert Heron, got together for the podcast, they originally called the show Revenge of the Screen Savers. They soon got a cease and desist letter from G4. Eventually they asked the listeners to make suggestions for the name, and the winning entrant would get a surprise box of stuff from Patrick's garage - the "box of crap". Entries included Revenge Of The Green Saviours, SledgeCast, Saved By The Geeks, and This Week In Geek, the last of which was closest to what Leo wanted. In the end Leo decided on This Week In Tech, shortened to the acronym TWiT which became the name of the site and his podcasting network.
For a summary of the early episodes of TWiT (0 to 9), you can get Episode 81 of TWiT: The Early Years. It is a collection of tidbits from the podcasts (but not a best-of) outlining how the podcast evolved in the early days, badly put together by none other than myself, which I would have called TWiTbits.
TWiT Trademark
Leo has trademarked the brand TWiT for virtually all media, including audio, video, variety show and musical. Leo's lawyer questioned Leo about his involvement in variety shows. Of course we do variety shows. The Daily Giz Wiz. What about musicals? The Daily Giz Wiz. The only 4 media left are vinyl, cylinder, 8-track and wire recorder.
Just don't talk to Leo or Dane Golden about TWiT and Twitter.
Leo's Life Stories
Dick and Leo have often talked about Leo's autobiography and its title, the last time in Episode 812. Tom Pruett has 3 ideas for Leo's book, all of which lend themselves easily to TV production as well.
The PodCouple - Leo Laporte has recently lost his job at TechTV. Despondent, he wanders aimlessly until his friend Dick DeBartolo comes to the rescue and the two do a podcast together. The trouble is Dick is neat and tidy and Leo is a slob ...
The PodFather - An aging patriarch of an organised podcasting dynasty, Leo Laporte, wants to transfer control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant friend Dick DeBartolo. A story of power and greed, culminating in the Toothpick Bird and Spork Episodes.
Podman Begins - Explore the Podman legend and his emergence into a force for good. A disillusioned tech journalist Leo Laporte travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and to turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He comes back as his alter ego Podman, a mass crusader who uses his strength, intelligence and vast podcasting network to fight sinister forces. Don't forget his butler, Leo adds, Dick TheBartolo.
MAD 500
MAD 500 is out, with retrospective looks into different parts of MAD Magazine's past issues (or episodes as Leo persists in calling them). By MAD 502, Dick will have completed 40 years of unbroken contribution to every issue of MAD. You can get MAD 500 along with the 2 Obama-cover issues as a collection autographed by Dick from MAD Stuff.
Listen to Episode 824
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
VIP Hybrid-8 SEG
Video Editing Machine
Link: biocomp
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
The Hybrid 8 SEG (Special Effects Generator) Video Duplicator from VIP (Video Interface Products) allowed the user to hook up 2 video cassette players as the inputs, to output to a 3rd video cassette recorder. You could edit your videos, and add special effects such as split screens and cross-fades. It even had a joystick-style wired remote control. You would end up with wires and cables all over the place. Not even Leo, who's always quick to click the BUY button online, wants to get it.
Long Term Investment
Dick spent thousands of dollars paying rent each month for the Gadget Warehouse and it's payback time. His warehouse contents are now worth hundreds of dollars ! Had Dick not made this long term investment, as Leo observes, we would all be much poorer in spirit now.
The Problem with Dick's Imagination
Dick's creative talent comes at a price. He can always imagine a need for a gadget which turns out to be another surplus to requirement. Hence the VIP Hybrid 8 and the accumulation at the Gadget Warehouse, which is in the process of downsizing.
Early Adopters
Gadget manufacturers count on the estimated 10,000 early adopters who want to be the first to try things out. They used to make an outlet such as Sharper Image or Hammacher Schlemmer the exclusive seller, say for the first 3 months, to maintain the price to allow manufacturers to recoup their costs, before releasing the products on wider distribution later (and when the price would start getting cut).
The GigaPan EPIC
Anthony Devito Junior, usually just Tony Devito, writes in to tell Dick and Leo about the Gigapan, and the GigaPan EPIC, a robotic camera mount for rotating and swivelling the camera sideways and up and down to take multiple pictures of a scene, to be stitched up in due course for making gigapixel panoramas, which you can then upload to the Gigapan website. The EPIC works with most point-and-shoot cameras (see list), and the EPIC 100 is coming soon which will fit larger point-and-shoots.
