17 posts tagged “wild planet”
Beat Blender
Music Mixer
Link: Wild Planet Instructions techdweeb
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
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Compac Evo D500 Series Ultra-Slim Desktop
Desktop Computer
Link: Tech-Republic
Air Flight Complaints
People complain about the seat reclining by ony 6 inches, or about not having coffee during a flight, but at the same time, an economy-class passenger can be charged with a felony for trying to get to the business-class lavatory. Read the New York Times article on Joao Correa's unfortunate bathroom emergency.
iPuppet
Rick Ankrum also eschews Dick's iFlyz (Episode 783) and Leo's In Your Face Viewbase (Episode 802), and has yet another self-help solution to finding a stand for the iPod Touch (after a listener pointed out that one came with the iPod Touch itself in Episode 808). It's the Portable Folding Clear Plastic iPod Touch Holder, more commonly known as a cassette tape case. Leo is now reduced to using his In Your Face Viewbase for holding up his Leo Puppet - the iPuppet.
Shouting One's Way to Success
Leo tried emulating the success of Billy Mays (and Max Appel) by shouting his way through the podcasts, but realises after 820 episodes that it doesn't work.
Listen to Episode 820
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The Zircon Repeater
Tape Measure Voice Recorder
Link: Amazon
Zircon has other interesting products, including StudSensors, their modern versions of the old StudFinder.
From A Fellow Correspondent
Phil Baker, currently technology columnist for the San Diego Daily Transcript, and whom Leo first met when Phil was working for Seiko, writes in about his new book. Phil has been involved with many classic products such as the Polaroid SX 70, the Folding Keyboard and the Apple Newton. If you're interested in what's involved behind the scenes in the development of gadgets, check out his book "From Concept To Consumer", available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, or on the Kindle Store.
Dick's Next Visit To Petaluma
Dick first visited TWiT Cottage on 27 June 2008 for Episode 600 and GizWizLive. Episode 1000 is coming up but thatwill be next year. Episode 800 is just next week and too soon. So Dick might come over for Episode 900, and that's about 5 months away. Dick and Leo are considering doing a public event for Episode 1000, maybe in New York City, driving an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile decorated as a Golden iPod. Suggestions from listeners are not welcome, though, as they are tired of hearing "Get out of my life," "Stop podcasting," and "Give me a break."
Hitting the Wall
Leo took Henry to the Louvre in Paris to see the Mona Lisa. Henry wasn't impressed by its size. Wait till he gets to the Great Wall of China then.
Travelon Toiletry Sheets
Travel Accessories
Link: Travelon
Travelon makes travel accessories, like suitcases, bags, computer cases and even carts. These Toiletry Sheets come in 6 types: hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, body wash and laundry soap, each in packs of 50 sheets. Because they're dry, they're TSA-compliant and can be taken on board a flight.
It also has a lot in common with the Daily Giz Wiz and its gravy. Just Add Water.
Halloween Capital
Halloween is big in Petaluma, especially in D Street. They even dress up the chickens! And when you're tired of costumes, you can see some great bands at the Phoenix Theater and McNear's Mystic Theatre (which must be the only theatre in the States with a British spelling), which Kim and Robin from Wild Planet visited recently.
New Business Opportunities
TSA has created so many new business opportunities: Ziplock bags, TSA travel locks (Episode 38), laptop cases (like the Brenthaven in Episode 674), and now these toiletry sheets.
Security was tested at various airports recently, with the help of security expert Bruce Schneier. TSA's protective measures are no more than a "security theater", according to the article "The Things He Carried" in the Atlantic Magazine.
Little Golden Hood on Audible
Join Audible - and get Little Golden Hood narrated by Leo (which is a free download anyway), or Paula Poundstone's "There's Nothing In This Book That I Meant To Say". Dick's favourite quote from her is "I was such a lonely child that I created 2 imaginary friends, and they would play only with each other."
