40 posts tagged “wireless”
Eos Wireless Speaker System
iPod Wireless Speakers
Link: Eos Wireless
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
An easy way to spread music around your house. The Eos Wireless Speaker System starts with the base station, where you can play music from your iPod via the iPod dock (not iPhone-certified) or from another audio source through the Aux jack (3.5mm headphone jack). You can add up to 4 wireless satellite speakers which will start working as soon as you plug them into a power outlet. Music is transmitted wirelessly from the base station to the satellite speakers using GigaWave technology, without interfering your WiFi at home. All speakers are stereo 2.1.
For other options, with different functionalities, check out listener Steve Miller's recommendation in Episode 682, the Logitech Squeezebox Boom, or the Sonos System which Leo would love to be able to review.
Family Concerns
Dr Mark Sukoenig has much to write about. Being a model of courtesy and discretion, and a doctor, he asks after Leo's sister Eva (who made a guest appearance in Episode 876) and wonders why she looks significantly older than Leo. Then he asks after Mama Laporte, and is concerned about her oratorical capacity, as she didn't seem to talk much when she appeared on TWiTLive.
Crust and The Ten Commandments
More to the point, Dr Mark is very well connected in the medical field. Hailing from Syracuse, New York, Dr Mark would have been served when he was young by the inventor of the Brannock Device (see his letter in Episode 280). Not only that, he is also a distant cousin of Herman Klotz, a dentist whose name happened to be used by MAD in a satire on Crest, called Crust, for which he was handsomely compensated by having a stack of MAD magazines sent to him. For the cover of the relevant MAD Issue No.43, visit Doug Gilford's Mad Cover Site. Dick remembers that MAD did a visual Ten Commandments, and for "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery", MAD used a picture of a motel, and the motel owner was similarly compensated.
Gotcha!
Dr Mark likes to listen to the Daily Giz Wiz while driving. Just last month, he was doing the same thing, and he laughed so hard that he lost control of the car, the car skidded on an ice slick, flipped over in a snow bank, hit a tree .... and got Leo, but not the street-wise Dick Debartolo. He hasn't heard any report of snow in July, even in Syracuse, and certainly not last July.
Giz Wiz Meet-Up
Don't forget about the Giz Wiz Meet-Up in the evening of Tuesday 11 August in San Francisco.
Listen to Episode 887
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
For other options, with different functionalities, check out listener Steve Miller's recommendation in Episode 682, the Logitech Squeezebox Boom, or the Sonos System which Leo would love to be able to review.
Family Concerns
Dr Mark Sukoenig has much to write about. Being a model of courtesy and discretion, and a doctor, he asks after Leo's sister Eva (who made a guest appearance in Episode 876) and wonders why she looks significantly older than Leo. Then he asks after Mama Laporte, and is concerned about her oratorical capacity, as she didn't seem to talk much when she appeared on TWiTLive.
Crust and The Ten Commandments
More to the point, Dr Mark is very well connected in the medical field. Hailing from Syracuse, New York, Dr Mark would have been served when he was young by the inventor of the Brannock Device (see his letter in Episode 280). Not only that, he is also a distant cousin of Herman Klotz, a dentist whose name happened to be used by MAD in a satire on Crest, called Crust, for which he was handsomely compensated by having a stack of MAD magazines sent to him. For the cover of the relevant MAD Issue No.43, visit Doug Gilford's Mad Cover Site. Dick remembers that MAD did a visual Ten Commandments, and for "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery", MAD used a picture of a motel, and the motel owner was similarly compensated.
Gotcha!
Dr Mark likes to listen to the Daily Giz Wiz while driving. Just last month, he was doing the same thing, and he laughed so hard that he lost control of the car, the car skidded on an ice slick, flipped over in a snow bank, hit a tree .... and got Leo, but not the street-wise Dick Debartolo. He hasn't heard any report of snow in July, even in Syracuse, and certainly not last July.
Giz Wiz Meet-Up
Don't forget about the Giz Wiz Meet-Up in the evening of Tuesday 11 August in San Francisco.
