Weekly “Giz Wiz Show” with OMGchad & me
www.gizwiz.tv
ABC World News Now Gadgets – click here
Scroll Down Right Column Links For Other Interesting Topics.
(for posts prior to 2020 CLICK HERE)
Chad And I Pick Our Crappiest Gadgets of 2020!
When I saw the Collapsible Microwave Popcorn Maker, I could hardly believe it was made by Cuisinart, a very famous name in better-made cookware. Here’s what the company says about it: Cuisinart has an easier, healthier way to make fresh crisp popcorn in the microwave. Our pop and serve popcorn maker silicone bowl pops kernels without needing any oil for a lighter healthier snack. Add your own flavorings like butter, salt, or spices, or leave as is for a healthy snack that’s ready to serve right from the bowl! The silicone bowl is easy to clean and collapses for convenient storage. Fun to use and easy to clean.
And The Giz Wiz says: After I bought this I thought I had to buy some popcorn to try it out. But wait, I only buy popcorn that pops in the bag. So why did I buy this thing?? Oh, yeah, I bought it for the Giz Wiz Show. I paid about $13 on Amazon. After seeing this in person, I don’t like mine. Even if I wasn’t going to use it for popcorn, I was going to keep as a neat collapsible bowl. Except, as you’ll see in the video, it doesn’t collapse the way it’s support to. Worse, you can’t return it on Amazon. When I tried to return it, it says ‘contact Cuisinart’ and the only other option is “return to shopping”. So I called Cuisinart & they sent me another one. How did that one work? Well, you’ll see in my video.
Giz Wiz Video:https://youtu.be/yUjbz8IRhBc
It’s still on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ntpzbB –
As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
A perfect choice for Chad’s July Cheap Gadget Theme is “Cheap Summer Solar Gadgets”.
Chad’s final solar gadget is the Solarrific Solar Cooling Hat.
From the company: (They have a sense of humor, because they say something weird in the second sentence.) Solarrific Black Solar Cooling Hat a wonderful new portable air conditioning unit. It looks small but will cool an 1800 sq. foot area. Just kidding. It WILL keep you cool under the hot sun. The solar panel needs to have direct exposure to the sun, and will work until you take it out of the sun. Adjustable strap fits most head sizes. Creates cooling breeze on forehead and face. Quality fabric of 100% breathable cotton. MSRP: $24.99
And Chad’s take? Chad was not blown away with this cap. He wasn’t even breezed away with it. He said he felt a bit of air on his eyes, along with annoying reflections from the fan blades. He also noted the poor reviews. All in all I think it would be fair to say instead of cooling Chad off, it made him hot under the collar – and yes, even on his head! A definite Crappy Gadget! You’ll see it all as Chad demonstrates it on this week’s show.
You’ve been warned, but it’s still on sale in 2021: https://amzn.to/3bkZWao As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more. (But we’re not recommending this gadget.)
See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1813
World’s Smallest Yoga Mat? -&- A Water Bottle With A Charging Cable! What?
Big News! The Giz Wiz gets totally ripped off on Amazon! It started when I received a discount code of $42 for a yoga mat in an email from one of the ‘hot deals’ newsletters I subscribe to. This code was good at Amazon. Excerpts from their Amazon ad sounded good: Thick High Density Anti-Skid Yoga Mat Exercise Pad. Workout Mat for All Types of Yoga, Pilates, Stretching, Meditation & Floor
Exercise. HEAVY DUTY: High density foaming material, strong structure, heavy duty workout design. durable mat for men / women home gym high intensity workout or health loose weight yoga! Our yoga mats are guaranteed to provide the optimal level of cushion and protection for your joints and knees while still allowing you to grip the floor for balance. Premium exercise mat, best suitable to practice many forms of Yoga. Regular price $52.50. I applied the discount code from from Bradsdeals and the final price $10.50. Free Shipping…not Amazon Prime.. Fullfilled by HighlifeS, not Amazon. Wait until you see what they sent me! I know $10.50 is a ridiculous low price for a yoga mat, but I thought maybe they had a warehouse full and wanted to clear them out. Big mistake on my part. I should have known the old “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” is TRUE.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/Ya-ZofrCO0c
Amazon link: — Surprise, it was still on Amazon as of 1/7/21, but then on 1/8/21 “No Longer Available”.
—-
Chad thought this Drip gadget was a mismatch of items. (He is probably right, because it’s not on the company website when we checked on 1/7/21.)
Drip, a water bottle with built-in earbuds, or earpods.
Yes, Drip is a Bluetooth water bottle featuring an enclosed compartment that include high quality earbuds (or earpods) and a powerbank station. It easily syncs to your phone for 2-3 hours of playing time. The object is to have two everyday staples in one place! DRIP, the bottle itself, is stainless steel, vacuum insulated and dishwasher safe. The sleek design offers ear pods (or earbuds) that are either located in the top or the bottom. The bottle can be charged via USB. The two versions (which you’ll see in the video, earpods, or earbuds are due out in September 2020. I listened to the earbuds version and the sound was very decent for the price. They’ll range in price from $40 to $65.00.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/zcBe3uK7iyo
Here’s the company website, but they are not there are as 1/8/20.
Company website: http://www.roq-innovation.com/
See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1813
Surprise Box Of Tech. You’ll be surprised, but probably not the way you thought!
I Buy A Mystery Box of Tech!
That photo on the left came with the email iTech Deals sent me. … Did I get lots of awesome tech gadgets to make me happy and my friends jealous? Or did I just get screwed? Watch the video and make up your own mind!
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/EubCNRCjH0E
Here are the items in the box and prices I found at the time I got the box.
