8 Productivity Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Needed

Who among us hasn’t embarked on an initiative to make our work habits or our personal lives more organized? Before diving headlong into planning and execution, however, it makes sense to evaluate the tools you have to see if they’re still up to the task. Instead of replacing existing tools, though, these eights gadgets can improve your productivity in ways you hadn’t even imagined.

Paul Mah is a freelance writer and blogger who lives in Singapore. He has worked in various capacities within the IT industry and enjoys tinkering with tech gadgets, smartphones and networking devices. You can reach Paul at paul@mah.sg and follow him on Twitter at @paulmah.

The Belkin WeMo Insight Switch ($59.99) won’t actually help you work faster, but it may save your from turning around to check if you’ve turned off the iron or space heater. Like the other devices in the WeMo family, Insight Switch lets you use your iOS or Android device to remotely toggle connected electronics on or off. More importantly, the Insight Switch adds the capability to monitor the energy usage and offer an estimated cost for your energy bill. You can then see, for example, if you kids have exceeded their daily TV limit, or if it’s really worth turning on the heater again.

[ Review: First Look at Belkin’s WeMo Home-Automation System for iPhone, iPad ]

Why do many people still make do with the built-in microphone in their webcam or struggle with a wired headset for even the most important calls? Many quality wireless options designed for use with unified communications (UC) exist. The Logitech Wireless Headset Mono H820e ($179.99), for example, delivers up to 10 hours of talk time. It uses DECT spectrum wireless connectivity, so it won’t interfere with your Wi-Fi devices. The H820e is optimized for Microsoft Lync and leading UC platforms such as Cisco Systems, and it offers up to 100m of wireless range from the included charger dock. (Logitech also sells a double-ear version for $199.)

[ Or … Sennheiser DW Office a Premium Headset for the Teleconferencing Elite ]

The Moshi IonBank 10K portable battery charger ($110) is probably what the doctor ordered for keeping your portable gadgets topped up so you can keep working. Designed for use with Android and iOS devices, the IonBank 10K packs sufficient oomph to recharge you smartphone multiple times or add up to eight hours of runtime to a tablet. You can charge up to two tablets simultaneously if you like. A push-button battery level indicator on the device’s stylish aluminum casing offers ample warning when the IonBank 10K’s own high-endurance lithium-polymer cells need refreshing.

[ Also: 10 More Portable Battery Chargers to Keep Your Device Powered ]