Listen to Episode 887
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Find DGW Info on GizWizSearch
Logitech VX Nano Mouse (Reprise)
Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks
Link: Logitech
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
When Leo starts this week's TTTT, he asks Dick if Dick has done this gadget before. Dick doesn't think so, and the chatroom, who have already dozed off at the sound of another TTTT, do not demur. On Leo goes. Leo has had this mouse for some time now, but has been prompted by Steve Gibson' recent recommendation of this mouse in Security Now! Episode 197 to cover it on TTTT. Then Dick finds out that he is already using this very mouse.
Not only that, but Dick did actually cover this gadget, in Episode 523. What's funnier is, Leo himself was half way into his introduction of this mouse in Episode 522, but when he found out that it was going to be one of Dick's gadgets for the week, he swithced to the Tom Bihn Western Flyer instead. It is a neat little mouse, and worth a reprise. Listen to excerpts of the 2 earlier episodes:
What really takes Steve Gibson's fancy, and Leo's, is the Logitech VX Nano's very fast scrolling ability, very useful these days with long web pages and verbose posts, like this blog. "Zero-friction", is how Steve describes it. For the other functions, read Episode 523 again.
Gadget Encores
With the sheer number of gadgets covered in the Daily Giz Wiz, it is a wonder that gadgets have not been repeated more often. The only other gadgets which have been featured twice were the HydraBrush in Episodes 226 and 480 (which Dick was aware of), and a Gadget Warehouse resident, the Motorola add-on MP3 player for cellphones (Episodes 380 and 630).
iTunes Misbehaving
Mike Gigabyte has found that the Daily Giz Wiz, apart from being in the Podcast category, has now gone into the iTunes Music folder, so that it gets shuffled and played at random as well as the rest of his music. Has Leo put the wrong tag on the downloads? Leo doesn't think so, but can't really figure out why this is suddenly happening. It must be because of all the jingles, or iTunes thinks that the Giz Wiz Got Talent.
Listen to Episode 847
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Not only that, but Dick did actually cover this gadget, in Episode 523. What's funnier is, Leo himself was half way into his introduction of this mouse in Episode 522, but when he found out that it was going to be one of Dick's gadgets for the week, he swithced to the Tom Bihn Western Flyer instead. It is a neat little mouse, and worth a reprise. Listen to excerpts of the 2 earlier episodes:
What really takes Steve Gibson's fancy, and Leo's, is the Logitech VX Nano's very fast scrolling ability, very useful these days with long web pages and verbose posts, like this blog. "Zero-friction", is how Steve describes it. For the other functions, read Episode 523 again.
Gadget Encores
With the sheer number of gadgets covered in the Daily Giz Wiz, it is a wonder that gadgets have not been repeated more often. The only other gadgets which have been featured twice were the HydraBrush in Episodes 226 and 480 (which Dick was aware of), and a Gadget Warehouse resident, the Motorola add-on MP3 player for cellphones (Episodes 380 and 630).
iTunes Misbehaving
Mike Gigabyte has found that the Daily Giz Wiz, apart from being in the Podcast category, has now gone into the iTunes Music folder, so that it gets shuffled and played at random as well as the rest of his music. Has Leo put the wrong tag on the downloads? Leo doesn't think so, but can't really figure out why this is suddenly happening. It must be because of all the jingles, or iTunes thinks that the Giz Wiz Got Talent.
Listen to Episode 847
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Cateye Micro Wireless
Cyclocomputer
Link: Cateye
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Leo now rides his newly-acquired recumbent Terratrike Cruiser (Episode 837), and is in the middle of kitting it out with accessories. Apart from his pennons, headlights and tail-lights, he's got a loud-sounding horn recommended by kiwinerd, the Delta Airzound Bike Horn which requires no batteries and uses compressed air (refillable from any bike pump) to produce up to 115 db.
