Posted by 101livescan on 10/28/12 4:54pm
Msg #440935
High Tech Gadgets for Mobile Entrepreneurs
In March of this year, I posted re. high tech gadgets for notaries....I'm reposting for those who are new to this board. Additionally, I have some new products I just read about on Entrepreneur website.
We spend more time on the road than just about anyone. It makes sense to use this time as wisely as possible. We can now work faster, easier and smarter with a few cool tools that I discovered at BestBuy this weekend.
Eye-Fi Connect X2...a 4G SD memory card that wirelessly and auomatically uploads photos and videos from your digital camera to your PC. Only 49.99 You need to be in proximity of Wi-Fi hotspot, or you can wirelessly beam photos to yoru smartphone, anywhere and any time.
MiFi Mobile Hotspots...sometimes there's not a Wi-Fi hotspot around when you need one. You can supply Internet access with a super cool Verison MiFi4510L. Also only 49.99 w two year contract, or you can get TruConnect MiFi, 89.99 and no contract.
Powerbag...comes with a lightweight, rechargeable battery and AC adapter. Once it is charged it can power up to four mobile devices at a time. Most of the Powerbag backpacks and messenger bags are priced at 139.99, the wheeled b riefcase runs 249.99
Magellan RoadMat 5175T-LM Traveler. Something to be said for size and convenience of a standalone GPS, easier to see that on most smartphones.
LaCie lamaKey Flash drive. This is a USB flash drive shaped like a key, a perfect addition to your key ring. It is less likely to get lost, or to be stolen. It's made of metal, so almost impossible to break. 19.99 and available in 4G, 6G, 8G capacities
Kindle Fire. This Kindle is more than just an Ereader, it's a full blown tablet...useful for everything from checking email and Twitter to Web browsing. It also has Android powered killer apps, including information management superstore Evernote, and document editor Documents To Go. 199, cheaper than the Ipad.
10 Tech Gadgets to Help Manage Your Business
BY Jonathan Blum | July 3, 2012| 10 inShare.268
When it comes to tech, it pays to think small. Whether you work on the road, in the corner of your garage or from a tiny rented office, space is at a premium for startups. And in the guerrilla struggle of taking on your bigger competitors, you'll want to be able to move fast and light.
Luckily, startups are built for this kind of action. With the right combination of tools--including low-footprint tablets and pocket-size peripherals--you should be able to find most everything you need to run your business out of a backpack.
Here's our big list of little tools that can make your small business a huge success.
Photo courtesy of Apple1. iPad 2
True Apple devotees might write off the iPad 2 as last year's news, but don't be fooled. This is still the tablet to get for slimness and size. It's actually thinner than the new iPad, but the screen is still plenty bright and clear. And, starting at $399, the iPad 2 is a hundred bucks cheaper than Apple's latest model. That's actually a great value considering it gives businesses just about everything they would want in a tablet. The iPad 2 is small enough to easily slide into a briefcase or a large purse without weighing you down, but powerful enough to handle critical business tasks. It's great for writing e-mails and reports, perusing documents or even basic videoconferencing. It also makes a flashy sales presentation tool.
Photo courtesy of HP2. HP Folio Ultrabook
The zillions of super-thin, so-called ultrabooks flooding the market this year offer a lot of choices for businesses looking to go small. These new notebooks are significantly smaller and lighter than full-size laptops, but just as powerful.
The HP Folio is one of the best. At just over 3 pounds, it's slightly heavier and thicker than the MacBook Air, but for $999, the Folio is filled with all the business features you need, including a surprising amount of connectivity for an ultrabook. It sports an ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port and an SD card slot.
And, without question, it has the most user-friendly keyboard on the market. If there is a small-business ultrabook, this is it.
