October 2008

As this is the 'James Bond issue' of The Scene it seems appropriate to come over all Q-Branch. We've scoured the Internet to find some of the most 'Bondesque' gadgets you can buy. Some are practical, some are expensive, some you would only really need if you were attempting to foil a megalomaniac's quest for world domination. All are cool though:

WI-Fi Watch £19.99 (www.iwantoneofthose.com)

This nifty Wi-Fi watch has a scaled 0-8 Wi-Fi strength indicator ? you no longer have to wave your laptop around looking distinctly non-00 agent looking for connectivity. Once your watch finds a 'hot spot' you can tap into the net and hunt down that pesky double agent. Or do some on-line shopping.

Spy Camera Glasses £89.99 (www.iwantoneofthose.com)

OK, they may not be too stylish but who cares when you can secretly and remotely take up to 10,000 pictures with them! Perfect for covertly capturing that underhand nuclear arms deal, or someone dribbling in their sleep on the bus. They also come with a built in headphones so you can go home listening to Shirley Bassey's greatest hits.

Digital Camera Mask £89.95 (www.firebox.com)

Similar to the sunnies, this is a digital camera on a scuba mask. Perfect for taking pictures of the shady character intend on doing nefarious deeds' underwater lair. The only downside might be the fact they're bright yellow.

Reef Rider Sea Scooter £99.99 (www.firebox.com)

Propel yourself to a blistering speed of 2.2mph in a very compact, lightweight design. Admittedly, the Reef Rider will only operate to a depth of 3 metres, which makes storming underwater fortresses a challenge, but it's perfect for snorkelling or reef dives. A full charge will give you a run-time of up to 50 minutes.

Hov Pod £14,999 (www.hovpod.com)

When you don't have a Lotus that turns into a submarine, there's only one other option: a hovercraft. The Hov Pod can reach speeds of 40-45mph, on land and water, you could even head down the high street to Tescos (this is illegal, don't say we didn't warn you). Delivery time is about three months, so if you're planning a top secret reconnaissance mission, book plenty in advance.

Sony Ericsson C902 (around £260 on pay as you go. Contract prices vary)

No secret agent is complete without a top quality blower. In Quantum of Solace, Jimbo will be calling M on this sleek Sony Ericsson. Of course, with the top of the range 5 megapixel Cyber-Shot camera he'll be able to take some great shots of his global adventures and send them back to HQ via the 3G connectivity. The special addition 'titanium' Bond edition (only available on O2) comes packed with Bond goodies, including themes, wall papers, videos, games and the like. Unfortunately it won't let you remotely control your car.

SLP2 Survival Tool £34.99 (www.iwantoneofthose.com)

Although Bond would make do with a plastic spoon and a paper clip (probably), for those not on her Majesty's Secret Service the SL2 Survival Tool is indispensable for anyone into the outdoors. Think serrated 'A' grade blade, firesteel fire lighter which creates a 3,000°C hot spark, a small but powerful waterproof torch, a piercing rescue whistle, as well as a handy belt clip.

Tie Camera £644.99 (www.spycatcheronline.co.uk)

Although the tie isn't exactly on the cutting edge of fashion you'll be able to record the insults you'll receive via the pinhole video camera cunningly hidden within. One of the most advanced covert audio/video recording systems available.

Marine 2 1st Generation Night Vision. £135.00 (www.spycatcheronline.co.uk)

No secret agent would be complete without some night vision goggles, even if he only uses them to see round the house after getting back from the pub after his other half has gone to bed. This well priced unit offers 3 x magnification and are fully waterproof.