10 Productivity Gadgets to Add to Your Holiday Shopping List

It’s that time of the year again. You’re probably looking for gifts for a loved one, friend or business associate – or maybe you’re looking for a reward for yourself. This list of 10 gadgets will help the people on your holiday shopping list stay productive on the go, whether it’s for business or personal travel.

The full-featured DIR-510L Portable Wi-Fi Router and Charger from D-Link ($100) offers 433Mbps as a single spatial data stream (802.11ac standard) or 300Mbps as two spatial streams (802.11n). What makes the DIR-510L interesting is its internal 4,000 mAH rechargeable battery, which can power the travel router or charge an attached USB device. As a wireless router, the DIR-510L can share a wired Internet connection via its built-in Ethernet port or a connected mobile 3G/4G/LTE modem.

[ Reviews: 6 Travel Routers That Can Deploy a Secure Wi-Fi Network Almost Anywhere ]

The Doxie Flip ($149) AA-battery-powered scanner will fit in your travel bag to scan on the go. A detachable lid and transparent scanning window allows the entire scanner to be “flipped” to capture pocket notebooks or small objects such as coins and stamps. The Doxie Flip can scan 4-inch-by-6 inch (A6) images at up to 600 dpi, while its small color screen lets users tweak on-board configuration and quickly preview scanned images. Finally, an “AutoStitch” feature lets users merge multiple overlapping scans into a larger image.

[ Related: ‘Neat’ Scanner Apps Do Away With Pesky Paper Receipts ]

The Logitech Keys-To-Go ($70) portable, standalone Bluetooth keyboard is designed for use with smartphones and tablets. The mechanical keyboard offers good tactile response in a 0.24-inch (6mm) offering, while an external fabric layer helps keep dirt, crumbs and spills from its sensitive innards. An internal rechargeable battery offers three months of use, and can be recharged using a standard USB charger. The Keys-To-Go weighs 6.35 ounces (180g) and is available in black, red or teal.

[ More: The 5 Best Wireless Keyboards for Your Tablet ]

The AOC E1759FWU 17-inch USB monitor is a portable widescreen monitor designed for use with laptops or desktops. Built-in DisplayLink technology allows a single USB port to supply both power and plug-and-play connectivity. Designed as a slim and lightweight monitor with the frequent traveler in mind, this monitor fits easily into a backpack or an included carry case. Its 17.3-inch display delivers a 650:1 contrast ratio and 1600 x 900 display resolution, while the removable, foldable flexi-stand supports viewing in either landscape or portrait modes.

[ How-to: 6 Ways to Use Multiple Displays With Your Laptop ]

The Livescribe 3 Smartpen ($150) is designed to work like a premium ballpoint pen. When used with special Livescribe dot paper, the built-in high speed infrared camera unobtrusively digitizes handwriting in real-time and stores it on built-in memory. This wireless syncs to the free Livescribe+ app for the iPhone or iPad. Support for Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology helps the pen last more than 14 hours between charges. Only the iOS platform is supported at the moment, though support for Android 4.4 (KitKat) is in the works.

[ Take Note: Smart Classroom Tools for Tech-Savvy Students ]

The Satechi 3-Port Portable USB 3.0 Hub ($30) adds three USB 3.0 ports to a laptop or desktop. That’s particularly useful for laptops and tablets with a limited number of USB ports. A lightweight and compact design makes the device easy to carry in a laptop bag, while a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port offers physical connectivity to wireless-only systems, which can be invaluable in hotels that don’t offer Wi-Fi connectivity in rooms. The Satechi 3-port Portable USB 3.0 Hub is compatible with Windows, OS X and Linux.

[ More: Essential Gadgets for the Road Warrior ]

The Kensington PresentAir Pro Bluetooth 4.0 Presenter ($60) is a slim, sleek Bluetooth presenter that you want for your next presentation. Bluetooth support means you don’t need a precious USB port for a dongle, while a red laser pointer is conveniently present. The PresentAir Pro offers three distinctive modes of operation – Presenter, Media and a Custom mode that can be configured with the free PresenterWorks app available from Google Play (Android 4.4 and above), the Windows Store (Windows 8.1) and the Apple App Store (iOS 8). The PresentAir Pro is powered by an AAA battery for up to 8 months of standby battery life.

[ How-to: Use Your Smartphone for Business Presentations ]

The Icon Wireless Over-Ear Headphones by A-Audio ($379) may be just what the doctor ordered to help you hone in on your work. The headphone works with a cable but also supports Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless music. A rechargeable battery offers 12 hours of wireless playback. A foldable design and included carrying case makes these headphones an ideal travel accessory; so, too, does active noise cancellation.

[ Related: Apple and SMS Audio Working on Health-Monitoring Headphones ]

The BeoPlay A2 ($400), a trendy portable speaker from B&O PLAY by Bang & Olufsen, packs huge sound in a 2.4-pound (1.1kg) package. The company says the BeoPlay A2 offers up to 180W of peak power courtesy of its digital Class D amplifiers, and it can keep the music going for up to 24 hours of battery life. The BeoPlay A2 incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 support for wireless streaming and also sports a standard line-in jack. Finally, a USB port also lets users charge USB-powered devices when playing back music.

[ More: 8 Great Portable Speakers for Your Next Road Trip ]

The Fitbit Charge ($130) is the perfect gadget for anyone who’s always on the go to track activity levels. Essentially an improved version of the Fitbit Force that was recalled earlier this year, the Fitbit Charge features a new high quality, textured wristband design and an improved clasp. Under the hood, it offers improved motion analysis to detect activities such as climbing stairs, or sleeping. An OLED display displays the time as well as real-time stats. Finally, the Fitbit Charge can be paired to a smartphone to show an incoming caller’s name and number.

[ Also: Why Activity Trackers Still Trump Fitness Apps ]