I’m one of those fanatics who goes out before dawn on the day after Thanksgiving, to wait in line for the doors of my favorite stores to open so I can snap up the best deals before they are gone. It sounds really crazy, until you see my receipts and calculate how much money I’m saving for my effort. Read the rest of this entry »
Here in the UK, we use very bulky three-pin earthed electric plugs for our 240V AC system. In normal domestic use, these plugs are satisfyingly chunky and solid, but if you need to go on the road, not only do they take up a much larger amount of space in your bag than European or U.S. plugs (particularly if you have more than one), if not well packed they can end up damaging your precious gadgets.
So when I saw this video of a concept design for an innovative folding three-pin plug, I was astounded. Not only does the clever folding design save space in your bag and keep the pins from damaging your electronics, the folded plug can then be used to save space in multi-outlet wall adapters. I really hope that it can pass the various safety checks and makes it into production — I would happily pay a premium for it.
Over at jkOntheRun, Kevin has published an excellent post called “7 Rules of the Road for Maximum Mobile Bliss.” In it, he shares some maxims for getting the most out of your gadgets while on the road. His “mobile mantras” include:
Always buy a second battery for your main device
Carry a toolkit for drive restores
Have a backup plan for wireless connectivity
When not in use, turn off the juice
Invest in a useful web-based data storage and synchronization service (or provide your own)
Consider using the “lightest” tool for the task at hand
Tote a headset
Most web workers are on the road for at least some of the time, so go check out Kevin’s post and make sure you maximize your mobile productivity.
Share your tips for getting the most from your gadgets on the go below.
I was lucky enough to get my grubby mitts on a Wacom Bamboo Touch tablet recently, one of the newly-released models from the popular input device maker that supports multitouch finger input. It’s the basic model that only supports touch, which is ideal for me, because I already have a Cintiq and don’t need the pen tablet functions. Read the rest of this entry »
Some of the biggest hardware efficiency boosts we can get are either completely free, or nearly so. Sure, a maxed-out new laptop would be great to have, but these are tough times. If you spend a little time with the hardware you have or pick up some very inexpensive peripherals, you can immediately start working smarter. In this post, you’ll find five hardware devices and tweaks that you can put to work with good results almost immediately. Read the rest of this entry »
My obsession with portable solar energy continues — in the past I’ve written about Suntrica’s portable chargers, Reware’s Juice Bags and Noon Solar’s range of bags. Suntrica’s chargers, though difficult to purchase outside Finland, currently offer the most elegant and practical solution for cheap, mobile and clean solar energy.
Interestingly, a unique field test of mobile solar power is taking place in a handful of African nations, where electrical power is often unreliable: AfriGadget’s Flexible Light And Power (FLAP) initiative. Read the rest of this entry »
Recently, Nancy Nally suggested that the newer members of the WWD team should share the gear that they take with them when they’re out on the road.
I carry my gear in a Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger Bag. The Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area can seem a little sterile, so I wanted a distinctive and durable bag to haul my gear. While I am seeing more folks sporting Timbuk2 bags out and about, they are still outnumbered by those carrying the typical dull employer- or client-issue laptop bags.
Over the past year, I’ve made an effort to cut down all the gear I carry in my bag on a regular basis. If I was headed somewhere to work, like the local coffee house, I had a whole backpack of gear that I felt was absolutely necessary. I began to realize that the majority of it was staying in the bag, and figured I had better rethink just what I needed with me on a daily basis. I’m actually pretty pleased with the results: I’ve found that I can get away with a pretty light load and still do my work. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m one of those fanatics who goes out before dawn on the day after Thanksgiving, to wait in line for the doors of my favorite stores to open so I can snap up the best deals before they are gone. It sounds really crazy, until you see my receipts and calculate how much money I’m saving for my effort. Read the rest of this entry »
I was lucky enough to get my grubby mitts on a 
Some of the biggest hardware efficiency boosts we can get are either completely free, or nearly so. Sure, a maxed-out new laptop would be great to have, but these are tough times. If you spend a little time with the hardware you have or pick up some very inexpensive peripherals, you can immediately start working smarter. In this post, you’ll find five hardware devices and tweaks that you can put to work with good results almost immediately.
Over the past year, I’ve made an effort to cut down all the gear I carry in my bag on a regular basis. If I was headed somewhere to work, like the local coffee house, I had a whole backpack of gear that I felt was absolutely necessary. I began to realize that the majority of it was staying in the bag, and figured I had better rethink just what I needed with me on a daily basis. I’m actually pretty pleased with the results: I’ve found that I can get away with a pretty light load and still do my work. 
Web Work 101: How To Escape The Cubicle
