Skyfall gear guide: All the gadgets fit for a spy

Skyfall hits theaters in the United States later this week, but many of the gadgets Bond will use are already available to buy – if you have a Bond budget. Prepare your lusty eyes over these one-of-a-kind pieces.

While the latest 007 flick, Skyfall, has already popped up in UK theaters, those of us in the States will lay eyes on Daniel Craig’s third go around as Bond this Friday, November 9. Of course, the super sleek spy is known for a closet full of badass gadgets, and Skyfall is no exception. Here’s a first look at all the gear Bond will be sporting in Skyfall – and where you can snag some for your next mission.

Aston Martin DB5

Plenty of exotic automotive nameplates have graced the Bond films throughout the decades — Lotus, BMW, and Jaguar have all served as four-wheel chariots for the dapper double O. But another car, more than any other, has come to define our beloved MI6 agent, and that car is the Aston Martin DB5.

Marking its third appearance in the long-running Bond franchise, the iconic Aston is back. We’re not sure what additional gadgets and weaponry the classic car may feature, but we expect upgrades to the original’s bulletproof shield, passenger ejector seat, oil slick sprayer and pop-out guns are in order. Consider our excitement shaken, not stirred, to see DB5 in action once again.

Walther PPK

If you’ve seen the trailer for Skyfall, you might have noticed that Q is a lot younger than we’re used to seeing. In one scene, he is seen issuing Bond a brand new Walther PPK. Perhaps his most personalized gadget yet, this re-modified version of classic Bond handgun has a palm-sensitive biometric reader that will not fire unless Bond is the one holding the firearm. So, enemies, if you’re out of ammo, don’t bother trying to snatch this bad boy from the man. It’s not Bond’s most powerful weapon to date, but it sure is pretty cool.

Globe-Trotter Stabilist Rifle Case

Produced just for Skyfall, this limited-edition rifle case features an aluminium body with a diamond-quilted lining and chrome locks so even your weapons get the ultra-luxe accommodation. The handle in this commercial edition also has the telescopic sight, replicating the James Bond’s version to a tee (without the actual functionality, of course. We can only dream.) Globe-Trotter has crafted only 100 of these for global sale at a retail value of £5,000 (approximately $8,000 USD) so get your order in while supplies last, if you’ve got the cash.

Sony Xperia TL

Every gadget James Bond uses is full of crazy doo-dads and secret features. Oddly enough, with a modern smartphone, there’s an app for just about everything. The Sony Xperia TL is set to be Bond’s phone of choice in Skyfall, and this time he’s in for a treat. The TL will soon be released on AT&T and comes with a 4.6-inch HD screen and an impressive 13-megapixel camera, which we’d imagine would be good for spying. Bond might also make use of the NFC capabilities of the TL, which can pair with other devices by simply tapping it on them. The only downside is that Bond will be stuck using Android 4.0 at launch. Like the rest of us, he’ll have to wait for an upgrade to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) … unless, of course, Q has already hacked into the system to give him all the apps he’ll ever need.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M

Think you can walk into your nearest Omega retailer, spend big bucks, and get yourself a piece of that James Bond flavor? Well, yes and no. The special edition watch Bond wears in the film can perform any function a phone can (and then some), so expect some hidden tricks to unveil throughout the movie. While your Omega might not be able to shoot lasers, it is equipped with a scratch-resistant crystal dome, a chromium-nitride diving scale, rhodium-plated hands, steel case, and is water-resistant for up to 2,000 feet deep. The limited-edition Planet Ocean Skyfall edition is slated for release some time before the year’s end, with prices to be announced. Bond can be seen wearing the watch in some of the promotional posters, along with a classic black suit. Speaking of which…

Bespoke Tom Ford suit

Hardly a gadget but hardly James Bond without, the staple Tom Ford suit is a must-have if you’re looking to cop Bond’s style. The custom tailored suit uses breathable, flexible fabric that allows Bond to both battle and strut while maintaining a modern fit.

[Additional reporting by Amir Iliaifar and Jeffrey Van Camp]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 are AT&T exclusives in the U.S.

AT&T will exclusively carry the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 in the United States.

AT&T just announced that the Windows Phone 8 smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 will be exclusive to the carrier in the States.

The flagship Lumia 920 is Nokia’s first Windows Phone 8 device, which also means its one of the first Windows Phones to pack some impressive hardware. It has a 4.5-inch curved glass touchscreen, a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 chip, 32GB of storage, and an 8-megapixel camera. The Lumia 820 is a little smaller with a 4.3-inch display and is being billed as a mid-range smartphone. The stand out feature for both is wireless charging support.

Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of Devices and Developer Services at AT&T Mobility said, “Exclusive to our customers and featuring unique innovations in imaging technology, wireless charging and a bright, sensitive display – all on the nation’s largest 4G network – the Lumia 920 will be one of the hottest phones for the holidays,”

AT&T continues to position itself as the leading Windows Phone 8 carrier and reminded us in its press release that it has sold more Windows Phones than any other carrier to date. It will also offer the HTC 8X.

Both the Lumia 920 and 820 will feature Nokia’s City Lens AR overlay and benefit from all the new features Windows Phone 8 has to offer. The 920 comes in red, white, black, yellow, and cyan; the 820 comes in black.

There’s no word on release date or pricing beyond the fact that the new devices will hit shelves sometime this autumn.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Chinese manufacturer Hisense plays price limbo with its K26 HDTV

Hisense shows how low it can go with the hyper-affordable 42-inch K26 HDTV.

Hisense may be poised to stake out a market share here in the states, as its K26 television has made its way onto Costco’s website at an extremely low price, with other affordable models currently available at Costco, Walmart and HHGregg brick-and-mortar locations. Hisense hopes to challenge manufacturers like Vizio – which released its new Razor LED line yesterday- for buyers on a stricter budget.

