5 New Gadgets That Can Make You More Efficient This Fall Gain more time to hit those deadlines.
This story appears in the July 2022 issue of BIZ Experiences. Subscribe »
1. A mouse made for humans.
Split keyboards get a lot of attention, but the Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse [$70; logitech.com] encourages working while maintaining your body's handshake-like alignment. Powered by a single AA battery that should last about two years, and connected by Bluetooth, the mouse includes software that makes it easy to customize the function of four out of its six buttons, and even lets you tweak the customizations based on the app you're using. Don't worry about the strange look; about 80% of users report adapting to it after about a day.
2. The best-part-of-waking-up kit.
The kettle within the portable Pakt Coffee Kit [$205; paktbags.com] is the solution to crummy hotel java. Slightly wider than a soda can, the electric kettle heats 14 ounces of water that you can brew with, pour-over style, for a better morning just about anywhere you can find a plug. All the included parts, from the 12-ounce, insulated coffee cup to the dripper that rests on it, nestle into the kettle when not in use, and it travels in a protective case. Good coffee demands this kind of care. All you need is a source of freshly ground beans.
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3. Power that you can re-up.
These rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have the same chemistry as a smartphone, but in all the familiar shapes needed to power everything from a TV remote to a wireless mouse to kids' toys. The Pale Blue USB Rechargeable Smart Batteries [from $25; paleblueearth.com] recharge in as little as 90 minutes,
and can be juiced more than 1,000 times, meaning the investment pays for itself a few times over. Charge them with a micro-USB cable — no bulky, outlet-clogging dock required.
4. A better way to catch content.
If you shoot content on a MagSafe iPhone, this 9.5-by-4.7-inch metal cage can help turn out pro-level videos by holding everything you need in one spot. Moment Mobile Filmmaker Cage for MagSafe [$120; shopmoment.com] has 32 attachment points drilled into its perimeter so you can thread on everything from handles to LED lights to microphones, all while the iPhone is securely centered in the frame. Don't have a MagSafe iPhone? Peel-and-stick magnetic ring adapters can upgrade older phones to work with it.
Related: 5 Tech Products to Help You Work While You Soak Up the Sun
5. Super speaker.
Pack the Speakerbuds by Lexon [$100; lexon-design.com] to help you go from private listening to public communication on the fly. During commutes or workouts, you'll use the AirPod-like earbuds for up to six hours of playback and an additional 18 hours after recharging them in the case. But it's the 4-by-2-inch case that makes the Speakerbuds unique: It works as a punchy, 3-watt Bluetooth speaker, which then uses the earbuds' microphones so you can hear and make phone calls, participate in group Zoom sessions, or crank a playlist in the shower.
