You know you're a geek when you gauge how technology has changed by the release of new Transformers toys. Back in the 1980's, when the Japanese cartoon and shape-changing toys first hit the American market, Soundwave, the boombox-shaped robot was the sole gadget-based bad guy. And while he does play a role in next month's live-action Transformers movie, some of the toys released to coincide with the film have been thoughtfully brought into the digital age.

Hasbro's "Real Gear" line is comprised of bots that transform into mp3 players, digital cameras, and cell phones. With all these modern tech-based toys, it's a wonder Soundwave wasn't morphed into an iPod for the movie. Maybe that's a good thing, though. How would Soundwave's cassettes be menacing as digital files?

I guess Laserbeak could fly out from a proprietary cable and drop RIAA subpoenas on the Autobots. But what would Rumble do, pummel the good guys with DRM? Technology doesn't make everything better, folks.

Be sure to check out all the other crazy Transformers gear we've looked at recently at Gearlog.

[via Engadget]