The GoldenPan
Dick doesn't have the Gigapan, but he has the George Foreman Gigapan frying pan with built-in memory. Leo is tempted by the GigaPan EPIC. He might use it for the Great Wall of China when he visits it in July this year. If Dick had the GigaPan, he would take a panorama of a railroad yard. However, Dick wouldn't be getting it, as he has something better - Dane Golden on a swivelling chair.
It's Just Another Name
Dick has been making up names for Petaluma's Butter and Eggs Day, such as Butter and Margarine, Wine and Swill, Food And Drug Parade. The latest is Rum and Coca Cola Festival.
Dick spent thousands of dollars paying rent each month for the Gadget Warehouse and it's payback time. His warehouse contents are now worth hundreds of dollars ! Had Dick not made this long term investment, as Leo observes, we would all be much poorer in spirit now.
The Problem with Dick's Imagination
Dick's creative talent comes at a price. He can always imagine a need for a gadget which turns out to be another surplus to requirement. Hence the VIP Hybrid 8 and the accumulation at the Gadget Warehouse, which is in the process of downsizing.
Early Adopters
Gadget manufacturers count on the estimated 10,000 early adopters who want to be the first to try things out. They used to make an outlet such as Sharper Image or Hammacher Schlemmer the exclusive seller, say for the first 3 months, to maintain the price to allow manufacturers to recoup their costs, before releasing the products on wider distribution later (and when the price would start getting cut).
The GigaPan EPIC
Anthony Devito Junior, usually just Tony Devito, writes in to tell Dick and Leo about the Gigapan, and the GigaPan EPIC, a robotic camera mount for rotating and swivelling the camera sideways and up and down to take multiple pictures of a scene, to be stitched up in due course for making gigapixel panoramas, which you can then upload to the Gigapan website. The EPIC works with most point-and-shoot cameras (see list), and the EPIC 100 is coming soon which will fit larger point-and-shoots.
The GoldenPan
Dick doesn't have the Gigapan, but he has the George Foreman Gigapan frying pan with built-in memory. Leo is tempted by the GigaPan EPIC. He might use it for the Great Wall of China when he visits it in July this year. If Dick had the GigaPan, he would take a panorama of a railroad yard. However, Dick wouldn't be getting it, as he has something better - Dane Golden on a swivelling chair.
It's Just Another Name
Dick has been making up names for Petaluma's Butter and Eggs Day, such as Butter and Margarine, Wine and Swill, Food And Drug Parade. The latest is Rum and Coca Cola Festival.
Sony CV-2000
Reel to Reel Video Recorder
Link: Rewind Museum smecc.org
The time was 1965, and Sony released the world's first "domestic" reel to reel ½ inch-tape video recorder. It recorded black and white video on to ½ inch-tapes. Each tape could take about half an hour of video. It was the most compact and "portable" video tape recorder ever designed, housed in a "handy carrying case, and weighed all of 46 pounds.
You could also get the optional video camera CVC-2000, photos of which can be found both at the Rewind Museum and the Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation (smecc), links above. Both websites contain a lot of info on the product and accessories, and you can see the brochures as well from SMECC, like this one:
Check out Lab Guy's World as well for more info.
3rd Anniversary
The time was 20 February 2006, and Dick and Leo released the world's first podcast by a man with a big moustache talking to another man on the other coast not yet seated on a blue ball: Episode 1 of the Daily Giz Wiz, Docupen.
Three years on, the big moustache is bushier, the other man is seated on a blue ball, the show is fully jinglified, the contents are searchable, and the podcast is marching towards Episode 1000, when Leo will have to devise a new naming system for the podcast's download files. Currently it's only got 3 digits for the episode number.
OEM Betamax
Dick and Leo talked about the Sony Betamax SL-7200 (and the BetaStack) in Episode 30. The Betamax may seem antique, but the CV-2000 is ancient. Dick also saw a Zenith Betamax which looked rather similar to the Sony, and discovered to his amazement that it was indeed made by Sony.
Autographed Mad: A Christmas Surprise
Marie Kovar received from her husband a copy of Mad Magazine autographed by Dick, a photo of the Giz Wiz, and some GizWizBiz gadgets, for Christmas 2008. Marie thanks Dick for contributing to her great Christmas surprise and wishes Dick and Leo and their families happiness and good health in 2009.
