Looxcie Wearable Camcorder

Almost straight out of a Bond film, the ear-mounted Looxcie camcorder continuously records as long as it's on and doubles as a Bluetooth headset. It stores 5 hours of video, and automatically deletes the oldest footage to continue recording. You can even receive calls without interrupting the video recording. The Loxcie app adds to the device's functionality by offering video streaming, sharing (Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter), and editing to select Android smartphones. Video is encoded in the MP4 format with a 480 x 320 resolution. Available via http://www.looxcie.com for $199.

Digital Dead Drops

Back in the Cold War spies used to do drops by marking mail boxes with chalk, and having set meeting places to pick up and drop off packets of information or payoffs. The creation of advanced applications that allow you send and receive money via iPhones and Androids have changed the spy game.

The Digital Drop Box

Yves Raimond built an app for Android called TrackDropper that uses your phones GPS location to give you access to a downloadable file. Imagine having to travel to a specific bench in Central Park in order to gain access to a file. [CrunchGear] [Cnet]




Foldable Google Maps Envelopes

It is easy to give someone directions or GPS coordinates to a drop box, but what about taking advantage of the postal service. Foldable Google map envelopes allow you to discretely give directions to a secret location using the inside of an envelope for your party, get together, or spy dead drop. [Boing Boing]

Spy Gear Weekend Report

Thanko Waterproof Spy Watch [Pictures + Video]

This watch records 640x480 video resolution at 30 frames per second, can take 1600x1200 resolution JPEG photos, and is compatible with both Mac and PC. The watch itself weighs 86 grams [.19 pounds] and costs $158.95 [buy watch here].

LaCie MosKeyto

$18 for the 8GB version and $28 for the 16GB version with a 32GB version on the way, this mini usb stick allows you to store a mass amount of information on a drive small enough that nobody will ever find it. It's also good for leaving in your computer as a secret drive for hiding files.

Cigarette Lighter/Camera

This pocket lighter records in 640x480 resolution at 30 frames per second, supports up to an 8GB sd card, and has a lithium battery that can record for up to 6 hours. This lady liberty lighter cost $150 and is available at your local spy shop.






Source: [CrunchGear] [Engadget] [Engadget 2]

James Bond Tips of the Week via MythBusters

Motion Sensors:

Walk very slowly holding up a sheet in front of you, sounds crazy but watch, it works.

Lazer Security System:

You can use your own lazer to get around the system.

Finger Print Locks:

There are many ways to beat finger print locks... watch and learn.

Safe Cracking:

Water + Depth Charge = an Opened Safe

This Week in Spy Gear: Dress Phones and Submarines

Sexy Black Dress / Cell Phone

French Pedal Powered Submarine: For Deep Sea Missions

Sources: [Inhabitat] [Inhabitat Gadgets]

CIA + Google: Invest in Web-Monitoring Company

With countries like Dubai and Saudi Arabia banning Blackberry's within their nations since the Blackberry encryption cannot be monitored, web-monitoring has become an international topic. Critics of Blackberry argue that their encryption "... hinders efforts to fight terrorism and criminal activity." [BBC]


The United States is very invested in web-monitoring. The company called Recorded Future is a new company that focuses on searching the internet and coming up with all the invisible connections between people and creating information timelines to predict the future. The company works by:

1. Scouring the Internet

Scan thousands [closer to millions most likely] of news publications, blogs, nich sources, trade publications, government websites, financial databases, and more..."

2. Extracts, ranks, and organizes

Extract information from text and html to develop accurate timelines of information that is measured against "momentum for each item in [the] index.

3. Organize the information

Using "powerful visualization tools" allows the user to see "temporal patterns" and links between multiple networks while exploring the past and present to predict the future.

Other companies such as Visible Technologies provide similar search capabilities, as they search 500,000 web 2.0 sites per day. But Recorded Future is gaining the most hype and both the CIA and Google are investing in the company.

CIA Director General Michael Hayden said in 2008 that, "in fact, there's a real satisfication in solving a problem or answering a tough question with infomration that somone was dumb enough to leave out in the open. [Danger Room]

"Recorded Future certainly has the potential to spot events and trends early. Take the case of Hezbollah’s long-range missiles. On March 21, Israeli President Shimon Peres leveled the allegation that the terror group had Scud-like weapons. Scouring Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s past statements, Recorded Future found corroborating evidence from a month prior that appeared to back up Peres’ accusations."

A few things that seem somewhat obvious that no one has talked about. First, the NSA clearly has the capabilities to not only crack the Blackberry encryption, but perform the same services as Recorded Futures. Second, Americans looking to not have their freedom of speech and privacy violated should not worry as under Obama, none of the information obtained via illegal wiretaps or electronic communications is admissible in court.

