5 New Products That Help You Avoid Distractions at Work Whether it's cutting out the noise or getting caffeine into your system faster, these products help you stay locked in.
This story appears in the December 2022 issue of BIZ Experiences. Subscribe »
1. iPad at eye level.
When you pair an iPad with a wireless mouse and keyboard, you have a formidable mobile desktop — so long as you can get it up to a comfortable height. The Twelve South HoverBar Duo (2nd generation) [$80; twelvesouth.com] grips onto any iPad (or non-Apple devices from 5 to 8.68 inches) to hold the screen 15 inches off the weighted base, and easily pivots to the most comfortable viewing angle. Or just unclick the arm and attach it to the included clamp, so you can start a call at your desk and finish it in the kitchen.
2. Mute on the move.
Who doesn't want a little more quiet in a noisy world? The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II [$299; bose.com] upgrades its already class-leading noise-canceling technology to not only hush the outside world (or just whoever's down the hall from your home office), but also analyze how your ear perceives music and tweak your playlist accordingly to sound better. With nine different eartip/earband combos per ear to help you dial in a comfortable fit, these buds can serve you all day through in-person conversations and video calls.
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3. Quick, quality coffee.
The Spinn [$999; spinn .com] makes better-tasting coffee than a pod machine, and with even less work. The stylish tower spins freshly ground beans with water and uses sensors to dial in the coffee extraction. By using its app, picking the coffee you're in the mood for is as easy as scrolling your Insta feed — whether that's espresso, coffee, cold brew, or a bunch of other drinks like lattes (with the milk frother, $99).
4. A Kindle for doodlers.
Kindle's loyal users are a focused group — they want to read without the distraction of streaming and instant messages. The 16-to-64-gigabyte Kindle Scribe [from $340; amazon.com] helps them get even more immersed, with the addition of a stylus to take notes on the screen as naturally as you would on paper. The 10.2-inch screen is glare-free for hours of easy-on-the-eye reading, with a magnetic pen that's ready to write, execute shortcuts, erase on existing documents, or create new ones.
Related: Why Focus Is the Number-One Element of Business Success
5. Video call center.
The Logitech Logi Dock [$399; logitech.com] is like a Swiss Army knife for your desktop. It helps keep workspaces tidy with enough USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI inputs to plug in all your peripherals, along with powerful speakers and microphones. But its secret weapon is its software, which syncs with video call schedules, like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Join a call by pushing one button on top. Then use physical buttons to control the mute and the video — much more intuitive than clicking on-screen buttons.
