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Here Are some Business Gadgets
HyperJuice GaN 100W USB-C charger
HyperJuice, which is owned by tech accessory behemoth Targus, launched a 100W stackable 100W USB-C charger that is based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, allowing it to be more power efficient.
That means that it is far more compact than more traditional power delivery technologies and can also deliver much higher power outputs.
Other than a 100W model, there’s a smaller 65W one that is currently out of stock. At 85 x 45 x 30.5mm for a weight of only 166g, it is small enough to be carried around comfortably.
There’s a 2-pin plug and a built-in AC power outlet (1500W rated) with three 100W-rated Type-C connectors and an 18W USB Type-A port. What that means is that you can in theory, plug in a 16-inch Apple MacBook Proper plug.
Because of its design, it fits snugly against any wall sockets which makes it less prone to randomly fall out. However, we wouldn’t recommend stacking 10 of them to a single wall socket as the combined weight might stress the latter.
It doesn’t come with any cables so you will have to provide your own. Make sure your USB cables can handle the power requirements of the connecting devices.
Note that there’s no 3-pin UK plug version available at the time of writing and the warranty on the HyperJuice 100W USB-C charger is only one year.
Keeping your devices protected whilst out and about is always important – but what if you want to do it in style? Dutch company Mujjo has a number of high-end cases and sleeves for phones and laptops alike, and we got out hands on its Macbook Air 13″ sleeve to try out.
The design is certainly luxurious, made from a combination of felt and vegetable-tanned leather, secured with a single snap button to allow for quick opening and closing. The sleeve has been designed for the latest new 13″ MacBook Air and MacBook Pro devices, but we found it worked with other laptops as well.
Inside, your device is kept safe thanks to the felt interior, which also includes integrated storage compartments to allow you to store documents and other essentials – and there’s even a special slot to store debit/credit cards or an SD card.
This is definitely a luxury item for your device and one that will certainly make you stand out from the crowd.
Keeping all of your devices topped up and ready to use has certainly gotten easier with the advent of portable power banks. However, what about when you also need to power a laptop, portable monitor, or even a small TV when outdoors and away from a power outlet? Thankfully, some manufacturers have begun to add AC outlets to their portable batteries so you can charge or power almost any device regardless of whether it connects via USB or with a plug.
For those looking for a portable laptop charger that won’t break the bank, RavPower has you covered. The company’s PD Pioneer 20000 costs only $89.99 and can charge all of your devices as it features a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and a three-prong AC wall socket.
RavPower also makes two different variants of the device depending on whether you need a North American or UK wall socket to charge your laptop or other AC-powered devices.
As its name suggests, the PD Pioneer 20000 contains a 20,000mAh battery capable of delivering 74Wh of power.
The device’s 30W PD port can fully charge a 2015 Macbook in around two hours while its Quick Charge 3.0 port can deliver up to 18W of power to compatible USB-A devices. The PD Pioneer 20000’s AC port can even reach a max AC output of 100W.
If you’re getting ready for a trip and just remembered to pack your PD Pioneer 20000, you won’t have to wait too long to fully charge the device as it can be recharged in just three hours.
While certainly larger than most power banks, the device can easily be slipped into a side pocket of a backpack or messenger bag as it is 2.7 inches wide and 5.8 inches long. However, you won’t want to be lugging the PD Pioneer 20000 around for too long as the device weighs 660g.
In addition to one USB-C to USB-C cable, RAVPower also includes a carrying pouch complete with pockets to keep its portable laptop charger safe on the go. It’s worth noting that a USB-C adapter isn’t included but if you’re in the market for a portable battery with a USB-C port, you’ll likely still have the one that came with your smartphone or laptop.
As employees around the world adjust to a new way of working from home, the need for a robust and high-quality headset can be vital for those needing to take part in multiple conference calls.
Logitech is well known for its wide range of computing accessories, and the Zone Wired headset is its pitch to conquer the headset market for home workers. Connecting via USB-C or USB-A, the Zone Wired headset is a handy companion for video conferencing and collaborative calls across all the major software platforms – we’ve tried it with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex with no issues.
Audio quality is incredibly clear, with the built-in microphone having no problem picking up speech even at low volumes, and the headphones themselves giving excellent playback – and aren’t half bad as general music devices either.
The microphone even features an automated mute function when you flip it up, meaning if you need to grab a drink of water, cough, or even shout at the family to calm down, your colleagues will be none the wiser.
However, the only downside is, as the name suggests – the lack of wireless capability. The Zone Wired does feature an extremely lengthy headphone wire, but if you’re looking for something you can use whilst on the move, this is not for you.
