This document provides a list of products and services that can help small businesses bridge the digital divide. It outlines gadgets like the new iPad, Android tablets, Bluetooth keyboards, and pen tablets. It also recommends web apps like Squarespace for websites, Dropbox for cloud storage, and Prezi for presentations. Finally, it lists essential computer software like Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive for syncing documents, and video players for viewing various file types. The overall document aims to equip small businesses with new technologies to operate more efficiently and reach new markets.
Boost the utilization of your HCL environment by reevaluating use cases and f...
37 New Gadgets for 2012 that will Launch your Small Business into the 21st Century
1.
2. Do you worry that your small business is lagging
Intro behind new technology? The digital divide isn’t all
that difficult to cross, if you know where to start.
Here’s a list of products and services that will help
you bridge the gap into new markets and easier
business.
4. The New iPad
#1 Incredible resolution, performance and mobility, the
latest Apple has to offer. The trendsetter of 2012.
5. Android Tablet
#2 Cheaper, more versatile alternatives to the new iPad
are available for a wide variety of price ranges. The
Asus Eee Transformer Pad is a new competitor with
Ice Cream Sandwich, Google’s newest Android system
update, hardware that rivals iPads, accessories that
turn it into a full laptop, and a reasonable price.
6. Bluetooth Keyboard
#3 If you find yourself working on the road more often
than not, and don’t want to lug a laptop everywhere
you go, a Bluetooth keyboard will let you use your
tablet or smartphone just like a laptop.
7. Bluetooth “Retro”
Handset
#4 Half convenient business comfort, half quirky
conversation piece, these handsets turn your
smartphone into a familiar landline-style phone.
Relive the days when your “hands-free” solution was
a plastic handset tucked between your ear and
shoulder.
8. Bamboo Pen Tablet
#5 Let customers sign documents digitally, draft ideas,
sketch and draw with this pen tablet for PC and Mac.
Easy setup, small size and the natural feel of a pen
and paper let you use your computer in entirely new
ways.
9. Otterbox Device Covers
#6 Don’t damage your shiny new devices by accident.
Cover anything and everything up in some of the
toughest protective cases on the market.
10. Fujitsu ScanSnap
#7 This line of ultra-compact scanner devices lets you
feed stacks of paper documents, receipts, business
cards, and just about anything else directly to your
computer quickly and easily. The added software will
even automatically extract key data from business
cards and receipts and organize it all digitally.
11. Network Storage Devices
#8 Any business that works with high volumes of digital
documents knows the importance of moving files
between employees easily and quickly. Network
storage systems like Drobo gives you a single hard
drive for every employee on your network that can
be accessed in-house or on the web.
12. USB 3.0 Thumb Drive
#9 USB thumb drives are the go-to standard for moving
files back and forth from point A to point B. If you’ve
bought a computer recently or plan on buying one
soon, it will more than likely have at least one USB 3.0
port. This new standard is the same old USB, but
better: USB 3.0 devices are faster and more versatile.
13. Solid State Hard Drive
#10 If you’re willing to spend a little extra for added
reliability or you need a computer that’s lightning-
fast to keep up with your work, a solid state hard
drive is an excellent investment. No spinning metal
plates, no moving parts. Start your PC up in seconds,
not minutes, and load large files almost instantly.
15. Squarespace
#11 This web service is the easiest new way to build
trendy websites visually and easily. Make your
website what you want, by yourself. Squarespace
offers solutions for everything from personal blogs to
full-service business pages, all packed into simple,
effective designs.
16. Flavors.me
#12 If you’re a self-employed freelancer looking for a
digital business card solution, or you just want a
simple, trendy space of your own on the web, but
don’t need a full website, Flavors.me is an excellent
start. Make yourself an impressive, visually appealing
personal landing page where customers can get to
know you and visit your websites and social
networking profiles.
17. QR Code Generator
#13 QR codes are basically web links for physical space: a
box of data that smartphone users can scan off of
posters, magazine pages, or any printed materials, to
view digital and web content. My personal favorites
are Kaywa QR Generator for making unique text and
SMS codes, and Google’s goo.gl for shortening long
links online into tiny URLs and QR codes, and for
tracking statistics of how many people actually
access your QR code or click your link.
18. Dropbox
#14 The business-class standard for cloud storage. If you
work online or send files to clients often, you’d be
crazy not to use this. Full disclosure: we use Dropbox
daily and absolutely love it!
19. Rainymood
#15 Not everything important to your business and your
sanity has to be directly related to productivity.
Rainymood sits in your browser and simply loops the
sound of a spring shower to help you relax and
concentrate, or give your office a calming
atmosphere.
20. Readability
#16
If you read online news and blog articles often, you
know just how distracting advertisements and busy
page layouts can be to your reading experience.
Readability extracts all of the important text from
your online reading sources and formats it like an
eBook—simple, easy to read, and elegant. Convert
articles for now, save them to a reading list for later,
favorite them for future reference, and share to your
social networks with friends. Saved articles can also
be accessed from your smartphone, so you can build
a reading list from your computer and then read it
anywhere.
