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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The 2024 Supercon Add-On (SAO) contest had four winners: Thomas Flummer’s SAO Digital Multimeter, Andy Geppert’s Etch sAo Sketch, Debraansell’s Bendy SAO, and Brett Walach’s Vectrex SAO. Hackaday.io’s winner log, published November 14, 2024, labels them Best Overall, Fun, Fine Art, and Functional, respectively.
Who won the 2024 Supercon badge add-on contest?
| Winner category | Project | Creator | Purpose or character established by the available descriptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | SAO Digital Multimeter | Thomas Flummer | A digital multimeter add-on; individual electrical performance figures are not stated in the Hackaday.io winner log. |
| Fun | Etch sAo Sketch | Andy Geppert | An Etch A Sketch-inspired add-on; detailed technical specifications are not stated in the winner log. |
| Fine Art | Bendy SAO | Debraansell | An artistic entry; detailed construction and electrical specifications are not stated in the winner log. |
| Functional | Vectrex SAO | Brett Walach | A Vectrex-themed add-on; detailed technical specifications are not stated in the winner log. |
The category labels above follow Hackaday.io’s November 14, 2024 winner announcement. The contest rules described the artistic award as “Least Manufacturable,” seeking handcrafted masterpieces, while the winner announcement calls that category “Fine Art.” The announcement also includes “Fun,” so that is the label used for Etch sAo Sketch.
What the contest asked makers to build
Hackaday’s Supercon 8 Add On Contest invited makers to create functional Simple Add-Ons for the 2024 Supercon badge. The contest page records 56 submissions and says the four winning SAOs would be announced November 2, 2024, then produced for distribution to Hackaday Europe 2025 attendees. The page also describes the winners’ awards: each creator would receive five professionally produced copies of their own design, one copy of each of the other winning designs, and a Supercon 2024 badge.
How the winning add-ons fit the Supercon 2024 badge
These projects are custom electronics designed for a conference badge, not ordinary standalone consumer accessories. The official Supercon 8 badge repository describes a badge with six SAO sockets, I2C support, MicroPython, and a CH32V003 RISC-V protoboard add-on for building arbitrary I2C devices. An independent 2024 badge technical discussion describes the SAO connector as a six-pin interface carrying power, I2C, and two GPIO pins, and identifies the badge as built around a Pico W and batteries.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- 🛠️ HANDS-ON SOLDERING PROJECT: Build your own interactive Transistor Cat and create a working electronic circuit. When assembled, the cat produces a sound when its paw is touched, providing practical experience with soldering and basic electronic components.
- ⚡ EXPLORE TRANSISTOR CIRCUITS: Learn how an NPN transistor, resistor, and buzzer work together in a simple electronic circuit while developing practical soldering and assembly skills.
- 📦 COMPONENTS INCLUDED: Contains a custom cat-shaped PCB, NPN transistor, resistor, buzzer, badge casing with on/off switch, screws, and step-by-step assembly instructions. A soldering iron and batteries are required separately.
- 🎨 MAKE IT YOUR OWN: Personalise your completed Transistor Cat and create a unique finished project. The compact badge design makes it an enjoyable hands-on electronics project to build, customise, and display.
- 🧠 FOR BEGINNER MAKERS & HOBBYISTS: Designed for ages 14+ and suitable for beginner makers, hobbyists, electronics enthusiasts, and older learners developing practical soldering skills. Build time: approximately 1–2 hours.
What is and is not established about the projects
The winner materials establish each project’s title, creator, and category, but do not provide a reliable, like-for-like set of electrical benchmarks or construction details for all four entries. They do not support comparisons of runtime, current draw, component count, or measured performance. The contest’s production plan is evidence that manufacture was part of the program; it does not establish that each design was equally easy to reproduce or that the designs were commercially available.
For technically inclined readers who want to build for the badge platform, the repository documents its hardware and software context, including MicroPython and I2C resources. That provides a starting point for understanding the interface, but is not a substitute for project-specific build documentation for any of these four winning SAOs.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Bigger & Brighter Touch Screen】This digital pin features a vibrant 2.2-inch touch screen—larger than standard displays. Simply swipe to flip through saved anime, memes, or photos instantly. It makes changing your look effortless, whether at a concert or hanging with friends.
- 【Customized Cheering】Ditch the cables. Our easy app lets you upload GIFs, photos, or video clips via Bluetooth. Choose from 4 modes: GIFs, Single/Multi Images, or Scrolling Marquee text. Customize your vibe in seconds without a computer.
