The Giz Wiz visits Ask The Tech Guys, Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent.
When the Giz Wiz visits “Ask The Tech Guys”, you’ll find the gadgets and gizmos he talks about with Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent on this page.
Ask The Tech Guys is on TWiT Sundays, starting at 11 AM PT and 2 PM ET.
https://twit.tv/live
(Note: The Tech Guy Radio Show ended its run December 18, 2022. But all the gadgets and gizmos Dick showed over the years are archived below gadgets I showed or talked about on Ask The Tech Guys.)
Below are the gadgets we’ve talked about on the show.
The Giz Wiz Drops Anchor At The New York Boat Show.
For the first time in 2 years, I went to a show. A show I’ve gone to for probably more than 40 years in the past, the NY Boat Show. (Yes, an in-person show with all Covid-19 restrictions in place.)
Near the entrance to the show at the Javits Center was the SeaDoo booth. You know them from their huge line of personal watercraft. But what was a pontoon boat doing there? Oh, that’s the new SeaDoo Switch. A spokesperson, Tim McKercher, explained that it’s actually a tri-toon. The center pontoon is based on one of the company’s Sea-Doo personal watercraft. That way the Switch can be speedy like a PWC, but with it much bigger payload and a stable cruise for the family and friends. The tri-hull hull is Polytec, said to be polypropylene reinforced with fiberglass.
The three models of the Switch use a Rotax jet propulsion systems ranging from 100 HP to 230 HP. Strangely, there is no steering wheel; the helm has a sophisticated handlebar instead. That way the captain will probably feel more like he’s piloting a PWC than a pontoon craft. One of the most unique features of the Switch is its modular deck setup. Tim described it as being like a Lego set. You can move everything on the deck around, except the helm. He also told me that SeaDoo’s “Brake” can stop the craft in a much shorter distance. The SeaDoo Switch starts at $17,999 (13′ foot model with 100 HP.) The top of the line is a 21′ Switch Cruise w/ 230 HP engine, $36,499. All boats come with a trailer to haul them and store them. Shipping very soon to the warm states like Florida. (This was written 1/2022.) By the warm weather, the Switch should be everywhere in the US.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/dgyzFDIvyfg
SeaDoo Company Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd5fKmJoKew
Just when I thought there was no coffee maker type left for me to try, I find a new one!
It’s the Versa Reverse Travel French Press. This coffee maker tries to turn the world of coffee making upside down. Well, at least this Versa Travel French press features does that with a patented brewing system that Pulls your Grounds out rather than pushing them down. They say that remove your coffee grounds lets your coffee stay fresh without going bitter over time. The brewer converts into an insulated thermal travel mug with a locking spill proof lid. The process is a bit strange, so be sure to watch this week’s show as I make ‘upside down’ French Press coffee. The result was actually very good, producing strong, hot coffee. Once you set the pot up with your favorite coffee and a cup of boiling water, the brewing time is 4 minutes. The company says the entire unit is 100% dishwasher safe. The Versa was on Amazon, but now the listing says: “Not available”. It is at Walmart, but the best price seems to a sale at Until Gone, for $16.00. I bought mine at Until Gone, but paid $25.00. MSRP is $39.99. — It was down to $15.99 as on 1/22/22 on Until Gone. (A decent price just for the thermal SS container to my mind.)
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/Oepth1Eizk0
UntilGone is closing them out cheap!! https://untilgone.com/products/versa-travel-french-press.html
Two Of the Most Off-Beat Gadgets I Learned About At CES 2022.
Samung has been very focused on being “green”. This is the latest in their TV remotes.
It’s the SAMSUNG ECO REMOTE – Avail w/ some Samsung TV’s. At CES last year Samsung introduced the Eco Remote with a solar panel that charges the remote with room lighting. A new model coming can also charge the remove via energy picked up wirelessly from devices like the TV or router! I have no idea how much energy your router or TV puts out, but it would be great to get some use of it. Will be available on certain new high end Samsung TV’s.