But the TTTT gadget for today is the Cateye Micro Wireless, CC-MC100W. It is a bicycle computer (sometimes called a cyclocomputer) which is a speedometer and odometer, with LED backlight, which gives you your speed, maximum speed, distance travelled etc, like a little dashboard on the handlebar of the bike. It is wireless in the sense that it does not need to be wired to the speed sensor which sits on one of the spokes of a bicycle wheel.
Coming Next on TTTT
Leo has an abundance of gadgets to talk about these days. Next week he will cover his new heart-rate monitor.
Health Warning
Many people, including doctors and nurses, have written in after Leo talked about the dangers of swallowing the BuckyBalls (Episode 827). The letter which Leo has picked is from Phil Tilsley of Ferndale, Washington. Phil's wife works as a 911 medical dispatcher, and can confirm that strong magnets pose a serious hazard to children. Strong magnets when swallowed can join together inside the intestines causing a blockage.
Listen to Episode 842
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
But the TTTT gadget for today is the Cateye Micro Wireless, CC-MC100W. It is a bicycle computer (sometimes called a cyclocomputer) which is a speedometer and odometer, with LED backlight, which gives you your speed, maximum speed, distance travelled etc, like a little dashboard on the handlebar of the bike. It is wireless in the sense that it does not need to be wired to the speed sensor which sits on one of the spokes of a bicycle wheel.
Coming Next on TTTT
Leo has an abundance of gadgets to talk about these days. Next week he will cover his new heart-rate monitor.
Health Warning
Many people, including doctors and nurses, have written in after Leo talked about the dangers of swallowing the BuckyBalls (Episode 827). The letter which Leo has picked is from Phil Tilsley of Ferndale, Washington. Phil's wife works as a 911 medical dispatcher, and can confirm that strong magnets pose a serious hazard to children. Strong magnets when swallowed can join together inside the intestines causing a blockage.
Listen to Episode 842
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Schlage LiNK
Remote Access Keypad Entry Lock
Link: Schlage
The Schlage LiNK is a door lock that allows different codes to be set for different users for keypad entry. Its main feature, however, is its internet-enabled remote access so that commands can be sent remotely to the door lock from your computer or cellphone via the internet.
The (black) Wireless Bridge is connected to your home router connected to the internet. You log on to your account on the Schlage website, send your commands from your cellphone or computer to the Wireless Bridge, which are then transmitted to the door lock wirelessly using Z-Wave technology (which uses RF, not infrared as Dick mentions in passing). All communications are encrypted. The commands include unlocking the door and changing the access code for a particular user. You can check whether the door has been locked, and configure the system to send you notifications by email or text message of door entries (say, to check that a child has safely returned home, at what time). All door entries are logged and kept for 90 days.
If you have a network-enabled security webcam you can also connect it to the LiNK system and monitor the webcam on the website. The (white) "light module" also allows you to turn on a lamp in the house remotely.
As the web-based instructions and monitoring are conducted through the Schlage website, you will need an account and pay a monthly subscription.
Leo thinks this is really cool and would like to buy one in order to lock Dane Golden in at the TWiT Cottage after midnight, but has a small reservation about the security or hackability of the system. The Schlage website says it uses "128-bit AEC encryption" (sic), "similar to online banking". By that, they must mean 128-bit AES encryption via SSL (when you log on to your account online and send your commands through the website).
As to the wireless transmission to and from the Wireless Bridge, the only information available is that it uses Z-Wave technology. According to the FAQ of Z-Wave's website, the wireless transmission makes use of the 900 MHz radio frequency band (908.42 MHz). The Z-Wave chip uses a "3DES engine for confidentiality and authentication". Presumably it uses the Triple DES encryption standard.
Another Gadget Show for Leo?
Dick noticed the other day that Leo was tweeting about who the audience would like to see if he were to do a hardcore gadget show a la TWiT. Leo thinks that such a show might attract advertisers, which would help keep his crew employed, although he is not sure he will do such a show.
Printing Costs
Speaking of advertising, Dick remarks that the New York Times now accepts advertisements on their front page. Leo read an article (see The Business Insider) recently that it would cost the New York Times half as much to give away free Kindles to their subscribers for reading the electronic edition as to deliver hard printed copies to them.
