If James Bond was a reporter...

I used to think our office issued phones were cool.

We were given xda-II's in 2004, and just recently it was upgraded to a Sony Ericsson P990i. I'm not tech savvy. But I love the way both phones have cameras we can use to shoot with in case our cameraman's denied entry, or the way it allows us to check our email and send scripts even while we're walking.

But then I saw Newsgear. Now that's really cool. If James Bond was a reporter, he'd have the stuff in Newsgear. Practical and useful.. but classy.Imagine a volvo for a complete mobile online newsroom. And all those little gadgets you need to have wi-fi and be able to stream live video and audio directly back to the net. It's impressive because its creative. Function wise speaking, it's the t-v network's OB (outside broadcast) VAN equivalent--only much cheaper. (or is it? maybe they shouldn't have used a Volvo..)

Anyway, it simply shows how new technology coupled with ingenuity can match the kind of equipment only big-time media companies could afford then. It makes a level playing field doable.

Here in the Philippines though, the concept of having Newsgear's stuff on the road strikes me as scary. Carjacking in the city. Undisciplined drivers on the road. Limited wi-fi zones. And bringing them to where news happens outside the city would probably mean a typhoon ravaged area or the jungles where the military's hunting down terrorist rebels. Now would you really bring a Volvo there?