THE GEAR • February 2017
Gadgets that will make your next business trip a breeze
Whether you’re on the road or in a board meeting, Jonathan Margolis, technology writer for the Financial Times, suggests six clever gizmos to help you work smarter, better and faster
Montblanc Augmented Paper
If you like making handwritten notes in meetings, but aren’t good at filing paper, this smart pen system from Montblanc (£530) is simple, effective and elegant. As long as you use the special Montblanc paper, the adapted Starwalker ballpoint stores your writing internally, then downloads it to a phone or tablet when you choose. If your writing is neat, it will also turn it quite accurately into type.
Raden A22 smart suitcase
Apart from being sleek and beautiful, this smart carry-on travel case (£290) is packed with clever tech. There’s a Bluetooth bag locator that works from a companion phone app, a 7,800 mAh battery with two USB ports and a micro USB for charging a mobile device, and an integrated scale that gives you an exact readout on your phone of the case’s weight.
Goodspeed 4G dongle
Many mobile operators have pared down roaming charges, but using your phone overseas remains a minefield. Several dongles offer access to local data at more sensible rates, but none is as sophisticated as the Goodspeed (from £198) from Finland. A single Goodspeed can hold 10 destination SIM cards, providing fast 4G at reasonable rates. Bonus: the battery lasts a full working day.
Google Pixel phone
The first fully Google-designed smartphones, the Pixel (from £599) and the bigger Pixel XL, have established themselves as among the best Android devices available. With a distinct resemblance to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the Pixels are a little cheaper, with a better camera and screen. Google’s voice command system – Google Assistant – is at the top of its game.
Netatmo Presence home security camera
It’s established that webcams can send you reliable live-streaming video of your home or office when you’re on a trip, but France’s Netatmo has a new trick up its techie sleeve. The Presence (£250) outdoor security cam/floodlight combination can tell you – wherever you are in the world – whether the entity lurking around your house/garden shed/boat house is a person, an animal or a vehicle.
Doppler Here One smart earphones
These may look like a pair of the new wave of non-connected wireless earbuds, but they are more. Here One (£260) can be used as traditional headphones, but their special power is that, in combination with a phone app, they can ‘edit’ the sounds around you. Want to tune out noise while you work on-the-go? No problem.
This article has been tagged Technology, Travel Tips