August 2007 / August 2007 - Productivity Enhancing Gadgets

In today’s on demand business world convenience is king. Every facet of our daily lives is now revolving around some sort of technology. Whether we are in the office, the home office, or out in the field being a road warrior, more and more products have come out to enhance worker productivity. However, with new gadgets emerging in the marketplace everyday, it’s hard to differentiate between headaches and timesavers. In this month's Tech Brief we'll take a look at some of the newest tech gadgets for the office, home office, and mobile user. From new smart phones to USB batteries, there is something for everyone who wants to become more efficient and be on the cutting edge of technology.

Office and Home Office Gadgets

Logitech’s Wave Keyboard
At Thrive, we understand that there is a paradox of choice out there when selecting a keyboard. For most of us, unless we play games (remember being at work is about productivity) the only relatively new feature of keyboards that benefited end-users was wireless functionality. Logitech is aiming to capitalize on this market with the introduction of Wave. Wave is a keyboard based on the ergonomics of the human hand. The keyboard offers raised keys, a curved design that simulates the normal posture of hands while on a keyboard, and a built in palm rest to give extra support while you think of the next line of an email. They keyboard also features a six month battery life, programmable keys, and shortcuts to Windows Vista. Logitech will market the keyboard in two flavors, wired and wireless. The wireless version will retail for $89.99 and the corded version for $49.99. As an added bonus, the wireless version comes with a laser pointed Logitech mouse too.

Click here for more information on the Logitech Wave Keyboard

Western Digital’s GreenPower Drives
Becoming environmentally friendly and “Green Conscious” is a topic that is on the mind of many business owners. Western Digital has introduced a line of power efficient hard drives that use forty percent less power than traditional hard drives. WD claims that each GreenPower Drive, when compared to other drives, will save on average ten dollars a year per device. And though this technology is new, the storage size has not been compromised. These drives can be purchased in sizes from 320 gigabytes to one terabyte. Pricing has not been released yet for these new drives, but they have been getting a lot of buzz as of late. Expect these drives to be available on the market by mid August.

Other features of this line of hard drives include:
IntelliPower™ - A fine-tuned balance of spin speed, transfer rate, and cache size designed to deliver both significant power savings and solid performance.
IntelliSeek™ - Calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption, noise, and vibration.
IntelliPark™ - Delivers lower power consumption by automatically unloading the heads during idle to reduce aerodynamic drag.
StableTrac™ - The motor shaft is secured at both ends to reduce system-induced vibration and stabilize platters for accurate tracking, during read and write operations. (750 GB and 1 TB only)

Click here for more information on the GreenPower Drive

Belkin Wireless USB Hub
Laptop and desktop users with limited USB ports often find themselves doing what has been come to known as the USB Hokey Pokey. You plug one device in, you take one out, etc. Belkin’s new Wireless USB Hub eliminates all the swapping by providing a central hub for up to four USB devices. The hub communicates wirelessly with a receiver that plugs into a USB port on your computer. Through certified WUSB technology, you now have access to four devices through a single port, without the hassle of wires. The range on the device is about 30 feet, so it should work in most office settings, as well as in the home. The Wireless USB Hub will retail for $224.99 and will be out at the end of the month.

Click here for more information on the Belkin Wireless USB Hub

Lexibook’s USB Mouse Calculator
It happens all the time. An important number comes across your desk and it doesn’t seem right to you. Whether it’s a purchase order or even your check, concern immediately sets in. Your first instinct is to go and grab a calculator, but you realize that you don’t have one on your desk. You know that Windows has one built in but you don’t have the time or the patience to go find it. Lexibook has heard your frustrations and created a USB mouse that is also a calculator. The mouse features an integrated 12 digit calculator, digital keyboard that can override your existing numeric layout on you normal keyboard, and it is compatible with every operating system out there. The device retails for $30.

Click here for more information on the Lexibook USB Mouse Calculator

Mobile Gadgets

Rehoboth Tech’s Irikon Flash Drive
Portable storage security has been a hot topic lately. For those of us seeking the ultimate security feature, Rehoboth Tech has unleashed one of the most robust security USB drives on the market. The Irikon Flash Drive is the first drive of its kind to use iris recognition. These thumb drives can scan your eye and authenticate in less than two seconds. These privacy conscious devices come in sizes ranging from one gigabyte to four gigabytes. Pricing is not available yet, but look for them to be hitting the market in late August.

Click here for more information on the Irikon Flash Drive

Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard
Those of us who have a smart phone usually have one general complaint, the keyboard size. ThinkGeek has come up with a solution for those of who aren’t looking to expedite Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard is an add-on to any PDA or Smart Phone equipped with Bluetooth technology. The attachment, once synched, will produce a virtual keyboard onto any surface similar to a full size keyboard. It provides two hours of continuous typing before needing a recharge and only measures a mere three and a half inches in height. There is also no typing delay, as this device will accommodate normal day-to-day typing speeds. The Laser Virtual Keyboard retails for $179.99 and is compatible with PalmOS 5, PocketPC 2003, Windows Smartphone, Symbian OS, and Windows 2000/XP. There is limited Mac OSX Support.

Click here for more information on the Laser Virtual Keyboard

Fossil’s Bluetooth Caller ID Wristwatch
When you’re on the go and your phone is ringing, you want to make sure that whoever is calling is worth the trouble of picking up. There is a big difference from missing a call from your CEO versus missing a call from a telemarketer. Fossil has released a watch that displays the Caller ID information right on your wrist. Not only does it give you Caller ID alerts, but also text messaging alerts too (note: you cannot read the text message on the watch, just the alert). The device lasts about five days before needing to be recharged (charger included). Though this isn’t’ the most stylish watch out there, it does remove an element of stress when you can’t reach your phone. The watch retails for $250.00.

Click here for more information on the Bluetooth Caller ID Wristwatch

Ambient Devices’ Weather-Forecasting Umbrella
Sometimes you never know whether or not to grab your umbrella when leaving your house in the morning. Ambient Devices has considered this dilemma carefully and has released their Weather-Forecasting Umbrella. Though simple in concept, it is a great idea to make sure no one shows up to an important meeting looking like a drowned rat. The umbrella receives transmissions from Ambient’s Infocast Network and illuminates the handle with a blue ring when rain is in the forecast. It also has little to no maintenance, as one C battery will last a year. The umbrella retails for $139.99 and there is no subscription cost associated with Ambient’s Infocast Network.

Click here for more information on the Weather-Forecasting Umbrella

Logitech’s VX Nano Mouse
A small wireless mouse is a great peripheral for laptop users . A common issue though is where to store the wireless transmitter. Some mice have a compartment built into them, but the majority do not. Logitech’s new mouse, the VX Nano, which is set to hit stores early this fall, boasts the world’s smallest transmitter for a wireless mouse. Why is this important? The transmitter is so small that you don’t need to take it out of the USB port when putting your laptop back in its traveling case. Logitech hopes to cut down on the amount of lost transmitters with their new mouse, as ordering a replacement transmitter can be a costly endeavor in terms of price and time for consumers. The new mouse will retail for around $100.

Click here for more information on the VX Nano Mouse

What Can Thrive Do To Help?

In today’s business world, versatility is a must. Whether you are on the go or in the office, the products featured in this month’s tech brief aim to inform you about new ways to combine convenience and efficiency. Though these gadgets won’t be able to relieve all the stresses of the work day, the implementation of some of these solutions will enhance your productivity, no matter where you are. If you have any questions about the gadgets we discussed today or would like more information about Thrive, please Contact Us.