SIX MUST-HAVE GADGETS FOR REALTORS from California Real Estate Magazine

Technology  Rick Broida Six Must-have Gadgets Real estate professionals spend more time on the road than just about anyone. Needless to say, it makes sense to use that time as wisely as you can. Technology to the rescue! With the right tools, you’ll be able to work faster, easier, and smarter. Eye-Fi Connect X2 Want to breathe new life into your old camera? Get the ultimate memory card to go with it. The Eye-FiConnect X2 is a 4-gigabyte SD memory card that wirelessly and automatically uploads photos and videos from your camera to your PC, your Flickr account, Snapfish, or any of 20-plus other destinations. It’s compatible with all cameras that accommodate SD cards, and it’s priced at $49.99. The only catch: You need to be in proximity of a Wi-Fi hotspot, so you’ll have to head back to your office— or the nearest Starbucks. Alternately, you can wirelessly beam photos to your smartphone, anywhere and anytime, then upload them to the destination of your choice. MiFi Mobile Hotspots Ever notice how there’s never a Wi-Fi hotspot around when you need one? So how can you supply Internet access to your laptop or tablet? The super-cool, super- practical solution: a mobile hotspot, which puts a secure, shareable Internet connection in your pocket or purse. The Rolls Royce of mobile hotspots is Verizon’s MiFi 4510L, which, though no larger than a stack of business cards, Provides a password-protected 4G (i.e., blazingly fast) Internet connection for up to five nearby devices. At press time, the 4510L was available online for just $49.99—but keep in mind you’ll be on the hook for a two-year contract. Verizon’s service plans start at $50 per month. If you’re not a heavy user, but want to keep something like the MiFi on hand in case of “Internet emergency,” consider a pay-as-you-go alternative like the Tru- Connect MiFi (www.truconnect.com). It’s a very similar product, except that it leverages Sprint’s 3G network—still plenty fast for most Web browsing and e-mail chores. The TruConnect MiFi costs $89.99, but there’s no contract. Service costs $4.99 per month, plus 3.9 cents for every megabyte of data you consume. Of course, you can always cancel your service until you actually need it. It’s a great option for those who just need occasional mobile Internet. The Powerbag Sure, your briefcase holds all your stuff, but what else does it do? Nothing?! Time to get a smarter satchel. The Powerbag collection (www.powerbag. com) offers briefcases, backpacks, and messenger bags that can recharge your mobile gadgets (phone, tablet, camera, etc.) on the go, so they’re always juiced up and ready when you get to your next showing. Ingenious, right? Each Powerbag comes with a lightweight, discreetly hidden rechargeable battery and an AC adapter. Once it’s charged, it can power up to four mobile devices at a time. And it includes connectors (tucked neatly away inside pockets) for the most common gear, including Apple products, most Android phones, and so on. (A powered USB port lets you connect just about anything.) Most of the Powerbag backpacks and messenger bags are priced at $139.99, but the wheeled briefcase runs $249.99. The Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM Traveler Although most smartphones offer navigation capabilities, there’s something to be said for the size and convenience of a standalone GPS. And they don’t come much bigger or more convenient than the Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM Traveler (http://tinyurl.com/3ndfu2h). What sets this RoadMate apart from other road mates? For starters, it has a roomy 5-inch screen, which, among other things, makes entering addresses and looking up points of interest much easier. It also features Wi-Fi, a Web browser, and a lifetime supply of realtime traffic alerts and map updates. (As any California driver knows, both can be indispensable.) The 5175T-LM has a list price of $299.99, but shop online and you’ll routinely find it selling for under $250. The LaCie iamaKey Flash Drive Flash drives are incredibly handy, enabling you to transport and back up I'm the LaCie iamaKey Flash Drive Flash drives are incredibly handy, enabling you to transport and back up important files. But many of them are bulky, made of flimsy plastic, and easily lost. Not so the LaCie iamaKey (www.lacie.com), a USB flash drive that’s shaped like a key— meaning it’s a perfect addition to your keyring. Consequently, it’s less likely to get lost, less likely to get stolen (because, after all, it looks like just another key), and, because it’s made of metal, almost impossible to break. Plus, it’s a great conversation piece. The iamaKey is available in 4-gigabyte, 8-gigabyte, and 16- gigabyte capacities, with prices starting at $19.99. The Kindle Fire Unless you’ve been living under a three-bedroom condo with two baths and a Jacuzzi tub, you’ve heard of Amazon’s new e-reader, the Kindle Fire. Except this Kindle is much more than just an e-read- er; it’s a full-blown tablet, useful for everything from checking e-mail and Twitter to browsing the Web to showing off your latest batch of property photos (in glorious full color, of course). And don’t forget the apps. This Android-powered tablet can run some decidedly killer apps, including information- management superstar Evernote, social- network aggregator HootSuite, and document editor Documents To Go. It doesn’t have a 3G Internet option like Apple’s iPad, but it doesn’t have a $629 (and up) price tag, either: the Kindle Fire sells for $199. Rick Broida is a technology freelance writer for numerous outlets.