Anti-Glare Screen Protector

Link: iLuv

Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday

iLuv Anti-Glare Protective Film for iPad

Another recommendation from Steve Gibson of Security Now!, the iLuv Anti-Glare Protective Film for iPad is a screen protector for the iPad but also gives anti-glare/matt properties to the stand.  It comes with a micro-fibre cleaning cloth and 2 screen protectors.  Like most screen protectors, it is difficult to apply, and Leo suggests that you should be prepared to write off the first one as practice.

One Unhappy Customer

Frank DiZolio III is a faithful listener of the show, and he is not happy with Leo’s review of the BlueAnt T1 (Episode 1132).  For some reason the volume drops as soon as a phone call connects.  He has tried to contact customer service, but so far it’s been non-existent.  Leo will try to get in touch with BlueAnt to give Frank his due redress.

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Microwave-Safe Steamer

Link: Amazon

Orka Vegetable Steamer

Dick plays “What’s In the Box?” again with this fresh courier delivery.  Orka makes a line of silicone steamers which are microwave-safe, with different capacities and colours.  Just put it some water with your food and steam away in the microwave.

Red Hook Village Diner

On Leo’s way to drop Abby off at her new college, they stopped by a diner at Red Hook called the Village Diner, which was the first diner in New York State, and the 4th in the States. Here’s Leo’s picture on Google Buzz:

Red Hook Village Diner

Leo’s Buzz

Speaking of Buzz, Leo has become disillusioned with all this business of social media that is Twitter, Jaiku, Facebook, FriendFeed and his latest love Buzz.  Apparently, whether it’s because he accidentally changed a setting or for other reasons, his last 15 posts over the last few weeks have failed to go public, and no one noticed, including himself.  It’s made him realise that for the last four years he has ignored his own trusty beloved blog.  See Leo’s post on his own blog, Buzz Kill.  From now on, no more shiny sexy microblogs; no more wittering on Twitter – until the next social media craze comes along, that is.

Keep the Train-Wreck Going

Earl from Southfield, Michigan, writes with concern about the poise, dignity and professionalism with which Tom Merritt conducted himself on the Daily Giz Wiz, qualities not normally associated with the train-wreck that is the Daily Giz Wiz, qualities he can easily find elsewhere in other podcasts.  He hopes this is not a trend; otherwise the show’s listenership will surely drop from the dozens now (perhaps a generous overestimate) to the handful.  On a more serious note, Leo agrees with Earl that Tom has been a great addition to the TWiT network, so much so that they’ve decided to hire Eileen Merritt as well, as a producer.

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LCD Monitor

Link: CNet Reviews

Dick’s Gadget Warehouse

Samsung SyncMaster 172MP

Dick got the Samsung SyncMaster 172MP in 2003 which he is going to retire, but not before he gets one more use out of it, for Warehouse Friday.  It has a 17-in 4:3 1280 x 1024 pixels LCD screen, a built-in TV tuner, picture-in-picture feature, built-in speakers, and multiple video-in jacks.  At the time, its recommended sale price was $800.

One for the Warehouse

James Moore from Brunswick, Georgia, has been listening to the Daily Giz Wiz ever since he acquired his Android phone the Droid Eris, while he delivers pizzas in Georgia.  He enjoys the show, especially Warehouse Friday.  He’s even bought the BlueAnt T1 covered by Leo in Episode 1132.  James has a suggestion for his favourite Warehouse Friday, the Microsoft Kin, the company’s touch screen operating system for feature-phones which lasted all of 48 days in the market – one of the most short-lived products in history, that probably belongs with New Coke and Orbitz Soda (Episode 1120).  Even the TwitterPeek (Episode 958) has outlasted the Kin phones.

Direct To Warehouse

Dick and Tom have seen their fair shares of failed products, including flooz.com and the CueCat.  Sometimes, at CES, Dick just wants to say to a manufacturer, “Don’t!”

CueCat

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DVR Extra Storage

Link: Western Digital

My DVR Expander eSATA Edition

This is a new version of Western Digital’s My DVR Expander series, for expanding the storage of your DVR.  This one has a faster eSATA connection, and is compatible with specific models of Scientific Atlanta and TiVo DVRs.  You can even hook up certain camcorders to offload your videos on to the hard disk.  Some models have dual eSATA and USB connections.

All About Cue Cards

Dick and Tom exchange notes on cue cards.  As Gene Rayburn got older, the typeface on the cue cards for him on the Match Game grew bigger and bigger.  When Tom was an intern at NPR, he had a chance to tour the CNN studios, and he picked up a hand-written blue card on the Larry King set.  On one occasion, Dick had to go down to the Tonight Show set to let Johnny Carson know what time he had to come up to the Match Game set for his guest appearance, and lying on the props table were cue cards with all the supposedly “ad-lib” lines written on them.

That Lovely Old Feeling Again

Nathan was listening to Episode 1149 in which Dick talked about the Bedfan (Episode 391).  Nathan used to have a bed/fan/sheet combo which would create a pillow of air around him and it would cause the sheets to barely caress him – perfect comfort.  Nathan wonders if the Bedfan will finally re-create that lovely old feeling again.

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Paper Guitars

Link: Paper Jamz

Wowwee Paper Jamz

Wowwee’s latest toys are the Paper Jamz, musical instruments which are made of touch-sensitive paper.  They can be played in demo, play-along and free-style modes. At the moment only guitars (6 styles) have been released; each comes with a set of 3 licensed songs to which you can play along.  The drums are coming soon.  You can even get a paper amplifier.

Another Tom Letter

Gerald Stangret from Canada enjoys having Tom on for a change; it adds zeal to the show, and he can tell Tom enjoys doing it. 