Valentine Gifts
Picture this. It's Valentine's Day and Leo had against his better judgement polished off all the chocolate-coated, sea-salt-dusted caramels before they reached Jennifer. Leo said to Jennifer, "Honey, our love is like this GizWizBiz ice-cube. It can't melt, because it's durable like our relationship." A kick in the groin later, Leo tried again, "Honey, our love is like this GeoBulb. It will shine forever, or 10 years, whichever comes first." Another kick in the groin later, Leo said, "Honey, I'm seeing stars."
Listening to the Stars
The time was 22 February 1892, and it was the premiere of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan. Lord Darlington, a charcter in the play, spoke his line, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
The time was 9 February 2009, and Dick and Leo were recording the show. Dick asked Leo to say something clever to end the show. Leo obliged. "I may be lying in the gutter, but at least I'm looking at the stars."
The time is 20 February 2009, and it's the 3rd Anniversary of the Daily Giz Wiz. We may be in the gutter, but at least we're listening to the stars.
Listen to Episode 770
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Post-770 Chat
Dick and Leo have a chat after the recording session, and they are joined by Dane Golden. They talk about the anniversary, the film Gaslight, Match Game, Gene Rayburn's mic, the Match Game theme Swingin' Safari (see also Episode 584), and much more. Watch the video.
You could also get the optional video camera CVC-2000, photos of which can be found both at the Rewind Museum and the Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation (smecc), links above. Both websites contain a lot of info on the product and accessories, and you can see the brochures as well from SMECC, like this one:
Check out Lab Guy's World as well for more info.
3rd Anniversary
The time was 20 February 2006, and Dick and Leo released the world's first podcast by a man with a big moustache talking to another man on the other coast not yet seated on a blue ball: Episode 1 of the Daily Giz Wiz, Docupen.
Three years on, the big moustache is bushier, the other man is seated on a blue ball, the show is fully jinglified, the contents are searchable, and the podcast is marching towards Episode 1000, when Leo will have to devise a new naming system for the podcast's download files. Currently it's only got 3 digits for the episode number.
OEM Betamax
Dick and Leo talked about the Sony Betamax SL-7200 (and the BetaStack) in Episode 30. The Betamax may seem antique, but the CV-2000 is ancient. Dick also saw a Zenith Betamax which looked rather similar to the Sony, and discovered to his amazement that it was indeed made by Sony.
Autographed Mad: A Christmas Surprise
Marie Kovar received from her husband a copy of Mad Magazine autographed by Dick, a photo of the Giz Wiz, and some GizWizBiz gadgets, for Christmas 2008. Marie thanks Dick for contributing to her great Christmas surprise and wishes Dick and Leo and their families happiness and good health in 2009.
Valentine Gifts
Picture this. It's Valentine's Day and Leo had against his better judgement polished off all the chocolate-coated, sea-salt-dusted caramels before they reached Jennifer. Leo said to Jennifer, "Honey, our love is like this GizWizBiz ice-cube. It can't melt, because it's durable like our relationship." A kick in the groin later, Leo tried again, "Honey, our love is like this GeoBulb. It will shine forever, or 10 years, whichever comes first." Another kick in the groin later, Leo said, "Honey, I'm seeing stars."
Listening to the Stars
The time was 22 February 1892, and it was the premiere of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan. Lord Darlington, a charcter in the play, spoke his line, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
The time was 9 February 2009, and Dick and Leo were recording the show. Dick asked Leo to say something clever to end the show. Leo obliged. "I may be lying in the gutter, but at least I'm looking at the stars."
The time is 20 February 2009, and it's the 3rd Anniversary of the Daily Giz Wiz. We may be in the gutter, but at least we're listening to the stars.
Listen to Episode 770
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Post-770 Chat
Dick and Leo have a chat after the recording session, and they are joined by Dane Golden. They talk about the anniversary, the film Gaslight, Match Game, Gene Rayburn's mic, the Match Game theme Swingin' Safari (see also Episode 584), and much more. Watch the video.
3M Micro Professional Projector
Pocket Projector
Link: 3M MPro
From 3M, the Micro Professional Projector (model MPro110) is a pocket projector for people on the road who need a handy projector to display pictures, slideshows and presentations. With dimensions of 4.5" x 2" x 0.9" and weighing 5.6 ounces, the palm-size MPro110 can easily fit into your pocket, handbag or briefcase. It supports resolutions from VGA up to WXGA (1280 x 768), image size from 6" to 50" (diagonal), VGA and RCA Video inputs. VGA and RCA video cables and an RCA adapter are included.