Newspaper Online
Dick got a link the other day from a listener about an old TV programme report in the early 1980's on getting your newspaper online via a phone line, and the whole process was started by dialling a rotary phone. It was a 2-hour download at $5 an hour. Dick later tweeted about it on the TWiT Army. The link was sent in by Mike Gunn, of a YouTube video of a KRON-TV programme way back from 1981. The revolution is taking a long time.
GE Product Schenectady
Paul McElligott notes the happy coincidence in Episode 758 in which Dick did a GE product (the 911 Emergency Light Switch), and read a letter from Schenectady, New York. Schenectady used to be a GE company town for many years. His own parents met there in the 1940's while working for GE, and so one can say, that Paul himself is a General Electric product.
Listen to Episode 768
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The (black) Wireless Bridge is connected to your home router connected to the internet. You log on to your account on the Schlage website, send your commands from your cellphone or computer to the Wireless Bridge, which are then transmitted to the door lock wirelessly using Z-Wave technology (which uses RF, not infrared as Dick mentions in passing). All communications are encrypted. The commands include unlocking the door and changing the access code for a particular user. You can check whether the door has been locked, and configure the system to send you notifications by email or text message of door entries (say, to check that a child has safely returned home, at what time). All door entries are logged and kept for 90 days.
If you have a network-enabled security webcam you can also connect it to the LiNK system and monitor the webcam on the website. The (white) "light module" also allows you to turn on a lamp in the house remotely.
As the web-based instructions and monitoring are conducted through the Schlage website, you will need an account and pay a monthly subscription.
Leo thinks this is really cool and would like to buy one in order to lock Dane Golden in at the TWiT Cottage after midnight, but has a small reservation about the security or hackability of the system. The Schlage website says it uses "128-bit AEC encryption" (sic), "similar to online banking". By that, they must mean 128-bit AES encryption via SSL (when you log on to your account online and send your commands through the website).
As to the wireless transmission to and from the Wireless Bridge, the only information available is that it uses Z-Wave technology. According to the FAQ of Z-Wave's website, the wireless transmission makes use of the 900 MHz radio frequency band (908.42 MHz). The Z-Wave chip uses a "3DES engine for confidentiality and authentication". Presumably it uses the Triple DES encryption standard.
Another Gadget Show for Leo?
Dick noticed the other day that Leo was tweeting about who the audience would like to see if he were to do a hardcore gadget show a la TWiT. Leo thinks that such a show might attract advertisers, which would help keep his crew employed, although he is not sure he will do such a show.
Printing Costs
Speaking of advertising, Dick remarks that the New York Times now accepts advertisements on their front page. Leo read an article (see The Business Insider) recently that it would cost the New York Times half as much to give away free Kindles to their subscribers for reading the electronic edition as to deliver hard printed copies to them.
Newspaper Online
Dick got a link the other day from a listener about an old TV programme report in the early 1980's on getting your newspaper online via a phone line, and the whole process was started by dialling a rotary phone. It was a 2-hour download at $5 an hour. Dick later tweeted about it on the TWiT Army. The link was sent in by Mike Gunn, of a YouTube video of a KRON-TV programme way back from 1981. The revolution is taking a long time.
GE Product Schenectady
Paul McElligott notes the happy coincidence in Episode 758 in which Dick did a GE product (the 911 Emergency Light Switch), and read a letter from Schenectady, New York. Schenectady used to be a GE company town for many years. His own parents met there in the 1940's while working for GE, and so one can say, that Paul himself is a General Electric product.
Listen to Episode 768
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.
Epson Artisan 800 All-In-One Photo Printer
Wireless All-In-One Printer
Link: Epson
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
An all-in-one printer from Epson: photo printer, scanner, photocopier, fax, with 2-sided printing. The Artisan 800 has 2 paper trays for convenient storage of different types of paper: documents and photos. An ethernet port and built-in Wifi enable network printing. You can use individual colour ink cartridges (Claria ink, 6 colours including black). Print speed is 38 pages per minute (for black and white). A memory card slot support direct printing (Pict Bridge and DPOF). Automatic Document Feeder for faxing and photocopying. It is also capable of direct printing on to inkjet printable CDs.