21. Aviary Apps
#17
Aviary almost deserves an entire tech article to
itself! Their free web and smartphone apps let you
edit images with simple, powerful online editors. If
you need more powerful solutions beyond basic
cropping and color correction. Advanced.Aviary.com
provides a full suite of multimedia editing software,
accessible from any computer, anywhere.
22. Klout
#18
Twitter is a massive service that seems a little
daunting to new users. Klout helps you identify and
understand trends, interact with trend-setters and
monitor your business’s social media arm with
advanced tools for measuring the effectiveness and
response of your Twitter strategy.
23. Prezi
#19
Business presentation coming up? Want to really
make a lasting impression on your boss, your clients,
or your family with a creative digital presentation?
Prezi turns the concept of digital presenting on its
head: instead of creating slides, you build a vast map
of information, and move your “camera” from place
to place. Explore large pictures in-depth, create
mind maps for organizing and converting
brainstorming sessions into action plans, and break
away from your everyday mundane PowerPoint
slideshow.
24. inDinero
#20
Full-service financial tracking and business
accounting, all through a secure web service. Access
your business’s finances quickly and easily from
wherever you might be.
26. Adobe Creative Cloud CS6
#21
Adobe products are the industry standard for creative
businesses. They’re also ridiculously expensive.
Creative Cloud is an inexpensive new licensing plan
that gives you access to thousands of dollars of
software through a monthly subscription service that
comes with plenty of benefits: access to every CS6
program available, including programs that will be
released in the future; 20GB of cloud storage for
sending large files to clients and colleagues, 5
websites hosted directly by Adobe, and compatibility
with new creative apps for smartphones, iPads, and
Android tablets.
27. Ommwriter
#22
Ommwriter locks you out of all distractions on your
computer and provides a relaxing workspace to
simply write. Ambient sound keeps you occupied and
attentive, and the simple layout is easy on the eyes.
Text can be exported to productivity programs when
you’re finished or saved in proprietary formats or
plaintext.
28. Pomodairo
#23
A desktop productivity timer based on the Pomodoro
time management system: bursts of productivity
followed by a short break.
29. Google Cloud Connect for
Microsoft Office
#24 PC users with a Gmail account can install this
program and sync their MS Office documents directly
with their Google Drive storage. One click saves your
documents to your personal computer and in the
cloud for instant sharing and access out of your home
or office.
30. 7zip
#25 Don’t worry about not being able to open .zip
archives or large files from clients. 7zip opens all
sorts of archive file types and lets you easily pack up
or extract compressed files for email and cloud
storage.
31. VideoLAN Player
#26 Specialized media player that will open all kinds of
media files without the hassles of installing extra
software. Never have another “my computer can’t
play this” moment with your clients again.
32. PDF Editors
#27 PDF files are archive standards for storing and
sending paperwork, sensitive documents and forms
digitally. Free PDF editors like NitroPDF for PC and
the built-in Preview viewer for Mac let you view and
author your own PDF files.
33. CCleaner
#28 Professional-grade computer cleaning software for
the low price of free. If you’ve ever paid someone to
“clean up” your business computer, chances are they
used this to do it.
34. Opera
#29 Faster, safer, simple web browser. No confusing bells
and whistles, perfect for getting things done on a
tight schedule.
35. Windows 8
#30 Get the jump on Microsoft’s brand-new operating
system by checking out the free Windows 8 Consumer
Preview build. The final retail version is due for
release this coming November.
37. Adobe Touch Apps
#31 Full-featured image editing and creative apps for the
new iPad and the latest Android tablets. Show clients
your latest work directly from the internet, draft
ideas on-site, and simplify your professional creative
needs.
38. Find My Phone Apps
#32 “Where’s my phone!?” Even if your iPhone or Droid is
set to silent, there are all sorts of phone-finder apps
that will page your missing device so you can figure
out which couch cushion it’s under. Search your
device’s app store and take your pick.
39. Bump
#33 Professional networking with a slick, dead simple
twist. Hold your smartphone and bump hands
together to send your essential contact info quickly
and easily.
40. Glympse
#34 Location-based event planning, invitations and GPS
tracking that expires when you want it to, and is only
accessible by the people you want to show it to.
41. Square
#35 Turn your smartphone or tablet into a full-featured
point of sale system. Comes with a free mobile
scanner sent directly to your door when you sign up.
42. JumpDesktop
#36 Access your computer directly from your phone or
tablet.
43. Quickoffice Pro
#37 Open and edit Microsoft Office files directly from
your smartphone or tablet device.
45. Andrew Glasscock
Andrew Glasscock is currently based in Nashville,
Tennessee. He graduated with a BA in English,
specialized in Creative Writing, with a minor in
Marketing this past May. Along with copywriting, he
About loves being an improv comedian, playing frisbee, and
dogs.
Content Equals Money
Content Equals Money is a content writing service
that serves a wide variety of clients with top-shelf,
sharable content.
http://www.contentequalsmoney.com
info@contentequalsmoney.com