A quick clip from their CES 2022 Press Presentation: https://youtu.be/JvmZmWXQPt4
Not Sure If This Will Ever Make It To Market, But It’s Very Interesting:
Want to attract a little attention on the road? Or change the way your car looks in seconds? That might be possible in the future.
The BMW iX Flow Concept Car.
This BMW iX Flow concept car can vary the shade of color any time using e-ink technology! In summer a white surface can reflect sunlight and in cooler weather a dark color will help the car absorb more warmth from the sun. Available maybe far in the future. Possible uses I can see. Put your logo on the car when you’re on a business trip. Make rude comments to drivers that annoy you.
CES 2022 – I Was There — But From My Gizneyland Studio!
A couple of things I found very interesting aren’t consumer products, but I think they’re a great use of technology. Like “The Flying Cell Tower”.
Spooky Action Telelift is a revolutionary drone-based cell tower, designed to provide network coverage to a large area quickly. Telelift can lift an EnodeB to an altitude of 100-400 feet AGL and is programmable for up to six weeks of continuous flight. —- So it can provide emergency cell service quickly after major disasters. It has a single thin tether wire to a vehicle providing the power. (Truck, van, SUV, etc.).
John Deere lets the farmer farm, right from the farm house!
John Deere revealed the first fully autonomous tractor that’s ready for large-scale production. With 6 stereo cameras a farmer can run his tractor 24/7 if necessary, all from his phone or tablet. And as the spokesperson said: “This technology is not a concept – it’s available to farmers this year.” It seems isn’t clear yet whether these new autonomous John Deere tractors will be leased or sold. But you’re probably not in the market for one anyway. But they’re pretty incredible.
More info: www.johndeere.com
Leo & I also talked about Y-Brush.
Brush All Your Teeth In Ten Seconds? According to this company, it can be done!
Two Last Minute Giz Wiz Gift Ideas.
First up, an inexpensive video light for Zoom, Skype, etc.
It looks like Zoom meetings and business Skype phone calls are going to be around for a long time. Besides a great mic, something you really need when using your computer to communicate is some decent lighting! And amazingly, you can get a nice unit for under $20. Here’s one I found on Amazon and based on the specs, bought one for the Giz Wiz Show. The brand is Selfila and it features 360 degrees of light. With the inline remote you adjust the 3200k-6500k light temperature and brightness adjustments of the 48 LED 4.6” ring. Power is via USB so it can plug directly into a port on your laptop or desktop computer. The padded clip has a maximum opening of 1.35”. This it great for improving the lighting for remote working, Zoom calls, YouTube, Skype, etc. The six illuminations are listed as Warm warm, Warm white, Natural white, Daylight, and Cold white. Within each of those are 5 levels of brightness. It’s fairly small, easy enough to meet your light needs anytime, anywhere. I have been using it powered by an external battery pack to light some videos we’ve shot. It also got decent reviews on Amazon and is under $24.00.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/y7fuHzmTzg8
Check the latest price on Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3q5d09L
As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
This is new from Chefman, The InstaCoffee Max+. I bought their original Insta Coffee, and just purchased this one to see the difference. A small difference is that this single serve Kcup maker brewed a cup of coffee in 96 seconds, just a tad faster than my original model. It started brewing in under 30 seconds. But, a big difference is the size of the basket included to make coffee fast using your own fresh ground coffee. With the original one I made about 7 to 8 ounces of coffee with the small included basket. Chefman says this new one brews up to 14 ounces of coffee from your own ground coffee. Also different is a water gauge and a cup lift is included on the new model. It was priced the same as the original one, ranging from about $40 to $50. When I bought mine I paid $39.99 and it was still that price on 12/18/21, but Amazon prices can change at any time.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/9tp6f4mfqgI
Check the latest price on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3shmSQd
As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
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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.