Sources: [Danger Room] [BBC] [Recorded Futures]

This Week in the Future - The Practical

i-Tab - The Future of Guitar Tab and Set Lists

[Gizmodo - i-Tab]

Guppie Multi-Tool: The Future of Mountain Climbing Espionage

[Gizmodo - Multi-Tool]

Joo Joo - The Future of Car Media

[Joo Joo]

The X-Ray Cast - The Future of the NFL

[Gizmodo - X-Ray Cast]

Self-Filtering + Purifying Water Bottle = The Future of Water Security

[Tree Hugger]

Hotel Door Hacking

Related Post:
The assassins of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, who was killed in a Dubai hotel, broke into the leaders hotel room and killed him by inducing "sever blood pressure to the brain." The video above gives evidence as to how easy it is to break into a secure hotel room. The video below is the CCTV security camera footage of the 10 assassins up to 19 hours before the assassination took place:

Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Black Bag]

Spy Gear: Take DSLR Pics from a Distance

Pixel Enterprise LV-W1 Wireless Live View Remote Control

The product also works with iPhones, in case you ever need to take incriminating pictures of someone from across the street, while sitting in the room next to them... James Bond would love this product.


Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Pixel Enterprise Co.]

This Week's Spy Tech

Vacuum Gloves

Rugged GPS Navigator - For the Tomb Raider/Spy in all of us

• Processor: 624MHz Marvell PXA270
• Screen: 3.7-inch QVGA/VGA resistive touchscreen
• RAM: 256MB
• I/O: 3 USB, 1 RJ-45, 1 CF slot, 3.5mm headphone, 3.5mm mic, MicroSD, and others
• Wireless: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), 3G, Bluetooth (v1.2)
• GPS
• Removable battery
• Cost: $1899

Consair's Padlock USB Key

Without the PIN, your information stays secure and inaccessible.

• Secure: Hardware 256-bit encryption secures your data
• Protection: Your own 4-10 digit PIN protects and locks access to the Flash Padlock 2
• Capacity: Large 8GB storage gives you ample room to store all your sensitive documents, or up to 2,480 images, or up to 2,000 songs
• Compatible: No software to install — Works on Windows, Mac or Linux based computers — Plug & Play compatible with virtually any USB port
• Hacking Detection: Multiple failed entries locks device for 2 minutes to prevent repeated attempts to access data
• Drive Recovery:  If you lose your PIN, you can reset the Flash Padlock to its factory default state, securely erasing all data from the drive
• Confidence: Protected by a limited 10 year warranted and backed by Corsair’s renowned customer service and support

Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Crunch Gear 2] [Corsair]

A Flashlight/Machine Gun

Did he say the Magpul FMG-9 is for "checking your mailbox?"



Sources: [Boing Boing]

Turn Your Car Into A Tank

Source: [Crunch Gear]

Digital Display Ski Goggles

Zeal Optics + Recon Instruments Present:
TRANSCEND

THE MOST ADVANCED GOGGLES EVER

Ever want to track your speed, jump height and distance, all from your ski goggles. The Transcend ski goggles do it all. Through GPS locators and in the head set computer system shows you your real time, speed, distance, location, the temperature, the ski/snowboarder next to you and their  accomplishments. Using similar technology that goes into fighter pilot helmets, these goggles are a must for all you black-ops skiers.

Next time your skiing down a mountain being chased by heavily armed security guards, these goggles will surely save your life. Well probably, all I know is that I want a pair.

COST: $350   -   THAT'S WELL WORTH IT
Available this coming Fall 2010

Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Zeal Optics] [Recon Instruments]

Stayin' Mobile - The Solar Backpack

The Piggy Back - Soular Back-Up Pack

I hate it when my iPod dies on my way to work. Now I can charge it on my walk to the train so that I can listen to my music for the entire ride.


Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Neon Green]

Nano Tech: Spray On Liquid Glass

It makes your clothing invincible to the elements. SiO2 Ultra-Thin layering spray coats clothing with a thin protective layer that repels dirt, heat, UV radiation, and infections.

The image shows the SiO2 coating on a filament of a microfibre, illustrating the 100 nanometer thick protective layer.

"... the nano-scale glass coating bonds to the surface because of the quantum forces involved. According to the manufacturers, liquid glass has a long-lasting antibacterial effect because microbes landing on the surface cannot divide or replicate easily."


"A year-long trial of the spray in a Lancashire hospital also produced "very promising" results for a range of applications including coatings for equipment, medical implants, catheters, sutures and bandages. The war graves association in the UK is investigating using the spray to treat stone monuments and grave stones, since trials have shown the coating protects against weathering and graffiti. Trials in Turkey are testing the product on monuments such as the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara."

Sources: [Gizmodo] [Physorg] [Boing Boing]

Solar Cellphone Charger

The Scosche solBAT II

For the price of $30, the extra solar powered battery charger is perfect for the modern tomb raider, adventurer, traveller, or forest enthusiast.


Sources:
[Gizmodo]  [Scosche]

Want to Stream your UAV Video to your Cellphone?

"The system allows anyone to route video signals from UAVs—or any aerial surveillance craft or satellite—to any cellphone around the world, using an encrypted data signal. The signal gets transmitted in real time to a command center. Then, HT4Sight compresses and encrypts the video, sending the stream to any phone in a cellular, Wi-Fi, or satellite network."




[Gizmodo] [Helinet Technologies]

Ski Season: Video Snow Goggles

Record the Wipeouts you Wished your Freinds had Witnessed

Like something our of  James Bond movie, the Liquid Image Snow Goggles record in 720p resolution and have the ability to take 5 megapixel snap shots. The goggles cost $150 but unfortunately will not be available until July, making the perfect for a holiday gift next year.

Source: Engadget