8 Tech Gadgets You’ll Want to Have

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show showcased plenty of products that can keep you more connected in your real estate business and impress your clients. Each year, companies tout new phones, cameras, computers, and other gadgets during the four-day conference that offers a peek at the latest advancements in technology. But you don’t have to be a tech fanatic to appreciate some of these latest James Bond-esque gadgets.

Sony Xperia Z
Price: Not yet determined
Availability: First quarter of 2013

This 4G LTE smartphone can survive a water spill or even a dip in a puddle. Sony’s Xperia Z will still work after a dunk in up to about three feet of water. Besides its ruggedness, the Android-powered smartphone boasts plenty of features, including a large 5-inch display, quad-core processing, and a 13-megapixel camera that can capture photos in low-light conditions with a special HDR mode feature.

Asus Transformer AiO P1801
Price: Starting at $1,299
Availability: First quarter of 2013

For those of you who can’t decide if you should buy a new tablet or computer: How about both, all in one? The Asus Transformer AIO P1801 is a PC that features an 18.4-inch display screen. When you’re on the go, you can remove the screen and use it as a large tablet instead. The Asus Transformer also features dual operating systems: Windows 8 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. A button along the right edge of the tablet allows you to easily toggle between the two.

Sensus
Price: Between $59 and $99
Availability: Summer 2013

Canopy’s new iPhone case adds touch response for up to 10 fingers to the entire surface of your iPhone. You can browse a Web page by running your thumb along the side to scroll up or down. If you’re shooting photos, you’ll can use the back or right side of the iPhone to control camera features, rather than having to swipe to zoom or tap to expose on the screen. It also serves as a protective case for your phone. It works with iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5. Coming soon: iPad Mini, iPod Touch, and iPad retina versions.

E Fun’s Apen Touch8
Price: $80
Availability: First quarter of 2013

Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system has been criticized for its lack of ease of use without a touch-screen computer. E Fun’s Apen Touch8 is a cordless, digital stylus for using Windows 8 on older monitors. You’ll be able to enjoy the full Windows 8 experience by using the stylus to slide, swipe, zoom, open files, search the Internet, and sign documents — without having to buy a new computer.

Casio G-Shock Bluetooth Watch
Price: Starting around $269
Availability: February 2013

You can’t be James Bond without a high-tech watch. The Casio G-Shock Bluetooth Watch syncs with phones that have Bluetooth 4.0 or above (as of now, linking to iPhone 4/4S and 5). The watch can alert you to incoming e-mails, text messages, and phone calls. Press a button on the watch and your smartphone will also sound a tone to let you know where you left your phone, so you never lose it. This water-resistant watch also boasts two years of operation on a single coin type battery.

Samsung NX300 Camera
Price: $750
Availability: March 2013

Samsung introduced the NX300 camera, a 20-megapixel, mirrorless camera with Wi-Fi to connect to your smartphone and automatically send photos to your computer or to your social networks. You can also purchase an accessory 45 mm lens for the NX300 that, with a flip of a switch, can go from shooting photos and videos in 2-D to 3-D — the first of its kind. The optional NX300 45 mm lens will retail for an additional $500.

Connected Car
Price: TBD
Availability: First quarter of 2013

Let others keep tabs on you while you’re showing clients around. This device from Delphi allows live tracking of your vehicle from a smartphone or Web browser. It also boasts plenty of features to allow you to control, track, locate, secure, and monitor your car from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can use it to unlock your car door or even operate the panic horn remotely. It also can automatically generate trip logs to help you file reports for tax time. The key fob is compatible with most cars sold in the U.S. built after 1996.

ChargeCard
Price: $25
Availability: Can be ordered now

This credit card–sized charger has a fold-out USB arm that can be snapped into your smartphone to give it the extra juice it needs when the battery is running low. The charger is so thin you can store it in your wallet or pocket or even tuck it inside your phone’s case. ChargeCard is currently available for iPhone 4, but a micro USB version is coming soon that’s compatible with other smartphones, like BlackBerry and Android.