SkyMall Monday: Top 10 pieces of spy gear

The world is a scary place. Heck, even the Cold War is heating up (er, cooling off?) again with Russian spies being kicked out of the US. It’s becoming harder and harder to trust anyone, even your family. Here in the SkyMall Monday headquarters, I trust Calvin the Garden Yeti and no one else. In these crazy times, it’s best to find out all the information you can on those around you, lest they try to steal your possessions, kidnap your children or take over your life like that crazy lady from Single White Female. Covert ops are not just for TV and the movies. You need to take matters into your own hands and do constant reconnaissance to be sure that you stay one step ahead of your wife, boyfriend, babysitter, coworker or daughter. Thankfully, SkyMall knows that your paranoia is justified and that a tinfoil hat is not enough to keep you safe from the people who want to steal your thoughts. They have 89(!!!) different items listed in their “Under Cover” spy and surveillance section. If that doesn’t validate your decision to spy on your loved ones, then just do it because it’s fun! This week, we take a look at the top 10 pieces of spy gear in SkyMall.Teddy Bear Hidden Camera Pictured above, this innocent looking teddy bear houses a heat activated camera which will record your baby’s entire sweaty nap thanks to that handsome and thick wool cap. It also works on grown women who creepily dress like little girls.

Tie Spy CameraWhat better way to spy on your coworkers than by placing a camera discreetly in your office attire? Of course, if you work as a lifeguard, you’ll want to make sure that the tie matches your swimsuit.

Cell Phone Spy Text ReaderThis device lets you read deleted text messages and review deleted numbers from any cell phone that uses a SIM card. There’s no way your girlfriend can hide her affair – or her obsession with the Justin Bieber fan line – now.

ID Card Hidden Camera Almost every office requires employees to keep an ID badge with them at all times. So what better way to hide your spy camera then behind that unflattering photo of that kind of makes you look like a pedophile? And, since everyone from your office park eats at the same Applebee’s, you can also use it to see who’s been spitting in your Wonton Tacos.

Tissue Box Internet CameraThe camera in this tissue box streams video directly to the web for you to watch in real time. If you see someone bring a bottle of moisturizer over to the tissues, it may be time to navigate to another website.

Panning Faux Security CameraYou’re not the only person who’s paranoid. Play on your friends’ fears by just making them think that they’re being watched. Now maybe they’ll stop leaving those bags of poop on your front porch.

Electric Outlet Hidden CameraSince it’s motion-activated, you’ll get great footage of your unattended toddler approaching the outlet immediately before sticking a fork in it.

Wireless Color Mirror CameraAs the product description so poetically puts is, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, catch that burglar once and for all.” Assuming, of course, that the burglar stops in the bathroom to put on some of your makeup. Speaking of which, you look like a clown whore when you wear all that blush.

Cell Phone Voice ChangerI’ll defer to the product description on this one: “No one will recognize your voice with The Cell Phone Voice Changer. Easily change your voice from man to woman, woman to man, a child’s voice, or even a robot–and it will sound completely real and natural.” Now you can call your ex and use that completely real and natural robot voice. She’ll be none the wiser.

Ultra Spy Hearing Ear MuffsHear every conversation going on around you while blending into the environment with your massive headphones with two microphones prominently attached to each ear.

Of course, what you do with this equipment is your business. Gadling in no way, shape or form condones you violating any privacy laws or statutes when spying on people. I assume you’ll be using these tools for educational purposes. Though, if I see you in the gym locker room in nothing but a tie, I’m going to punch you in the throat.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

Is the U.S. Forest Service spying on visitors?

Our country’s national parks and forests are intended as sanctuaries, zones of peace and quiet where visitors can get away from the give and take of modern life. But don’t expect to have it all to yourself: these days you might be joined by hidden cameras, placed by the U.S. Forest Service. Don’t break out the tinfoil hat just yet; this “conspiracy theory” may have some truth to it. According to a South Carolina newspaper, the agency has been placing hidden cameras in forest areas for some time.

Visitor Herman Jacob was camping and looking for firewood in South Carolina’s Francis Marion National Forest last month when he stumbled across a wire. The wire took him to a video camera and a remote antenna sitting in the middle of the woods. Perplexed, Jacob took the camera home with him and contacted the local police, who explained it had been set up to monitor “illicit activities” and demanded its return. Further investigation by the Island Packet, the newspaper that researched the story, confirmed that the Forest Service has used the cameras as a tool of law enforcement for “numerous years.” A Forest Service spokesperson quoted in the article indicated that images taken of those not targeted by an investigation are not kept.

In light of the fact drug cartels have been growing marijuana on federal land for some time, this type of surveillance makes more sense. And, legally, the cameras are on public land – surveillance is permissible. But is a policy that allows this type of monitoring, particularly in a quiet forest, a violation of our trust? Or is it a necessary evil, preventing misuse of public land? Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

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100% wireless camera system – Gadling reviews the Vue Personal Video Network

If you are regularly away from home, having a quick and easy way to keep an eye on things is pretty convenient. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been reviewing an innovative new home video network system called the “Vue Personal Video Network”.