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Sound Effects Machine

Link: miniorgan.com

Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday

The Sound Gizmo

Tom has dug deep into his gadget wigwam and found the Sound Gizmo, which he received as a birthday present in about 1992.  Made by Fundimensions in Singapore, it could generate 9 sounds effects, including Jet Plane, Gunshot, Train, Tone, Helicopter and Siren.  You could also vary the pitch, volume and speed of the sound effect.  There’s a little write-up here, and you can even look up the manual for the gadget.

Brannock Device

Dick struggles with the name of the age-old device invented over 80 years ago which is still being made, in essentially the same form as the original – the Brannock Device (Episode 255).

Who’s this Tom Merritt?

Appropriately, today’s letter comes from Dr Mark Sukoenig from Syracuse, where the Brannock Device was born (see his letter in Episode 280). Dr Mark asks who’s this guy who presumes to take over the show from Leo.  He doesn’t have a letter to read; he doesn’t do Leo’s great voices; he doesn’t have Leo’s great sense of humour; he doesn’t even shave as Leo does or sit on the ball when he does the show.  His claim to fame is he gets to do shows with pretty women. Joking aside, does Tom merit his chance for filling in for Leo?  Absolutely, and Dr Mark listens to all of Tom’s shows.

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Laptop Cooler with 3-Port USB Hub and Card Reader

Link: Cables Unlimited

Super Laptop Cooler

The Super Laptop Cooler from Cables Unlimited is made of aluminium with 2 cooling fans.  Thrown into the mix is a 3-port USB hub (one of which is taken up by the device itself) and a multi-card reader.  Dick gives it his whisker rating of 8 out of 10.

Feast of Slogans

For Tom’s benifit, Dick explains a couple of the show’s slogans – the Gravy Slogan (about the use of which Feast of Fools complained, see Episode 114); and “The worse your life is, the better we sound” (see Episode 391).

Dick’s Next Visit

Dick will be at TWiT Cottage on Saturday 2 October recording for Episode 1200.  He’s already packed his schedule: recording on Saturday, meeting his new best friend Jennifer Laporte and camping with jammerb, and maybe even sparing a moment for Tom’s Sunday show East Meets West.

Gizneyland Staying Guest

At Gizneyland today is Myra Joyce again, who practically camps out at Dick’s studio.

A Suggestion for Tim: Gadget Reprise

Dick tweeted out to listeners asking them to write to Tom about the show which he has stepped in to host for Leo, to much popular acclaim.  Zig obliges, and suggests that Tom should cover gadgets which Dick and Leo have covered in the past – after all, that’s what Dick and Leo do!  Zig wouldn’t mind having the Roku Box (Episode 922) again, as he’d like to know more about how it works.

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Wine Tool Set

Link: CoolStuffCheap

Dick’s Gadget Warehouse

Tool Logic Wine Companion

Tool Logic has been and still is making swiss-army-knife-style tool sets, but the one in the Gadget Warehouse, no longer made, is the Wine Companion – complete with a corkscrew, a foil cutter, a serrated knife, a bottle opener, a fork and a cocktail stirrer, all housed in a thin card-shape case.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Today’s intro by Tom is an adaptation of part of the text of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving; and the village of Sleepy Hollow happens to be in New York, too.

Christmas in July

Doug from Stanhope, New Jersey has been listening to Audible and fallen behind with the show.  He’s just listened to the Christmas episodes from last year – his own Christmas in July event.  In Episode 989, Dick and Leo were talking about some of the technology at Disney (Mr Lincoln), and thinks that they might like to know about the Pal Mickey, a plush toy which was an interactive tour guide for Disney World, introduced in 2003, available for daily rent or for sale for $47 at the time.

Pal Mickey

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Faux Surveillance Camera

Link: Dormco

Dormco Dummy Camera

Another gadget from Dormco (see Episode 1108), this Dummy Camera looks like a surveillance camera.  Its zoom lens and wireless antenna are fake, but it has a working motion sensor which, when activated by motion within 10 feet, will set the camera rotation back and forth and a red LED light to blink.  Bluff and scare tactics might work.

Touch To Give

Ever since Doug Pompilio from Dayton, Ohio learned about the Click To Give (see e.g. Episodes 464, 658) Animal Rescue site, he’s been clicking every day to support the site.  Thanks to a Genius suggestion in the App Store, he’s now got an iPhone app for supporting a number of Click To Give charities, including Animal Rescue, Breast Cancer and Hunger: Touch To Give.

Touch To Give

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Backpack with Security Features

Link: iSafe Bags

iSafe School Backpack

The back straps of this School Backpack from iSafe Bags are criss-crossed to make it difficult for someone else to snatch it off.  On one of the straps in front, under a velcro flap, is a cord which, when pulled, will activate an alarm from the speakers at the back and light up a series of red LED lights, to scare off bullies and predators.

Encore

Mike Meyering, the Spare Geek, recently purchased the Encore Dual USB Port Charger (Episode 1056).  He was very impressed by it, and made inquiries with the manufacturer to find out the specs of the battery.  It was a 1,700 mAh rechargeable battery; not bad for the price.

A Tip from Colleen, and Pontifications from Tom and Dick

Colleen once gave Dick a tip: get a power adapter and plug it into the power brick for the laptop, in place of the cable and plug that usually comes with the laptop.  That way at least you save carrying one cable.  Cables are the bane of modern technology, and Dick is still waiting for the truly wireless TV, while Tom would like all cables to be retractable, if they have to exist at all.  The thought of a wireless world gets Dick remarking that open unencrypted wifi has become rather rare.

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