New Gadgets for Mobile Workers byJohn Brand

More people are working outside the office, whether they are on the road or home. Here are 5 new products designed to make mobile workers more productive.

Lantronix xPrintServer

This handy 9.6-ounce device uses an Ethernet connection to find nearby printers, then lets you print documents from your iPhone or iPad. During our test, it found an HP printer in just 10 seconds, and we easily printed several e-mails, including some with complex graphics, from an iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.  cost:  $150

BiKN

BiKN's thumb-size tags help you keep track of valuables using your iPhone. Attach them to any object and snap your phone into the BiKN case, which communicates with the tags via a radio signal. Using the myBiKN app, you can view a map on your iPhone of tagged items within a distance of several hundred feet, page them so they beep, or set an alarm to go off if a tag leaves a preset perimeter. The tags worked perfectly during testing, sounding an alarm even when our iPhone was off.  cost:  Starting at $100 for one tag and an iPhone case

HP Compaq L2311c Notebook Docking Monitor

This HP device is a laptop docking station and monitor in one. Plug in your notebook with a USB cable to connect to the 23-inch monitor, which pivots from side to side, tilts, and switches to portrait mode. The monitor has a built-in HD webcam for videoconferencing, jacks for headphones and microphones, and two ports for peripherals. cost:  $319

Powerbag Instant Messenger

This messenger bag has a built-in rechargeable battery pack that can charge most smartphones up to four times and tablets once (sorry, no laptops). The 2.7-pound bag is made from tear-resistant nylon and has a padded pouch for a tablet or laptop. It fully charged our tablet in six hours and a smartphone in one hour.  cost:  $180

Plantronics Blackwire 435

Ideal for videoconferences, this corded USB headset has two separate over-the-ear headphones, one of which has a noise-canceling microphone boom. You can use both earpieces for stereo sound or one for mono sound. During our test, Skype calls sounded crisp. Another plus: The headset comes with a protective travel case.  cost: $100