JBGG_2021

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STAYING IN CHARGE One of the biggest hassles in an era where the mobile phone and tablet are essentials is as simple as keeping them charged and running. While it’s easy enough to pop them on the charger at home, when you’ve got to head out the power demands of your devices can lead to that most terrifying of things – running out of battery with no way to charge your device until you get back home. The fix for that is easy – an essential part of your home office toolkit that you should always have with you, the power bank. These compact, portable chargers can store enough juice to keep your phone, tablet or even your laptop online for extended hours, yet they’re small enough to throw in a bag or briefcase and forget about until you need them. When you’re back at home, though, you’ll want an easy and effortless way to get all your devices charged without wasting time with cables and plugs. A wireless desk charger can be your best friend here, letting you juice up your phone, watch and earbuds just by dropping them onto the charger. So many of us have been discovering the rewards of working at home lately – but the computer home wi-fi and more can be holding us back. When you’re using your home office more and more, the things that need upgrading start to stand out. Finding the right thing for someone with a home office is easier than you might think – because for almost everyone, there are easy upgrades to be had. WORK FROM HOME WONDERS

DOCK AND GO If your daily driver is a laptop computer, you’re probably loving the portability while at the same time, realising that when it comes to using your computer in a home office setting, there’s a distinct lack of ways to connect it to the stuff in your home. Laptops that come with a single USB port aren’t exactly friendly to those who want to plug in external hard disks, USB flash drives, printers, external monitors and more. Docking stations can drastically expand the capacity of a laptop to connect to a huge range of things, including multiple monitors at once – perfect for productivity. At the same time, they can also deliver a hefty charging current to the laptop, making sure it’s ready to roll when you have to head away from the desk.

What to Buy:

Cygnett 3-in-1 wireless desk charger Including magnetic Apple Watch charger. $179.95

JB’s Top Tips

What to Buy:

Docking stations draw power themselves, as do many of the devices that are plugged into them – so you will want to make sure that your power adapter is capable of delivering the juice when it’s needed. PICK UP: a high- wattage USB power pack to provide ample current to all your devices.

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Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger for Apple MagSafe Fast 15W MagSafe charging for iPhone 12 and 13. $219.95

Journey multi-port doc Magsafe

compatible – works for iPhone 12/13. $149.95

If you’re going to use a powerbank regularly to keep your devices topped up, pick one that lets you charge it while it continues to charge your stuff. Not all wireless chargers are equal – go for one that puts out enough power to top up your devices quickly, and look for MagSafe support for iPhones.

JB’s Top Tips

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