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EXECUTIVES CROSSING continents and making deals on the move are looking to streamline their gadget baggage, a feat made increasingly possible with the latest releases of multifunctional technology.

This year saw the birth of the laptop-tablet hybrids. Aided by the touch-friendly Windows 8 interface, for the first time in several years, PC devices have been able to fill a niche not covered by market leader Apple. Last quarter, Apple saw a 12.8 per cent decline in the combined purchases of MacBooks and iPads, and desk-top PC sales are projected to drop by 7.8 per cent year on year, according to the International Data Corporation. The market analyser also predicts that by the end of this year, tablets will be outselling PCs (desk-

tops and laptops), while overall tablet sales will increase by 59 per cent year on year.

All this wireless activity equals big data. Following last year’s cyber attacks on Google, Yahoo and LinkedIn, data protection has become a big business, with companies projected to spend more than $86b worldwide on digital security by 2016, according to Gartner research. Locally, a survey by CERT Australia (the national computer emergency response team) found one in five businesses was aware it had experi-enced a breach in the previous 12 months. About 33 per cent of incidents occurred as the result of a stolen device. Enter a new generation of data-storage gadgets utilising technology once available only to the CIA. ❯

From secure storage to PCs that double as tablets to apps that can fi nd a misplaced car, this year has seen the release of many devices designed to smooth the way for the executive business traveller. Meghan McTavish takes a look at some smart new gadgets.

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champion a more streamlined approach. The PC/tablet combo of the ASUS Transformer AiO ($1799, asus.com/au) stands up against the major players such as Apple, in terms of sleekness, but really comes into its own when you give it a challenge. As a PC (docked or utilising wireless

Old dogs, new tricksThe current obsession with all things vintage hasn’t been lost on digital camera designers, with Olympus and Pentax competing for the vintage-look/futuristic-features dollar. Olympus PEN digital cameras ($999, olympuspen.com) have been topping the lists with their classic designs for a few years, and the E-P5, the fourth model in the range, ups desirability levels with smart extras such as built-in wi-fi for remote shooting from smartphone or tablet. Not to be outdone, the Pentax Q7 ($599, pentax.com.au) competes on size, claiming to be the smallest and lightest camera with interchangeable lenses on the market. Fitting into the palm of a hand, it is an attractive business travel option.

HANG OUTGoogle’s plan for world domination via helpful, practical digital tools soldiers on this year with more businesses looking to the online corporation in day-to-day operations. By integrating video calls with Google’s other brands such as YouTube and Drive, Google Hangouts (google.com/hangouts) gives companies of all sizes the power to save and share meetings instantly. Even passing notes to a neighbour has been revamped with the addition of sidebar text chat for asking questions outside the conversation (or sharing an inside joke).

MADE TO MULTIFUNCTIONWhile a slew of devices might be a badge of honour (while filling the pockets of some tech giants along the way), other brands

THE TRANSFORMER ALL-IN-ONE JUMPS TO AN ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM WHEN SWITCHED TO TABLET MODE

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remote desktop technology), its third-generation Intel Processor and Windows 8 software can handle the more complex programs (Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word), but jumps to an Android operating system to surf the web when it is switched to tablet mode.

HEAD IN THE GAMENo longer reserved for fast-living traders in Wall Street “boiler rooms”, the new range of high-performance, hands-free headsets offers more than a quick phone fix. The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC ($349, plantronics.com) not only ❯

Olympus PEN

ASUS Transformer All−In−One

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turns heads with its noise-cancelling, dual-mic AudioIQ2 DSP (digital signal processing) for clear call quality, it’s also crafted for comfort in soft rubber rather than plastic. The Voyager PRO is designed to fit snugly for even the longest day behind the desk – and if not making calls it can play music or podcasts.

TAKING CHARGEThe average battery life for a laptop may be four to six hours per charge, not so the average workday or long-haul flight. The myCharge Peak 6000 power bank ($US80, mycharge.com) has the capacity to fully revitalise most devices in a single charge. Described as the “Swiss Army knife of rechargers”, it features built-in connectors to iOS and Android, which cuts down on cords – and is probably the closest these brands will come to working together in harmony.

SOUND INVESTMENTSThe new generation of aircraft may boast quieter cabin experiences than ever, but there’s much to be said for being able to lie back, put on a pair of headphones and tune out the

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neighbours. Sennheiser’s MM 450-X Travel headphones ($530, sennheiser.com) offer wireless connection to a laptop, iPad or mobile, and a TalkThrough function that turns on an external microphone allowing easy conversation with flight attendants without removing the headset.

PLANT THE SEEDIt’s not the most tech-heavy or impressive device, but the Flower Power wireless plant sensor from Parrot ($80, parrot.com/flower-power) gets the nod for office plant care. This nifty ❯

Port in the stormThe new range of portable speakers

packs a major punch for client showings and presentations. The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile speaker II ($399, bose.com.au) is a cinch to use, synching wirelessly for total smartphone control, so there’s one less cord and remote to think about. SONY’s SRS-BTX 500 ($329, sony.com.au) also brings Bluetooth power to the boardroom, scoring major points for its added USB port for charging other devices as well as its super-quick NFC (near-field communication) pairing technology. This enables users to simply tap their Sony Xperia or Samsung Galaxy phone against the speaker to automatically pair and disconnect.

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Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile speaker II

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Right touchThe slim glass aesthetic

might be about the only thing standard among the

new guard of smartphones, all boasting features that may make even the most office-confined execs wonder whether they need laptops at all. While not quite there yet, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra ($799, sonymobile.com) gets close, impressing with its ultra-responsive screen and microSD card slot (for editing images directly from a phone). Its closest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active ($639, samsung.com) is the one to beat for multitasking, seamlessly switching between various apps and documents at a snap. Both handsets are waterproof for up to a metre, making them ideal for those who do their best thinking in the shower.tool identifies a plant

from a database of more than 6000 and tells your smartphone exactly when it needs watering. The only thing it can’t do is assign a team member to do the dirty work. Flower Power is expected to be on the market by the end of the year.

ALL KEYED UPIn terms of memory versus portability, USB hard drives punch above their weight. Unfortunately, that also means they leave a huge margin for data leakage and can cost a company millions by putting information into the wrong hands. Hardware company

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THE IRONKEY FLASH DRIVE SELF-DESTRUCTS AFTER 10 INCORRECT

PASSWORD ATTEMPTS

IronKey’s Personal S250 16GB flash drive

Jawbone Era

IronKey’s Personal S250 16GB flash drive ($452, ironkey.net.au) is able to withstand most of the splashes, submersion, drops and bangs thrown at it, but it’s the heavy-duty, military-grade Cryptochip internal number generator that adds the Mission Impossible edge. Put simply: no password, no data, no excuses (the device self-destructs after 10 consecutive incorrect password attempts).

WAIT FOR ITHands-free technology for drivers is set to get even better with two new devices due to reach Australia soon. Much like the Plantronic Voyager, the Jawbone Era ($US130, jawbone.com) and Motorola Roadster 2 ($US100, motorola.com) both link in with your music collection and voice-recognition controls. The

Jawbone Era practically negates the need for hands, whispering status updates when it needs to be charged. Not enough to be distracting, just enough to be noticed. Meanwhile, the forthcoming Motorola Roadster 2, trumps the rest with its Car Finder app, marking a vehicle’s GPS location and then giving audio and visual directions

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

Sony Xperia Z Ultra