Top business accessories for your phone, tablet
Entrepreneur Richard LaBar uses his bluetooth keyboard with the Ipad Mini in USA TODAY's Small Business Tech Talk series.
Richard LaBar, owner of LaBar Golf Renovations in Bernardsville, N.J., travels with his iPad mini and uses a keyboard.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)
Richard LaBar has long ditched his heavy laptop in favor of a lightweight iPad mini.
"I won't travel without it," says LaBar, who totes around the 7.9-inch tablet (from $329) as owner of LaBar Golf Renovations, based in Bernardsville, N.J.
LaBar, 43, uses the pint-sized tablet from Apple for e-mail, Web browsing and picture-taking. There's only one shortcoming, he concedes: "The touch-screen isn't the best for typing."
So LaBar picked up the Ultrathin Keyboard mini ($79.95) from Logitech, a fitted cover that protects the iPad mini's screen from scratches and cracks, and houses an integrated Bluetooth keyboard for when you need to type lengthy e-mails, notes or word-processing documents. "Not only am I much faster on a real keyboard, but I make fewer errors — plus the keyboard also props up the iPad mini's screen while I type, which is handy."
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There's no shortage of business-related tablet and smartphone accessories. The following is a look at a few noteworthy examples.
POWER PLAY
There's nothing worse than when you're traveling on business and the gadgets you rely on run out of power. Instead of a bulky battery case that weighs down your phone even when you don't need the extra juice, consider an external power solution you can plug in as needed. New Trent's Travelpak+ ($54.95) is a compact 7,000mAH charger that can power up a typical smartphone about three or four times. Dual USB ports mean it can provide power to two devices at the same time. A built-in AC adapter lets you plug it into a wall when you need to top it up before throwing into a carry-on bag, purse or backpack. Four LED status lights tell you how much power is left on the Travelpak+. It also doubles as a nightlight when plugged into the wall, if desired.
TO SERVE AND PROTECT
Whether you're a klutz or work in harsh environments, a rugged smartphone or tablet case is the best way to protect your investment. While many have tried to take ownership of the category, OtterBox is still the king of tough cases. The company's Defender Series products (from $34.95) safeguard your phone or tab in three ways: a clear membrane that covers the screen, a hard polycarbonate skeleton that surrounds the smartphone and a wrap-around silicone skin that absorbs bumps. Available for Android, iPhone, Kindle, Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry devices, some of these super-durable cases also include a swivel belt clip that doubles as a small stand for viewing video.
KEYS, PLEASE
Smartphones and tablets have a number of benefits over personal computers — they're more portable, affordable and can last most of the day on a single charge. But as LaBar lamented, an all-touch interface isn't as conducive for typing while taking notes, writing lengthy e-mails or cranking out reports. Logitech's Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 ($89.99) is powered by any light — be it a small lamp, overhead light or the sun's rays. Fully charged it'll work for at least three months, even in total darkness, claims the company. This Bluetooth keyboard works specifically with Apple's iOS devices (iPhone, iPad or iPod touch) as well as Macs, but Logitech also offers Android and Windows 8-based wireless keyboards.
MEMORY MAXIMIZER
When it comes to storage, your smartphone or tablet is probably maxed out at 64 gigabytes of built-in memory. But what if you could extend that to 1-terabyte (more than 1,000 gigabytes)? The Seagate Wireless Plus ($199.99) is a pocket-size hard drive with a unique trick up its sleeve. After you connect it to a PC or Mac and drag and drop files onto it for safe keeping, press a button later on and this battery-powered drive creates a wireless connection with up to eight people. Now, everyone can stream content at the same time — via any Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone, tablet or laptop — and even access something different, if they like (such as a movie, song, photos or documents). On-the-go real estate brokers or insurance adjusters might also like the ability to wirelessly save photos and videos from a smartphone or tablet to the drive, to free up more space on your portable device.
LOST AND FOUND
Keep losing your keys or misplacing your smartphone? Perhaps you need the Cobra Tag Universal ($49.99). This second-generation product — which works with free apps for iPhone or Android devices — clamps onto your keys, purse, luggage or whatever else you don't want to lose. Simply open the app, tap the screen and you'll hear a loud chirping noise to help you locate your stuff. Or press the button on the Cobra Tag Universal and your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet will chime or play a song from your collection. The most underrated feature, however, is your Cobra Tag will sound its alarm if it loses a connection with your device — such as accidentally leaving your Android tab in a café. The app can also send you a text, e-mail, tweet or post that your phone or tablet can't be located and show you a map where it is.
WILD ABOUT WI-FI
What's that? The hotel you just checked into only has a wired Internet connection but you brought your iPad tablet, Android smartphone or ultrabook. No worries. You can create a wireless network on the fly with the D-Link SharePort Mobile Companion ($44.99; model DIR-505L). About the size of a typical AC charger, it lets you wirelessly access the Internet, on multiple devices, when plugged into a modem or wired router. Plus, it also has a USB port so you can insert a thumbdrive packed with documents or media — photos, videos and music. So anyone on the wireless network you created can stream these files to their device (or plug in your device to charge it up when it's plugged into the wall). This D-Link product also works as a repeater so you can extend the signal from an existing wireless router to cover a dead zone within your home or office.
MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
If you still prefer to take notes the "old school" way, the Livescribe Sky Wi-Fi smartpen ($169.95) is a digital pen that records everything it writes or hears. Write or sketch on special paper with tiny dots (Starter Notebook included) and all your notes are recorded by the pen's minuscule camera at its tip. The notes can then be wirelessly uploaded to your secure Evernote account on a smartphone, tablet or personal computer. Alternatively, you can connect the Livescribe smartpen to your PC or Mac via USB cable, which also charges up its internal battery at the same time. An optional app will transcribe your handwriting into digital text. A built-in microphone and 2GB of memory means it can hold up to 200 hours of audio and thousands of pages of notes before you need to delete files to free up memory. A 4GB Livescribe Sky model sells for $199.95.