8 useful tools for mobile employees

Today's mobile workers are more and more devices and along with it are more and more problems. This is the way to help you simplify unnecessary items when traveling.

When on the road to work, you may feel more like a deceiver than a traveler: simply one thing you have a lot of things like notebook, smart phone, camera, GPS device, phone. MP3 player - and all the power cord, USB drive and other device comes with it.

Besides, you still have to face some of the biggest troubles while traveling: to forget your cell phone in your hotel room, weak Wi-Fi signals at airports, and data files disappear. traces and poor source devices can fail at any time or are not suitable for supplies when you need them most.

To overcome that phenomenon? Adding some main equipment to the inventory can help you. 8 devices are very useful and the services introduced in detail below can help you load, connect, signal and protect a wide range of mobile devices and their data. With one of these tools you can just take away a small number of cables, a few chargers and other junk tools for travel.

You may or may not want to bring all the things discussed here - above all, when you go on business, the less you can do, the better.

Loaded

There is no evidence that you have to carry each charger differently for each device or that it must be used with a 110-V AC voltage. In fact, as more and more devices require USB connections to synchronize data or download software, your laptop is becoming a universal charger. But what is the problem here? Most laptops require a 110-V AC charging voltage and a limited number of USB ports to charge your other devices.

The ideal solution would be a charger that can use power from a variety of power sources and charge for many different devices you carry. Such an ideal charger has not yet been put into mass production, but perhaps in the future will come to users.

VersaCharger Pro

8 useful tools for mobile employees Picture 1 VersaCharger Pro is manufactured by BoxWave Corp, this tool allows connection to three different power sources. It is currently compatible with European or American AC plugs with 110 and 220V voltages, a car lighter and a short cable that converts the car's connection into standard-style power outlets on the seat. sit on plane.

The output is a standard USB jack, so if your devices connect to it and charge from Universal Serial Bus, you already have the necessary cable. If they do not fall into this situation, BoxWave also has a miniSync cable with the appropriate jack. The VersaCharger Pro with a charger for aircraft costs about $ 35.20, and the extended miniSync cables if you need them also cost about $ 14.95. Also you need to pay extra shipping fees.

iGo everywhere85

VersaCharger's 1-A, 5.3-V outputs are better suited for charging portable devices, but it's not chargers for laptop computers. To do this, you need to have a power adapter for notebooks called iGo everywhere85, which is made by Mobility Electronics.

The power unit is small (4.8 x 2.7 inches) and light (about 200g), the iGo everywhere85 is also a three-way device for AC / car / aircraft. It has the specific cables you need, such as a laptop connection cable that can be easily rolled in, pulled out, and a set of standard conversion jacks.

However, there is a problem here, you need to use iGo's Solution Finder to determine if your notebook can use everywhere85 (70 W / 85 W peak, $ 129.99) or need a larger kit than one. little (6.1 X 2.5 inches) everywhere130 (90 W / 130 W peak level, $ 149.99).

In addition, make sure you have all the necessary cables and jacks.

Features: Both models of the everywhere iGo allow you to charge a handset simultaneously with a laptop - but you need to buy a separate jack.

Connect

How many times a day do you make the connection? You sit somewhere, open your laptop and check the wireless network connection is available. And you find out that there are some connections that are not locked for free.

You can buy or register with this managed service. But what you really need is a wireless connection account that allows you to access multiple hot spots.

iPassConnect

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Log in to iPassConnect

Go to iPass page. In March, iPass began selling iPassConnect Wi-Fi connectivity, which was previously available only to corporate customers, now directly to consumers.

With about $ 29.95 per month, you'll have unlimited access to more than 24,000 Wi-Fi hot spots and Ethernet-equipped hotels in the US - brand names include Starbucks, Borders, McDonald's, Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, Hyatt and a variety of aviation clubs and airport locations.

If you are outside the US, with $ 44.95 you will be able to access more than 90,000 Wi-Fi hot-spot and Ethernet locations as well as local dial-up connections in 160 countries. And if you go beyond the range of wireless LANs for $ 69.95 (plus a service fee of $ 25) you'll get a 3G WAN card and 1xRTT broadband access or EV-DO in most cities and suburbs located in the US. With $ 84.95 will be capable worldwide.

This issue is integrated through iPassConnect Mobility Manager, an application used to identify and connect to Wi-Fi hot spots (including your home router if available), WAN, Ethernet running in hotels or dial-up phone lines.

Lift the signal

You are worried that wherever you go, you're always stuck in Wi-Fi signal points?

