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May 10, 2007 6:30 AM PDT

Cam-glasses for the bungling detective

by Mike Yamamoto
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(Credit: Spycatcher)

As spy gadgetry is concerned, this one isn't exactly 007 smooth. It's quite the opposite, actually, in that talk-into-my-carnation kind of way.

Although this product is presumably meant for covert activities--it's being sold on Spycatcher, after all--these "Spy Sunglasses" are basically a pair of shades with a camera stuck on the side, about as camouflaged as a snowman in a coal mine. It would go perfectly with the Discovery wrist cam in the Department of Glaringly Obvious.

Besides, now that we can sneak a video feed with a pinhole camera built into a tie, who would need anything else? But if you do end up getting the camera glasses, you might also want to consider another gadget for the inevitable lulls in espionage: You can always pop a "Teleglass" onto the other lens and watch a movie.

May 6, 2007 5:00 AM PDT

Eavesdropping pot pourri is fishy

by Mike Yamamoto
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(Credit: Spycatcher)

Let's say you fancy yourself an international person of intrigue and are ready for your first attempt at true espionage: planting a bug. But where? As much as we like the design of the "GSM Table Lamp," it might arouse a smidgeon of suspicion if presented as a hostess gift at a dinner party.

Still, we're not so sure about the "Pot Pourri Basket with built-in GSM Transmitter" either. True, it's not as obstrusive as a piece of furniture, but we've never been comfortable with the concept of pot pourri. (What is it, anyway?)

According to U.K.-based Spycatcher, this rigged item "allows you to silently dial in to this unit from anywhere in the world and hear what is being said within a 4- to 5-meter range (about 13 to 16 feet)." But it's not recommended for use in the States for technical reasons (not to mention the Fourth Amendment). That's just as well, because we still think a bug-laden basket of pot pourri sounds more like Inspector Clouseau than 007.

April 18, 2007 1:23 PM PDT

PC surveillance for the spy in a hurry

by Mike Yamamoto
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As any espionage operative will tell you, spying on someone's computer can a frustrating task. It usually involves loading software, which always ends up taking more time than anticipated--thereby increasing the chances of getting caught in the act.

(Credit: Spycatcher)

That's why U.K.-based Spycatcher came up with the "Keywatcher," a small gadget less than 2 inches long that plugs into the back of the subject's computer, according to Uber-Review, not unlike a USB storage key. Spycatcher says the gadget, which goes for 107 pounds (or $215) holds "up to 65,000 characters of text (typically between 40 and 50 pages) which can be recalled by simply typing in a changeable password."

In fact, now that we're aware of this, we'll have to position one of our many surveillance cameras behind our own computers.

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