The Humanety
Geek celebrities including Veronica Belmont, Geoff Smith, Felicia Day, Gary Vaynerchuk and Patrick Norton are taking part in a project by humanety.com, offering a half-hour Skype video chat on auction to the successful bidder. The money will go to the charity named by the celebrity. Dick is taking part and his charity is going to be his own favourite, the Animal Haven, a no-kill shelter. Dick's auction starts today, 30 October 2008. "Humanety, we're all in this together."
Ballooning Inventory
Earl of Southfield, Michigan and proud member of the TWiT Army has among others 2 copies of Good Days and Mad (hardcover and paperback), a GizWizBiz Inka Pen, a Plantronics 650 headset, 3 Open-X's, a Flip Ultra. No Titanium Spork yet but may soon be added to his ballooning inventory. Purveyors of these gadgets should be begging for sponsorship of DGW. He's even bought items mentioned on TTTT. That should be proof enough.
Earl has been listening since Episode 1, and a long-time fan of the Screen Savers from the Kate and Leo days (not the Titanic pair, but Kate Botello and Leo Laporte).
Listen to Episode 689
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Leapster 2
Educational Hand-Held Gaming Console for Children
Link: Leapfrog
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
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Mr Microphone
Wireless Microphone
The report on Engadget was of a hack by kipkay who took the device apart and put in a high end mic into the gut. The main photo of above of Mr Microphone is taken from the video kipkay made of the hack.
DGW Commercials
Paul Newell from Yucaipa, California, in response to the letters of complaint in Episode 641, writes in to support commercials on DGW.
Cheesy Recipes
Talk of commercials reminds Dick of the awful recipes in the Kraft commercials, voiced-over by Ed Herlihy, and Leo drifts into the lyrics of MacArthur Park.
Listen to Episode 650
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Philips SpotOn
Motion Sensing Portable LED Light
GizWizLive
Dick and Leo thank Kim and Robin from Wild Planet for turning up for GizWizLive in their elf costumes (a feat they repeated in New York when visiting the Mad Office), and giving them a 600th anniversary cake and a TWiTLive Spork Clock to Leo. For details of GizWizLive, see the blog post for Episode 596. DGW listeners who could not watch GizWizLive, including Jeff Coddle, have asked Dick if the video will one day be available. Leo has the video but at present does not have a channel for distributing the video. One day it will come.
Upcoming New Sponsors
After Leo's recent visit to Audible's headquarters at Newark (during which Leo recorded an audible children's book "Little Golden Riding Hood"), Audible is going to return on DGW as a sponsor next month. So will Visa. As Leo explains, donations from the audience are applied towards TWiT overheads while only sponsorship money is shared among the TWiT hosts.
DGW Disclaimer
Thanks to Dan Lueders's recent prolific output, DGW will have a Thursday Theme, and a Disclaimer (which Leo plays at the end of today's show). The musical portion for the Disclaimer is a reprise of part of Dan Lueders's earlier Gravy Jingle Submission which was lost and found, and finally played in Episodes 313 and 314.
Confounding a Jury
Kevin Selle from Dallas, Texas (previous letters in Episodes 428, 551) was called upon for jury service and went prepared with his iPod loaded with DGWs. While the jury panel were waiting, he learned about the Plantronics Discovery 925 in Episode 597. When he got to the UroClub, Episode 598, he started convulsing in laughter and tears in the company of his potential fellow jurymen. Leo warns us about the dangers of listening to DGW, with a little help from Dan Lueders.
To learn about the most severe side-effect of DGW so far, see Episode 188.
Listen to Episode 601
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SkyScan 88825
Giant Atomic Clock
Link: SkyScan
Photo above from eBay.
Criswell Poeticises
The Daily Giz Wiz has turned Criswell lyrical. He/She has written a GizWiz Nursery Rhyme:
Tuesday's GizWiz is full of crap, you'll see.
Wednesday has a no-theme meme.
But oh, poor Thursday truly has no theme.
And the GizWiz we hear on the Friday day
Is a trip to Dick's Warehouse where he takes them out to play.
Coming this Friday on TWiTLive
On the first day of summer, 20 June 2008, Dick will appear on TWiTLive to show some of Wild Planet gadgets, and spend an unspecified amount of time with Leo, including special programming for TWiTLive.