Hisense’s 42-inch K26 television offers a 1080p Full HD picture, LED backlighting, and three HDMI inputs. The issue we’re having at this point is that any available literature is devoid of audio specs. Saying that the sound is “clear” and “crisp,” is as specific as Hisense gets. We won’t hold our breath, though, as on-board TV sound is almost universally terrible these days. 

On the plus side, Hisense is in the process of manufacturing its own Google TV set-top box, the Pulse, which is expected to retail for under $100. Since the K26 will not function as a Smart TV, the set-top box will be key for users that may want beefed up connectivity and app functionality in the future.

Whether Hisene has produced a viable, low-cost HDTV, or simply a low-quality low-cost HDTV, remains to be seen. But the price point is certainly intriguing. The K26 is currently available online at http://www.costco.com at the ultra-low price of $370.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Can’t drive 55? No problem: New Texas highway will have an 85 mph speed limit

When it opens in November, a stretch of toll road between Austin and Seguin, Texas will be the fastest highway in the United States, but not by much.

Texas will soon have the fastest highway in the United States. A stretch of road between Austin and Seguin has been gifted with an 85 mph speed limit, according to the Associated Press.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the new limit for this 35-mile stretch of toll road, which runs east of the crowded Interstate 35 corridor favored by commuters, after the state’s legislature approved raising speed limits on new roads last year. The Austin-Seguin road opens in November.

For years, American speed freaks have had to watch Germans have all the fun on their autobahns, and this could be an excellent opportunity to really drop the hammer on U.S. soil. It could also help reduce travel times between two of the biggest cities, and potentially others, in the biggest state in the contiguous United States.

However, the decision isn’t as radical as it seems. Texas already has an 80 mph maximum speed limit, so drivers on the new toll road will only be going five mph faster than their fellow Texans.

The 85 mph speed limit also includes an economic incentive for the state government. The state’s contract with the toll operator allows it to collect a $67 million up-front cash payment, or a certain percentage of the toll profits, if the speed limit is 80 mph or lower. If the speed limit is above 80 mph, the state gets $100 million or a higher percentage of the profits.

“We must continue to look for innovative ways to generate revenue and be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Texas Department of Transportation Spokeswoman Veronica Byer told the Associated Press.

Sound economic reasoning aside, there are obvious concerns over drivers cruising 10-20 mph faster than nearly every other American.

“The research is clear that when speed limits go up, fatalities go up,” Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said. He said higher speed limits will get people from place to place faster, but they would cause more crashes and, ultimately, deaths.

Texas officials believe that, despite the connection between speed and highway danger, the 85 mph limit is within the envelope of safety.

“Safety is our top priority and tests have shown the designated speed is a safe one,” Beyer said. Speed limits on Texas highways are reportedly set by the 85th percentile method, where the speed limit reflects the maximum speed 85 percent of drivers are willing to drive at or below.

On most highways, speeds are restricted to 65 or 75 mph. Certain stretches of road in Texas and Utah have 80 mph limits. Montana was the last state to have no speed limits, but that practice ended in 1999.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Pope Benedict XVI goes green with electric Popemobile

An electric Renault Kangoo Maxi ZE will transport Pope Benedict XVI around his summer residence.

The Vatican is one of the smallest sovereign states on Earth, but it’s still concerned about carbon emissions. Pope Benedict XVI recently added a new vehicle (Popemobile to us heathens) to his official fleet, and it is powered by electricity.

The new Popemobile is based on the Renault Kangoo Maxi ZE, an electric version of the compact van Renault sells in Europe. In place of an internal combustion engine, the Kangoo has a 60 hp electric motor and a lithium ion battery pack.

This Popemobile clearly isn’t built for speed, but at least people will have plenty of time to see the Pope as he passes by. The battery pack yields a 105-mile range, which should be more than adequate for this application. Renault says Benedict XVI will use the Kangoo for transportation at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, which is only five square miles.

Modifications for Papal service include a redesigned interior from French coachbuilder Gruau, with two bucket seats replacing the stock taxi-like bench. A traditional all-white paint scheme with the Papal coat of arms lets everyone know who is riding in this Renault.

However, unlike other Popemobiles, the Kangoo does not have an elevated glass box for putting the leader of the Catholic faith on display. Since it will be transporting the Pope in private, there really is no need. Still, the Kangoo’s big windows and sunroof should allow it to pinch-hit as parade transportation if necessary.

The Pope’s usual transportation consists of a fleet of modified Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUVs; the Vatican has also used the Mercedes G-Class for past Popemobiles.

The Kangoo Maxi ZE Popemobile was presented to the Pope by Renault Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. Through an ever-expanding line of Nissan (Leaf, eNV200, Infiniti LE) and Renault (ZE models) EVs, Ghosn has made electric propulsion a priority at the French and Japanese juggernauts. Building an EV for the Pope shows that there is always a new niche, even at the Vatican.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition will hit the shelves of select retailers tomorrow

In order to get a piece of the currently ongoing “back to school” sales frenzy in the United States, Samsung has released a Student Edition of its Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 slate. Set to go on sale in select retailers tomorrow, the tablet’s special edition bundle includes $100 worth of free accessories and an exclusive glossy white color.

The abovementioned free accessories include a keyboard dock and USB adapter, which supports USB flash drives, as well as peripherals such as USB mice. The price of the tablet has not been changed. Samsung is still asking the highly acceptable $249.99 for it.

While many will say that this is Google Nexus 7 money, keep in mind that Samsung’s offering features a microSD card slot, which might make a lot of difference for students. You can check out our review of the slate here.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com