Hasta La Gadget!

At the June 8 match between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever, the WNBA introduced a new camera that put viewers incredibly close to the action on court. Made by Broadcast Sports Inc., the “ref cam” is a small camera that takes video from the referee’s perspective. Referee Lamont Simpson got first dibs on the wearable camera. I’m sure his whistle was highly insecure that day.

Here’s some of the shots that the camera took in its debut appearance:

And here’s a bonus clip from ESPN, showing Simpson calling a technical foul: Edit: ESPN made the YouTube video private. Sorry guys. Simpson said that he found it awkward at first. He said that he had to keep on adjusting the headset the entire first half because it moved around when he became sweaty. But he also said that he got used to it by the second half. Simpson can’t get too attached to it just yet though, because for now the ESPN and the WNBA will decide when the ref cam will be used. They should make pro golfers wear these so we can all tune in for some in-your-face walks in beautiful parks.

[via Bleacher Report & ESPN]

It’s time to put your Ben Heck hat on. A company called Photon Gaming is raising funds for Darkmatter, an open source DIY kit for converting an Xbox 360 console into a laptop. Photon Gaming even claims one variant of their kit will allow you to convert an Xbox One into a laptop. I wonder if early adopters will be willing to risk losing an Xbox One for that.

The kit is available in various models depending on how much you want to pay, from just the electronics to a finished and ready to use Darkmatter Xbox 360 laptop.

Head to Kickstarter to support the world’s first open-source, hacker-friendly, 3D printed, laser-cut, honey glazed, butter side up DIY Xbox 360 laptop kit. If you pledge at least $499 (USD), you’ll qualify to get the full kit; all you’ll need is an Xbox 360 and a few hours to put the two together. But if you have more money than tinkering skills, pledge at least $999 and you’ll get a full Xbox 360 laptop as a reward.

Have you ever been embarassed at a meeting or a party because your clothes got wrinkled on the way? First of all, you’re going to the wrong parties. The best ones don’t require you to be clothed. Second, if you don’t want that to happen again, this portable clothes iron could straighten things out for you.

Google’s translation of this gadget’s Japanese name is Mobile Trouser Press, but of course you can use it on all sorts of clothing. It can heat to 95ºC in just 1-3 minutes and runs on either three AA batteries or via USB. As you can see in the pictures, its heating elements are inside a clip-like mechanism. This means its suited for ironing pleats or collars. If your entire shirt is a wrinkled mess, you’ll need a proper iron to deal with it.

Japanese online store eSupply sells the portable clothes iron for ¥980 (~$10 USD). Good thing we don’t have a dress code here. I don’t have anything worth ironing.

[via OhGizmo!]

Google Glass made the world at large aware of the existence and potential of augmented reality headsets and heads-up displays. Surely we’ll see more and more similar devices appear. In fact, one such device could launch before Glass. It’s called the Recon Jet, a nerdy accessory for jocks.

Recon Instruments, the company behind the Recon Jet, clearly designed the headset to augment sports and other outdoor-related activities. It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and all the other sensors and connectivity technology that Glass has. But instead of projecting its monitor through a prism, the Recon Jet’s display is directly situated at the front of the device. This makes it more visible than the resulting transparent display on the Glass. Recon Instruments placed the Recon Jet’s display below the user’s right eye because according to the company’s research it was the least obtrusive location.

Here’s Mashable’s interview with a spokesman from Recon Instruments:

Without knowing the final specs of both devices, it’s hard to say if the Glass can also do everything that the Recon Jet can. It’s also equally important that Recon Instruments get the support of app developers. One thing’s clear: there’s never been a better time to make prescription contact lenses. Except for the time when there weren’t any prescription contacts.

[Recon Instruments via Mashable via Reddit]

The PowerPot and the BioLite stove seem like great ways to harness the heat from fire and turn it into electricity. But what if you already have a pot and a stove? A company called Point Source Power might have a solution for you. The only thing that the company’s VOTO chargers need is a fire.

VOTO chargers look like one of those portable water heaters. But instead of a metal coil at the end, the chargers have a stack of replaceable fuel cells made from biomass. You stick this end into the bottom of your stove or bonfire and it will generate electricity over time. The electricity will be sent to its handle. There are a variety of handles, but the most useful one is shown in the video below. It’s a battery that can be used to charge devices via USB but it can also use its stored energy to power its built-in LEDs.

These chargers will be useful not only for campers and field workers but also for people who live in places that don’t have access to electricity. You can check out Point Source Power’s website for more info on their products, although the site seems to be down as of this writing.

[via Inhabitat]