Special Appearance
Leo's wife Jennifer sensibly refuses to appear on camera during the recording of the show, but their puppy Ozzy makes a special appearance. Here's a photo of Ozzy. For Ozzy's story, listen to the Letters Section in Episode 353.
Jingle Singers Video: Coming Soon
Dick and Leo refer to a new video of the Jingle Singers performing the Letters Jingle. Leo has misplaced Dick's email for the time being. Keep listening. And Leo will be here.
Listen to Episode 592
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SpokeLit
Bicycle Wheel Light
Link: Nite Ize
Dick explains that the reason so many gadgets are spelt in funny ways, such as SpokeLit and Nite Ize is so that they can be more easily copyrighted.
The Birth of DGW
Dick and Leo think it was the Hudson Hotel in New York where the idea for DGW was born, while Leo was in town to appear on Regis, after the Hardware Show Preview.
Another Trivia Question
"What is a pregnant goldfish called?" a listener asks Leo. "A mamafish," replies Leo. All right, it's a twit. Read The Straight Dope to learn more than you want to know about it.
Leo's Autobiography
Another listener suggests a name for Leo's autobiography, "TWiT'll Be Me", although Leo now prefers "I Never Stopped Talking".
600th Episode
Episode 600 is coming on in 2 weeks, and Dick and Leo may well be recording it on 20 June when Dick is at the TWiTLive Studio. They might get Wild Planet to give away some prizes, or get ThinkGeek to make some monogrammed Sporks, or SpearHats.
Listen to Episode 589
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USB Plasma Ball
Light Show
This Plasma Ball is powered by USB, 4'" in diameter, with an on/off swtich. Put your finger on the sphere and the "glow" will congregate around your finger, like all other plasma balls. Available at VAT19 and ThinkGeek.
Here is ThinkGeek's explanation of this magic. A combination of gasses (such as Argon) are trapped inside a plastic sphere at relatively low pressures. An alternating current, at relatively high voltages, is sent into the sphere via an electrode in the centre. This energy causes atoms (or electrons maybe) to be stripped from the gasses, leaving in its wake some positively charged ions and a gorgeous gaseous and electrically conductive environment (aka Plasma). That high voltage served up through the electrode will now arc up through the plasma to the plastic sphere where the voltage is lower (starting at the top where the temperature is greater). The arcs glow because they are hotter than the surrounding plasma. You can touch the plastic and the arcs will strongly congregate to your touch because you will be creating an even lower voltage jump from the electrode.
Or just let Dick explain it to you in his own words:
The Giz Wiz Green Room
Dick is negotiating for the TWiT Studio to be named after him. Leo suggests "The Dick DeBartolo Memorial Antechamber". Dick thinks it's too early to do that, and prefers "The Giz Wiz Green Room".
The Bird Logo
Leo explains to Dick how the name Twitter came about. Evan Williams was running Odeo whose logo was a bird. As a side project, an engineer of Odeo suggested this IM-like web service, so people could send messages called "tweets" to each other. Hence the name Twitter. For Dick and Leo's previous mention of Odeo, listen again to Episode 150, towards the end of that episode at about 14:00. And it was Leo who told Dick about Odeo.
No Begging, Again
Having finally overtaken Barack Obama on the number of followers on Twitter, Leo is now locked in a close race with Kevin Rose. As with the May 2006 Podcast Alley vote, Dick and Leo do not beg (Episode 67). So sign up at Twitter and follow Leo, follow Dick, and Alfred E Neuman.
Please alleviate Leo's mid-life crisis and follow him on Twitter. Otherwise send him a Jacob's Ladder for The Giz Wiz Green Room.
The Belly of a Dead Fish
Jack from New Hampshire (who may or may not be Jack Kelly from Episode 419) was listening to Episode 564 and was amused by Dick's reference to the beigey colour of the Socket Pocket. As a technician, he is all too familiar with the colour and has always called it the "dead fish belly yellow". It's very close to Dick's Tainted Tuna Taupe.
Listen to Episode 573
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