Hasta La Gadget!

It’s hard to stay focused while writing on your laptop, tablet or phone, and it’s easy to see why. Notifications constantly pop up on your screen, while the internet and games are just a few clicks away. If you’re an avid writer, it would be worthwhile to invest in a device that limits your distractions without obstructing your workflow. That’s where Freewrite Traveler can help.

Successfully funded on Indiegogo, the Traveler is a portable writing tool that doesn’t just block out distractions; it eliminates them outright, giving you a reliable way to stay focused on your work. Right now, you can add the Freewrite Traveler to your home office setup or everyday carry for $429 when you use coupon code FREEWRITE20 for $20 off.

With the Traveler, you get both the portability of a small tablet and the comfortable typing experience of a full laptop. That’s because it uses a full-sized keyboard with scissor switches for a satisfying tactile response without sacrificing its slim silhouette. You can even choose more than 30 keyboard layouts including QWERTY, AZERTY, DVORAK and more.

This handheld writing device is lightweight, too — just shy of two pounds — not to mention compact at just 11.3 inches at its thickest point. You’ll also find that the E Ink display doesn’t wash out under direct sunlight or reflect any glare. In fact, the display is easier on your eyes than the backlighting from traditional laptops, which emit harmful blue light. Finally, if you were to use the Freewrite Traveler for half an hour a day, every day, the battery would easily last you up to four weeks.

The goal behind the Freewrite Traveler is to give writers a tool that allows them to work with no opportunities for distraction. To that end, it doesn’t feature a browser or email app. You won’t have to worry about space for files on the device either; it contains enough internal storage to hold over one million pages. The Freewrite Traveler does come with WiFi enabled, but it’s only there to seamlessly back up your drafts to the cloud.

Zone in on your work distraction-free with the Freewrite Traveler Portable Writing Tool. It’s on sale right now for $449, or $50 off, but you can save an additional $20 when you use FREEWRITE20 at checkout.

Prices subject to change.

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Amazon has reportedly struck dozens of deals with suppliers to buy stakes in their companies, potentially at lower rates. It has scooped up warrants for at least a dozen publicly traded companies and more than 75 private businesses, according to The Wall Street Journal. Amazon’s stakes and potential stakes in those organizations is worth billions of dollars.

Warrants work in a similar way to stock options. Holders of warrants can buy shares at a fixed price during a certain period. If the share price rises during that time, the warrant holder can swoop in and buy a stake in the company at a below-market rate.

Amazon is said to have warrant deals with Kohl’s, aircraft-leasing companies, call center businesses and hydrogen fuel cell suppliers, among others. Some of the deals have made Amazon one of the top shareholders in the respective companies, according to the report. In several cases, the ecommerce giant has the right to board seats and an option to outbid any acquisition offers.

Leaders at some of the companies suggested they couldn’t turn down Amazon’s proposals, else they could risk losing a big contract to a competitor. Some chalked up Amazon’s demands as the price of doing business.

Amazon told the WSJ that warrant agreements are part of less than one percent of the deals it agrees with suppliers. In some cases, the warrants are connected to certain thresholds. They often don’t come into effect until Amazon purchases a certain level of goods or services.

We’ve seen some other evidence of this strategy in action. Last week, Amazon ordered 1,000 autonomous driving systems from Plus, a company that develops such tech for self-driving trucks. It also has the option to buy up to a 20 percent stake in the startup.

Amazon has reportedly been engaging in this practice over the last decade or so, and it’s said to have ramped up its efforts to secure warrants over the past few years. However, with Amazon facing deepening antitrust scrutiny, regulators may not look favorably on a report that suggests Amazon is pressuring companies into accepting terms that could require them to sell stakes at below-market rates.

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