The K2600 is the latest in a growing band of multimedia keyboards invading boardrooms and TV lounges, as businesses and movie fans alike discover that smart TVs, HTPC, and business displays require more than just a remote control to make the most out of their functionalities.
This keyboard comes with an integrated touchpad, but without physical mouse buttons, which is likely to irk purists that prefer the Logitech K400 Plus.
At £24.99 from Argos (roughly $30/AU$45), it is cheaper than the aforementioned Logitech model but less widely available.
The much larger touch area of the K2600 means you will be able to swipe, pan, zoom, tilt and perform all kinds of multitasking gestures, perhaps with greater ease.
The peripheral connects with the host device via a bundled Bluetooth dongle (lodged inside the keyboard) with a range of up to 10 meters. But you won’t be able to connect directly via Bluetooth, which is a shame.
There are also seven programmable keys located at the top of the keyboard for rapidly accessing your favorite applications.
There’s a sealed anti-oxidation membrane under the 86 scissor keys which, according to the manufacturer, extends the lifespan by preventing oxidization of the internal circuits and minimizing the risk of key defects.
Bear in mind you also get a two-year warranty, as well as two AAA batteries that should last about a year.
Note, the keyboard doesn’t support Linux and there’s no option for left-handed people. We are also not huge fans of its non-chiclet key design, as the keys (which are part concave, part convex) tend to be slightly more wobbly, with spongy feedback and short travel.
This certainly doesn’t help if you’re typing from your sofa, without a hard surface to work with.
Given the ubiquity of laptops, it is puzzling that only one known peripheral manufacturer has managed to produce a wireless keyboard (and touchpad) that mimics the design of laptop base units.
The Keysonic ACK-540 series is more than a decade old and, while it may suffer from a way too small touchpad, it should provide a far more pleasurable experience for prolonged typing periods, minimizing the risk of RSI and wrist pain.
The 8200M from Rapoo is a wireless keyboard and mouse combo that can connect via Bluetooth and a bundled 2.4GHz adaptor to up to three compatible devices simultaneously, and switch seamlessly between them via four dual-function keyboard keys (1, 2, 3, and 4).
This means you should be able to connect to a smartphone, smart TV (or Android box), or laptop with ease, at a range of up to 10 meters.
The keyboard is also spill-resistant and has 10 multimedia keys located on the top edge, with 113 scissor keys in total.
The 8200M’s chiclet-style keys have good travel, but the feedback should be better and the Enter key bigger. That said, we didn’t encounter any issues with touch typing and nor did we suffer a higher error.
The 8200M is available in black or white and retails for £37.70 from Box (roughly $50/AU$70).
As with other Rapoo models, this one comes with bundled batteries and a two-year warranty. The company claims the keyboard will last up to 12 months on one set of batteries, while the mouse will survive up to nine.
Speaking of the latter, you can adjust its DPI sensor from the mouse itself via a DPI switch, between 600 and 1600dpi. However, we have used it for a couple of weeks and find it slightly too mushy for our taste.
The mouse worked without trouble, but we would have preferred a rounder shape. When it comes to input peripherals, though, it is often a matter of personal preference.
The 8200M is not the firm’s top-of-the-range keyboard combo; that title belongs to the 9900M, which has a 4.0 mm ultra-slim design with an aluminum alloy base and a different placement for the multimedia keys.
However, it is the mouse that boasts the greatest innovations, with a fully adjustable DPI sensor (up to 3200dpi), a far more ergonomic design, a side-scroll wheel, and a built-in eco-friendly battery that can be charged via a USB port.
Gallium nitride (GaN) wall chargers are able to refuel devices at a much faster pace than their silicon counterparts – and they’re also more petite and energy-efficient.
So, if you’re looking for a way to charge your high-capacity devices quickly – including laptops, power banks, and more – look no further than these two GaN wall chargers from RAVPower.
The 65W RAVPower PD 2-Port model can push a 15-inch MacBook Pro from totally depleted to fully charged in two hours (instead of four). Thanks to its two ports, it can also charge multiple devices simultaneously, which is perfect if you’re caught short with both your laptop and phone out of power.
Its footprint is also 30% smaller than equivalent products (as well as most OEM chargers) and this compact design means the adapter fits easily into a pocket or backpack.
Then there’s the even more powerful 90W PD Pioneer 2-Port adapter, a heavy-duty GaN charger for devices with massive battery capacities. If you find your current high-wattage charger is excruciatingly slow, this might be the perfect piece of kit for you.
