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About Me

 

Known as MAD's Maddest Writer, co-host of The Giz Wiz with OMGchad at www.GizWiz.TV, The Giz Wiz on ABC's World News Now, and on Tech Guy Labs with Leo Laporte on www.TWiT.TV

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    The Giz Wiz is a weekly guest on The Tech Guy Show with -- who else? - The Tech Guy himself, Leo Laporte.

    Leo Laporte & I chat about some sort of fun or weird gadget weekly his The Tech Guy Radio Show. The show is syndicated by Premiere to over 180 radio stations around the country. Leo's closing in on 1.5 million listeners! I'm on the Saturday Show with The Giz Wiz Gadget of the Week. My spot is on about 1:45 PM PST / 4:45 PM EST. 

    And if you watch The Tech Guy stay tuned. Because after the Tech Guy Show  Leo does The New Screen Savers Show, and then I return to do Giz Fiz PM, a show with viewer questions, Match Game questions, videos, guest of the week and more! That starts when New Screen Saver ends..about 5:00 PM PST/ 8:00 PM EST. Watch it all at

    http://www.twitlive.tv/

    All The Tech Guy Labs show notes, shows & info can be found here:

    http://techguylabs.com/radio/ 

    Below are the gadgets we've talked about on the show.

    Saturday
    Mar052022

    If You Have A Lot Of Cables Running Everywhere, This Kit Can Help Tame Them!

    I have wires running everywhere! When I get a new gadget it’s easier to hook it up with a new cable than trace where the old cable went. That’s why this Topbooc 126 piece Cord Management Organizer Kit should be a be help. (Assuming I get started using it!) This comprehensive kit includes everything to organize and manage your cables at the home or office. The kit includes 4 x Cable Management Sleeves, 10 x Cable Ties, 100 x Self Lock Wire Ties, 10 x Cable Clips, 2 x Self Adhesive Cable Tie Rolls. The included cable clips have self-adhesive sticky pads. So just peel and stick to any surface. If you have long cable runs, the about 19” sleeves can be joined end-to-end to make longer coverings. It was under $20 when I bought mine on Amazon.

    Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/rm6bB2ks2K4

    Check the latest price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ILxjRE

    Saturday
    Feb262022

    Have old 8mm or Super 8 films? Yes, films that you want to digitize?

    This gadget can do it! I learned about it from Tom Wynne, a viewer of The Giz Wiz Show.

    Here's info from the company: Wolverine 8mm and Super8 MovieMaker. Convert 8mm and Super 8 Movie Reels into MPEG4 Digital Videos. A very simple to use device to convert your movie reels into digital movies (no sound) with few strokes. A fully automated apparatus to digitize 8 and Super 8 Movie Reels, Frame-by-Frame for high-quality digital conversion. Converts 8 and Super 8 movies into MPEG-4 (MP4) digital movie files at 720P/ 30 fps. Scans and directly saves digital movies into SD/SDHC cards (32GB max, not included). Playback to TV's using the included TV Cable. Compatible with all Windows, Mac and Linux Operating Systems.

    From the Giz Wiz: Notice, it says for '3” & 5” reels'. If you have 7” reels, in the reviews on Amazon there are some work arounds people came up with to use them. If you have an older TV, it seems you can use the included cable to attach the unit to a TV RCA jacks and playback the digital recordings direct from the Wolverine. The company adds: To upload to computers, either take out the memory card and insert it into a computer or attach the unit to a computer USB port to access the SD card information.

     

    I asked Tom if he could email me a sample of video he made using this device. He send me this great 30 second video showing his father's 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible transferred from 8mm using a Wolverine Film2Video MovieMaker device. This 8mm film he copied from is 62 years old! https://youtu.be/MPJlk9_hRV8 

     

    On Amazon it was $299.95 on 2/26/22. Check the current price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HrIjC2

     

    As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

    Saturday
    Feb192022

    Hmmm....this power strip has the most outlets I've ever seen!

