5 Tech Products to Help You Work While You Soak Up the Sun They keep the tunes coming and the bugs at bay.
By Sal Vaglica
This story appears in the June 2022 issue of BIZ Experiences. Subscribe »
1. Getting out the bugs.
WFH in the summer means sneaking time with the laptop outside on the porch or in the yard — that is, until swarming mosquitoes send you running back indoors. The Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System [from $699; thermacell.com] can fix that. Its wireless hub plugs into an exterior wall outlet and connects via plug-and-play, low-voltage cables to discreet repellers that you place around your yard or patio. Controlled from your smartphone, the system emits a harmless, scentless chemical that creates a 20-foot-wide mosquito-free zone of protection around each repeller.
Related: These Tech Products Will Help You Work Faster When You're on the Move
2. Selfie in the hand.
Need to create content on the go? The DJI OM 5 [$159; dji.com] selfie stick is small, portable, and rechargeable, and it holds your smartphone where it should be to get the best video. Grip it with one hand, flip from portrait to landscape mode, zoom in and out, and edit using DJI's intuitive suite of filters. DJI's app ensures the footage is smooth, and it has built-in head tracking, so the subject is always in focus. If you were scarred by the old glaringly obvious selfie sticks, the OM 5 8.5-inch-long extension is artfully built into the handle. Folded up, it fits in your palm.
3. The musical shelf.
The IKEA Symfonisk WiFi bookshelf speaker [$120; ikea.com] is a twofer: Vertically, the 4-by-6-by-12-inch wireless speaker tucks neatly on a bookshelf, but it can also pull double duty as a floating horizontal shelf. Mount it to the wall next to your bed or in the office to hold about six pounds of books, water bottles, or morning coffee. Behind the modern, Swedish styling are speakers codeveloped by Sonos, so expect all the wireless connectivity to stream playlists, podcasts, and radio.
Related: 5 Tips for Successfully Working Remotely in the Long Term
4. A coffee mug that knows what you like.
Absorbed in work while your drink gets cold? No longer. The Ember Mug 2 [from $130; ember.com] uses a built-in battery that works like a miniature induction burner, keeping your java, tea, or broth not just warm, but at the exact temperature you like. Pair it with the app to set your preferences and it will remember for next time. When the mug is on its saucer-like dock, liquids stay hot indefinitely; off the base, it'll work for up to 90 minutes. Available in different finishes on stainless steel, the Ember is nice and weighty in the hand.
5. The ultimate power trip.
A power bank can be a lifesaver on the road, but who wants to carry around extra cables to recharge your charger? The 9.8-ounce Nimble Wally Pro [$100; gonimble.com] comes to the rescue by plugging into any standard outlet to recharge its 10,000 mAh battery in about four hours. Once fully charged, it can power your phone three times. It also has enough juice to power your laptop or tablet while it's plugged in and recharging itself. That means you can leave their chargers at home. Happy light travels!
Related: Making a Success of Remote Working for the Long Term