The 7.8 in touch panel has all the controls for the machine, including a 3.5 in LCD which you can use for display of images for print selections and even for simple editing. The bundled software includes CD design and OCR software for text recognition.
The Artisan 700 has very similar specifications, including Wifi. The main differences are the lack of fax capability and that the scanner's optical resolution is only half (at 2400 dpi) of the Model 800.
Through the Tinted Glasses of an Optometrist
At Leo's request in Episode 692, Dr Mark Sukoenig writes to confirm that the magnification and tint of the Gunnar Optiks Computer Glasses do help, although the UV filter has little effect now that most people use LCD display, but as an optometrist, he recommends prescription glasses which are tailor-made for your eye condition.
Through the Ozzy Cam
Leo has thought about setting up the Ozzy Cam but Ozzy is too small for that to be feasible.
Listen to Episode 707
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Artisan 700 has very similar specifications, including Wifi. The main differences are the lack of fax capability and that the scanner's optical resolution is only half (at 2400 dpi) of the Model 800.
Through the Tinted Glasses of an Optometrist
At Leo's request in Episode 692, Dr Mark Sukoenig writes to confirm that the magnification and tint of the Gunnar Optiks Computer Glasses do help, although the UV filter has little effect now that most people use LCD display, but as an optometrist, he recommends prescription glasses which are tailor-made for your eye condition.
Through the Ozzy Cam
Leo has thought about setting up the Ozzy Cam but Ozzy is too small for that to be feasible.
Listen to Episode 707
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Acoustic Research AW791 Headphones
Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Headphones
Link: Business Wire Article
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Back in CES 2002, Acoustic Research introduced the first Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Headphones, for movies enjoyment. The Model AW791 used the 900MHz frequency for wireless transmission between the Base Station (wireless transmitter) and the Headphones. Inside the headphones was a Dolby Digital Processor, the same you would find in your Dolby receiver or amplifier.
The Base Station was AC powered, had connections for RCA jacks and optical cable input (optical cable with Toslink connectors provided), an Input Select switch to choose your audio input, and a choice of 3 channels for wireless transmission to avoid interference. The headphones themselves were powered by Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, which recharged themselves automatically when docked on the Base Station.
At the time, Acoustic Research was part of Recoton. Now it's part of Audiovox.
Although the product is only about 7 years old, it is ancient in terms of gadget years. See Episodes 120 and 420 for Dick and Leo's discussion on "gadget years".
Dolby Surround Sound Headphones Demo
For a demo of this type of headphones that Leo mention on the show, check out MacBreak Weekly Episode 23, the post-iPhone announcement episode in which people got a bit high with the iPhone and more.
Ventriloquist Johnson
The ventriloquist in The Two And Only whom Dick mentions is Jay Johnson.
Slimming Down with DGW
Aussie Mike, who met with Leo and his gang at the Sydney Airport on Leo's photography trip to Tasmania (see Episode 539), had some health problem which required him to slim down. He started his exercise with walking while listening to DGW, and that was all he could manage in the beginning. Gradually, he added other TWiT podcasts to his walk. He has lost a total of 40kg (88 pounds). A good TWiT diet.
Listen to Episode 705
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Base Station was AC powered, had connections for RCA jacks and optical cable input (optical cable with Toslink connectors provided), an Input Select switch to choose your audio input, and a choice of 3 channels for wireless transmission to avoid interference. The headphones themselves were powered by Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, which recharged themselves automatically when docked on the Base Station.
At the time, Acoustic Research was part of Recoton. Now it's part of Audiovox.
Although the product is only about 7 years old, it is ancient in terms of gadget years. See Episodes 120 and 420 for Dick and Leo's discussion on "gadget years".
Dolby Surround Sound Headphones Demo
For a demo of this type of headphones that Leo mention on the show, check out MacBreak Weekly Episode 23, the post-iPhone announcement episode in which people got a bit high with the iPhone and more.