Ijoy Wireless Light Switch. 12/$38.99 or about $3.25 each.
Lsting says ‘fast charging’ – photo shows it charges at 5V 1A, which is very slow. It was $8.
Free Rein earbuds: Under $20, but not good reviews.
GEMS Cord Wrap – 3 pack, which is 6 of them: was $2.84 plus free shipping
Scosche 3′ flat audo cable.
3′ HDMI cable – $7 to $8 (No brand, not in a box.)
If you bought each of those items separately you would have to pay more than $20. But looking at the photo and the $99.99 price crossed out, you’d expect a lot more. At least I did. Actually, there isn’t anything in that box of tech that I really want, or can use. So, if it sounds too good to be true, you know the rest!
If you couldn’t guess those devices from the picture, they are Hexagonal Touch Sensitive LED Honeycomb Wall Night Lights. I wish I had read the full description before I started playing them and thinking they weren’t working. It turns out they use a capacitive sensor as a switch to turn each component on or off when you touch it! Well, that’s what it’s supposed to do. As you’ll see in the video, four worked really well, and one seemed to be touchy about being touch sensitive. I don’t have a place to install them, but they do come with double stick circles to put them on a wall. You connect the lights together by the magnetic edges to fit the structure you want. I paid $30 for 5 lights as a ‘deal of the day’. And there are a lot of choices for these at Amazon too. They’re fun and different and I guess they could be called a great conversation starter. You’ll also see they are available in colors, but I bought white lights.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/9vxcZoN46Tw
Amazon: No longer available.
See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1813
I’m Not A Fan Of This Fan.
Chad showed his solar hat with built-in fan and found it wasn’t very good. Then in a burst of stupidity I decided to buy a different kind of solar fan. One designed to fit on any kind of baseball cap. That way I could wear my MAD cap, or even my World News Now cap and have a nice breeze from the solar fan. Big mistake! There’s actually no description of this gadget on Amazon. Everything about it is in the Amazon name: “Yosoo Portable Solar Cap Fan, Solar Power Cap Hat Clip on Mini Fan Pocket Clips Solar Hat Sport Fan USB Hanging Cooler for Indoor Outdoor.” Got all that? Well forget it. And if you need proof just watch this week’s show, or the Giz Wiz Video below. I show you all the ways this fan is hopeless and worthless. Under $15 when I bought it in July 2020.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/c965eBWAz1M
Amazon: https://amzn.to/35jvQjB (Still available, but not recommended!!) – As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
—–
This made Chad’s ‘worst of’ list. I was a bit more enthused about it. It Could Be A Fun New Sweater – if you have an old, small smartphone.
When I saw this “fireplace” sweater online I thought I have to buy one, and I did. It’s the Digital Dudz Morph Men’s Fireplace Ugly Christmas Sweater. I don’t know why they call it an ugly Christmas sweater because I think it looks fairly decent, except maybe if you buy the pink version. It’s what you can do with it that makes it so much fun. The company says you download the free Digital Dudz app onto your smartphone, find the Crackling Fireplace animation and then slide the phone into the front-loading pocket. I found two problems. The biggest is that the smartphone pocket is small, about 3″ X 5 1/2″. The only phone I own that fit in it is my old Galaxy S5. Also the app constantly crashes. Many reviews online had the same problem. But it’s easy to get a fireplace video on Youtube. With the small smartphone installed, the sweater looks great. It’s a real attention getting. Chad was going to order one instantly until he realized all his phones are too big for the sweater pocket, which I think will be a problem for many geeks who didn’t hold on to one of their older, smaller smartphones. It’s $25 to $30.00 on Amazon, depending on if it’s on sale or not.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/EqSe50_v6f8
It dropped as low as $16.00 in January. You can check the latest price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3orpDtK As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1813
Not A Worst Of Gadgets, But Definitely ‘A Weirdest Of’ Gadget!
This was almost like MAD Magazine at CES 2020!
Meet the $34 Smart Potato cleverly named POTATO. As impossible as it sounds you can make any potato smart by inserting a blade-like device developed by Nicolas Baldeck. (Nicolas had a booth in the French section of Eureka Park at CES 2020.) Once the Smart Potato device is connected it uses ‘potato energy’ to power the Bluetooth antenna attached to the inserted electronic card. Then, as you’ll see in the video, you can use your potato just like Alexa or Google Home. Just say “Hey Potato” and ask your question.
From the company: Gold electrodes are used to pick-up the potato brainwaves, which are immediately sent to the onboard Artificial Intelligence processor. This is the result of intensive research, including weeks of cloud processing and terabytes of big data training. POTATO decodes potato language and translate it into a Bluetooth connexion.
POTATO can instantly turn any organic spud into your new best friend smart assistant.
No more difficult decision making. Just open the mobile app, connect your phone to POTATO and ask your potato for wise advice. You can also monitor your potato health and feelings in real time.
POTATO is (NO LONGER) available for pre-orders on Indiegogo https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-world-s-first-smart-potato-smartpotato#/ (I doubt they ever intended to produce it for real.)
Giz Wiz YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/VBBasTh0maA
See or hear this show: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1813
PRIVACY: The GizWiz.me website does not collect info about our visitors. We don’t offer a newsletter so there’s no need to know your name and email address. If you email GizWiz.me through this website, your email will be forwarded so I can reply if needed. Web Traffic info to our site is collected and provided to us by our host.
The Giz Wiz® and Giz Wiz Biz® Are Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.
All the information on this website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on our website is strictly at your own risk. We are not liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our website.
From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to these sites. While we strive to provide only links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites and the links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Please also be aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control.
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.
