Efficiency and usefulness aren’t easily measurable metrics. On the one hand, something that can be efficient might not be in the hands of the person using it. On the other hand, somebody might not find something useful, while it might be the most useful thing someone has. So, when someone tells you that you need an item because of how useful or efficient it is, you need to take it with a grain of salt.
However, some devices are genuinely useful to a large portion of the population, which puts them higher on the rating scale for efficiency and usefulness. While some of them can be large pieces of equipment, like security cameras, smart garage door openers, or a huge gaming computer setup that blows away the competition, many others are pint-sized yet effective. Some of my favorite gadgets are small, but I get the most out of them because of how I use them. So, for me, you would say they are both efficient and useful.
It fits in my pocket and is never a bad thing to have on me
Credit: Chris Hachey / MakeUseOf
Why wouldn’t you want something that can do more than just one task? While I’m not the best person at multitasking, it pays to have a tool that can do more than just one designated assignment. The survival tool from Kikkerland is one of the better gifts I’ve received in recent years.
My dad always tries to give everyone in the family a practical gift each Christmas. He’s gotten us electric air pumps for our cars, fire blankets, and picture hanging tools in the past. One year, he gave us this survival tool, which has 11 different functions. The best part is that it fits in your pocket, making it convenient to keep with you wherever you go.
This only measures 2.75″ x 1.75″, but it packs a punch. Made from stainless steel, it is a:
- screwdriver
- can opener
- knife
- ruler
- 4-position wrench
- butterfly screw wrench
- saw blade
- 2-position wrench
- bottle opener
- direction auxiliary indicator
- keychain hole
Is this the sturdiest tool I’ve ever used? No, but it serves the purpose of 11 different functions in a pinch. Being able to quickly cut something like a tag with a saw blade or pop open a bottle cap that you thought was a twist-off but isn’t makes this worthy of a purchase. It won’t set you back a bunch, and it’s a great gift for others.
OTG cables are useful for just about anyone
You can get all kinds of them
Credit: UGREEN
If you’re using an on-the-go (OTG) cable, it’s probably to connect something to your phone or tablet. An OTG cable has one connector on one end and a different connector on the other, making them versatile.
A common OTG cable has a micro-USB or USB-C connector on one end to connect to your phone or tablet, and a standard USB port on the other. This is where you can plug in a flash drive, keyboard, mouse, or a game controller to better utilize your device.
If you’re going to be using an OTG cable with your phone or tablet, it’s smart to buy one that uses the connector of your device with a common option on the other end, so you can get the most out of it.
I’ve used an OTG cable to connect a flash drive to a Kindle Fire before. I’ve connected an external hard drive to an iPad before using one as well. It’s rather simple: all that’s needed is to plug in the devices and make sure they are compatible in terms of software.
Having an OTG cable that suits your devices, or at least most of them, well enough is a smart investment, because it opens up the possibilities for how you use them. Some OTG cables are going to work better with Android devices while others will work better with Apple. Make sure you find the one that works best with your devices.
A three-outlet adapter has made my life easier
It’s small but incredibly helpful
Credit: Chris Hachey / MakeUseOf
I realized recently that I needed to upgrade my outlet. While I wasn’t in the market to completely overhaul the current outlet, we had added a milk frother to our breakfast nook area, and the morning had become a bit more stressful. This had nothing to do with how well the frother works, though.
Our coffee bar section has a Nespresso machine, a milk frother, and an electric tea kettle. All of them need to be plugged in, so I was constantly unplugging the tea kettle and plugging in the milk frother and vice versa. It wasn’t the worst chore in the world, but it was an annoying part of every breakfast time.
I went and bought a 15-amp 3-outlet grounded AC/DC adapter and couldn’t be happier about it. Now, I have the ability to plug in all three of those morning machines into the outlet without trouble. I purchased a second one for my daughter’s room so I could plug in a night light and her humidifier while also plugging in her space heater in the outlet below that.
These are incredibly inexpensive but can help boost your connectivity. The ones I bought are made for indoor use and can easily be slipped into a pocket or a laptop bag.
You can use an AirTag in all kinds of ways
They help you keep track of your belongings
Apple AirTags are the perfect addition to the forgetful person’s life. If you are prone to losing different items, an AirTag will at least make them easier to find.
This is a small device that serves as a tracker. It connects with Apple’s Find My feature, letting you locate the device. AirTags are easy to attach to other items and then are traceable, bringing you back to the AirTag and whatever you have it hooked up to.
Before we invested in a smart collar for my dog, we attached an AirTag to his regular collar, making him easier to track. Using AirTags on luggage is one of the most common ways to utilize them. But there are many other ways you can use AirTags as well.
AirTags can be shared with up to five people, so you can give others the ability to track your device. AirTags can also be pinged, so you can listen for an alert coming from the device as you search for it. iPhones will actually give you directions and let you know whether you’re in the general area of your AirTag.
Small devices can still be incredibly useful
All the devices I mentioned come in a smaller size but are incredibly valuable. Being able to find things with an AirTag or connect devices to my phone or tablet with an OTG cable are incredibly functional assets of the devices. Having a survival tool with you can help you out in a number of situations. Plus, if you have multiple devices you need to plug in, you can do so with a 3-outlet adapter.
- Brand
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Apple
- Material
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Plastic, Metal
An Apple AirTag is a Bluetooth tracker that works with Apple’s Find My app. It can be pinged and will emit a noise to help you find it more easily.