These 9 Gadgets Prove Office Tech Is Finally Getting Interesting Upgrade your work life.
By Seth Porges
This story appears in the April 2017 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
Today's technology is making it easy for you to work from anywhere in the world. Whether it be in your home office, a hotel room or an airplane -- we've discovered nine new tech gadgets and apps to upgrade your office. Check them out these interestest tech tools.
Related: 15 Useful Tech Tools for Your Business
FounderkitFounderkit
Founders seeking a super-specific tool know all too well that Google and Product Hunt will only get you so far. Want tried-and-true solutions in categories like engineering, analytics, and APIs? Look no further than this curated selection of tools for startups, which features in-depth reviews that come entirely from other founders. (founderkit.com)
Neonode AirBarNeonode AirBar
Ever wish your computer could swipe and zoom? It can! This USB attachment sits at the bottom of your Mac or PC laptop monitor, endowing it with a tablet-like ability to do just that—along with handling taps, touches, and pinches. It's great for touchy-feely types and developers looking to test upcoming apps. ($79; air.bar)
CassetteCassette
Few tasks are as mind-numbing as transcribing audio. This new iOS app makes it easy, automatically transcribing meetings, interviews, and audio notes in real time, and offering robust bookmarking and search features, all for a fraction of the cost of manual transcription services. Best of all: There's no risk of prying eyes getting a look at confidential material. (Plans start at three hours for $10 per month; cassette.design)
Wipebook ProWipebook Pro
Sure, you can jot down ideas on a smartphone all day long, but for many minds, nothing beats an old-fashioned whiteboard. This portable version, cleverly disguised as a notebook, allows for brainstorming on trains and planes and in cafés -- no need to book a conference room. ($45; wipebook.com)
Polymail ProPolymail Pro
Most email apps are built as much for casual correspondence as they are for pushing productivity. This one is specifically for booming businesses. Polymail's built-in features, including a wide range of templates, allow users to schedule and track emails plus monitor attachments via an always-on activity feed. ($9/month; polymail.io)
Related: 7 Simple Hacks That Will Radically Improve Your Productivity
Soraa Helia SmartlightsSoraa Helia Smartlights
Use light to hack your productivity! These white LED smartbulbs automatically adjust their glow all day. They leave you alert at work but subtly remove blue light (which suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin) closer to bedtime. Sorry; they can't reduce your blue-light-filled screen time -- that's up to you. ($50; helia.com)
Google Jamboard
The old-fashioned whiteboard got a makeover. This large, cloud-connected 4K screen functions like an all-access whiteboard, with workers anywhere able to doodle or drop images onto it. Saving ideas is a cinch. And it comes with marker- and eraser-esque styli -- because some things never go out of fashion. ($6,000; google.com)
Roku Hotel and Dorm ConnectRoku Hotel and Dorm Connect
Hotel TVs: Great for watching 24-7 listings of poolside entertainment, not so great for worthwhile programming. Roku's new line of set-top streamers fixes that. It beams Netflix, Hulu and HBO to a TV, supposedly overcoming the finicky hotel wi-fi networks that often trip up other streaming devices. Upgrade to the Roku Ultra for 4K and HDR. ($130; roku.com)
Related: 5 High Tech Tools to Benefit Remote Workers
Shyp Price Comparison ServiceShyp Price Comparison Service
When you use the Shyp app, a human will arrive to pick up anything you want to mail, then box and ship it for you. New features now make Shyp useful for businesses: Users can upload bulk addresses, print bulk labels and log in to a web-based dashboard to track it all. (shyp.com)
