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"Are you the type of person who never leaves the house without your ballpoint pen? I didn't think so. \nFor the connected professional \u2014 that person who checks Twitter every hour and would rather give up carbs than Wi-Fi \u2014 knowing about the latest technology is crucial. Using the right digital tools can save hours of work (or, 20 minutes right when you need it). Whether you're looking for a better way to schedule your day or need an extra boost of smartphone battery while traveling \u2014 make sure you have the following tools in your arsenal.  \nTravel\nYour mobile devices are amazing \u2014 except when a dead battery renders them useless. The Mophie case is made for Samsung and Apple devices, and can double the battery life of a device. Don't hop on a long plane ride without one. \nIncreasingly, businesses are offering Wi-Fi for free. But if you're like me, you've found that free Wi-Fi doesn't always work. If you'd like to take things into your own hands without killing your wallet, take a look at the Karma. Unlike tethering, which requires a monthly fee to your wireless provider, the Karma is pay-as-you-go. Plus, when someone mooches your Wi-Fi signal, you actually get rewarded. \nSpeaking of generosity, have you ever had to ask for a turn at the power outlet inside an airport? Those buildings weren't built for an age when everyone has 3+ chargeable devices. Bring with you this mini surge protector with a USB charger, and the power will go further. \nHome Office\nImage: Flickr, titanium22\nThe computer mouse is so 1999. And if you've tried a Magic Mouse as a nice hybrid, just know that it's great for a hybrid. There's a reason gestures are expanding beyond laptop trackpads and phone screens \u2014 they're incredibly efficient. Go for a Magic Trackpad or a similar product from Logitech or Dell. \nOne great feature of these trackpads is that unlike a mouse, you can put it wherever is comfortable \u2014 you're not limited to a mousepad or a perfect surface. If the freedom is addicting, you'll want a Bluetooth or wireless keyboard, as well. You can put your laptop on a stack of books to get the monitor up to eye level, then put the keyboard wherever's comfortable. Or sit on a couch in front of the TV, with your laptop on a side table and your keyboard in your lap \u2014 the possibilities are endless. Here's a highly rated keyboard from Logitech. \nMessaging\nBased on recent news, you might have wondered if the NSA is reading your text messages. If you have a company-owned smartphone, your employer could be reading them, too. Sure, you might not have any big secrets to hide, but if you like your privacy \u2014 or are discussing intimate matters with a coworker or personal relationship \u2014 you could use an app that encrypts messages. \nTextSecure for Android encrypts messages both as they're transmitted and on your device (you'll set a passcode specific to the app). ZipaClip is a similar app for iOS which also allows you to \"recall\" messages you've already sent. While currently in beta, Hemlis will be available on both platforms and is built in reaction to the Snowden leak, and if screenshots prove correct, the app looks as nice as your default messaging app.  \nExpenses and Payments\nImage: Flickr, dpstyles\nWhen all your work lives online, it's frustrating that money still comes in paper and plastic. Slowly but surely, innovators are making waves in the genre of finances. \nOne to get immediately, if you don't have it already, is Venmo. You can connect a credit or debit card, or checking account, and pay or charge people in your social networks. It's great for splitting a dinner bill or even paying rent. \nDelivery\nSometimes it feels like grabbing lunch is a hassle when you're in the middle of a project. Tired of all the options that offer delivery? There are more and more third-party programs that offer delivery of food or other goods. Check out WunWun and Postmates, which allow you to order pretty much anything in your city, on demand. \nCalendars\nImage: Google\nThe little black book of appointments and travel plans was among the first to go digital \u2014 and it makes sense, because search and planning for dates far in advance are difficult to achieve in paper. But what's the best program?\nThe most widely used cloud calendar is Google's. It is a default for many people and syncs well with other programs, such as the Calendar app that's built in to iOS. New calendar apps rarely launch without the functionality to sync with Google Calendar, so it's a safe bet. \nYou might also try the Google Calendar extension in your browser (saves you a tab) or Sunrise, an iOS app that integrates with Facebook events and Google Maps. \nImage: Flickr, leyla arsan"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/11/25/tools-connected-professional/>