twelvesouth
Latest
AirFly Pro can stream Bluetooth audio to and from any 3.5mm jack
The advantage of switching to wireless headphones is not having to worry about cords getting tangled up and tugging uncomfortably at your ears. The downside, however, is that there are still plenty of devices out in the world which only output audio through a 3.5mm jack. Apple accessory company TwelveSouth has a solution, with a new dongle that converts an aux-in jack to a wireless receiver so you can listen to just about anything with your AirPods or other wireless headphones.
The best iPhone and iPad accessories
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. A huge ecosystem of accessories surrounds the iPad and iPhone, with options to handle pretty much any need. At The Wirecutter, we spend dozens of hours (at least) on each of our reviews to find the best gear for all parts of your life. Here are some of our favorites for your iOS devices. This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter/The Sweethome. To see the current recommendations, please go here.
Talkcast tonight, 7pm PT/10pm ET: Accessory Edition!
New dial-in experience! Set up Fuze Meeting before the show if you want to join in live. It's certainly been a weekend, hasn't it? Of course it would be incomplete without the latest TUAW talkcast! You never know who might drop by for a chat. (This is my way of letting you know we have a scheduled guest, and maybe you should drop by to see who it is...) Also, we'll be talking accessories, those bits and pieces that make life with your Mac or iPhone a bit easier or cooler or more fun. Get links to your favorites and join us! Reminder on new-style talkcasting: With some help from the fine folks at Fuze, we're using a new system to record the show. This should let everyone listen in live -- and, if you want, raise your hand as you would in the Talkshoe room to get unmuted and chime in. You can join the call in progress (meeting # is 20099010) at 10 pm ET from any computer via this link; if you download the Mac or Windows Fuze clients ahead of time, you'll get better audio and a slicker experience, but browser-only will work fine. Just click the phone icon to join the audio once you're in. Using an iPhone or iPad? Grab the native clients from the App Store and get busy. (Even Android users can join the party.) Still feel like using the conventional phone dial-in? Just call 201-479-4595 and enter the meeting number 20099010, then press #. While the Fuze web and native clients have a chat channel, we'd like to reserve that for host participants, requests to talk and other real-time alerts... so the full-on chat for the show will appear in this very post at 10 pm tonight. You'll need Twitter, Facebook or Chatroll credentials to participate in the chat. We'll remind everyone to check back in at that time.
Engadget goes hands-on with CarPlay and other news from March 4, 2014
Sister site Engadget and other sites are starting to get a hands-on look at Apple's CarPlay system, one of the holdovers from last year's WWDC. As Engadget observes: The first thing we noticed is how speedy everything is. Apps load quickly, and Siri's contextual algorithms hastily recognized our voice commands and responded appropriately. Apple has also implemented safety features to ensure services do not draw your attention away from the road and push forward its "hands-free" theme. For example, when we sent or received a message from a contact, Siri would only read the message back to us and we never once got the chance to see its contents. You can see the full video above. Other news from Tuesday afternoon includes: RadioShack plans to close 1,100 of its stores, meaning that for some, they will have to seek elsewhere to get an iPhone. Apple has won a patent that is designed to listen to your voicemail as the message is being recorded in an effort to screen calls. John Gruber has "heard from a little birdie" that the iTunes Festival app for the US festival requires iOS 7.1, ergo it should drop any time now. We at TUAW got to try out TwelveSouth's SurfacePad for the iPhone during Macworld/iWorld 2013, and now there's a version out for the iPad mini. For those holding out for a larger version for the iPad Air, it should be on the way in the spring. And kick back with these features: Gazelle, Apple, security, and your iPhone My cat Cinnamon reviews Friskies Cat Fishing 2 Neptor Portable Battery Pack proves power accessories can be stylish A history of Samsung advertising gone wrong
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 BookBook Travel Journal: Beautiful leatherbound travel case
As a frequent reviewer of Apple accessories, one of the joys of my job is to receive an email from a manufacturer that makes me just say "Wow! I must have one of those!" That was the situation this morning when I received an email from Charleston, SC-based Twelve South about its new BookBook Travel Journal (US$99.99). For those of us who travel a lot, this book-like travel case is the perfect answer to the age-old question of "Where do I put all of my stuff?" It's designed for use with an iPad or iPad mini, and has space for everything you might need for an extended trip with your gizmo. A place to put the headphones? Check. A place for a charger brick or two? Yep. How about a place for a battery pack to keep everything going during an extended flight or drive? Got it. All of this is built around a nice padded and lined slot for your iPad buddy, and four pockets -- one of which is hidden. It's all in a beautiful leatherbound "book" measuring 8 x 10.3 x 1.9 inches. Twelve South has made other BookBook cases for everything from the iPhone to the MacBook, and they're all well-designed and sturdily built. We hope to get the BookBook Travel Journal for a review soon.