Ventriloquist Johnson
The ventriloquist in The Two And Only whom Dick mentions is Jay Johnson.
Slimming Down with DGW
Aussie Mike, who met with Leo and his gang at the Sydney Airport on Leo's photography trip to Tasmania (see Episode 539), had some health problem which required him to slim down. He started his exercise with walking while listening to DGW, and that was all he could manage in the beginning. Gradually, he added other TWiT podcasts to his walk. He has lost a total of 40kg (88 pounds). A good TWiT diet.
Listen to Episode 705
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Gene Simmons's Axe
Wireless Game Controller for Rock Band/Guitar Hero
Link: hipstreetonline Kobian-Inc
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Inspired by Dick's gadget yesterday, Leo introduces the Gene Simmons Axe. A ¾-size replica of the original Axe of the bass guitarist and vocalist of Kiss, it is a game controller made by Kobian USA for playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero on Playstation 2 and Playstation 3, with all the standard game controls. It plays wirelessly (up to 30 feet) or directly plugged into the USB port of the game console.
The PS2 and PS3 version will be released on 15 November 2008. Versions for the Nintendo Wii and XBox 360 are expected towards the end of the year and early next year.
Gene Simmons's long tongue not included.
Looking Under the Desk
Leo spent in long time during the recording figuring out this week's gadget for TTTT (hence Dick's remark that Leo searched for almost one month). The Rovio was not ready yet, the Epson P7000 had been done; so had the Toothpick Bird. Then he was about to embark on the aTV Patchstick, but fortunately the Chatroom realised that it had also been covered. Finally Leo picked the Axe.
In Flanders Fields ...
... the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row ... Today is Veterans' Day, or Armistice Day, commemorating the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany and the end of WWI on 11 November 1918.
One Good Turn Deserves Another
Dr Mark Moran, a lasic surgery specialist who has emailed a picture of himself and his nurses in the operating theatre all wearing GizWizBiz Caps, has received the gift certificates for 3 iPods for him and his nurses (who aren't nurses, but members of his staff) from Leo, with thanks. Anxious to restore faith in a cynical anaesthesiologist who thought that he would never see an iPod, Dr Moran has made a generous donation to the TWiT network. For the history of this happy exchange, revisit Episode 683 and Episode 691.
So, one good turn deserves another, and more. Leo has just got an email from a fan who has an old Mac Cube he'd like to send over to Leo (who famously bought a Cube the day before Apple announced its end of life). Another fan who does animatronics wants to take an animatronic model (of Leo?), like Abraham Lincoln in Disneyland, to the TWiT Cottage in person. Now Leo can do TWiTLive 24/7.
Listen to Episode 697
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Dr Mark Moran, a lasic surgery specialist who has emailed a picture of himself and his nurses in the operating theatre all wearing GizWizBiz Caps, has received the gift certificates for 3 iPods for him and his nurses (who aren't nurses, but members of his staff) from Leo, with thanks. Anxious to restore faith in a cynical anaesthesiologist who thought that he would never see an iPod, Dr Moran has made a generous donation to the TWiT network. For the history of this happy exchange, revisit Episode 683 and Episode 691.
So, one good turn deserves another, and more. Leo has just got an email from a fan who has an old Mac Cube he'd like to send over to Leo (who famously bought a Cube the day before Apple announced its end of life). Another fan who does animatronics wants to take an animatronic model (of Leo?), like Abraham Lincoln in Disneyland, to the TWiT Cottage in person. Now Leo can do TWiTLive 24/7.
Listen to Episode 697
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Peek
Email Device
Link: GetPeek
The Peek is a small, thin portable device that does nothing but email, not for the hardcore techie but aimed at those who find computers too complicated and just want to start using email. It's a take-off of the Blackberry in design, with a qwerty keyboard and a thumbwheel at the top right. If you use a web-based account (such as hotmail, gmail, AOL), all you need to do is key in your email address and password, and it will download your contacts for you. If you use an email account provided by your ISP, you'll need to call Peek Support. It supports up to 3 email accounts on one machine.
