These KM Firelighters are essentially gigantic matches—so big, in fact, that the kindling is built right in. I can't imagine the fireball and plume of smoke these things emit when scraped against your rough, expendable surface of choice—seriously, each match is so large that you can count the tree rings—but I can appreciate the four, Crayola-like colors sure to tempt children into horrible coloring disasters.

Boxes of 20 go for about $3 apiece. [KM Match & Lighters via Red Ferret]

Telecommunication firm Orange's latest eco tent concept (by design company Kaleidoscope) exploits photovoltaic fabric to produce energy without bulky, inflexible solar panels. This power feeds gadgets that are stored in a magnetic induction pouch, and also drives a flexible LCD screen with wireless internet.

The connectivity extends beyond the tent itself, however, as SMS or RFID can be deployed at any time to light up the tent, identifying your campsite (potentially, from afar). We're also guessing that the tent would obnoxiously pulsate any time you got a call to the rhythm of your ringer (Orange, feel free to use that idea, on us).

Who knows what Orange would charge for a monthly 3G tent subscription, but if you camped a WHOLE LOT... [Orange via DVICE via Bornrich]

Weatherproof TVs are nothing new, of course, but this one pushed the envelope in terms of size with its mammoth 65-inch HD LCD screen. It's also wireless, with a transmitter that allows campers (people) and camper (Winnebago) to be separated by more than 150 feet of wildlife, lush green lawn or, in the case of my house at the ol' alma mater, patches of dead grass, beer cans, and the occasional prone body or two.

Alleged "glare reduction coating" helps when viewing the outdoor TV behemoth in direct sunlight, but the equally large $35,990 price tag doesn't really help anyone but Innovizion. Seriously, if you're going to spend that kind of money anyway, might as well buy a few dozen "normal" HDTVs in a smaller size. As they burn out from moisture, dirt or the rain, simply replace them with a reserve. Stupid, yes, but so is spending $36,000 on a TV. [Innovizion via Born Rich]

The shell is heat resistant up to 302 degrees, and includes a handy LED so you know when the food or beverage contained inside is ready for eating.

Sure the insides look like an incendiary device, but the slick form factor and real world applications make up for it. One caveat though. That "in just minutes" claim is a bit of a misnomer, even for a concept. One of the Yanko commenters did the math, and it would actually take about a half hour of nonstop cranking to get food or beverage to 60 degrees Celsius. Back to the drawing board.

[Yanko]

[Eiko Ishizawa via RGS]

Details on the project are scarce, but we do know that these units would be relatively cheap to produce at around $50. That makes it ideal for delivering medicines and cold water to developing countries—not to mention a useful tool on a camping trip. [Esquire via CrunchGear]

With the WWDC kickoff only days away and the launch of the 3G iPhone imminent, many hardcore geeks will brave the elements outside of their local Apple store in an attempt to be among the first to score a shiny new phone. If you happen to be one of those geeks, the following tips and gadgets will help you survive the crowds and emerge victorious.

•Tip #1: Stay informed. Waiting in lines for hours on end to purchase gadgets is borderline crazy. Waiting for gadgets that may not actually show up to the party is full-on crazy.

•Tip #2: Make sure things are cool at work. The iPhone is great and everything, but it is not worth losing your job over. Make sure you have the vacation time and / or you come up with a great excuse to be out of work for a day or so.

•Tip #3: Get there early. It seems like common sense, but keep in mind that there are always people out there willing to go the extra mile.

•Tip #4: Dress appropriately. If it is hot, wear shorts. It is as simple as that. However, wearing an iPhone or Apple related shirt might earn you some respect from your fellow line nerds.

•Tip #5. Bring a friend. You will need someone to talk to (and hold you) when things get rough. Plus, who will watch your spot when you have to go to the bathroom? If you don't have any friends, try and make some in line with your irresistible charm, wit and good looks.

•Tip #6:Bribes can't hurt. Bring a box of donuts or soft drinks to distribute to your fellow campers. It will go a long way to help you make friends and acquire information. Cash always works too.

•Tip #7: Stock up on non-perishable foods like beef jerky and Twinkies. You will need the beefy, spicy sugary energy to stay alert.

•Tip #8. Entertainment is essential. Handheld game systems, portable DVD players, and portable web-enabled devices should do the trick. Just remember to bring backup batteries.

•Tip #9: Stand your ground. If you let people cut you in line a stampede is likely to breakout. Let those dorks know you are one geek that is not to be trifled with.

