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Twelve South debuts BackPack 2 shelf accessory for iMac with three enhancements
By now, you're likely familiar with Twelve South, the Mac-minded accessory maker that prides itself on staying small. Well, three years after the debut of its first product, the BackPack, it's refining the shelf accessory in three ways that'll make you smile. If you'll remember, the BackPack originally began its life as an attachable storage shelf for the iMac and Apple Display, which sat discretely behind the unit. Now, not only can the BackPack 2 be attached in a forward-facing manner, but it also offers integrated cable management and vertical support pegs to properly hold equipment such as the MacBook Air and upright hard drives. In all, the BackPack 2 will accommodate up to 3.5 pounds of gear, and it's available now for $34.99. If you'd like to get acquainted with the redesign, just check the gallery below. %Gallery-161586%
Twelve South BackPack gets a nice update for its third birthday
When Apple accessory design shop Twelve South first got into business three years ago, its fate rode on the success of one product -- the BackPack. This product consists of a shelf with tool-free clips that can be used on the "arm" of any iMac or Apple Thunderbolt (or Cinema) Display, and it's been a hot seller since day one. Now Twelve South has given the three-year-old product a new look and new capabilities. The new BackPack (US$34.99) now adds vertical support pegs, cable management rails, and the ability to use the BackPack as a front-facing shelf. The support pegs can be used to hold a MacBook Air vertically on the back of a ThunderBolt Display or provide additional support for a vertically-standing hard disk drive. The built-in cable management rails keep cables handy -- unplug a drive, computer, or peripheral, and the cable stays put for you to plug back in later. One of the biggest changes is the ability to use the BackPack as a forward-facing shelf. Up to this point, the shelves always faced away from the front of the device. Now you can use it as a place to store your iPhone, your wallet, a SecureID fob, or anything else that needs to be above the desk clutter. Of course, you can always use the shelves in their original back-facing position like I do -- I have two that are used to display small art works to people who are standing at my desk. It's nice to see a good product get an update. You can purchase the new BackPack directly from the TwelveSouth website. For more information, read our review of the original product.
Ask Engadget: best cheap external Macbook Air monitor?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Neil, who wants a display for his Macbook Air that costs less than a cinema display. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Dear Engadget, I use my Macbook Air in clamshell mode 95% of the time. I use an Acer V223W 22-inch monitor, but connected over Mini Displayport to DVI, it looks dull and fuzzy. I know an Apple Cinema Display is fantastic, but I don't want to splurge over $1000 for one. Can you suggest something a little more reasonably priced please? Thank you!" The first thing that came to our mind was one of Dell's high-end offerings, the 27-inch U2711 is available for $815 (a little cheaper) and comes with the same 2560 x 1440 IPS panel. But we suspect there's an even better option out there, tucked away in the brains of our commenters. So why not share your knowledge with the group and add a note below?
Kanex offers switch for 2 Macs, 1 Cinema Display with SnapX
Kanex has a new switch, the SnapX, that lets you connect two Macs with one Apple Cinema Display. The SnapX is an all-in-one unit that ships with two mini DisplayPort cables, two USB connectors and one button to switch between the two machines. Besides a video signal, the SnapX uses the USB cables to pass through data, audio and the images from your Mac's webcam. Tidy and neat looking, the SnapX has a clip to attach it to your Cinema display. The switch will ship in September for a reasonable US$69. [Via Engadget] Show full PR text Kanex Unveils SnapX – Two Port Switcher for Apple LED Cinema Display Connect two Mac computers to one Apple Cinema Display Brea, CA - August 3, 2011 – Kanex, maker of audio-visual solutions for Apple computers, is excited to unveil the new SnapX two port switcher designed specifically for 24 and 27 inch Apple LED Cinema Displays (ACD). The compact and USB powered SnapX allows users to easily toggle between two different Mac computers including iMac, Macbook Air, Mac mini, Macbook Pro, and new Mac models with Thunderbolt through the ACD. The plug and play SnapX features two mini DisplayPorts and two USB ports. Simply plug in both Mac computers to the built-in 5ft mini DisplayPort and USB cables. Users then plug in the ACD native display cables to the SnapX. Once linked, users are able to utilize the iSight camera and direct the audio of the connected computers through the ACD speakers without altering the audio or video quality. The user friendly one button design allows users to effortlessly switch between both sources. The SnapX features an ergonomic, sleek, clip-on design which fits snuggly on the bottom of the ACD stand. Additionally, the SnapX organizes all wires neatly behind the display providing a clutter-free environment. This also reduces stress on the connectors preventing intermittent signal loss due to loose cable connections. The SnapX is available now for pre-order and will begins shipping in September for $69 at KanexLive.com/SnapX. For the latest on the SnapX and other Kanex products, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. About Kanex Kanex offers an extensive selection of product solutions that specifically designed to provide new and exciting ways to connect devices and displays in a rapidly changing technological world. For more information about Kanex and its products, go to www.KanexLive.com. Kanex is a trademark or registered trademarks of Apogee Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. Apple, Mac, and Apple Cinema Display are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries.
SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display
Got a pair of Macs laying around, but don't want to shell out for two Apple Cinema Displays? We don't blame you, those things are expensive. A little company called Kanex has a solution for you though, the SnapX. SnapX is, at it's heart, simply a port switcher that lets you connect two DisplayPort-equipped Macs to a single Cinema Display. But, the glossy $70 adapter does have a few neat features, like USB pass through for firing up the iSight camera and a clip for securing it to the base of the monitor. The SnapX is available for pre-order now and starts shipping to Apple devotees in September. One more pic and some PR await after the break.
