Skip to main content

Smartoo lets travelers turn their suitcase into a smart desk for their laptop

Whether you’re a frequent business traveler who works on the go or a regular globetrotter who always likes to have their laptop close by, getting comfy with your computer while you wait for your flight can be a tricky affair.

The ingenious Smartoo mobile desk hopes to change all that. No more balancing your computer on your lap. No more twisting and turning with the laptop by your side. And no more wasting time looking for a free table or ledge on which to perch your PC.

Currently an Indiegogo project and featured in the crowdfunding company’s “Team Favorites Collection,” the Smartoo is quick to install, and, thanks to its adjustable clamp system, fits pretty much any suitcase that has a telescopic handle.

Recommended Videos

It copes comfortably with your best laptop and also includes a slot to prop up tablets and smartphones. A neat addition is a removable power bank to give your handset a juice boost while you wait for an update on your flight delay. When you’re done using it, you simply fold it in two and drop it in your bag.

Created by New York-based Enblue Technology, the Smartoo’s Indiegogo page features a nice set of images showing the device in everyday use. There’s a photo of a guy using it on a subway train, and another at a station. The same besuited fella is even shown sitting in a small rowing boat on Central Park Lake. With a suitcase. And a Smartoo. It looks a bit bonkers, but hey, you never know when a spot of urgent work might come your way.

Enblue Technology
Enblue Technology

Enblue is aiming for $20,000 in funding, and has another month left to reach its target. If you’re quick, you can take advantage of one of a number of early-bird offers. These include, for example, a $65 deal that scores you one Smartoo and one power bank, as well as a tasty 35 percent saving on the expected $100 retail price.

If all goes well for Enblue’s campaign and the team hits all of its target development dates, you could be plopping your laptop or mobile device onto the Smartoo as early as December 2017.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
This smart mug literally glows to let you know how hot it is
glowstone smart mug 2 glows when its hot lifestyle

Do you feel like your coffee gets cold too quickly, or that your coffee just tastes weird in certain mugs? You might be right -- some materials cool more quickly or retain the flavor of previous drinks, even after they're washed. The Glowstone Smart Mug 2 is made out of fine bone china, which means it doesn't absorb the odor or aroma of other beverages. Your coffee or tea will taste exactly as it's supposed to, at exactly the temperature it's supposed to be. And best of all, it glows to let you know it's warm.

The mug keeps your drink at exactly 145 degrees Fahrenheit for up to an hour. When the mug reaches the ideal temperature, it starts to glow. The Glowstone Smart Mug 2 charges through a Qi charging pad, but all of the electronic components and heating elements are inside the mug. It's dishwasher safe, so you won't have to worry about only hand-washing it.

Read more
Amazon’s Smart Thermostat lets Alexa choose the best temp
The Amazon Smart Thermostat installed on a wall.

Amazon is finally hopping on the smart thermostat train. Revealed at the company's annual fall conference, the Amazon Smart Thermostat, produced in collaboration with Honeywell, will sell for $60.

Compatible with most residential 24-volt HVAC systems, this Energy-Star certified thermostat will go toe-to-toe with the likes of Google Nest, Ecobee, and other competitors. But compared to the rest, Amazon's offering looks to be one of the cheapest smart thermostats on the market, period. And once you add in things like energy provider rebates and other savings tools, it becomes clear just how great of an investment the Amazon Smart Thermostat could be.

Read more
Not a fan of Bixby? Samsung’s Family Hub smart fridge lets you chat with Alexa
samsung new smart fridge lets you chat with alexa bixby family hub

Samsung's built-in voice assistant is Bixby, but sadly, the little assistant has not earned a huge fan base. This is due in part to its limited functionality compared to larger assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant (and even Siri.) Samsung presents an alternative solution to users that don't want to use Bixby in the new, next-generation Family Hub smart refrigerator: Amazon Alexa.

Alexa is a more powerful option, with more widespread functionality that extends beyond the base options included in the Family Hub. From the Hub, you can control other smart devices in your home, stream music to set the perfect mood while cooking, mirror your TV screen so dinner doesn't interrupt your binge-watching, search recipes, share pictures, and even order groceries.

Read more