So many gadgets are sold to us on the basis that they will improve our lives and make us more productive, it’s amazing that we still use them mostly for fun. But there is a serious side to gadgetry, and many cutting-edge devices are aimed solely at making our working lives more efficient.
As 2019 dawns, it’s an ideal time to review the devices that are intended to make our offices and homes both more productive and efficient. With that in mind, this is my pick of the serious gadgets for 2018:
Best computer: Apple Mac Mini
After five years of no updates, the Mac Mini has been refreshed with seriously impressive specs for a computer the size of a hardcover book. The real magic lurks in the back, with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can transfer data at up to 8 times faster than a USB 3 drive. They can also power – and output – to two 4K displays simultaneously. The Mini can also use external graphics, which transform it into a graphics demon.
Best mini-computer: Cloudgate X
The Cloudgate X is an office powerhouse the size of a sandwich. Powered by an Intel Quad-Core Apollo Lake chip, Windows 10 and a solid state hard drive (translation: “fast”), the X connects to any standard monitor, keyboard and mouse. It also offers ample connectivity options. In the typical business environment, it won’t buckle under Microsoft Office and accounting applications.
Best business tablet: iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
Apple’s latest flagship tablet for professional users, the iPad Pro, has been redesigned to fit more screen onto the same-sized tablet, while increasing performance by up to 90% over the previous generation. Apple claimed in October 2018 that the iPad Pro was faster than 92% of conventional laptops on the market. With iOS apps becoming increasingly more capable of desktop functions, combining the latest Pro with the “clip-on” wirelessly charging Apple Pencil and keyboard folio case gives the traditional desktop computer a run for its money.
Best monitor: Samsung CHG90 49-inch Ultra-wide Screen
Geared towards both gaming and productivity, Samsung’s CHG90 49-inch 32:9 Screen is aimed at the computing-intensive user. The curved display provides an immersive experience by surrounding one’s peripheral vision with display. A word of warning: it’s a serious monitor that demands serious space.
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Best storage device: Synology DiskStation 218 Play
With cloud storage becoming essential, but fast connectivity not always available, Synology’s DiskStation 218 Play offers a great alternative to those who want to access their stored files quickly and, in some cases, without an Internet connection. It falls into a category of business technology known as Network Attached Storage, usually aimed at enterprises, but this one is designed with small businesses in mind. As a result, the setup is straightforward and backups can be run seamlessly. This product is available from Takealot.
Best docking device: Samsung DeX Pad
The DeX Pad’s redesign, following a lukewarm reception for the DeX Station docking device in 2017, squeezes in more functionality by allowing the smartphone to be used as a touchpad. It also adds more USB ports for expansion devices, making it far more versatile. Despite it connecting to Android-based devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, it can run Windows with cloud-based virtual machines from Citrix, VMware and Amazon Web Services.
Best payment device: Yoco Wireless Lite and Wireless Pro
Yoco’s latest card reader devices, the Wireless Lite and Wireless Pro, are intended to disrupt how merchants accept payments in South Africa. With these card readers, merchants can accept payments from anywhere with a mobile signal on their smartphones. The option is attractive to a wide range of small businesses, from street merchants to pop-up stores to food carts.
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Best Smart Home gadget: LifeSmart Spot Universal Remote Controller
As home automation gains traction, LifeSmart’s Sport Universal Remote Controller provides additional smart functionality to otherwise non-smart devices. The controller acts as a 360-degree Infrared-blaster, and can be linked to almost any device that uses remote control. This makes TVs and aircons smarter without replacing them. At the same time, the Spot is controlled from a smartphone app, meaning that regular remote controlled appliances now become app-enabled.
Best Security Gadget: LifeSmart Frame 360 camera
LifeSmart’s remote-controllable camera, the Frame 360, steps away from the more-expensive CCTV approach to provide a 360-degree rotatable camera managed through a smartphone app over Wi-Fi or a mobile connection. Features include night vision and a 30-minute backup battery. Possibly its most innovative element is the ability both to leave voice notes for members of the household and to have a two-way conversation through the camera, with a family member or even an intruder, from the safety of a smartphone.
Best vehicle technology: BMW 330e
The BMW 330e combines the power of a regular 3-litre BMW with the fuel consumption of a small car by fitting eDrive plug-in hybrid technology into the 3-series body. The eDrive provides a fuel-free – and emissions-free – range of up to 35 kilometres in electric mode. In AUTO eDrive mode, a combination of electric motor and combustion engine delivers almost unprecedented fuel efficiency. The bottom line is that short distances can be covered in purely electric mode. Long distances promise fuel consumption of 7l/100 km, which comes down to 3.5l for journeys with distances up to 50km, using the combination of electric and combustion motors. It comes into its own with urban driving, where the stop-start traffic that usually burns up fuel helps recharge the battery through regenerative braking. The consumption? A mere 2.1l/100 km
The bottom line is that getting to the office will soon be as futuristic as being in the office. On that note, we wish all our readers a productive and efficient 2019!
- Arthur Goldstuck is founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram on @art2gee