With this 90W adapter, you can expect a 7.5x improvement in charging times in comparison to the 30W chargers that come bundled with many electronics. For context, it charges a 15-inch MacBook Pro even faster than the 65W model in just 1.8 hours.
Unlike silicon chargers, the PD Pioneer doesn’t overheat or short-circuit, allowing you to charge your devices for as long as you need. RAVPower has also worked hard to ensure the adapter is as power-efficient as possible, achieving a charging efficiency of over 93%.
It’s slightly larger than the 65W model at 64 x 64 x 32mm, compared to 55 x 55 x 31.5mm. We also presume it’s therefore marginally heavier than its 125g cousin, but its official weight isn’t listed on the RAVPower website.
We haven’t managed to drop USB-A for USB-C just yet, so we were pleased to see these RAVPower wall chargers are compatible with both old and new USB connectors.
We were a little disappointed to see the adapters sometimes obscure multiple power sockets, especially if attached to an extension lead, so just bear that in mind if you’re thinking about making a purchase.
As you’d expect, the more powerful 90W adapter is slightly more expensive at $54.99 (roughly £45/AU$85), while the 65W model will run you $39.99 (roughly £33/AU$60), but neither are outrageously priced compared to alternatives on the market.
Gone are the days of packing tens of different device chargers for every trip. This attractive little piece of kit from Eggtronic allows you to charge any USB-C device – from laptops to smartphones, tablets, cameras, and more.
Eggtronic describes the Sirius as the ‘smallest 65W USB-C laptop power adapter in the world’ – and we can certainly vouch for its miniature proportions. At less than 0.1kg and with dimensions of 69 x 50.5 x 19.5 mm, it’s smaller and lighter than a pack of cards.
Designed in Italy and available in black or white, the Sirius sports a sleek and minimalistic aesthetic, so it wouldn’t look out of place connected up to, say, a MacBook Pro.
It’s also finished with an anti-fingerprint coating that repels both oil and water, which means your charger should retain its clean matte finish long after its initial few outings.
The charger uses a nifty automatic voltage and current detection system to ensure it’s compatible with all USB-C devices (up to 20 volts and 3.25 amperes) and is safe to use in all scenarios.
Many similar products use GaN power transistors to shrink charger size and cut costs. Eggtronic, however, uses EcoVoltas technology for an efficiency gain of 3% over other GaN chargers on the market. All in all, 93% of energy drawn from the mains is converted into device charge, which isn’t bad going at all.
The same technology ensures gadgets connected up to the Sirius remain cool while on charge, extending their lifespan to the greatest degree possible.
In terms of quality of life features, collapsible prongs mean the Sirius won’t snag on any items of clothing in your luggage as you’re traveling from A to B. The USB-C cable that comes bundled – which is an impressive 1.8m long – is also made of durable material, so you don’t have to worry about it fraying or snapping with re-use.
It’s also worth noting that cable tips for not USB-C devices are available on the Eggtronic website if you’ve fallen in love with the Sirius but own a handful of non-compatible devices.
Our only major gripe with the product is the price point, which sits a little above rival products at $68.99 (roughly £55/AU$105). If you’re willing to forfeit the sleek design and tiny footprint, you might want to consider a cheaper alternative.
Unfortunately, it also appears the adapter is only compatible with US wall sockets. The need for EU and UK-based customers to employ an additional converter does detract somewhat from the sleekness of the Sirius.
There’s nothing worse than tech trouble at the start of a big presentation. BenQ’s latest device does away with the software and the need for a connection, allowing presenters to hit the ground running.
It’s as simple as plugging an InstaShow Button into the presenting device via USB and HDMI or casting via AirPlay for iOS, Miracast for Android or the InstaShow mobile app.
The InstaShow S WDC20, designed for large conference rooms, can connect to almost any device. It’s platform and OS agnostic, so notebooks using Windows, Mac and Chrome are all compatible.
It also supports 4K resolution, which is ideal for projectors and flat panel displays. Video is transmitted at a very healthy 60fps (up to 1080p) with low latency, which means no jarring screen tear or lag.
BenQ’s device can mirror the screens of up to four sources at once, so multiple presenters can contribute simultaneously. Presenters using an interactive flat panel touch screen can also annotate their presentations at the front of the room, without input into the source device.
IT departments especially will appreciate the WDC20’s commitment to security. The product operates independently of the network, minimizing corporate network attack profiles. It also establishes a 128-bit encrypted link before transmitting any content.
The WDC20 sports a slate grey and black color scheme, with blue lighting around the perimeter of the buttons, making for a sleek and professional aesthetic. Provided the InstaShow Host kit is concealed effectively (e.g. under the conference table), it’s no eyesore.
