Cool gadgets

[GravitySucks]

Hell yeah


https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/7/25/17613424/star-trek-vulcan-wireless-earbuds

[ShayP]

Hell yeah


https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/7/25/17613424/star-trek-vulcan-wireless-earbuds

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[ShayP]

I saw an ad for this:

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Diagnostic gizmo for one's car.  I'm curious...

[albrecht]

I saw an ad for this:

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Diagnostic gizmo for one's car.  I'm curious...

I seen that informercial and have suspicions. Like some bs about voiding your factory warranty, etc. I would be surprised mfg (which often, at least try, to claim intellectual property on some systems) would allow a third party that sells on TV to by-pass the official equipment and there also would be push back by service departments, mechanics, etc.

But I see some reviews that are good and says works and explains versus just the "error codes" etc. So maybe a good deal and my suspicious nature is wrong?

This seems cool:

https://www.gadgetsnow.com/computing/This-sensor-will-let-you-see-through-walls-with-smartphones/articleshow/53737825.cms

[Rikki Gins]

Those 'as seen on TV' commercials used to offer you a second whatever it is that you want to buy for free, but not anymore. Now you have to pay 'an additional fee.'   In other words, you are getting a second item, by paying more. 

[albrecht]

Those 'as seen on TV' commercials used to offer you a second whatever it is that you want to buy for free, but not anymore. Now you have to pay 'an additional fee.'   In other words, you are getting a second item, by paying more. 

I also like the ones where "you'd expect to pay $$" but instead you are offered "3 easy payments" that basically add up the same amount.  And, of course, the separation of cost of the item but the additional "shipping & handling." Why not, like any retail store, just include those costs in the prices? Some psychological manipulation, I guess.

[reginald]

I saw an ad for this:

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Diagnostic gizmo for one's car.  I'm curious...

That is just a bluetooth OBD-II reader. You can get them on Amazon or ebay for a few bucks. I use it with an app called Torque and it has helped me figure out a few codes that I have had.

[ShayP]

That is just a bluetooth OBD-II reader. You can get them on Amazon or ebay for a few bucks. I use it with an app called Torque and it has helped me figure out a few codes that I have had.

So it is helpful for what it's worth?

[Dyna-X]

I saw an ad for this:

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Diagnostic gizmo for one's car.  I'm curious...

For cars that are just old enough to have a computer wouldn't you want a reader specific to that computer? Mount it to the dash and keep a laminated list of codes in the glove compartment.

I'm weird like that.

Had a failed relay for the cold start injector and ended up teaching the shop how I figured it out.

[reginald]

So it is helpful for what it's worth?

This one for $4 does the exact same job. The app you use with it is what does the heavy lifting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYLQMHJ/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_309wBb2483244

[wr250]

For cars that are just old enough to have a computer wouldn't you want a reader specific to that computer? Mount it to the dash and keep a laminated list of codes in the glove compartment.

I'm weird like that.

Had a failed relay for the cold start injector and ended up teaching the shop how I figured it out.

no . they have an led that flashes the codes (like morse code) or they flash the codes via the check engine light on the dash. most of those do not have a place to hook up a computer.
anything newer than about 85 or so has a obd connector, there are readers that can read them all, with the proper adapter. 1996 and newer (and some 94-95 GM's) all use the same connector, the obd2/can connector.