IT Professionals have trusted StarTech.com for their connectivity accessories for over 35 years. We’ve earned this trust by continually developing products that meet and exceed their rigorous technical performance requirements and staying ahead of the constantly evolving technology curve. The Engineers in our Innovation Lab understand the needs of IT pros because they are IT pros themselves and are continually looking for new and innovative ways to solve connectivity problems. Here’s an overview of some of our recent product enhancements that will make the jobs of IT Pros easier while improving productivity in your organization. Connecting your laptop to an external display or plugging in your phone to charge and getting no response is a frustration that most of us have experienced. This is often caused by poorly constructed cables and connectors which can lead to unexpected downtime and decreased productivity. StarTech.com’s newest line of performance cables solves the problem of broken and damaged cables by offering reinforced strain relief in cable moldings. This prevents bending and breaking while connected to a device or while stowed for travel. For example, our new HDMI 2.1 8K cables are designed and tested to withstand more than 10,000 insertions and 600 bend cycles (+/- 60 degrees). New cables are also offering a more durable longer lasting thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) cable jacket rather than the traditional polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials used on other cables. TPE construction improves flexibility and reduces strain, improving the durability and life of the cable. It also provides a more premium look and feel, keeping boardrooms, offices, and other areas looking professional. Want to learn more about StarTech.com Performance Cables? Check out our post HERE Our transition to a new hybrid-style of working has opened businesses and users up to a greater degree of risk regarding device security. With team members working at hotel desks or co-working locations, its not uncommon for accessories such as docking stations to go missing, resulting in increased downtime and additional strain on IT support. With this in mind, our Product Development team have integrated lock slots into all new laptop docking stations, making it easy to secure one of your most critical productivity accessories. StarTech.com also offers a wide variety of laptop locks and locking accessories to pair with our docking stations. Another enhancement of our new laptop docking stations is support for locking cables. This simple but critical feature serves not only a security function but also ensures a physically secure connection between dock and cable to avoid accidental disconnects. As an added benefit, all StarTech.com docking stations that support locking cables include a locking USB host cable in the box. This new locking-cable design will be sure to reduce calls to your IT departments' help desk due to issues your team experiences as a result of missing, broken and insecurely connected host cables. As an added benefit, our locking cables are USB-IF certified to maximize performance and compatibility. Finally, many StarTech.com docking stations can be securely mounted on the back of VESA monitors or another flat surface such as a desk or wall. This useful feature reduces the clutter caused by various cables running to and from their laptop, display and peripherals. With that in mind, we have also added durable rubberized padding on the base of each dock to keep it place for a tidier and more productive workspace, when mounting is not an option. A small but important update we’ve made to our docking stations is the inclusion of a power button. Previously, powered docks consumed a small but continuous amount of electricity when plugged in, even when not in use. The power button allows users to turn the unit off when not being used to prevent unnecessary energy consumption. In large organizations with many docking stations in use, the energy-saving benefits of this capability can be substantial over time. The addition of the power button on StarTech.com docking stations also provided for a quick and easy way to reset the docking station to resolve potential connectivity issues a user may face, before engaging with IT Help Desk staff for assistance. This will, in most cases, get the user up and running quickly, while also keeping your IT staff free for more complex tasks. One of the most significant changes with our new docking stations is a more user-friendly and accessible design through the strategic placement of ports. New docking stations will have more ports placed on the back, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, USB-A and USB-C ports. This will reduce cable clutter on workstations which is always helpful, especially when working in offices using a hotel or hot desk design. Ports that are needed to frequently connect or reconnect to devices such as the USB-C host port, 3.5 mm headphone jack and additional USB-A and USB-C ports, will be placed on the front of the dock. This will make it easier for users to connect their devices, such as a smartphone or tablet for charging, without reaching around the back of the dock and further reduce cable clutter. A further design element added or improved on select StarTech.com products is the inclusion of built-in cable management for devices like display adapters, USB-C multiport adapters, and hubs. The built-in cable will be longer than most models currently availabile on the market to make connections easier. The cable management system reduces clutter while improving portability. This feature also reduces strain on ports when used with devices that are mounted or on risers, improving reliability. For years, connectivity accessories were designed with one goal in mind; enhance the connectivity abilities of your devices. While that is still true today, we realize that the previously utilitarian design of most accessories does not stand up to today's demands as users are working from places beyond the cubicle in their office. Users want accessories, like docks and adapters, to be aesthetically pleasing and complimentary to work environments on top of performing to their expectations. New StarTech.com products feature a consistent more modern colour allowing them to blend in seamlessly with laptops and other devices commonly found in business settings. These are just a few of the enhancements we’ve made to our products recently to improve performance, reliability and user experience. We’re always looking for new ways to innovate to ensure IT pros have the accessories they need to make businesses more productive and make it easier to get the job done. Want to learn more about StarTech.com's commitment to IT Pro Performance? Visit our IT Pro Performance page. Do you have thoughts or ideas on how to improve StarTech.com products? Visit our IT Pro Community and let us know what you would like to see in future products.