Looking for a last-minute gift idea for your favorite business traveler?
It may be time to try something new.
Numerous products hit the market this year, but — with limited marketing budgets and a huge consumer audience to conquer — most of them remain unknown to many business travelers.
TRAVEL GIFT GUIDE: 7 items for less than $70
The following products made their debut this year and can be much more valuable than stocking-stuffers for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road.
ELECTRONICS
The updated Slingbox 500, which connects to a home TV or cable box and has built-in Wi-Fi, enables business travelers to watch live events or their favorite shows in high-definition on their laptop, tablet or Smartphone. Photos can be wirelessly archived on the Slingbox and viewed anywhere. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $299.99.
Samsung's DV300F Smart camera uses wireless technology to instantly store and share photos and videos on a laptop, a smartphone or such websites as Facebook or YouTube. The camera is small and has a zoom lens and a front liquid crystal display for self portraits. MSRP: $199.99.
Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet 2, which runs Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, operates for more than 10 hours on a single charge, weighs less than 1¼ pounds and has dual microphones for videoconferencing. MSRP: $649
Another tablet introduced this year — the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7" — is probably better known but geared more for business travelers who love to read. It can view more than 22 million books, movies, TV shows and other applications. It bills itself as the "first tablet with dual band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi." MSRP: $199.
Weighing less than 5 ounces, the Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot enables up to eight devices to hook up to the Internet. Sold by Sprint, the Hotspot connects to a 4G network and to a 3G network outside of 4G coverage areas. MSRP: $99.99.
FAVI Entertainment's Mini Bluetooth Keyboard connects with nearly all Bluetooth devices, including iPad and Kindle Fire HD. The keyboard has a built-in laser pointer and PowerPoint slide buttons for office presentations. MSRP: $49.99.
The Zaggsparq 6000 is a charger that provides up to four full recharges for a smartphone and has two USB ports to charge devices simultaneously. MSRP: $99.99.
SECURITY-RELATED PRODUCTS
LoJack for Laptops is software for a Mac or PC that was updated in July and can be used to track the location of a stolen or misplaced laptop. A recovery team from the manufacturer, Absolute Software, works with law enforcement to recover the laptop, and the software allows remote deletion of sensitive information. MSRP: $39.99 annually.
The SHOLDIT Clutch Wrap purse looks like a scarf and lets female travelers protect valuables without carrying a traditional bag. The Clutch Wrap has zipper and cellphone pockets and can be draped over a shoulder or around a neck. MSRP: $49-$79, depending on pattern.
LUGGAGE
Biaggi's Contempo rolling luggage is sturdy and foldable, converting a 22-inch-by-14-inch-by-11-inch bag into a compact unit that can be more easily stored in hotel closets and apartments. MSRP: $229.
The company's rolling (16-inch-by16-inch-by 11-inch) overnight business tote bag, called Tecno, weighs 8.3 pounds and is also sturdy and foldable. MSRP: $199.
Genius Pack's Genius Packer (22-inch-by14-inch-by-9.5-inch) rolling bag boasts technology to compress laundry and compartments to store such optional items as a mini-umbrella, a mobile charger and a mini-speaker. MSRP: $198.
The company's business case (17-inch-by-2.5-inch-by-12-inch), called The Entrepreneur, fits a laptop and also has compartments for the accessories mentioned above. MSRP: $78.
For business travelers favoring a backpack, Brenthaven's high-end, leather-trimmed Broadmore Backpack 1800 weighs 3.1 pounds and has a cellphone pocket and padded compartments for a laptop and a tablet. MSRP: $249.95.
ECBC's Lance Daypack B7103, weighing 3.4 pounds, fits up to a 17-inch laptop. It has a padded tablet pocket and pockets for a water bottle and accessories. MSRP: $149.99.
Finding your bag on a crowded baggage carousel may no longer be a problem if the bag has a Tags for Bags. The tags, made of heavy polyester webbing with a welded steel triangular ring, come in bright colors and are embroidered by a special needs workshop.
The 'TudeTags, emblazoned with such sayings as "Hanzzoff," "Cooties" and "It Was A Bumpy Ride," can also add a bit of levity to the laborious bag pick-up process. MSRP: $32.99 or $38.99 for a set of three, or $11 each.
Source: http://www.news.theusalinks.com/2012/12/18/new-last-minute-gifts-for-business-travelers/
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