Perfect Presents For Any Professional (Part 1 of 2)

So here’s my annual collection of things I think are pretty cool and
mostly geared toward business professionals, although a couple might just be
fun. And if you still find yourself stumped for ideas, check out part two of
this column in the January issue or online; it will be available around Dec.
20 for you last-minute types.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?


Cell phones? Puh-lease. Check out this Trio.
Business professionals rely on smart phones these days to keep up with work
projects, e-mail, surfing the Internet, texting, IM and, well, phone calls.
And the latest generation of Windows Mobile 6.1 smart phones lets users do all
of these things in style. Take Samsung’s BlackJack II, now in various
colors and offering faster 3G downloads, a large display and a more stylish
look. There’s also the HTC Touch Diamond, with its 3-D interface; it’s
a giant leap forward in combining tech ingenuity with intuitive usability. And
don’t forget about the MOTO Q Global, one of the first devices to feature
Windows Mobile 6.1, boasting worldwide capabilities and Motorola’s patented
CrystalTalk technology for clear calls, GPS support and 3G speed for fast downloads
and file transfers. (www.WindowsMobile.com)

 

An
Impressive Storm
The BlackBerry brand has become almost synonymous with work-oriented, e-mail
enabled smart phones. But the winds of change have ushered in the sleek new
BlackBerry Storm, which features a unique “clickable” touch-screen
interface that includes a full HTML web browser that can be used for portrait
or landscape viewing and features scroll, pan and zoom functions. Plus, it has
integrated GPS and offers full e-mail and calendar synchronization. (www.verizonwireless.com/storm)

 

Cutting
Through the Noise
Featuring the new Noise Blackout technology, the new Jabra BT530 Bluetooth 2.0
wireless phone headset virtually eliminates background noise without compromising
voice quality, and offers intelligent volume control. Plus, the tiny earpiece
is lightweight and designed for all-day comfort, with a rechargeable battery
that can last nearly six hours … so you can Jabra, or jabber, all through
the day. (www.Jabra.com)

 

Breathtaking
Bluetooth Brute
With this beast of a Bluetooth mobile phone headset, you can wander as far as
328 feet away from your phone while talking, making it great when roaming around
the office or the home. The Dragon V2 can also be used with computer-based Skype
phone calls simultaneously to working with the mobile phone, with users able
to simply switch between modes with the touch of a button. But wait! There’s
more! Believe it or not, the Dragon even doubles as a two-way walkie-talkie
type radio, letting users communicate with other Dragon headset wearers over
a 250,000 square foot area. (www.CallPod.com)

 

More
Mobile MoJo
Mobile device users often utilize a lot of heavy digital content like videos,
music, pictures, large data files and other items, but many phone models are
limited in their storage capacity. Well, users can easily upgrade the memory
with the SanDisk Mobile Ultra Card, available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB versions.
The easy-to-plug-in flash memory cards instantly pump up storage and data transfer
speeds, helping “wake up” a mobile phone for better use with mobile
digital content. (www.SanDisk.com)

 

GIGABYTES ON THE GO

Convenient,
Pocket-Sized, Powerful
Got a lot of files? Yes, you do. Gotta move them from point A to point B? The
Aegis Mini portable hard drive from Apricorn is the perfect remedy. With models
offering up to 160GB capacity, the Aegis Mini is still smaller than a deck of
cards, and it gets its power from the built-in USB cable you connect to your
computer, so there’s no need to find an extra power outlet. This magical
Mini also comes with data protection software, making it a great backup solution
for stand-alone computers. (www.Apricorn.com)

 

Mini’s
Big Brother
Apricorn also makes the Aegis Vault, which, although only slightly larger than
the Mini, provides up to 500GB (whoa, Nelly!) of portable hard drive storage
and is also powered through the USB drive. But the Aegis Vault also provides
full, hardware-based, AES 128-bit encryption in real time, which is the ultimate
in keeping sensitive data safe. Both the Mini and the Vault come with a padded
neoprene travel pouch to help protect the drive from the rigors of travel. (www.Apricorn.com)

 

Portable
Road Warrior
The masterminds behind the line of portable hard drives continue to come up
with awesome innovations, and the USB-powered Maxtor Portable (available up
to 320GB) is a perfect example. The drive, which can hold tons of client files,
music, videos or games, are ultra-convenient and now come in a variety of colors.
It’s a great addition to the armament of every road warrior who needs
to safely and securely transport large amounts of computer files. (www.Maxtor.com)

MOBILE UTILITY

Portable,
Printable, Perfection
You’re on the go with your smart phone, and you’d love to print
out that e-mail, document or photo … but how? Well, how about the Printstik,
an amazing little device you can hold in your hand that can print directly from
your Bluetooth-enabled PDA or phone with no wires or cords. It can also connect
via USB to a laptop or desktop computer. This great gadget is per-fect for the
road warrior and fits easily in computer bags or carry-ons, offering instant
print capability wherever you may be. (www.Planon.com)

