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From Mars to Earth and the Moon, 127 million miles away
The pale blue dot we call home is back in the limelight again. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter grabbed a shot of Earth and our moon with its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) from a pretty staggering distance late last year. Now, it might look a little pixelated at first, but you need to understand the circumstances before casting judgment.
ESA releases first color photos of the EXOMARS crash site
The ESA's EXOMARS Schiaparelli lander crashed into the Red Planet's crust at more than 300 kph on October 19th, marking not only the end of its mission but also the surface itself. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spotted the impact site quickly afterward but it wasn't until this week that its orbit brought the MRO back around. Using its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, the MRO snapped the shot you see above.
The Big Picture: Mars' fractured surface underneath the dunes
The dune images Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter sends back to Earth helps NASA study erosion, wind, weather and movement of materials on the red planet. But this image taken by the orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on July 30th shows the fractured surface underneath sand dunes more prominently. According to the agency, the textured ground could be bedrock that has cracks all over due to extreme temperature changes. Or, it could be a sedimentary layer that developed fractured after it dried up. Either way, NASA can use this photo (among the others that HiRISE took) to take a closer look at the planet's surface.
IRL: the accessories edition
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Darren Murph is the Tupac of our time. Kind of like a West Coast rapper releasing albums 10 years after his death, Darren Murph's byline is still appearing on Engadget a month after he left the site. After the break, we've got all his unpublished work: a series of four mini-reviews for various accessories. And be warned: there's a lot of iPhone and Mac stuff here, so if iDevices aren't your thing, you might want to show yourself out now.
Twelve South introduces GhostStand for MacBook
Now here's a way to make your MacBook look almost like it's floating in mid-air: the design wizards at Twelve South have announced GhostStand (US$34.99), a transparent Lucite platform that elevates a MacBook about six inches off of the desktop for easy viewing. The two blades that make up the GhostStand have double-inlaid brushed-metal rails that are lined with silicone to both grip and protect the MacBook and desk surface. The stand is a wonderful way to elevate a MacBook screen to improve dual-monitor use, and also offers a more ergonomic arrangement for any MacBook user. As with Twelve South's previous recent addition to the family, the HiRise for iPhone 5 / iPad mini, the pricing on this attractive stand is quite reasonable. We're happy to see that Twelve South is making more affordable products that still offer beautiful design and top-quality construction. TUAW will feature a full review of the GhostStand in the near future.
Twelve South HiRise for iPhone gives iOS devices an adjustable perch
There's an abundance of iOS device docks, but many aren't well-suited to deskside use when they sit too low and limit use of the audio jack. Twelve South's new HiRise for iPhone bucks that trend. The stand raises smaller iOS devices closer to eye level, where they're well-positioned for video chats and listening to music with headphones. Owners have to bring their own Lightning cables for power, but they won't have to worry about case or device compatibility thanks to an adjustable rear support. That flexibility helps justify the HiRise's relatively high $35 price -- it won't be obsolete the moment that Apple and accessory makers change form factors.
Twelve South introduces HiRise for MacBook stand, shipping now for $70
Hot on the heels of its HiRise for iMac release, the Mac-only accessory maker known as Twelve South is outing a similar riser for MacBook products. Engineered to hoist MacBooks from 11 to 15 inches up off of one's table, the HiRise for MacBook is a sleek, polished stand that serves a purpose much like the mStand from Rain Design. For avid MacBook users looking for a more ergonomic way to work, this is easily one of the best solutions out there. Unlike most rivals, Twelve South's offering is adjustable, allowing you to raise and lower your MacBook's keyboard and display to match the height of your eyes (or perhaps a nearby monitor). In our testing, we found the build quality to be exceptional, and it's most certainly a piece that you'd be pleased to have sitting alongside your other work peripherals. It's a bit heavy for travel -- but then again, you can't have that base being light enough to tip over -- but those still interested can nab one at the source link for $69.99.
TwelveSouth defies gravity with HiRise for iMac and Cinema Display
Pop quiz: What's holding up your iMac? As handsome as the metal foot design may be, many deskbound Mac mavens eventually find that the fixed-height screen position isn't quite high enough for comfortable ergonomics. In my experience, the same goes for the Cinema Display -- up until yesterday, my office setup included a dusty box set of big band standards deployed as a screen lifter to give me a boost. I've retired the CD box, though, since the Apple-exclusive accessory studio Twelve South sent over the cleverly designed, sleek HiRise adjustable stand for iMac and Cinema Display. This self-assembled unit includes an adjustable internal shelf, which you place at the height you like for supporting your computer's stand. Underneath the shelf (indeed, if you slot it low enough in the enclosure, atop the shelf as well) there's hideaway room for sundry items like keys, cash, USB drives and the like. If you're lucky enough to have both an iMac and a Thunderbolt display, there's a shelf position that will align the two devices' screens exactly. The HiRise includes Mac Pro-style front and back grating covers, which attach via magnets or tiny hex screws (Allen wrench thoughtfully included). The suggested assembly is to permanently attach the back panel, but to leave the front panel removably affixed with the magnets so that you can pull it off, retrieve your stuff and put it back. The enclosure works equally well with a Cinema Display / Mac mini combo, with room at the bottom for the entire computer if you want to stash it there -- in that setup, you can screw the front panel closed as well. Here's the thing, though, and no disrespect to the Twelve South product team (their PlugBug adapter is one of my favorite gadgets). The HiRise is sturdy and well-built, with a true "works with Mac" look in a premium, attractive package. It is also retailing for $79.99. If you find that you're $80 worth of concerned about how well-balanced and clean your desk looks... well, you know who you are, and you're probably already ordering a HiRise at this moment. For the rest of us, if you're considering spending 80 bucks on a display stand that doubles as a storage drawer, how about throwing in a few dollars more to buy yourself some actual storage? OWC's Mercury Pro drives have the same cheesegrater aesthetics, but also have handy USB or Firewire ports to connect you to 500+ GB of external drive capacity. In fact, the Newer Tech MiniStack ships for $89.99 in a bare kit configuration; throw in a spare SATA drive and tuck it under the iMac, problem solved. The HiRise is available now direct from Twelve South, with free ground shipping in the continental US.
Twelve South HiRise takes iMacs and Apple displays to new heights, tidies up in the process
Many of those who buy iMacs and Apple-designed displays are eager to avoid clutter in the first place, which makes an organizer all the more logical for those who'd like Desk Zero almost as much as Inbox Zero. Accessory maker Twelve South's newly available HiRise aims to clean it all up -- and lift it up. The aluminum-and-steel frame elevates Apple's modern all-in-ones and screens to any one of six points while conveniently leaving storage space that goes with the local computing decor, whether it's to hold external hard drives or car keys. Although the HiRise is no trivial expense at $80, it's better for propping up an iMac than an old college textbook, and arguably more useful as a whole.
