ENR's editors are always on the lookout for new and useful electronic devices that have the potential to improve construction. As 2012 comes to a close, we've gathered a collection of the most promising gadgets we've run across or experimented with lately. Some have obvious applications to the jobsite, while others may just be convenient for companies fielding new devices or mobilizing workforces. Still other devices are noted simply for their ability to reduce the cost of sought-after tech and increase users' capabilities.
ENR's 2012 Noteworthy Gadgets List
xPrint Server, Lantronix, Irvine, Calif. ($99.95 to $199.95) Have you ever wanted to print something from your iPad or iPhone instead of e-mailing it to yourself and then printing from a computer? The Lantronix Xprint Server does just that. It plugs into almost any printer�more than 4,000 USB and network printers�and allows wireless printing from iOS devices without downloading an app or installing software. The home edition supports up to two printers. The office edition has a proxy server port that allows for printer user management; it also has an active directory for remote authentication. Some customers complained that their printers were not supported or that their print-outs were scrambled. So, make sure to check the list on Lantronix's website to be sure you have installed the latest firmware.
Photo courtesy of Lantronix
AcoustiMAxx Honeywell Intl. Inc., Morristown, N.J. ($125) AcoustiMaxx Bluetooth-enabled safety eyewear syncs with Bluetooth-enabled phones. Earbuds wired inside the sunglasses' arms deliver conversations to your ears; when not in use, the earbuds attach to slick little magnets on the arm tips, out of the way. The setup is easy. When ENR reviewed the glasses, we just held down the power button until the light turned blue, searched for the glasses on our phone's Bluetooth menu and paired them. Then, we plugged in the earbuds and made a call. The whole time, our eyes were protected by the safety glass. The only other function on the glasses is the volume control on the right arm. A micro-USB port under the right arm allows for recharging. Though Honeywell doesn't directly offer prescription glass, your optometrist can outfit them with your prescription.
Photo by Luke Abaffy
Car Connection, Audiovox Electronics Corp., Hauppauge, N.Y. ($153) at Sears; service plans start at $10/month This brand-new telematics device from Audiovox plugs into a vehicle's OBDII port under the dashboard and takes five seconds to install. It pulls operational and location data from the vehicle and communicates with a website dashboard that monitors and records vehicle health, location and the driver's habits. ENR tested it for several weeks. The device monitored fuel economy, computed the operator's driving-safety score and warned of the need to rotate the tires. Options include ZoomSafer technology, which restricts cell-phone usage while driving. With the amount of data available through the OBDII port, the potential for small fleet management seems promising. Audiovox released an Android app on Dec. 14 that will guide you to your vehicle.
Photo by Luke Abaffy
Bald Technologies, Raleigh, N.C. ($699 to $2,495) Bald Technologies is introducing a new line of high-definition touch-screen displays with multi-touch-enabled, plug-and-play technology. The multi-touch technology lets users get iPad-like manipulation of on-screen objects by connecting the display's video and USB cables to any PC. The company is stepping into a highly competitive market, but its ace card is its relatively low price: $699 for a 22-in. display, $1,999 for a two-touch 32-in. display and $2,495 for a 10-touch 32-in. display. A lot of GCs are building BIM kiosks, says David Fuller, president of Bald Technologies. They're taking monitors from Best Buy and putting them in the job box. Fuller says he cut a deal with a Chinese manufacturer of small touch screens to scale up their dimensions and undercut the competition on price. Wanting to bring an economical tool to deliver touch-screen manipulation of building information models to offices and job trailers, Fuller is negotiating with reprographics companies angling for the market to equip jobsite offices with his displays.
Photo courtesy of Bald TEchnologies
MagicJack Plus AND NETTALK DUO WIFI, YMax Corp. and netTALK.com Inc. (About $50 to $90 with one year of service.) The magic of voice-over Internet communications keeps improving. The magicJack Plus combines a land-line phone, an internet router and a wall outlet or USB port to make cheap or even free calls, anywhere. A competitor, the netTALK Duo WiFi, adds the ability to unplug from a wireless router once initial registration is made. Both have VoIP Web interfaces for managing your setup and communications. We found call quality on both devices to be far better than our cell phones.
Photo by Luke Abaffy
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