Don't worry too much, you can solve this problem

Wi-Fire

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Wi-Fire is attached to the laptop

HField Technologies Inc's Wi-Fi Wi-Fire adapter incorporates directional antenna, a sensitive receiver and proprietary software to increase the wireless LAN signal strength a few times over the range of Wi-adapters Standard Fi (can be called a signal generator).

The Wi-Fire adapter is a very small device, weighing only about 100g, you can put it in a laptop bag and use it when you need it. It can work with 802.11b / g signals and connect via USB to Windows computers (software that works with Windows XP and Vista) or Mac (OS X, including Leopard). You can order Wi-Fire for about $ 79 directly from hField's website.

zBoost Personal

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zBoost Personal

If your problem is encountered with a mobile phone signal, in this case you need a zBoost Personal signal booster for mobile phones. This is a carry-on version similar to products for you to solve the problems of home and office mobile phone reception by installing external antennas and an amplified repeater. indoor signal.

Personal version is smaller than the predecessor versions, but it costs less ($ 169) and is bundled into a package small enough to fit in the portable kit (4 X 5 X 1.3 inch ). Two-band device (800 / 1,900-MHz) with an external antenna can be attached to the nearest window. Plug it into AC power, it will amplify the mobile signal for you.

Protect

One of the most important things about carrying digital devices while traveling is to make sure there is no problem when you return home after your business trip. There are many ways to increase your ability to find your devices like iPod, smart phone or laptop if it's missing.

Example of using paper tape: a piece of paper tape with your name and identification information (email address, phone number) posted in some discreet location on the device - probably on the side in battery cover or battery side. Then mark - for example, if you can reveal yourself, attach the words' Hello! My name is…. 'into the cover of your laptop. By doing so you can avoid someone accidentally holding the wrong device.

Computrace LoJack for Laptops

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LoJack for Laptops

Manufacturer Computrace LoJack for Laptops Absolute Software Corp. has stated that it can regain 3 of the 4 stolen laptops loaded with software inside. When you install this application, the laptop will silently contact the company's testing center wherever it accesses the network.

If you report your laptop has been lost, the company's rescue team will start examining the computer, using the information your laptop provides to identify its location.

LoJack for Laptops is available for Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X 10.3 and above, you can order this product online (both Safari and Firefox for Mac work with the website. On every PC, you need to have it Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher)

GadgetTrak

If you don't like the idea of ​​tracking computer movements, then another product called WestinTech's GadgetTrak may work similarly to LoJack for Laptops but it will send information that it gleaned online. continue from you via email. If the system is stolen, you can contact the police with local information collected by the software.

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GadgetTrak can track stolen mobile phones

The Windows version (NT / 2000/2003 / XP / Vista) costs about $ 39.95 for a subscription per year or $ 69.95 for three years. Version for Mac computers (requires OS X 10.4 or higher) using the computer's built-in iSight camera to capture videos of computer users, a one-time fee of $ 39.95 per device.

GadgetTrak is also able to provide stolen device rescue services for GSM phone systems, a one-time fee of $ 24.95 per device. It supports BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian users. There is also a GadgetTrak service for USB-connected media devices like MP3 players, digital cameras and flash drives. The price range can range from $ 12.95 per year per device to $ 64.95 for 20 devices.

(Another option for testing media devices that can be carried around is ihound Software LLC's ihound service. During the alpha / beta phase, users can check up to 3 free USB devices. but this software only works with computers running Windows 2000, XP or Vista)

Obviously, you don't always lose this computer to another computer. It is possible that an accident such as a disk failure or something like that deletes all the data in the device, all the benefits of the trip. There are too many human errors you absolutely know to avoid. Data backup may be the most important issue when you are traveling on mobile.

However, if you have web access, and backup, this is really simple, like emailing the documents you create yourself - especially if you use web mail services like Gmail from Google. . If you work with large files or want a more complete backup, try one of the web backup services.

MozyHome

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MozyHome's remote backup

EMC's MozyHome service is appreciated for its features and interface, even better in that you can create a personal account that allows up to 2GB for free backup - quite secure for you. done while on business.

The company is obviously hoping you will like this service and signing up for a negligible monthly fee of about $ 4.95.

Like most backup applications, Mozy has a number of complications, so it takes time to install the MozyHome application, specify "expert wizard" and the differences between "backup sets" of Mozy with the file and directory structure you used to work with your hard drive. MozyHome works with Windows 2000, XP and Vista as well as Mac OS X 10.4 and higher.