The projector supports video only. Presumably if your presentation includes sound, that can be played and heard directly from your source device, such as your laptop, PDA, or cellphone.
On the body of the projector is an on/off switch and a focus wheel. It uses a rechargeable Lithium ion battery with a battery life of 40 to 60 minutes. An AC adapter is included which, when connected, automatically recharges the battery.
12 Days of GizWiz
Dick reminds Leo about Paul Minshall's "12 Days of GizWiz" video, which will be played in the next recording session. You can watch the video now in the Episode 722 blog post, or go directly to Paul's blog.
The projector supports video only. Presumably if your presentation includes sound, that can be played and heard directly from your source device, such as your laptop, PDA, or cellphone.
On the body of the projector is an on/off switch and a focus wheel. It uses a rechargeable Lithium ion battery with a battery life of 40 to 60 minutes. An AC adapter is included which, when connected, automatically recharges the battery.
12 Days of GizWiz
Dick reminds Leo about Paul Minshall's "12 Days of GizWiz" video, which will be played in the next recording session. You can watch the video now in the Episode 722 blog post, or go directly to Paul's blog.
CartStoppers for the Troops
Dennis Wright from Manchester, England (who last wrote in Episode 606) warns against the perils of listening to DGW by commuting drivers. Dennis was listening to Episode 704 while driving and the ridiculous picture painted by Leo of Dick and Leo entertaining the troops by showing them the CartStopper (Episode 701) intended for mums cracked him up, giving him an uncomfortably close brush with the hereafter. He thinks that Dane, while editing the shows (although it should be Tony Wang doing it now), should include appropriate warnings against uproarious funny moments.
Skipping Christmas?
Dick and Leo should have enough pre-recorded shows to cover most of the holiday season before Leo comes back from France, and are considering skipping the Christmas and Christmas Eve shows. Dane reminds them that this would break the neat round episode numbering. Dick and Leo think they might just put in short episodes for those days with Christmas messages.
Listen to Episode 724
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Dennis Wright from Manchester, England (who last wrote in Episode 606) warns against the perils of listening to DGW by commuting drivers. Dennis was listening to Episode 704 while driving and the ridiculous picture painted by Leo of Dick and Leo entertaining the troops by showing them the CartStopper (Episode 701) intended for mums cracked him up, giving him an uncomfortably close brush with the hereafter. He thinks that Dane, while editing the shows (although it should be Tony Wang doing it now), should include appropriate warnings against uproarious funny moments.
Skipping Christmas?
Dick and Leo should have enough pre-recorded shows to cover most of the holiday season before Leo comes back from France, and are considering skipping the Christmas and Christmas Eve shows. Dane reminds them that this would break the neat round episode numbering. Dick and Leo think they might just put in short episodes for those days with Christmas messages.
Listen to Episode 724
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.
Oregon Scientific ATC-5K
Helmet Action Cam
Link: Oregon Scientific
Dick covered the ATC-1000 and ATC-2K by Oregon Scientific in Episodes 42 and 258. Now comes probably the 5th iteration of this helmet action cam, the ATC5K. As before, it's waterproof (up to 10 ft) and shock-resistant (for its shock-resistant properties, see the YouTube video on the Episode 258 blog post). It now records video at 640 x 480 VGA resolution at 30 fps, can take digital stills, with USB and RCA cables included. Comes with mount grips and straps of different lengths and mounts easily on handlebars and helmets. 1.5" LCD display, can be used as a webcam when connected to a computer. Expandable with SD card up to 4GB.
Obama Cover
Dick re-reads the 2nd part of the letter from Robert Taylor (from Amarillo, Texas) (see Episode 710 for the first part). Since Barack Obama's election, the Mad issue with the Obama cover (Yes, We Can't) has become the centre of attention in Texas, deep Republican territory. Dick remarks that the price for that issue has also shot up on eBay.
Bill Gaines, Taylor Ham and Automat
Dick was introduced to Taylor Ham by Bill Gaines, and they went all the way to Atlantic City for it, as it was pioneered by John Taylor from Trenton, New Jersey. Bill's enthusiasm for life meant that he was interested in almost everything. Bill once took Dick to an expensive wine tasting session at the Waldorf Astoria, all dressed up in their tuxedos, and stopped en route at Automat's food vending machines for dinner. For Dick's story of the wine tasting event, see Episode 87.
Mad Poster Book
Mad has a new Mad Poster Book, with full-size posters.
