15 Gadgets For Businesses In 2012 (Part 2/3)
1. mPowa (free app and dongle)
This small plastic dongle attaches itself to iPhones (or any other smart phone) and will soon allow businesses in the UK to take credit card payments in a snap. The handy technology, which is already widely used in America, works by combining the free mPowa app with a plug-in reader that lets users accept debit and credit card payments via their iPhones, iPads, Blackberrys and Android devices.
In terms of fees, businesses will be charged 25p per transaction or 25 per cent (whichever is larger). The device takes minutes to set up and, reassuringly for many, features PCI tier 1 compliance security, putting it at the same security level as a bank site. While it’s true that contactless payments via NFC are cropping up more and more, it won’t become the most common payment method for some time, giving mPowa vital time to get established and prove its usefulness.
Availability: Coming Soon
2. Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Wireless Home NAS (£90)
Having a file storage and backup system is vital for any small business. Seagate’s FreeAgent GoFlex is an affordable and convenient network-attached storage solution for the office that doesn’t have the time to execute laborious backup routines. The device connects to a WiFi router, allowing files to be automatically backed up from a number of networked computers without the jungle of wires that usually accompanies such a setup.
This model contains one terabyte of storage and also features a recovery system in case an employee accidentally deletes any vital files. It does other things, too, like allowing remote access to files and enabling printer sharing, but it’s at its best once the accompanying software is configured, put into automatic backup mode and left to get on with things in the background. Just make sure that the GoFlex is running the latest firmware version to ensure that files transfer at the fastest possible speed.
Availability: Out Now
3. iTwin (£99.95)
Remember the days of feeding ethernet cables the length of swimming pools around offices just to transfer files between two PCs? Thankfully these days with NAS drives, cloud storage services and other effortless file-transfer solutions, getting data from one location to another has never been so hassle free.
The iTwin is an innovative USB device composed of two separate parts that allows data to be sent from one computer to another over the internet. One half is connected to the first online computer, and the second half can be connected to any online computer in the world. The iTwin then creates a shared folder which allows both computers access to one another’s entire hard drive, and there are no limits to how much data can be transferred between them. It’s more secure than cloud storage because the files never leave the owners’ possession by having to be uploaded to a third-party server.
Nothing is stored on the iTwin itself, either, and if one half of it goes missing, the owner of the other half can remotely disable the lost counterpart. With the additional abilities of being able to remotely edit shared files and backup data to a home computer while on the move, it’s easy to see why the iTwin has won several awards. The only possible factor to take into consideration is that transferring massive amounts of data could cause you to go over your broadband data usage limit, so it’s worth checking if your ISP provides any real-time monitoring tools.
Availability: Out Now
4. 24 port USB Monster Hub (£36)
Monster by name, monster by nature, this USB hub is a veritable pizza base of charging goodness that’s served at a tasty price. Placing one of these in the centre of a small office would provide enough connections for up to 24 employees, allowing PC ports to be used for other devices like webcams and storage drives. With more consumer gadgetry making its way into businesses than ever, a readily-accessible charging station like this would bring a semblance of organization and tidiness to any office — particularly when paired with extra-long charging cables that could be fed to individual desks.
Availability: Out Now
5. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 Tablet (£490)
After the original iPad’s release in 2010, tablets began their rapid ascension to the position of gadget royalty while netbooks, too small and underpowered to compete, gathered dust on the shelves. Curiously though, iPad cases featuring built-in bluetooth keyboards flooded the market, suggesting that ultraportability alone is not enough to warrant putting up with an exasperatingly fiddly on-screen keyboard.
Asus picked up on this and created the Eee Pad Transformer Prime Tablet, which caters to the needs of those who require the portability and unique features possessed by a tablet while still having quick access to a practical keyboard. The benefit of being able to type on almost full-sized keys, as opposed to a touch-sensitive on-screen keyboard, cannot be understated if your job involves editing documents and sending emails and messages. It features impressive battery life too, with the tablet side providing 10-12 hours’ usage that’s bumped up to 18-20 hours when inserted into the keyboard dock, making it ideal for longer travels.
It runs Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, which means customization options aplenty, and its chassis houses a more-than-decent 1.2MP front camera and an 8MP rear camera with auto-focus and flash. If you ever needed to hook the Prime up to a bigger screen to display work, there’s a built-in HDMI port, and the inclusion of microSD slot means that, for little extra cost, its memory can be boosted by 64GB. The screen itself, while not packing the same ‘resolutionary’ clout as the new iPad’s ‘Retina’ display, might even be more practical for business trips due to its Super IPS+ display panel that has a higher brightness of 500 cd/m2 (versus the iPad’s 300), making it easier to read outdoors.
All in all, the Transformer Prime is a formidable weapon for any business person who needs the best features of tablets and laptops while on the move — a real contender.
Availability: Out Now