Photo courtesy of Samsung3. Samsung Galaxy Note
Most of the geeks have dismissed the Galaxy Note smartphone and its 5.3-inch screen as a monstrosity, but they've got it all wrong. Sure, it's chunky for a phone, but think about it as the smallest tablet on the market. The Galaxy Note, which costs $299 with a two-year contract from AT&T, works well enough that you could theoretically give up your tablet and laptop entirely on the road. The large screen is perfect for reading e-mail and using other Android-based business apps and office functions, but the device is still small enough to fit in your pocket. There's a stylus that takes some getting used to, but it's great for taking notes and marking up documents. And you can load the Note with data: up to 32 GB with an add-on SD card.
Photo courtesy of Logitech4. Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam
For serious videoconferencing, it's possible to go too small. Built-in webcams that come inside laptops or tablets are sufficient for one-on-one chats, but add any more than two people and things get crowded pretty fast. The BCC950 ConferenceCam by Swiss device-maker Logitech is just the right size. It's surprisingly nimble for a full-motion, HD studio-quality webcam that zooms, pans and tilts. Picture the cameras you see following the action on ESPN, except the BCC950 is about $250 and you don't need a camera crew or pulley system to move it around the office. At less than 20 ounces, the Logitech BCC stuffs major videoconferencing features into one very small package. The unit requires high-quality broadband internet service to work properly, but assuming the right connectivity, this tool provides top-notch video and sound for small meetings.
Photo courtesy of Clear Hub Express5. Clear Hub Express
If you are lucky enough to live in one of the 80 or so cities with 4G WiMax coverage from Bellevue, Wash.-based Clearwire, the company's teeny-weeny mixed modem and router offers unlimited web access at great rates. Clear Hub Express is a cool $99 and Clear's blazing-fast 4G service starts at about $35 per month with no long-term contract. The modem-router combination means setup is no fuss (basically plug-and-play), and the device can fit discreetly just about anywhere. For the big-picture web stuff, Clear brings clarity.
Photo courtesy of DocuSign6. DocuSign
The reams of office paper your business uses to print contracts and other official documents do more than take up cabinet space--putting ink on those bad boys costs serious money. San Francisco-based DocuSign is an extremely effective online tool for inking deals with contractors, vendors and clients. The cloud-based service lets you upload critical documents and share them securely with anyone. Accounts start at $15 per month with an annual plan. Your clients are notified via e-mail that they need to sign a document; when they log in, they are prompted to draw their signature or initials in the appropriate blanks and boxes. It's the slickest way to get your clients' John Hancock no matter where they are.
Photo courtesy of Moo MiniCards7. Moo MiniCards
Makers of smartphones will tell you that the paper business card is dead. Don't believe them. The old-school paper business card is still the smart way to put some marketing punch in your pocket. MiniCards by East Providence, R.I.-based Moo are distinctive, tiny business cards that your clients will love. It's easy to slip a whole pack in your pocket, and they won't overcrowd an already-stuffed wallet. Ordering cards is a three-click affair: Go to the website, enter your data, grab a design you like and then wait for the cards to show up. Designing cards is a snap and they really do look cool. Prices start at about $20 for 100 MiniCards.
Photo courtesy of Jaybird8. Jaybird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones
For hands-free calling, ditch the clunky, plug-in headset and go with a pair of low-profile wireless earbuds with a built-in mic for taking calls. Headphone company Jaybird, based in Sandy, Utah, gets serious credit for making a wireless headset that actually doesn't suck. Even though they are marketed to the exercise crowd, Freedom headphones are great for business use. For $99, you get high voice quality, easy wireless setup and, best of all, a sleek design.
Photo courtesy of BlueAnt9. BlueAnt S4 True Handsfree car kit
Work never ceases on Planet Small Biz, and that means you will almost certainly be working in your car. But texting while driving is illegal in many places, and picking up your smartphone to answer a call isn't much safer. The S4 True Handsfree kit from Melbourne, Australia-based BlueAnt Wireless is a true touch-free speakerphone. This slim gizmo costs about $100 and attaches to the sun visor in your car. It's voice-activated, meaning you can answer and make calls using simple spoken commands, and it's compatible with most BlackBerry and Android smartphones. It also reads incoming text messages and even driving directions if you're using certain GPS-based apps. Your focus will be on the road, but you won't let any business pass you by.
