Buy a remote spy wireless camera

From the folks who brought you the creepy and simultaneously cool (depending on who's using it) DVR flashlight, comes another 007-inspired piece of high-tech security gear. On Wednesday, Swann Communications introduced the IP-3G ConnectCam 1000.

The ConnectCam is a 802.11G wireless network camera that lets users view their own surveillance video on their 3G phone (setup of the camera's options requires a PC) from anywhere in the world, according to Swann. I really need to get my superiors to send me to New Zealand to test out this whole "anywhere in the world" thing.

The camera also features the following:

• 4x digital zoom
• Six infrared LEDs for night vision
• Omni-directional microphone
• MPEG4 and MJPEG compression formats supported

The camera can be configured to take a snapshot whenever it detects motion, and you can then have that pic e-mailed to an address of your choosing. The two-way unidirectional microphone allows remote communication between whoever is in earshot of the camera and the person monitoring it, whether from their 3G phone or PC. 

This has some interesting potential applications.

If someone was to break in to your house or business while you're half a world away in Barcelona, for example, you could actually get on the speaker and pretend you're god and tell them you can see everything they're doing and that they will be punished for this. Or tell them that you have friends in high places and that you've just sent every cop in the city to your house.

I would almost wish for something like this to happen, just to potentially drive some would-be criminals insane.

The IP-3G ConnectCam 1000 is "coming soon" to Swann's retail and online resellers for $299.99.