8 Must-Have Mobile Tools For Road Warriors
Remote workers may not need an office, but they do need a few devices to keep them connected and productive. Here are our top picks to keep you and your teams functioning on the go.
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Today's technology lets us work where we want: office buildings, coffee shops, sun-bathed rooftops, living room desks.
Digital tools have made it easier than ever to communicate with colleagues located down the hall or across the globe. For many employees, location has become irrelevant -- what matters is how well you work from wherever you choose to be.
Some employees use the added flexibility to work from home, where they can avoid a lengthy commute and spend more time with family. Others opt to take their jobs on the road so they can travel without sacrificing their income.
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I'll be doing the latter beginning next month as a participant with Remote Year, a program that arranges long-term travel for groups of remote employees. In preparing for a year around the world, I've compiled a list of tools that will keep me connected and productive whether I'm in a designated workspace or in transit.
Aside from the obvious laptop and smartphone, I've found there are a few gadgets and accessories worth the investment for employees on the road. Noise-cancelling headphones, high-capacity mobile chargers, and a personal hotspot are a few additions to my mobile toolbox.
Read on to learn about more tools that make remote work "work." Do you use any of these products or have recommendations absent from this list? Suggestions are welcome in the comments section below.
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Chances are good your smartphone can make it through a normal workday. Most modern mobiles can power through eight hours and handle regular calls and texts without a midday charge.
However, those chances plummet when your smartphone becomes your office phone, or when WiFi becomes unreliable. Outside the office, you may need to use your device to make lengthy calls, read and respond to emails, find a place to work, or as an impromptu mobile hotspot.
A portable smartphone charger is worth its weight in gold to remote employees who benefit from peace of mind in knowing they won't be frantically seeking a charger right before an afternoon call, or when they need to find WiFi to email a project.
Mobile chargers vary in size and capacity so you'll want to choose one best suited to your needs. If you're looking for something to give you a 50% charge or power through the end of a late day, you can get away with a smaller, more compact charger. If you need a device to fully charge your iPhone and iPad, or juice up an iPhone multiple times throughout the day, you'll need a heftier battery.
For a few extra hours of battery life, the Intocircuit Power Mini will get the job done. Its 3,200mAh battery will deliver about one full charge. It's ideal for squeezing out a few extra hours of battery per day, but you'll likely have to recharge after each use. It costs $14.
If you're looking for more charge power, the Anker PowerCore+ 10K packs a massive battery in a compact form factor. You should be able to get at least two, if not more, full charges with its 10,000mAh battery. Its Quick Charge certification means it will fill up quickly. The Anker costs $25 on Amazon; $35 if you want a case and additional cord.
Noisy environments can be frustrating for the most resilient and focused mobile workers. Noise-canceling headphones drown out the din so you can listen in on conference calls and webinars, play motivational tunes while working on projects, or nap while in transit.
There are a few factors to consider when investing in a pair of headphones, namely price, durability, and style. Over-the-ear headphones do a better job of canceling out noise, but in-ear headphones take up less space and lend themselves to travel.
If over-the-ear is your style and price isn't an issue, the $300 Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones are a reputable choice. A budget pick would be the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC70, which are priced $199 but are selling for $128 on Amazon at time of writing. The quality will be lower than Bose, but still good considering you'll pay a fraction of the price.
For those who prefer subtle in-ear headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 20i are among the best. Unfortunately, they come with the same $300 price tag as their over-the-ear counterparts. A less expensive option would be the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC40BT Bluetooth in-ear headphones, available for $180.
If you handle sensitive data in your role but enjoy working in different places, you may consider investing in a privacy filter for your laptop display. The filter is applied to your display so people who try to view it from the side will only see a dark screen. As an added bonus, it also reduces glare and safeguards against dirt, dust, and scratches. Prices vary according to model for filters from 3M.
It's always a good idea to back up your files, but it's especially wise for remote employees. Working on the road increases the risk of breaking your laptop, losing it to theft, or running into faulty Internet connections. While cloud backup also has its advantages, investing in a portable hard drive ensures you'll always have access to your data.
For mobility purposes, you'll want to choose a portable hard drive that balances storage, form factor, and price. Most will add 500GB to 1TB storage to your laptop, though 2TB varieties are also available.
The Western Digital (WD) My Passport Ultra hard drive can pack 2TB storage in a slim form factor measuring 8 oz. and 2 cm in thickness. It costs $130.
If you're used to working on two desktop monitors, you can achieve a similar setup with an iPad or separate display. Most LED monitors are lightweight and connect to your laptop via USB. ASUS makes a 15.6-inch widescreen display with 1366x768 resolution.
A MiFi hotspot is valuable for times when WiFi is lagging or the security of public WiFi seems weak. Mobile hotspots let you connect PCs, tablets, and smartphones to your personal Internet connection.
Verizon users can connect via the Jetpack MiFi 6620L, which is available for $200 (or $50 with a two-year contract). You can connect up to 15 WiFi-enabled devices to 3G and 4G LTE networks. If you're already subscribed to AT&T, the Unite Pro will keep you connected on the go for $50 with a two-year contract. Like the Jetpack, it allows for 15 device connections and battery life lasting 16 hours.
T-Mobile offers the 4G LTE Hotspot Z915 for $110 or $0 with a two-year contract. Sprint customers may opt for the Netgear Zing Mobile Hotspot, available for $300 or $1 with a two-year contract.
If you're relying on a tablet for the bulk of your mobile productivity, you may be in the market for a light wireless keyboard. Microsoft and Apple make their own accessories to pair with the Surface and iPad, respectively, but there are several other choices available.
The iClever Foldable Bluetooth keyboard lends itself to mobility, weighing in at 0.39 lbs. It's also wallet-friendly; the keyboard runs for $33.
Another handy tool is the Logitech Keys-To-Go keyboard, which retails for $70. It weighs 6.35 oz. and works across iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
If you're relying on a tablet for the bulk of your mobile productivity, you may be in the market for a light wireless keyboard. Microsoft and Apple make their own accessories to pair with the Surface and iPad, respectively, but there are several other choices available.
The iClever Foldable Bluetooth keyboard lends itself to mobility, weighing in at 0.39 lbs. It's also wallet-friendly; the keyboard runs for $33.
Another handy tool is the Logitech Keys-To-Go keyboard, which retails for $70. It weighs 6.35 oz. and works across iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
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