    This Superdanny Power Strip has 22 outlets, plus 6 USB ports! It's rated at 15A/1875W. It's FCC, RoHS safety certified, extension cord and flat plug certified by UL. Did you notice that the “UL” applies to the cord and plug only. Because of that I was not going to buy this. But I wanted to see it in person after I saw it got 4.9 out of 5 stars from 432 ratings.
    I read that the FCC rating indicates that an electronic item is approved for use in the US because it was made without certain hazardous chemicals. So that doesn't apply to the electronics. Superdanny says their built-in smart charging technology detects your devices automatically and deliver the fastest possible charge up to 5V/2.4A per port. Also listed is 2100 Jewel surge protection, overload protection, grounded protection, short-circuit protection, over-voltage protection, and over-heating protection. (But obviously, NO OVER-HYPE protection.) I paid $39.99 for the mine on Amazon. 

    Giz Wiz Video:  https://youtu.be/PtJbAuLbvIA

    Amazon: https://amzn.to/3h32DyQ  As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

    Saturday
    Feb122022

    Instant Party Anywhere With The Battery Operated Party Light!

    Party Light Instantly Fills A Room With Moving Images!

    Okay, the brand name you most likely never heard of, but it doesn't matter. I love this:

    Joguly Party Light, Stage Light ,Laser Light. It's a Disco DJ Laser Light with RGB & UV LED, Remote Control, Sound Activated Strobe for Birthday, Family Party, Dance, Wedding, etc. With a built in rechargeable battery the laser light can operate for 6~7 hours. (Both led and laser lights for 6 hours, only led shinning or laser lighting for 7 hours). Now the company says you can take the party light and have a party anytime. I'll add, and anywhere. In the video you'll see the result when I took my Party Light down to Riverside Park. There are 128 patterns according to the company. I didn't count them, but I'm impressed! And it only uses 6 watts. Comes with a USB cable with a pin connector into the back of the party light. It says “AC adpater”, but there wasn't one with my unit. Didn't matter, I have a bunch of those AC to USB plugs around Gizneyland. Battery capacity: 4400mAh. Charging time: 4-6 hours. Working time: 6-7 hours. Play modes: auto play, voice control and remote control. The remote control also has a built in timer. I paid $45.99 and it was still that price on 2/12/22, but it could change at any time.

     

    Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/sH7FyTHYzVg

     

    Amazon: https://amzn.to/34xb6Ii As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.

    Saturday
    Feb052022

    Here's A Really Small, Decent Sounding Bluetooth Speaker!

    It's the Ewa A106 Mini Bluetooth Speaker. (Sometimes the word PRO is added to the description on Amazon.) I found out about this mini Bluetooth speaker from Johnny Jet's newsletter. I thought it would be fun to buy and try one since the price was under $18! The Ewa A106 Pro mini speaker is indeed small but the sound is bigger than one might expect. Be aware it Bluetooth only, there's no way to use an audio cable to hook it up. It's feel very well built, but weighs a bit over 6 ounces according to my postage scale. I wish it charged via USB-C, but it's micro USB and a charging cable is included. You also get a metal hook and carrying case. The case has a sort of speaker grill so you put the Ewa speaker in the case and use the hook to hang it on a bike, backpack, etc. I'm only had my Ewa for a couple of days, but the company says the built-in Lithium-Polymer battery guarantees 6 hours of play time, and up to 8 hours (at 50% volume). Just half an hour of charge time with 1A charger equals 2 Hours of play time. To make it very small they also add: We gave up functions such as a microphone, 3.5mm jack and unnecessary buttons, leaving one silicone button (Hold to switch on/ off, one-tap to pause, double-tap or triple-tap to switch songs). If you need a small BT speaker, this one is a good choice to my mind. 1-year warranty and a 30-day risk free guarantee. MSRP: $17.99.

    Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/7qeJpV6b-4s

     

    Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GvJosn