Listen to Episode 718
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Belkin Powerline AV+ Starter Kit
HomePlug Network Adapters
Link: Belkin
Today's gadget arrived during the recording of yesterday's episode, and Dick and Leo play "What's In The Box?" again. It's Belkin's Powerline AV+ Starter Kit. The set uses the HomePlug technology to set up a network within your house using the power circuit, for sharing internet connection.
The Starter Kit consists of 2 Network Adapters. Plug the first adapter (which has only 1 ethernet port) into a wall outlet and connect it to your router. Plug the other adapter (which has 3 ethernet ports) into a wall outlet and connect up your computer or other devices into any of the 3 available ethernet ports. Your internet connection can then be accessed on such computer or devices (such as AV equipment or game console).
Data transfer is encrypted using 128-bit AES. The rated data transfer speed is 200 Mbps, useful for areas of your house which are difficult to reach by WiFi or ethernet cables. The transfer rate is claimed to be good enough for "HD Movies".
There is another, cheaper, model called the Powerline AV Starter Kit (without the + sign). Same specs but both adapters have only 1 ethernet port.
Match Game Moments
Last Saturday Dick appeared live on Stickam for his Match Game Moments.
An Oasis of Laughter and Silliness
Aaron B has been a fan since the early 1720's when Dick and Leo used to bellow at each other about the latest innovation in quills. Life is a rollercoaster but through thick and thin Dick and Leo have provided him with an oasis of laughter (and silliness, adds Leo). He saw the R2D2 Soy Sauce Bottle on the Star Wars Shop and felt compelled to share it with Dick and Leo. It's also available on Amazon. The soy sauce pours through the Holo Projector.
A Sea Captain
Dick was once told by a psychic, who detected the salt spray in Dick's beard, that he had been a sea captain in a previous life.
Christmas Schedule
Leo is off to France for Christmas, but they will be pre-recording some shows which should cover much of Christmas.
Data transfer is encrypted using 128-bit AES. The rated data transfer speed is 200 Mbps, useful for areas of your house which are difficult to reach by WiFi or ethernet cables. The transfer rate is claimed to be good enough for "HD Movies".
There is another, cheaper, model called the Powerline AV Starter Kit (without the + sign). Same specs but both adapters have only 1 ethernet port.
Match Game Moments
Last Saturday Dick appeared live on Stickam for his Match Game Moments.
An Oasis of Laughter and Silliness
Aaron B has been a fan since the early 1720's when Dick and Leo used to bellow at each other about the latest innovation in quills. Life is a rollercoaster but through thick and thin Dick and Leo have provided him with an oasis of laughter (and silliness, adds Leo). He saw the R2D2 Soy Sauce Bottle on the Star Wars Shop and felt compelled to share it with Dick and Leo. It's also available on Amazon. The soy sauce pours through the Holo Projector.
A Sea Captain
Dick was once told by a psychic, who detected the salt spray in Dick's beard, that he had been a sea captain in a previous life.
Christmas Schedule
Leo is off to France for Christmas, but they will be pre-recording some shows which should cover much of Christmas.
Kodak Zi6
Pocket HD Camcorder
Link: Kodak
The Zi6 from Kodak is a pocket-size camcorder that takes HD video (720p at 60 fps or 30 fps), or VGA video, using H.264 encoding, targeting the market currently enjoyed by the Flip. It has a 1.6 megapixel CMOS, 2x zoom lens, speakers and a mono microphone. Built-in memory is only 128MB, with a SD card slot supporting SDHC, up to 32GB. Transfer of video files to the computer is via a USB connection that flips out from one side (where there is also a little mirror for taking video of yourself). Component and AV output (cables included). Controls are minimal, mainly via the central 4-way round button. You can also take still images with the camera (3 megapixel, interpolated), with a macro function (at 2 inches). The tripod mount is 1/4 inch standard.
Compatible with both Windows and Mac, but the video software provided is for Windows only - ARCSOFT Media Impression. The package includes the cables, 2 AA NiMH batteries and a charger.
Pre-Letters Jingle Jingle Revisited
Pants Commander and fellow podcaster Evan Pedersen, of Fancy Pants Gangsters (who last wrote in Episode 598), is reminded by a jingles blast in a recent DGW episode of MTV's worst-ever rated show The Sifl and Olly Show, which had an "Almost the End of the Show" jingle. Evan suggests that Dick and Leo should have a pre-letters jingle jingle, so as not to take him by surprise.
