I guess they couldn't keep ahead of real-life technology any more.

Doubt it, I think they just got lazy. Anyone can simply come up with any numbers of things if they just put some thought into it. You can even outsource that to corporations and let them have their concept product and pay you in the process. Example: New Bond has an iphone that allows it to record in 20 gigapixels, capture everyone's eyes, creates an easily searchable database and use the retina display to create an exact copy to bypass security, all on the fly. The phone also wireless hacks anything in range, wifi networks, blue tooth, etc. Bond could easily use it to hack a guards phone and make his phone ring, thus distracting him. Or better yet, hack his phone and send texts to the guard from that hot girl he's been chatting with. Get him all distracted that way. And the list goes on. Get car manufacturers to do the same, gun manufacturers, etc.

But the people running the show are of course incompetent.