On the downside, the InstaShow Buttons don’t feature a USB-C connector, which means two cables (USB 3.0 and HDMI) run into the presenter’s device. On the rare occasion HDMI and USB ports are not on the same side of the laptop, this could pose a serious issue. BenQ says USB-C will be introduced to the transmitters later this year.
The pack contains two InstaShow Buttons for connecting to devices, one cradle to hold the buttons when not in use, and an InstaShow Host which receives the signal transmitted by the buttons. It comes in at $1,499 at the time of writing.
The Skyroam Solis is a palm-sized, SIM-free Wi-Fi hotspot that is easy to set up and use. There are no contracts involved, with four pay-as-you-go plans available and up to five devices can connect to a single Skyroam at once.
This means that your cost per GB remains the same wherever you go, (with a 1GB package costing $9, with options going up to 20GB ($180)) but that you don’t get any discounts for taking bigger packages.
The device uses its own patented virtual SIM technology to connect to WiFi and has over 300 partnerships with network carriers around the world.
It’s especially useful outside of Europe as it saves you from having to use unsafe and unreliable public WiFi connections and running the risk of incurring huge data bills. We tested the service outside of London and got 7Mbps upload and surprisingly, 17Mbps download speeds.
In comparison, our smartphone – on Three – hit 12Mbps download speeds and 2.3Mbps upload – hardly 4G speeds but good enough for most tasks.
The Solis itself resembles an orange puck and contains two batteries totaling 6Ah that can power it for up to 16 hours, as well as charging other devices thanks to a clever adaptor.
Getting it up and running was easy although we would recommend you do it at home (or where you have connectivity) to avoid any data roaming shocks.
The free Skyroam app has a “smart button’” option that allows you to send an emergency SMS or an email with your current location to your friends, keep track of your location on Google sheets, tweet current location, get daily news & weather reports, locate lost gadgets and use Amazon Alexa to activate a Skyroam plan
Although there is a rental option available for $8.99 per day (it can be found at all major American airports), you can buy it outright for $150. An upgraded option is the Solis X, which boosts the number of devices you can connect (from five to 10) while adding a remote camera, smart assistant, a speaker, Bluetooth connectivity, and a microphone for $30 extra.
An affordable charger that can power all your devices at once and more, either wired or wirelessly, the ZeroLemon can deliver up to 135W of power through four USB physical ports – 87W Type-C, 20W Type-C, two 15W Type-A – and two wireless contact points (10W Qi charger, 3W Apple Watch charger).
An 87W charging point means that it can fully charge a 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro laptop in two hours and doesn’t require an external power supply unit.
Engineers have included temperature control management, overvoltage, overcurrent, overcharge, and short circuit protection.
All the ports are located at the front and other than a power button and a charge voltage indicator, the unit remains blissfully clutter-free, with plenty of holes to allow air to circulate.
The device is also surprisingly compact at 140 x 100 x 33mm, bearing in mind that it includes the power supply unit which competitors often leave out. You only need to choose to attach a power cable and off you go.
We would have loved to see a few more Type-A connectors and perhaps data capabilities, at least on one port, although this may have pushed up its price – which currently stands at a mere $59 if you back it on Kickstarter.
As always remember that all Kickstarter projects come with a degree of risk and challenge and that you are backing rather than buying something. That said, given that we have a working product in-house, the chances of this particular campaign not working out should be greatly reduced.
Travel docks have become more popular as laptop manufacturers continue to reduce the number of ports on their devices. There’s a lot of competition from established players (like HP or Lenovo) and new challengers (like Pluggable or Anker), but then there is this new entry from Other World Computing (AKA OWC).
The company has introduced a new “high-performance workflow solution” travel dock (OWCTCDK5P2SG) which is one of the smallest we’ve seen recently, and one that comes with the all important Power Delivery pass-through feature.
This allows up to 100W of power to be delivered to a laptop or anything else that has a Type-C plug and is an upgrade to the existing tradel dock from OWC that can only do 60W.
There’s a single Type-C connector, two USB 3.1 ports, an SD card reader, and an HDMI 2.0 port. At 80 x 80 x 23mm, it is small enough to be carried in your back jeans pocket and includes a captive 15cm cable that has a groove to allow you to pull it out (and put it back) easily.
Now, you should in theory be able to connect your phone to a monitor for example although we couldn’t get it done on our Google Pixel 2XL.
Other than the two-year warranty and the deliberately subdued design, the travel dock carries a price tag of $54.99 (from Macsales) and is available in space gray only. The cheaper, smaller 60W version retails for $43.88 and comes in gold, rose gold and silver as well.