This subject has already been well covered, between Episode 266 and Episode 278. Perl expert, recent Squeak convert and FLOSS Weekly co-host Randal Schwartz suggested a Warning for the Letters Jingle Jingle, and listener Ken from Denver has even written the lyrics for the Introducing the Letters Jingle Jingle, sung by Dick and Leo:
"Here comes the jingle, the lovely jingle, here comes the letters jingle now."
Listen to Episode 664
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Pants Commander and fellow podcaster Evan Pedersen, of Fancy Pants Gangsters (who last wrote in Episode 598), is reminded by a jingles blast in a recent DGW episode of MTV's worst-ever rated show The Sifl and Olly Show, which had an "Almost the End of the Show" jingle. Evan suggests that Dick and Leo should have a pre-letters jingle jingle, so as not to take him by surprise.
This subject has already been well covered, between Episode 266 and Episode 278. Perl expert, recent Squeak convert and FLOSS Weekly co-host Randal Schwartz suggested a Warning for the Letters Jingle Jingle, and listener Ken from Denver has even written the lyrics for the Introducing the Letters Jingle Jingle, sung by Dick and Leo:
"Here comes the jingle, the lovely jingle, here comes the letters jingle now."
Listen to Episode 664
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
Canopus ADVC 110
Video Converter
Link: Thomson Grass Valley
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Thomson Grass Valley makes high end broadcast, TV and film equipment. The Canopus ADVC (standing for Advanced Digital Video Converter) line has a wide range of models, and the ADVC 110 is near the low end. It is essentially a video converter (analogue to digital, digital to analogue). Its most useful function would be to convert analogue video (such as VHS, accepting S-Video and Composite inputs) into DV which can then be processed on your computer via a firewire connection using your favourite software (for editing, authoring or DVD burning). It also does audio-only conversion.
Built into the ADVC 110 is a Canopus DV Codec chip which preserves the video quality, and most importantly keeps the audio and video in sync (which is often a very tricky issue with other capture devices). It works with Windows and Mac OSX, no drivers required.
Leo mentions that the ADVC 110 does not overcome Macrovision copy protection. Apparently however there is a way to overcome that, reported by users. After it powers up, press down the Input Select button for 20 seconds, and the unit will ignore Macrovision.
Letters for Leo
Leo hasn't prepared a letter to read for TTTT and complains that he doesn't get enough emails from DGW listeners because people think he doesn't read his emails. They would be right, most of the time.
A Cure for Homesickness
Listener Paul Johnson had to move far away from home to Edmonton for his work. He got homesick until Monday came and he was able to listen to DGW, with Dick and Leo discussing Twitter, the Petaluma parade, the temperature on some ridiculous scale, the familiar Jingle Singers, and even a bit of gadgetry when they remembered to do so. It took him right back home again.
Paul Johnson also congratulates Leo for his recent performance of "O Canada" in French on net@night Episode 59.
PDFs on the Amazon Kindle
Paul also asks Leo how scientific figures, graphs and images in PDF form fare on the Kindle (Episode 472). Leo explains.
Belated Happy Birthday to Paul as well on 14 July.
Listen to Episode 612
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Built into the ADVC 110 is a Canopus DV Codec chip which preserves the video quality, and most importantly keeps the audio and video in sync (which is often a very tricky issue with other capture devices). It works with Windows and Mac OSX, no drivers required.
Leo mentions that the ADVC 110 does not overcome Macrovision copy protection. Apparently however there is a way to overcome that, reported by users. After it powers up, press down the Input Select button for 20 seconds, and the unit will ignore Macrovision.
Letters for Leo
Leo hasn't prepared a letter to read for TTTT and complains that he doesn't get enough emails from DGW listeners because people think he doesn't read his emails. They would be right, most of the time.
A Cure for Homesickness
Listener Paul Johnson had to move far away from home to Edmonton for his work. He got homesick until Monday came and he was able to listen to DGW, with Dick and Leo discussing Twitter, the Petaluma parade, the temperature on some ridiculous scale, the familiar Jingle Singers, and even a bit of gadgetry when they remembered to do so. It took him right back home again.
Paul Johnson also congratulates Leo for his recent performance of "O Canada" in French on net@night Episode 59.
PDFs on the Amazon Kindle
Paul also asks Leo how scientific figures, graphs and images in PDF form fare on the Kindle (Episode 472). Leo explains.
Belated Happy Birthday to Paul as well on 14 July.
Listen to Episode 612
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