The backbone of the wireless service is provided by T-Mobile. You do need to open an account with the Peek, for $20 a month. It's a monthly subscription, and there's no need for a long-term contract. Available in 3 colours (aqua, red and grey) at Target stores and GetPeek itself.
20 Funniest Episodes
Eric Whistler has gone back to some of the older episodes, including the classic Episode 182, the Spork. Eric wonders if Dick and Leo have their favourite, say, 20 funniest episodes. Difficult to pick, but Dick remembers fondly the Purseguard Ultra (Episode 406), and the Talking Photo Album (Episode 463) in which Leo had a Gracie Allen moment.
The Burns & Allen Show
Dick recounts moments from the Burns & Allen Show, and Leo plays a YouTube video of an "embedded" commercial for Carnation Milk, and forgets whether they've read a letter or not.
AutoTether
Boating Safety
Link: AutoTether
An important device for boating is the emergency stop lanyard, which is connected to the engine kill switch and worn by the boat operator, so that if the operator falls overboard, the engine will stop. However, it does restrict movements and can cause false emergency stops when the connection gets pulled off accidentally.
The AutoTether solves this problem by doing it wirelessly. The main unit, which has a wireless signal receiver, is connected to the engine kill switch. A mobile remote unit worn by the operator (or any passenger) sends radio signals to the main unit. If the operator or passenger falls overboard, the radio signal transmission is cut off, since radio signals cannot travel through water. The main unit detects the signal cut-off, stops the engine and sounds an alarm at the same time. The system operates by AAA batteries, with low-battery warning indicators.
The AutoTether kit comes with one main unit and 2 mobile remote units. It can accommodate a total of 4 remote units (extras can be bought separately). Other applications include using it at a beach or around a pool, if you don't want a young child to go into the water unsupervised. You can also set a range for the remote unit so that when the remote unit goes out of range, the main unit will sound an alarm.
Dick has written a fuller article on this gadget in PowerBoat Magazine. Here's the link.
Did you know?
... that Dick was involved in the production of a Playboy Club musical Little Annie Fanny, and Leo did a TV commercial for Clarks Shoes.
Party Line
The PhoneMate Just In Case Beeper (Episode 540) brings back memories for Paul Pigozzo from London, Ontario, not only of his grandmother's rotary phone with 30 feet of cord, but also her "party line" - one telephone shared by several households, and the telephone gives off different rings for different households.
Naturally, whenever a rotary phone is mentioned, Leo inexorably talks about Steve Wozniak's Rotary Cellphone again.
Listen to Episode 614
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The AutoTether solves this problem by doing it wirelessly. The main unit, which has a wireless signal receiver, is connected to the engine kill switch. A mobile remote unit worn by the operator (or any passenger) sends radio signals to the main unit. If the operator or passenger falls overboard, the radio signal transmission is cut off, since radio signals cannot travel through water. The main unit detects the signal cut-off, stops the engine and sounds an alarm at the same time. The system operates by AAA batteries, with low-battery warning indicators.
The AutoTether kit comes with one main unit and 2 mobile remote units. It can accommodate a total of 4 remote units (extras can be bought separately). Other applications include using it at a beach or around a pool, if you don't want a young child to go into the water unsupervised. You can also set a range for the remote unit so that when the remote unit goes out of range, the main unit will sound an alarm.
Dick has written a fuller article on this gadget in PowerBoat Magazine. Here's the link.
Did you know?
... that Dick was involved in the production of a Playboy Club musical Little Annie Fanny, and Leo did a TV commercial for Clarks Shoes.
Party Line
The PhoneMate Just In Case Beeper (Episode 540) brings back memories for Paul Pigozzo from London, Ontario, not only of his grandmother's rotary phone with 30 feet of cord, but also her "party line" - one telephone shared by several households, and the telephone gives off different rings for different households.
Naturally, whenever a rotary phone is mentioned, Leo inexorably talks about Steve Wozniak's Rotary Cellphone again.
Listen to Episode 614
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