- 【Social Feature: Peer-to-Peer Sharing】Swap shots with friends wirelessly during 15s. Long-press the sender's pin and double-tap the receiver's to share images. It's a fun icebreaker at concerts or cosplay events (note: transfer is slightly slow, so be patient!).
- 【All-Day Battery for Full Events】No hunting for chargers. With 4 brightness levels, stretch battery life to fit your schedule: low gives up to 20 hours; high offers 4-6 hours of visibility. Perfect for long holiday days or festivals.
- 【Damage-Free Clip & Wear Design】Wear it anywhere without wrecking your gear. The secure clip grips backpack straps, hoodies, and lanyards without puncturing fabric. Bonus lanyard included—rock it as a passholder or standout piece at your next event.
Rank #4
- 【1.7-inch HD Touchscreen】This digital badge features a 1.7-inch touchscreen (overall size 1.97 inches) with a 360*360 resolution. Simply swipe left or right to quickly switch between uploaded content, providing a smooth interactive experience. Swipe down from the top to access the "Menu" page for more functions.
- 【Large Memory, Instant Sharing】This digital badge pin has 64MB of built-in memory, making it portable and supporting 3-15 second videos/GIFs/multiple image displays/custom text content. Easily switch between customized content as needed. Wirelessly upload photos and videos from your phone in just seconds. Quick image sharing between badges is supported – share with your friends!
- 【Long Battery Life】Our digital pin badges have a built-in reliable 600mAh rechargeable battery, providing up to 18 hours of continuous display on a single charge (battery life depends on brightness settings, please adjust accordingly). This is sufficient for campus events, concerts, or parties without the need for a power bank.
- 【Easy to Use and Fully Customizable】Bluetooth 6.0 provides faster transmission speeds and a more stable connection. Use the app to upload photos, GIFs, and videos to your digital badge. Compatible with iOS 12.0+ and Android 5.0+, the intuitive companion app lets you personalize your display in seconds.
- 【Personalized style, everyday wear】This digital badge weighs only 27 grams, featuring a slim and lightweight design for comfortable wear. It can be clipped to your bag, hat, shirt, or backpack. A perfect blend of retro charm and modern technology, this unique everyday accessory is the perfect choice to express your individuality at school, parties, concerts, or cosplay events.
Rank #3
- 【Custom Digital Display】Show your favorite photos, GIFs, and short videos on a wearable electronic pin badge. The 1.7in IPS screen lets you personalize backpacks, hats, clothes, jackets, and everyday outfits with a fun digital look
- 【Bluetooth App Control】Connect the digital pin badge through Bluetooth and upload up to 55 static photos, GIF animations, or videos under 8MB each. Choose from single image, slideshow, GIF animation, or video mode to match your mood, event, or style
- 【Sound-Enabled Video Playback】The electronic badge supports video playback with original audio, and the sound level can be adjusted as needed. A built-in share button also allows peer-to-peer photo transfer with friends who use the same electronic fun badge
- 【2-in-1 Pin or Necklace Design】Wear it as a pin badge on backpacks, hats, coats, and clothes, or use the included lanyard as a necklace. Instead of carrying multiple regular pins, you can refresh your display anytime with different photos and animations
- 【Touchscreen, Lights & Long Battery Life】Adjust sleep mode and 6 brightness levels directly on the touchscreen. Seven built-in light effects with steady and flashing modes help your design stand out at parties, concerts, proms, graduations, fan events, and casual outings. Battery life reaches up to 18 hours at the lowest brightness setting
Rank #2
- ProTechTrader Mini Kit 4 is an electronics kit for Section Four of Make: Electronics, 3rd Edition by Charles Platt and covers Experiments 15-23 for guided circuit work.
- Build pulse, tone, alarm, reflex, logic, switching, counter, sound, and display projects from Emitting a Pulse through Nice Dice in the companion book.
- Included parts cover required resistors, ceramic and electrolytic capacitors, a 555 timer, logic gates, a binary counter, LEDs, transistors, and diodes for these circuits.
- The component pack includes a 9V DC DPDT relay, slide switches, an 8-ohm speaker, a 7-segment LED display, a 500K trimmer potentiometer, and a 9V snap connector.
- Use this component-only pack with an 830-point solderless breadboard, 22AWG solid hookup wire, a 9V power source, wire tools, and a digital multimeter. The book is sold separately.
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