Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Back to school
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
James Bond 007 First Light
Gaming IO Interactive says 007 First Light is the 'ultimate Bond experience' and 'definitely not a reskin' of Hitman
Promotional image showing five James Bond actors to mark Bond's move to Amazon MGM studios
Entertainment ‘I can’t believe I’m excited for a Bond movie again’: Amazon’s bold new direction for 007 has fans talking
007 First Light
Consoles & PC 007 First Light: everything we know so far
Danny Boyle directing his cast in 28 Years Later
Entertainment Danny Boyle reveals why 28 Years Later was shot on iPhone, the ‘little 3D moments’ it made possible and why the future of cinema is immersive
A close up of James Bond from upcoming game 007: First Light
Gaming As for headlines: Hitman developer IO Interactive teams up with Nvidia to make its James Bond game look incredible
007 First Light
Gaming The first trailer for 007 First Light reveals a young James Bond and it's coming to PC and console in 2026, including Nintendo Switch 2
Sphotonix media
Pro ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ gets surprise guest appearance: a revolutionary 360TB silica storage media
  1. Televisions

10 gadgets guaranteed to make James Bond relevant again

News
By Mr Biffo last updated 21 December 2019

It's not all laser pens and Martini shakers

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

What you are about to read has been penned by Mr Biffo, the creative force behind the 90s Teletext videogames magazine Digitiser. He now runs the show at digitiser2000.com.

James Bond's latest adventure is about to hit cinemas, but is the super-spy still relevant in 2015?

Whether he's chasing dodgy-looking gunslingers through building sites, getting drunk in casinos or walking out of the sea in his underpants, 007 always has the latest items of modern tech at his disposal.

Here are 10 that Q Branch could issue for the dapper man's next assignment.

  • How to watch the James Bond movies in order
Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
1. UBER APP

1. UBER APP

This might appear to be an ordinary Uber app, but it would come in extra useful if Bond found himself in a sticky situation in, let's say, downtown Khartoum (or one of those places).

All he would have to do is whip out his smartphone, order a cab, select the "pick-up" destination… and within minutes his pursuers will be obliterated by a cruise missile strike from an orbiting satellite of death.

"Did somebody order a taxi?" he might utter cooly, while stepping over their burning corpses.

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
2. SELFIE STICK

2. SELFIE STICK

Bond can disguise himself as an average tourist, with this seemingly standard Q Branch selfie stick.

Should he ever be cornered by Russian assassins, all he has to do is click a button on the shaft of the narcissism wand, and a pneumatic arm will telescope out, dabbing a moist bean into each of their mouths. The resulting confusion will give Bond all the time he needs to make a dramatic escape.

"I hope you didn't expect me to stick around," he'd chuckle smoothly, while running away.

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
3. TOY DRONE

3. TOY DRONE

Drones are everywhere these days – you even see kids in the park, flying them into the ground and trees. Bond's Q-issue toy drone comes with a bonus robotic son, so that he can appear to be nothing more than a doting father.

However, not only is Bond's drone able to take photographs of covert installations, but his robotic son has a pair of telescoping legs, allowing the secret agent to clamber onto his back in order to step over high fences.

"You're growing up fast," he would doubtlessly quip to his mechanical offspring.

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
4. FITNESS TRACKER WRISTBAND

4. FITNESS TRACKER WRISTBAND

Like most middle-aged men, Bond is probably terrified of dying or getting fat, and that's why an activity tracker wristband wouldn't look out of place on his arm.

But wait! 007's Q-designed wristband is far from typical: it hides a powerful electromagnet that only works on lady's bras.

"There's nothing more I enjoy than one off the wrist," he'd probably sneer, misogynistically.

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
5. SATNAV WATCH

5. SATNAV WATCH

Even a veteran super spy must know where he is headed, which is why Bond's special Garmin GPS would come with all the features you'd expect from a top-of-the-range navigation system.

However, a secret option tucked away on the preferences screen will also show Bond a running tally of how many people he has killed.

"Now sat's entertainment," he'd likely announce to nobody in particular.

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
6. INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

6. INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

It's important that Bond remain incognito, which is why Q Branch could develop a number of special filters for his personal Instagram account – which replace his face with that of a nondescript youth called 'Jimes Brond'.

"LOL," Bond might comment, while pulling a duck face, and sucking in his stomach.

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
7. BEATS BY DRE

7. BEATS BY DRE

These ordinary-looking Beats come gift-wrapped in birthday paper – the ideal gift for any foreign agent Bond is trying to seduce.

But wait! They conceal a lethal secret: with two claps of his manly hands, they will inject a magic potion directly into the wearer's brain, turning them into a big worm.

"Somebody's having a bad Dre," he'd whisper, effectively.