The Vue package consists of a home gateway box and two small cameras. Home camera systems are by no means new – I’ve had Internet enabled cameras for years – but Vue does something nothing else on the market does. The Vue cameras are 100% wireless – this means no video cables, no network cables and no power cables.

The cameras operate off a single CR123 battery, providing enough power to view 10 minutes of video, every day for a year. The big advantage of this system is that you can grab a camera and mount it anywhere you want. Because the cameras use a “mesh” wireless transmission system, you can mount the cameras up to 300 feet away.

Video quality from the cameras is not bad – it isn’t great, but it is most certainly on par with what most other home video systems offer. The streaming signal from the cameras is in VGA quality (640×480) at 10 frames per second. This is more than enough to see what is going on around your home.

Setting up the VUE system is a breeze – you plug the home unit into your network, then you “pair” the 2 included cameras. In my situation, I went from opening the box, to viewing video in under 2 minutes. Very rarely do gadgets work this easily. The cameras come with a neat magnetic mounting ball, which you can either screw or stick where you need it.

Once installed, you head on over to the Vue site to setup your account. Your first year of access is included for free, subsequent years are $19.95. The web site is easy to navigate, and allows you to view live video from your cameras, view recordings made and enable sharing with friends.

One of the most powerful features of the system is the new Vue iPhone app – this free application offers many of the same features of the web interface, but with the convenience of your iPhone. This means you can start viewing video from your cameras anywhere in the world – as long as you have a data connection.

Video performance from the cameras is surprisingly good – the 10 frames per second is fine for monitoring purposes, and the cameras function extremely well in dark environments.

In the web interface (and the iPhone app), you can select one of three light settings – from bright to dark. Even a dimly lit porch is no challenge for the camera.

There are many uses for the Vue system – but there are also several uses that rule out using the setup. If you need a camera designed for constant monitoring of a location, you’ll need to look elsewhere. The wireless design of the Vue system make it great for occasional video monitoring, but not for anything that needs permanent streams.

Also, because the cameras lack motion detection, you won’t be able to use them as part of your home security solution.

That said – there are plenty of situations where the camera functions better than anything I’ve ever tested – it is great for keeping an eye on your front door (for packages), it works perfectly to check whether you left the garage door open, and it even does a good job keeping an eye on the kids when you don’t need a constant eye on them.

In fact, using the Vue camera to stay in touch with your child(ren) is a really fun and reliable way to do things like read to them at night, or to check how well they are sleeping when you are on the road.

Final thoughts

Despite the minor shortcomings, the Vue systems functions very reliably. Not needing to pull cables to a camera makes the setup very flexible and easy to install. The initial purchase price is $299 – which includes a year of access, the home gateway and two cameras. This is about what you’d normally pay for two Internet enabled video cameras. Additional cameras can be added (up to fifty!) for $99 each.

The Vue Personal Video Network is available directly from the Vue website, where you can also view video demos and learn more about its various features.

Daily deal – Panasonic network security camera for $50

Welcome to my daily deal for Tuesday November 11th. My deal for today is something you’ll actually leave at home instead of carrying along with you.

The Panasonic BL-C1A is a network security camera and is great for keeping an eye on things at home, when you are on the road.

The camera connects to the network in your home (wired only), and allows you to remotely monitor your kids or pets. Of course, it is also a great solution to keep an eye out for packages left at the front door.

The camera also features a built in motion sensor, and it can send you an email if motion is detected.

Of course, as with all network equipment, you’ll need a basic understanding of what you are doing, but the Panasonic camera has several built in features that should make installation fairly easy.

This camera usually retails for $99, but Amazon.com currently has it on sale for just $50.12 with free shipping.

(Via Fatwallet)

EU to be the most surveilled region in the world

Privacy these days is a myth. I rang for a taxi the other day, and before I could say hello, I was greeted with my name and my residential address. Why does a taxi company have to know where I live if I haven’t told them?

Also, telecom providers who I don’t have a contract with, often call me on my cell and address me by my name. How did they get my personal cell number and full name? Do they have my credit card details as well? Probably.

When we travel, we have to give all our personal details anyway, so the EU‘s latest agreement to share these details with national and international authorities (depending on the countries we are entering and exiting): names, passport numbers, addresses, credit card details, email addresses, and phone numbers — in the name of fighting terrorism and organized crime, is no surprise.

What’s surprising is that on analyzing this most elementary information in the UK recently, British authorities arrested 1200 suspects. How is that possible? I suppose it’s more important to know the accuracy of the findings, i.e. how many of those arrests were valid?

So the EU’s request to allow the sharing of passenger details is under debate, but if it is approved, the EU will beat the US to being the most surveilled place on the planet.

I find it both scary and amazing how the information we give out willingly when we travel can be used get gory details of our lives.

[Via Guardian]