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.
People are flying again, so here’s a neat inexpensive ‘sleep kit’ for planes and trains.
Since people are flying a lot more lately and taking trains too, I started scouting out some interesting travel gadgets. One I bought was the awfully named MLVOC Travel Pillow. It’s said to be a 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow, Comfortable & Breathable Cover that is Machine Washable. It actually is travel kit that also contains a 3D Contoured Eye Masks, Earplugs, and Luxury Bag. Well, carry bag, not so much luxury. What I like about this is that it fits all the way around your neck and can fasten in the front. Doing that will help prevent your head from falling down to your chest while you snooze. Waiting up from a head down snooze does give one a terrible pain the neck. The company says their adjustable rope lock lets you adjust the angle and the size of the pillow, meeting different neck size requirements. The luxury memory foam filler uses “5 second return technology”. Maybe, I didn’t time it. The travel bag that allows the neck pillow to compress down to ½ its size. With its snap strap, this pillow can be attached to your carry on luggage without taking up extra space. About $21 – $22 as of 6/5/21
Video: https://youtu.be/lTi4ZoPinE8
This link shows the VENTO brand with the exact same photo & the same 3 items, pillow, sleep mask, & ear plugs for only $15 as of 6/5/2021 — but that change at any time.
https://amzn.to/2SgsN8y Affiliate link. You pay the same but Giz Wiz Biz earns from a qualified purchase.
The one I bought Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2TFFUk5 – Affiliate link. You pay the same but Giz Wiz Biz earns from a qualified purchase.
Is the $5.95 Karaoke Mic at Five Below The Same As The $24.99 One I Bought On Amazon?
The Giz Wiz Lab Compares Them Both! I was quite amazed when I saw this on a Five Below email: Bluetooth karaoke studio wireless mic w/ speaker. Built-in speaker that also lights up the party. Just connect your smartphone via bluetooth, queue up ur fave song & go! (There is no software included, but that’s easy to find online.) Mic & volume controls, plus dancing LED lights! Why was this amazing. Because this is EXACTLY like the $24.99 Karaoke Microphone I bought on Amazon a few weeks. Mine has a lot of ‘bling’ on it, but operation wise it looks the same. But, no matter what for $5.95s this can provide a lot of fun family entertainment!) There’s $5.95 shipping if you buy it online, so look for it the Five Below store if you have one nearby.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/s2jOoths_RI
https://www.fivebelow.com/products/bluetooth-karaoke-studio-wireless-mic-w-speaker
Bling Microphone at Amazon: https://amzn.to/34rME7x – Affiliate link, you pay no more, but Giz Wiz Biz can earn from qualifying Amazon purchases.
Whoa! Seems You Can Now Get A Real Inexpensive Webcam.
Yes, they’re from China, but I bet a lot webcams are from there. One of the two I bought is already ‘unavailable’, but it seems there are many others with the same specs. Said to be a true 2K – 2560 X 1440, 30Fps per second, obviously should be better than 1080P. Built-in microphone. How is the video? Well we recorded my Giz Wiz spot on the Tech Guy using this webcam. We used the video, but not the audio. I did try the webcam microphone on another off-air call and it was good. These inexpensive webcams all seem to have wide angle lenses; one mentions 105 & another 110 degrees. Note that they are fixed non-zoom lenses. But wait, there’s more! The two webcams I bought came with a free privacy cover & tripod!
Update, the Depstech cam is similar, it’s 2K, but doesn’t include the tripod & privacy cover, otherwise specs are very close to the one I bought. $18.99, but there was a 10% off coupon as of 5/22/21
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/347RQNv As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
Want to spend a little more.? The Pasavant is the other one I bought. Similar specs, but a much nicer tripod, and it still also comes with a privacy cover. It’s was $26.99 with a 10% saving coupon available on 5/22/21.
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/345pT96
Get That Morning Coffee Fast! Hamilton Beach 5 Cup Coffee Maker.
Or any time during the day? A Kcup is too little? A full carafe, too much? What to do? Well I bought the compact, Hamilton Beach 5 Cup small coffee maker (48136). Great for small kitchens, dorm rooms, boats and small office. Amazon says “even travel”, but yes, for a RV, perfect. It’s the only one I saw that says: “Smart Plug Compatible: Plug Into Any Smart Plug Compatible With Alexa, Google Home or Siri to Voice Control or Add to Your Routines; Smart Plug Sold Separately.” There’s no clock, no auto shut off, but it does have two features I had to have: Automatic Pause and Serve: Brewing stop when carafe is removed so you can pour your first cup before the whole pot is ready. And I had to have a warming plate to keep the coffee hot. Again, this machine does not have auto shut off, but it does have a red “on” light so you can tell at a glance that it’s on. Cleanup is easy because HB says the carafe and brew basket are dishwasher safe. And the price? I paid under $20 on 5/11/21!
Giz Wiz Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp8bOyqh8CE
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bpJiFO As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
Capresso also makes a mini 5-cup coffee maker with more features including programmable clock & shut off after two hours. Probably will not work with a smart plug, but it has a lot more features that the Hamilton Beach model. Capresson make decent coffee makers and now that I also bought his one, I can say it makes great coffee, has a clock you can preset for coffee when you wake up & it also has auto shut-off after 2 hours. It also has chrome trim. It’s about $37.00.
https://amzn.to/3ozmloR – As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
Need A Mini-Keyboard? Here’s A Few Choices!
The First Is A Backlit Mini Wireless Keyboard + Touchpad + Mouse with Laser Pointer,
Via a 2.4 GHz USB receiver, this LED Illuminated rechargeable mini-keyboard can be used with almost any device with a USB port such as many smart TV’s, Tablets, iPads, Laptops, etc. It’s plug and play. At least it was for me. Plug in the 2.4 Ghz computer, charge the mini keyboard and it’s ready. (Be sure to turn it on.) It has sleep mode to save battery, some really nice LED backlighting with a choice of colors, and even a laser pointer. (Use laser CAUTIONS!) Buried in the little type is the name – Etopbest – which isn’t even mentioned on the mini box it comes in. The small design makes it easy to hold by hand and it is small enough to slip into a pocket. Note: For some reason the function keys stop at F8, so no F11 which I use a lot. That shouldn’t be a problem for my smart TV use though. The company says it’s powered by a 450 mAh Lithium-ion battery. Price as of 5/6/21 is about $24, which is what I paid on Amazon.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/tvit_yIhndQ
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xWwlwT
As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
This looks like the same keyboard w/o the RGB LED backlight & w/o the laser light. It was $17.99 on 5/8/21. https://amzn.to/3uws0OS –
As an Amazon Associate Giz Wiz Biz earns from qualifying Amazon purchases. You pay no more.
A second choice for a mini-keyboard!
For people who prefer touchpad in the center, I also bought the PONYBRO RGB Backlit Mini 2.4Ghz Wireless Keyboard. Like the other mini-keyboard is uses a 2.4G wireless connection by using the USB dongle housed inside the unit. This unit has a full function 77 keys compact QWERTY keyboard with multimedia control keys, and yes, even F11, which strangely the other one doesn’t! (It only goes up to F6!) There’s a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a micro USB charging cable included. The finger touchpad supports left and right mouse click, double click, page turning up and down. This keyboard does not have the laser pointer which most likely you won’t need, and it’s less expensive too. It was about $19.00 on 5/8/21.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SE7IVB – 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.
