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Leo Laporte A technology journalist, author and broadcast personality. His specialties lie in computers, the Web, video games, digital music and consumer electronics. |
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Amber MacArthur An experienced Web content and usability strategist, Amber is also a tech journalist who specializes in Internet, software, and gadget trends and tips. |
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The Giz Wiz dusts off some gadgets that could have been huge... but weren't.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON TELEVISION. GADGETS FROM DICK’S GADGET WAREHOUSE! You’ve heard about them on the Daily GizWiz Podcast. Now you can see them exclusively on Call For Help!
Digisette
The Digisette DUO 64 had 64 MB of onboard memory. 192 MB Expandable - The Duo-64 was advertised as both a personal MP3 player and a self-contained MP3 cassette adapter. The object was to be able to use it as a carry around MP3 player – though you looked pretty nerdy, and then just click into a cassette player to play your tunes. A big problem was the lack of features many other MP3 players have. No screen, no equalizer and zero style. Unless you like retro. It was a great idea, for a very short time. MP3 players took off like a shot, and cassette players fell way out of fashion. The Digisette is still listed on their website. The fact that they say the rebate coupon expired August, 2003 makes me think it’s not updated with any regularity.
www.digisette.com
DataPlay Discs
This optical storage format was one of the most highly anticipated products at CES 2001. It was named Best product of the Show, but then it never made it to market. In fact in 2002 DataPlay went into bankruptcy. Then in the October 2004 issue of PC World magazine said DataPlay was back! But here it is 2006, and I don’t see it anywhere. The DataPlay disc is capable of holding 500MB of information in a format about the size of a US quarter. According to the article some small South Korean and Chinese companies were working on DataPlay-based devices and the technology is being evaluated by some of the region’s largest electronics companies, It said that the 500MB DataPlay discs will be sold in Japan for $4.50. But as Leo points out in the Gadget Warehouse Podcast, these days you can save much more data on a DVD for just pennies. So I don’t think we’re going to see DataPlay in any wide distribution channels. However this is this is strange. It seems that DataPlay discs are for sale at www.dataplay.com.
Compaq iPaq Mini CD Player PM-1
Just before MP3 players came on the scene I thought was going to be a big market for mini-CD players. You could burn your favorite music on mini CD discs. With the music compressed you could get up to three traditional CDs on one mini CD. The Compaq’s PM-1 had an appealing design, came with a lot of accessories and sold for under $100! 8cm CD-Rs and CD-RWs allowed these devices to be much smaller than standard portable CD players - 3.9 by 3.9 by 1.2 inches and just 7.1 ounces. The storage capacity was185MB, which Compaq said would allow you to record up to 80 songs—or six hours’ worth of music—to them. Of course less compression would lead to less music. The PM-1 had Random and Repeat modes as well as four preset EQs. It came with a handy in-line remote, which also displays ID tag information on a small built in LCD screen.
Casio Wrist Remote Controller
Where’s the remote control for the TV? Oh, here it is, right on my wrist!!
It was difficult to misplace the TV/VCR remote when you had the Casio Wrist Remote Controller. The was able to memorize infrared signal codes to control your TV, VCR, stereo and other infrared remote controlled devices. You couldn’t control everything, though. Remote control TV functions included power on/off, channel up and down and volume p and down. The more elaborate Casio Wrist Remote Controller/Calculator watch added direct channel selection via number input. Using a window built right into the watch you can use the learning function to “teach” the watch to control any device with an infrared remote control codes. It stored data for up to 16 functions. Hmm, it seems like you still might be able to buy one overseas. Follow the link below.
www.a-watches.com.au/store/databank/page-3.html
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dick DeBartolo, The Giz Wiz does a daily Podcast with Leo Laporte – The Daily Giz Wiz.
He appears regularly on World News Now on the ABC Network.
And he’s MAD Magazine’s Maddest Writer with an article in every issue for the past 35 years!
And he’s a correspondent for Computer America.
Visit his website at www.gizwiz.biz and play the “What The Heck Is It” game. See if you can guess what the gadget on the opening page of Dick’s website is. Or make up a silly thing it might be. Either way you might win an autographed copy of MAD. Every month Dick gives away up to 50 autographed issues.