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
8. HOVERBOARD

8. HOVERBOARD

Let's get this out of the way now: these Segway-like wheeled platforms are not hoverboards, so please… please stop calling them that. But still, as the hot new mode of transport, it only seems right that James Bond should swap his Aston Martin for one of them.

Imagine an exciting, low-speed chase on these self-balancing wheel board things, through the cluttered streets of Bombay. Maybe 007's vehicle could be tooled-up with machine guns, and a honey dispenser to attract an impenetrable cloud of bees.

"Why don't you beehive yourselves?" he could cackle predictably.

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
9. OCULUS RIFT

9. OCULUS RIFT

There's nothing special about the Oculus Rift headset that Bond is equipped with by Q Branch; it's just a regular pair of virtual reality goggles.

However, by posing as an Oculus developer, Bond could lure enemy agents into trying out a VR demo… and then punch them in the throat violently while their eyes and ears are obscured.

"VR not friends," he might bellow repeatedly, as he does so.

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
10. PLAYSTATION 4

10. PLAYSTATION 4

Bond doesn't strike us as the sort of chap to sit around playing video games, but he probably needs some way to unwind between missions that doesn't simply involve heavy drinking and casual sex.

A PlayStation 4 pre-loaded with soothing titles such as Journey, or Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, might be the ideal way to keep his PTSD at bay.

"PS. I love you," he is unlikely to say.

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Mr Biffo
See more Television News
Read more
James Bond 007 First Light
IO Interactive says 007 First Light is the 'ultimate Bond experience' and 'definitely not a reskin' of Hitman
Promotional image showing five James Bond actors to mark Bond's move to Amazon MGM studios
‘I can’t believe I’m excited for a Bond movie again’: Amazon’s bold new direction for 007 has fans talking
007 First Light
007 First Light: everything we know so far
Danny Boyle directing his cast in 28 Years Later
Danny Boyle reveals why 28 Years Later was shot on iPhone, the ‘little 3D moments’ it made possible and why the future of cinema is immersive
A close up of James Bond from upcoming game 007: First Light
As for headlines: Hitman developer IO Interactive teams up with Nvidia to make its James Bond game look incredible
007 First Light
The first trailer for 007 First Light reveals a young James Bond and it's coming to PC and console in 2026, including Nintendo Switch 2
Latest in Televisions
LG G5 OLED TV on a blue and white gradient background with "Big Savings" text in white.
I review TVs, and my favorite OLED TV just hit its lowest-yet price
Sony HT-SF150 on magenta background with the words 'TechRadar: price cut' positioned to the left of the soundbar
This super cheap Sony soundbar blew my socks off when I tested it – and this early Prime Day deal sounds even better
Apple TV 4K
The highly-rated Apple TV 4K streaming box gets a rare price cut at Best Buy
LG C4 OLED TV showing image of woman with blue eyes
LG will test a next-gen OLED TV tech that's way more efficient – here's why it could be a big deal
LG G5 (left) Sony Bravia 8 II (middle) and Samsung S95F (right) with orange butterfly on screen
I tested LG, Samsung and Sony's elite 2025 OLED TVs side-by-side – here's the one I'd buy with my own money
LG 55-Inch Class OLED B4 Series Smart TV 4K Processor Flat Screen with Magic Remote AI-Powered with Alexa Built-in on orange background with lowest price TechRadar icon
The LG B4 is our favorite budget OLED TV and it's just hit a record-low price – and it's not even Prime Day yet
Latest in News
ChatGPT Crunchyroll
ChatGPT faceplants while translating Crunchyroll anime, and some viewers are demanding human localization
a promotional image for Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 9
How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 9: get ready for new foldable phones and more
Christopher Nolan at film premiere
Want a first look at Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey? There's currently only one place to see the trailer
A hand holds a smartphone displaying the NordVPN logo
NordVPN blocks 90% of phishing sites and earns AV-Comparatives certification – again
Two hands holding an iPhone that shows the Siri voice assistant being activated
Hurry! It's your last chance to claim in Apple's $95 million Siri settlement – here's how to do it
Windows 10's grave
Confused by a mysterious update that's suddenly appeared on your Windows 10 PC? Don't panic – here's what you need to know
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    The 'stacking' trick that gets you 28 months of NordVPN and a $50 Amazon voucher – for UK, US and more
  2. 2
    ChatGPT faceplants while translating Crunchyroll anime, and some viewers are demanding human localization
  3. 3
    Is the world's largest CCTV surveillance camera vendor going to be the next Huawei? Canada bans Hikvision amidst security fears
  4. 4
    I've been using Google AI Search mode for 4 months, and here are 5 tips to get the best results
  5. 5
    This is probably the most powerful rugged laptop ever built - and you can even add a barcode scanner

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...