 

Agent
86 Would Be Envious
Wow! A scanner that can fit in your shirt pocket? The ultra-portable, cordless
DocuPen RC 800 lets users easily scan full documents, images or other items
at up to 24-bit color and 400 dpi resolution. And its built-in memory can store
hundreds of documents, letting mobile business pros quickly digitize documents,
then transfer them into their laptop or PC. Unlike many of its predecessors,
the DocuPen scans the full width of a page, instead of just a line or two. Plus,
the Professional version includes ABBYY Sprint Fine-Reader OCR software. Maxwell
Smart may have had a shoe phone and the “cone of silence,” but the
DocuPen is truly a gadget worthy of a secret agent, or a frequent business traveler.
(www.Planon.com)

 

For
Your Eyes Only
Having anywhere, anytime mobile computer access has been a great boost to professional
productivity, but has it risked security of your sensitive documents and files?
I’m not talking about encryption and spyware; I’m talking about
the potential wandering eyes of the person sitting next to you on the plane
or train. Instead of flipping your laptop screen away, try the 3M Laptop Privacy
Filter, a thin, micro-louver film that fits over laptops and “blacks out”
the screen so only the user can see its contents and data. (www.3m.com)

 

Power
Protection on the Go
You’re in a hotel room, and you want to recharge your computer, your iPod
and your phone. But there are never enough outlets available unless you scatter
the devices throughout the room. Fortunately, the folks at Belkin have created
the Mini Surge, a nifty little three outlet strip that also includes two ports
for devices that use USB-based power charging. This is a simple idea that has
real advantages for even casual travelers. (www.Belkin.com)

 

Can
You See Me Now?
Great for professionals who work at the office alone at night, or those who
work from home and need to keep an eye on the kids or other areas of the house,
the Portable Digital Wireless Monitoring Sys-tem from Lorex is similar to a
baby monitor, but with full color LCD and a wireless webcam unit that works
from up to 450 feet away. It can even be expanded to up to four camera units
that are completely wireless and can be placed anywhere, letting users see what’s
going on around the corner, downstairs or at the door. (www.LorexTechnology.com)

AFTER HOURS

Are
You “Gellin” on the Links?
The latest innovation in putters is GEL’s Paul Hurrion line, a PGA-approved
design that has a faceplate with horizontal grooves that help keep the ball
from hopping or skidding. The putters are designed by British Open champion
Padraig Harrington’s golf coach, and they are available in various club
head styles. I was given the opportunity to test one of the GEL putters (which,
by the way, re-quired rigorous time on the golf course), and I loved its perfect
balance and its smooth-as-butter action. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s
gotta do it. (www.GELputter.com)

 

Become
a Real Guitar Icon
Dreaming of becoming the next Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Eric Clapton?
Forget playing a video game and get Fretlight, the first real computer-powered
teaching guitar that’s like having your own personal teacher inside the
guitar. You don’t know anything about music? Well, don’t fret, the
specially designed guitars (available in electric and acoustic) plug into a
PC or Mac, while video-based guitar lessons take you from zero to hero as they
walk you through a variety of lessons and songs illustrated on the guitar’s
lighted fret board. (www.Fretlight.com)

 

Home
Improvement
Congratulations, you made it to the weekend. But football might have to wait
until you finish that “honey do” list. Whether building a new deck,
putting up drywall or just hanging pictures, take a look at the new Husky Tough
Tape — it sure isn’t your father’s measuring tape. The extra
durable Tough Tape is virtually indestructible and has a lifetime warranty,
provides measurements on both sides and includes magnets on the end to help
keep it in place when working alone. (www.HomeDepot.com)

 

Freeze!
At the office and at home, we’ve got so many electronic devices these
days that finding enough power outlets to go around can be a challenge. And
then there’s the threat of power surges, which could fry your computers
or other valuable tech gear. Enter the SurgeArrest from APC, an energy efficient
surge protector that offers seven electrical outlets, plus phone/fax/modem protection.
The device also includes power-saving features such as “master-controlled”
outlets and comes with a $25,000 guarantee. (www.APC.com)

 

Sprechen
Sie Deutsch?
Whether for business or pleasure, if you’re going abroad and don’t
have any knowledge of the local languages, your trip could be less than you
hoped for. But don’t worry, you don’t have to go back to German
or Spanish 101 … just get the Franklin 12-Language Speaking Global Translator.
The handheld device lets you look up more than 450,000 words and 12,000 phrases
in 12 languages, then speaks them aloud to either you or the person you wish
to communicate with. The Translator also includes an MP3 player, currency and
metric converter, and a world clock. (www.Franklin.com)