•Tip #10: Last but not least, make sure you are properly equipped to handle everything that mother nature can throw at you while you are waiting in line. The following gadgets can offer some assistance in your iPhone quest:

Tents are not always necessary, but If you plan on hunkering down for a long time, this Woods solar-powered E-Z Tent with interior LEDs is the way to go. Four to six hours of sunlight on the solar panels will yield 2 to 4 hours of light in the tent. You can even use the panels independently to charge up your gadgets. Available for $100-120 (4-6 person tents). [Camping Outlet]

Earlier I mentioned that it is a great idea to bring a friend so that you can take care-free bathroom breaks. But with this Coleman portable flush toilet you could pinch a loaf right there in line. Although, I recommend that you do so inside a tent or away from prying eyes. Dropping a deuce in public is generally frowned upon and will not go over well with both your fellow line nerds and the authorities. Available for $74.95. [Sunny Sports]

Staying clean is crucial. It boosts morale and your clean fresh scent will be intoxicating to those around you. Thanks to this pocket shower, you can enjoy a good seven minutes of washing up using 10-liters of water. Plus, the black casing absorbs heat from the sun, so your shower will be nice and warm. Again, think of the people around you when using this. Public nudity is a no-no. Available for $24.95. [REI]

In order to survive, you are going to need food. As mentioned earlier, non-perishable items are key when line camping, but if it is a hot meal you crave this portable solar cooker can get the job done. All you need is a black pot to cook things like fish, poultry and red meats, stews, casseroles, eggs, veggies, grains, bread, cakes and desserts. It can even help you purify water should you be forced to drink your own urine. Available for $24.90. [Safety Central]

Finally, you are going to need some sort of cooler to keep drinks and other items cold. If you are going to be in line for an extended period of time, this solar power refrigeration unit can keep your beverages frosty using the power of the sun. Unfortunately, the privilege is going to cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000 for 5-8 cubic feet of fridge or freezer space. [Parts on Sale]

Naturally, this advice would work for any big product launch line camping scenario—but over the years I have learned that waiting in an endless line for a gadget is more trouble than it's worth. This is especially true when you consider that there where plenty of original iPhones at launch. If you have some patience, it is a good idea to make friends with store employees or ask questions about when shipments arrive. If you know when product comes in, you stand a much better chance of being there first when it is restocked. Using this technique, I managed to score a Wii at a Toys R' Us only a week after launch.

The 2.6 gallon Pocket Shower sports a compact showerhead that operates with twisting on/off valve. Bathers can adjust the stream to produce a slow trickle, or open it up completely for a dousing 8-minute power shower. Want a warm shower for those cool, crisp camping mornings? Leave the black fabric out in the sun.

Alternatively, the Pocket Shower can also be used as a dry sack to transport clothes, a sleeping bag, or those aforementioned beauty products no self-respecting city slicker would be without on the open range. [Sea to Summit]

You can see it in its two configurations here, where the white tent in the picture above is its single-wall summer configuration, and the orange and gray one shows the tent with its extra layer on top, constructed to withstand even the fiercest Alpine conditions. It's plenty big, too, with a 6.99-foot center height and 171 square feet of room inside, supposedly big enough for 10 people.

These $3000 tents are made for Arctic and Himalaya expeditions, but you'd better be pretty strong if you want to carry one of these things up Everest: It weighs 50 pounds in its pack. Might want to get one of your Sherpas to handle this one. [Mountain Hardware, via Born Rich]

If you don't feel like winding it up you can plug it into your car's cigarette lighter, with a charge of the light's internal battery giving you eight hours of light. It even has a handy carrying handle that lets you hang it upside down in your tent. We're just hoping that its wind-up mechanism doesn't make that distracting ticking sound as it completes its energy cycle. [I Want One of Those]

One could see this as a stab at the heart of camping, but this only applies if you go camping in company-run campsites. People who like to actually get away from it all, and not just a few miles off the interstate, still won't find Wi-Fi hotspots out in the mountains on hiking trips. Yet. [Yahoo!]

There's LED lighting and a ventilation system in the boudoir, and the galley boasts a two-burner, foldaway stove, hand pump faucet, Formica counter, stainless steel sink and a Coleman steel cooler. There's an awning to keep the sun off you while you're chowing down on that Flame-Grilled Whopper you picked up at the BK just down the road.

Measuring 130 x 72 x 60 inches, and with a price of $24,000, I can't help wondering what this will look like being towed behind a modern car - a plate of sardines and custard, I would guess. [Born Rich]

Gridskipper Guides

You know those two guys waiting in line for the iPhone a whole 100 hours early? We've got an exclusive non-interview with them. And this grumpy guy is probably not what Apple expected when it envisioned the perfect customer for the iPhone.

Fake Steve is going to cry this is a Microsoft plant. But, look at it this way: he's a living, breathing, sweating indicator that Apple's iPhone really does appeal to the masses, and is ready for more love from the mainstream. Hey, you can't sell 10 million phones by catering only to beautiful technocrats.

Oh and readers, can you help identify these two men? Do you know them? If you do, email us.
UPDATE: Carolyn over at CNet talked to the man, and found out he's a veteran camper, having endured a PS3 launch. Aha, he looks so much friendlier in these shots.

Video by Nick McGlynn and Richard Blakeley

UPDATE: Andrew Andrew sends in photo of #1 iPhone fan's mysterious sign.