(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)
If simply playing the hotly anticipated shooter Modern Warfare 2 isn't enough, you might be tempted to shell out extra for the $149 Prestige Edition of the game (over the typical $59 standalone game disc).
Inside the oversize box, we found a copy of the game in a metal case, a small hardcover book of production art, and most importantly, a pair of plastic--but functioning--night vision goggles. Said goggles, which required five AA batteries, also came with a small plastic bust of a game character's head--perfect for storing and displaying your goggles when not using them to sneak around dark alleys or navigate poorly illuminated bars.
The goggles, while not exactly military grade construction, actually worked surprisingly well, offering two levels of light amplification, an optional green filter for the just-like-the-movies look, and an adjustable head strap. It took a few minutes to get used to the effect, which requires us to shift our focus onto the tiny screen inside the goggles, rather than trying to look off into the distance. Obviously, one's depth perception is going to be hampered by this as well, so we suggest staying off the stairs.
We snapped a few pics of the Prestige Edition box and its contents; check them out below.
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> Read our analysis of Modern Warfare 2 here.
Flying your Bell Ranger in a ball cap is something of a fashion statement. But it lacks that iconic, ant-head panache that until recently only military pilots wearing restricted, government-use-only night vision-equipped helmets could pull off.
(Credit:
Nivisys)
The NVAG-6 Night Vision Goggles change all that. They're the first night vision goggle certified by the FAA for civilian use, according to manufacturer Nivisys. Of course, looks are not what will sell this gear. It's the safety margin they can potentially add to low-light and nighttime flying (PDF).
"This is a historical moment for civil aviator night vision safety. Nivisys is now the first and only company certified for the production of night vision goggles under FAA TSO-C164," said Nivisys CEO Allen Harding.
The unit can be used with fixed and rotary winged aircraft, according to the company. You'll probably want one just to avoiding doing a "Bill Graham," but the company foresees wide use in many after-dark flight operations, such as offshore oil rigging, logging, power line and high-rise work, and search and rescue.
The NVAG-6 comprises a lightweight binocular made of anodized aluminum that can be mounted to a variety of helmets. The 25mm eye relief eyepieces are individually adjustable and even work for operators wearing prescription glasses or contacts. A flip-up base allows for fine tuning for fore/aft adjustments.
The goggles automatically turn off when the helmet mount is flipped up, which prevents tube damage in case of exposure to bright lights. They run on AAs, which are presumably not included.
(Credit:
iKey)
It's such a common problem: There you are, wearing your best pair of night-vision goggles, and you can't see the damn keyboard. What's a clandestine operative to do?
iKey claims to have the answer with a LED keyboard that it says is "compatible with NV goggles, featuring filters that remove unwanted light interference" such as halo glows, according to Ubergizmo. It's kind of a version of Stacco Switch's rugged M779 that provides the necessary discretion you won't get with an LED piano lamp. Unfortunately for amateur spies, it seems to be aimed at military agencies and therefore will likely be well beyond the usual budget. Which is too bad because it certainly beats a lot of the nocturnal alternatives.
Night-vision goggles: 100 percent more effective at catching pirates than X-Ray Specs.
(Credit: Fakecrap.com)You'd think catching movie pirates would be as easy as preventing anyone with a camcorder from entering a movie theater. Or throwing a net over Johnny Depp's house.
Instead, Malaysian theater workers are employing a high-tech strategy. According to a Reuters report, the Motion Picture Association is training Malaysian theater workers to strap on night-vision goggles to catch pirates in the act of filming.
And it's working. In the past two months, 17 illegal movie-tapers have been caught by begoggled Malaysian ushers.
Could New York City be the next test bed for the night-vision goggle probe? According to a Motion Picture Association of America study, New York accounts for 43 percent of all in-theater movie piracy in the U.S., as well as 20 percent of worldwide DVD piracy.
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