Apple leaks Cinema Display refresh, teases dual-monitor Thunderbolt setup?
The cat Apple is out of the bag, apparently. Thanks to a leak on its website, there's evidence that Cupertino's readying a formal introduction of Thunderbolt to more devices. Keen eyes from MacRumors have spotted products on the site now sporting OS X Lion backgrounds, notably, what appears to be T-bolt connected Cinema Displays. The images showing the hook-up no longer appear to be listed, but the dual-setup above sure looks nifty. Considering Lion's got about two weeks left to rear its head and meet that July release, we'd surmise it won't be long until you'll be able to opt for a similar rig. Now can we please just get an anti-glare option? [Thanks, Trey]
Some Thunderbolt MacBook Pros causing flicker on Cinema Displays, Apple investigates (updated)
In a world of sophisticated electronics these days, there are always risks to being an early adopter. Alas, it appears that our latest victims are owners of Apple's Thunderbolt-laden MacBook Pros. Since launch, a number of frustrated customers have been reporting that their new unibody laptops -- of all three sizes -- are causing random flicker on both 24-inch and 27-inch Cinema Displays when connected via their Mini DisplayPort / Thunderbolt combo port, and now we have video proof to share the pain. Some also confirmed that even replacement machines from Apple are exhibiting the same behavior, though a source of ours says this doesn't seem to be a widespread issue, and that the company's hardware engineers are already looking into this. Either way, we're likely to see a firmware fix for this bug soon -- it's no good having a large monitor constantly blinking at you. [Thanks, Armando] Update: sja3274, the creator of the original video above, informed us that his Cinema Display actually had a faulty connection anyway, but he still saw flicker on a new display -- much like the behavior shown in the second video. As such, we've replaced our first video embed with our second one. Additionally, sja3274 was originally told to expect a software update last Tuesday or Wednesday, but obviously that didn't happen, so perhaps this is a trickier fix than Apple expected.
Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display is now shipping
Your favorite fruit-flavored company couldn't stand idly by and let Dell take all the IPS glory this week. Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display, announced in late July, has at long last been set free to venture forth and mesmerize people with its glossy screen and 2560 x 1440 resolution. The entry fee is set at $999, though deliveries will take a pretty glacial one to two weeks to reach your porch. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple's 24-inch and 30-inch Cinema Displays on the outs
Now that Apple's unleashing a 27-inch Cinema Display in September, what's to become of its 24-inch and 30-inch bookend brethren? Straight from the mouths of Apple execs and disseminated by way of Macworld's Jason Snell -- a man who would most definitely be in the know -- the dynamic duo is being discontinued. End of the line is when supplies run out, so better place your orders now if you aren't hip to monitors with diagonal lengths divisible by 9.
Apple Cinema Display goes to 27 inches, 16:9 aspect ratio
Having reached a grand old age in the rapidly cycling tech world, Apple's 24-inch LED Cinema Display is today getting itself a new sibling. The new 27-inch display clocks in at a 2560 x 1440 resolution, sports a 16:9 aspect ratio, and does it all for the (not so) low price of $999. That might not sound like a steal, but Dell's similar U2711 (both offer IPS at the same resolution) actually retails for a hundie more at $1,099. For the price Apple includes a built-in iSight camera, a three port powered USB hub, and a universal MagSafe connector for charging up your MacBook. Like the 24-inch before it, Apple has really built this display to be the ultimate MacBook or MacBook Pro companion, since a single cable breaks out into the USB, Mini DisplayPort (with audio support), and MagSafe plug that are just about all your laptop requires when sitting down at a desk. PR is after the break, and the screen will start shipping in September. %Gallery-98273%
Rain Design's iMac turntable sends the iMac for a spin
iMacs are great, except when you have one sitting with its back to a wall and you need to plug something into the back of it. Particularly with the larger models, you end up having to pick up the iMac and swing it around to get to those ports on the back. Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you could just spin it? That's the idea behind the Rain Design i360, a turntable that encloses the base of an iMac or Apple Cinema Display, and then allows easy movement of the display. Want to show a co-worker on the "back" side of your iMac something? Just spin the entire computer around. Need to plug or unplug something? No problem -- just swing the iMac or Cinema Display around and do it. I've had an i360 on my first-generation Intel iMac since just after I bought it, and I can't count the number of times that it has saved me from having to pick up the computer and slide it around to plug something in. I've recommended the i360 to many of my Mac consulting customers who have iMacs or Cinema Displays, and many of them end up buying the device.
Quick! Where's the debug menu?
Matt Thomas has a bug stuck in his 23" Apple Cinema Display. Amusingly, the little fella is still alive: check out the video above to see it wandering across his screen. He has absolutely no idea how to get the bug out (although one commentator suggests he should lure the bug out with morsels of food) so at the moment Matt's hoping for the bug to graciously die off screen. The same thing happened to me with my 17" Samsung LCD, I believe it was even the same type of bug! I too waited for the bug to die off screen but instead, the bug decided to lay his grave in the dead centre, right at eye level. Now whenever friends use my screen they instictually attempt to swipe it away. What do I say to them when they ask about it? "Well, I was playing this game called Bugdom - it crashed really bad one day and left one of the bugs behind". Gets 'em every time.