Photo courtesy of ChicoBag10. ChicoBag Messenger10 rePETe
The best thing about a tiny tech arsenal is that you can carry your entire shop with you. But a sweet setup requires a sweet ride, and in this case the Messenger10 rePETe delivers. The urban messenger bag from Chico, Calif.-based ChicoBag costs about $25 and boasts a light, simple design that comes in five colors to suit your style. Best of all: The bag stuffs down into a palm-size pouch for storage (it's even small enough to store underneath a bike seat). Other bags cost more and have lots of extraneous features. For a lightweight, professional-looking carryall for your tech goodies, ChicoBag is the chic choice.
| Reply by HisHughness on 10/28/12 5:28pm
Msg #440938
Low Tech gadget for geriatric mobile entrepreneurs
Motorman's helper.
Sorry, no description here. You'll have to google.
| Reply by 101livescan on 10/28/12 5:53pm
Msg #440942
Re: Low Tech gadget for geriatric mobile entrepreneurs
Very funny but not practical or physically possible for we ladies...
| Reply by dgd/CA on 10/28/12 5:29pm
Msg #440939
Yowza...Excellent. Cheryl, thank you so much :-) n/m
| Reply by 101livescan on 10/28/12 5:50pm
Msg #440941
5 Ways Technology Can Help Improve Your Health
5 Ways Technology Can Help Improve Your Health
BY John Patrick Pullen | June 15, 2012| 3 inShare.154
For time-crunched and stressed-out entrepreneurs, managing one's health is a necessary but potentially difficult process. Who has time to sleep well and be active when you're locked to your computers or smartphones trying to bring money into a fledgling business?
Better living through technology -- that may sound like an advertising tagline, but it should actually be your workplace motto. While technology has made some people more sedentary, which can contribute to health problems, these five products can make it work in your favor, improving health and, ultimately, office output.
Problem 1: Physical Inactivity
The World Health Organization says, "move it, or lose it," and really means it. Being sedentary is a global problem that affects developed countries acutely. Physical inactivity kills more than 3 million people a year, making it the fourth leading risk factor for death, WHO says.
The Nike+ FuelBand, with sensors that measure the wearer's movementSolution: Nike+ FuelBand
About double the thickness of a Livestrong bracelet, the Nike+ FuelBand packs accelerometers -- sensors that measure the wearer's movement -- with other circuitry to monitor physical activity. By pairing via Bluetooth with an iOS device or plugging into a computer's USB port, the $149 band stores the number of steps taken, calories burned and NikeFuel, the company's proprietary unit of movement measurement, so you can monitor your activity level.
The FuelBand has a bright, high-contrast LED display that shows a fun animation when you hit your daily activity goal. Plus, it even keeps time.
Related: How Google's Marissa Mayer Prevents Burnout
The SleepBot Android app, which tracks a user's sleep trendsProblem 2: Poor Sleep
If you happened to party too hard the night before a work day, you'd probably call in sick. But many workers have little compunction about heading into the office overly tired after a sleepless night. Sleeplessness has been clinically proven to be as impairing as alcohol, and its effects on the body can be even more debilitating, contributing to obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Solution: SleepBot
You track your reps at the gym, so why not count your 40 (or more) winks? SleepBot is a free Android app that tracks sleep by having users check in when they hit the hay and check out when they wake up. Activating the app automatically silences the phone and shuts off WiFi, eliminating potential disruptions.
SleepBot also doubles as an alarm clock, syncs to a website where sleep data is stored, and allows users to analyze trends and write notes about their night's sleep. Future plans for the app include accelerometer integration, which can measure tossing and turning.
Problem 3: Forgetting to Take Breaks
Getting locked into a project can produce excellent business results, but it can also wreak havoc on your health, from eyestrain to back aches. While many workplaces have lunch and break policies, employees and business owners alike often eat at their desk and skip breaks to cope with heavy workloads and deadlines.
EVO prompts users to take breaksSolution: EVO
A free Chrome and Firefox browser plug-in, EVO prompts users to take frequent breaks. Running in the 20-20-20 mode, the plug-in will cause the computer screen to go black every 20 minutes, encouraging users to look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
In the 60-5 mode, it will recommend that users take a five-minute break after every 60 minutes of work. In addition, the service's animated robot directs users through a series of eye-strengthening calisthenics.
Related: 3 Postures to Boost Productivity Now
Problem 4: Weight Gain
Break rooms and common spaces can be grazing areas for workers, causing waistlines to expand and desk chairs to groan. Whether it's leftover Halloween candy or birthday cake, people tend to make the workplace the depot for food they don't want to be left home alone with.
MyFitnessPal is a social calorie counter and nutrition info data centerSolution: MyFitnessPal
A free website and accompanying app, MyFitnessPal is more than a calorie counter. With 1.1 million items in its barcode-scanning interface, the service imports nutrition information -- such as serving sizes and recommended daily allowances -- into users' profile. It not only adds up the calories, but also breaks them down in pie charts by carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
The site's social function encourages accountability because friends can see that you're exercising and can send messages to cheer you on. While they also can see that you've entered your food for they day, they cannot see what you've eaten, preserving privacy.
Problem 5: Eyestrain
From desktops to laptops and smartphones to tablets, we look at screens much of the day. Poor lighting, small fonts and bad posture can strain our vision. And the high-energy, visible light emitted by today's displays can further stress optics, leaving the eyes tired and possibly doing lasting damage to our vision.
The Gunnar Optiks glasses which can help reduce eyestrainSolution: Gunnar Optiks Eyewear
If you've ever seen professional video gamers, you might have noticed some wearing special glasses. They may be wearing Gunnar Optiks glasses, with amber-tinted lenses that filter out artificial light and improve image contrast. By producing slight magnification, the glasses -- which range in cost from $79 to $189 -- can also help reduce eyestrain.
Their shape encourages formation of eye moisture, anti-glare coating helps reduce fatigue caused by reflected rays, and prescription Carl Zeiss lenses can be added to enhance overall effectiveness, the company says.
| Reply by Buddy Young on 10/28/12 7:03pm
Msg #440945
Re: Cheryl, we now know what you do with your weekends n/m
| Reply by anotaryinva on 10/28/12 7:27pm
Msg #440950
I just bought
A printer that I hope to leave the back of my car, let you know how that works out.
| Reply by sueharke on 10/28/12 7:26pm
Msg #440948
Another consideration is a laptop (or netbook), with a long life battery, and a printer with a USB connection (and a car inverter to print using the car if necessary). If I use both and go to a free wi-fi location, where there is a power plug for both (I also bring a power strip rather than taking up two plugs), I use a "surf easy" device (surfeasy.com) that allows me to add a secure second layer of safe surfing. Surf easy has its own secure server (uses firefox browser, not IE) that a sniffer cannot tell what your doing online. Surf easy has another benefit in that if you use another persons computer, you don't leave a trace of what you do online.
It also means that if you are in your car and can pick up the wi-fi in the parking lot close to the store, you can use the laptop, surf easy device, and your printer without leaving the car.
| Reply by Claudine Osborne on 10/28/12 9:48pm
Msg #440965
Funny that this is the subject of the night..Im finally doing research tonight to see what I need to equip myslef with for mobile printing...There is so much out there..wish someone would just tell me what I need and I just go buy it..but I know I have to hit the orange search button..lol
| Reply by ArtG/KS on 10/28/12 10:28pm
Msg #440969
Ive been using that BlueAnt S4 speaker phone for a good while now. Make sure it is compatible with the phone you are using though. A motorola Roadster speaker phone only works with android based phone.
Ive used a Garmin Nuvi GPS for at least 4 years now and use it mostly in those neighborhoods where it looks like the developer threw down a hand full of spaghetti to lay out the streets.
I heared a local comedian remark about all these touch screen devices around today. He stated with exagerated emphasis that he NEVER dreamed his acquired kindergarten finger painting skills would one day come in so handy.
| Reply by MW/VA on 10/29/12 2:34pm
Msg #441080
& a nice motorhome to use as an office! LOL n/m
|
|