Hands-on with Twelve South's GhostStand for MacBook
Apple-only accessory design shop Twelve South announced the new GhostStand for MacBook (US$34.99) last week, and TUAW received one of the sleek, clear polycarbonate stands soon afterward for review. The GhostStand is a perfect accompaniment to a MacBook and external keyboard, lifting the laptop up to an ergonomically superior level. The GhostStand is packaged in Twelve South's classy traditional "gift box" and upon opening, you're greeted with the view of the two clear pieces that make up the X-shaped stand. In case you're wondering about the name, the stand is inspired by designer Phillipe Starck's Ghost Chair, a clear polycarbonate chair that seems to almost disappear from sight. Much in the same way, the GhostStand just "gets out of the way." The MacBook (any model) seems, from a distance, to be just floating in air. The GhostStand requires one-time assembly; what you put together, Twelve South suggests "let no man put asunder." The two pieces are carefully machined with some pretty tight tolerances and assembly requires that one piece slides inside the other, then two slots align. It takes a little bit of force, and taking it apart again might cause issues. When we first ran the news about the release of the GhostStand, one of our bloggers asked what kept the MacBook from just sliding off. Good question! It turns out that on the angled top surface, there are thin aluminum strips lined with silicone that are machined into place. Similar strips are located on the bottom of the pieces as well so that the GhostStand doesn't slide on hard surfaces. I usually split out the design and functionality pieces of my reviews, but in the case of the GhostStand, the two are intricately linked. This stand is a perfect example of architect Louis Sullivan's credo that "Form follows function." The function: hold a MacBook above a desk or table where it can be viewed more easily and used with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse/trackpad. The form: an incredibly sturdy, yet almost invisible X of plastic. The open X design allows cooling air to flow all around the MacBook, perfect for older devices that had a tendency to overheat on occasion. To see the GhostStand in action, be sure to check out the gallery above. Twelve South has definitely done it again with a MacBook accessory that's beautiful, functional and very reasonably priced.
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 5/iPad mini: Adjustable, affordable, attractive
Design house Twelve South is dedicated to creating Apple accessories that you want to buy, and its latest product is no exception. The HiRise (US$34.99) is a charging desk stand created for two of Apple's mobile products -- the iPhone 5 and iPad mini -- and is different from most similar stands in that it is adjustable to fit a variety of iPhone cases. Design Like all Twelve South products, the HiRise comes to you in an attractive box with a sincere "Thank You." Some assembly is required, so instructions on setting up the HiRise are available in a small booklet, or you can choose to watch the process online. The HiRise is beautifully machined out of aluminum, featuring a flat stand that is sized to be stable under the load of an iPad mini, a short riser that contains one of three plastic clips (more on those later), and another taller riser that serves as a back rest for your device. The base has a rubber foundation to help keep it from moving; it also has the side benefit of toning down those loud buzzes when your iPhone is in vibrate mode and sitting on a hard surface. Functionality As mentioned earlier, the HiRise needs a wee bit of assembly. An Allen wrench is secreted under a plastic door on the bottom of the base; it's used to install a four screws later on. You need to provide your own Lightning cable as well, so if you want to keep your existing cable for mobile charges, head on out to your local Apple Store and purchase another one. Twelve South includes three custom plastic clips that are used to hold the Lightning connector at varying distances from the base. For situations where you aren't using a case with your iPhone 5 or iPad mini, you use the "0" clip. For a case with some extra depth -- the OtterBox Defender, for example -- the "5" clip is more appropriate. Thinner cases like the Griffin Reveal or Speck CandyShell use the intermediate "3" clip. I use a Mophie Juice Pack Helium and recharge my iPhone 5 with the bottom of the case removed, so I chose to install the "0" clip. Next, you install the rear support -- what I called the "back rest" -- and adjust it to match the thickness of the case. I wouldn't suggest using the HiRise with a case that's thicker than the Juice Pack Helium, as I had to move the rear support as far back as possible to accommodate the battery pack. Once everything is adjusted, the Lightning cable can be snugged into a channel on the bottom of the stand and the plastic door snapped back into place. And voila! You now have an attractive aluminum stand on which your iPhone 5 or iPad mini can stand in style while charging up. It's no secret that I really like Twelve South's products. It's also no secret that I usually think their products are overpriced. The HiRise is a refreshing exception to that rule -- it's well worth the $35 in terms of the quality of the materials, the custom fit, and the solid functionality. Conclusion For many people, just plopping their iPhone or iPad mini down on a desktop for charging is fine. But for those who would rather have an attractive stand that holds your device above the clutter, the Twelve South HiRise for iPhone 5/iPad mini is a solid performer. Pros Adjustable to fit a variety of iPhone 5 cases, also works with the iPad mini Well-written instructions for assembly backed by a short online video Price is right on target for a classy and well-built accessory Like many of Twelve South's products, it looks like something Apple would design Cons None to speak of Who is it for? Anyone who owns an iPhone 5 or iPad mini and is looking for a classy charging stand
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 HiRise: A stylish stand for your iPhone or iPad mini
The Twelve South labs in Charleston, SC are always brimming over with new ideas, and today one of those ideas came to light in the form of the HiRise (US$34.99), a metal pedestal stand for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini. When you're not running about with your iPhone 5 in your pocket, the HiRise is a place where it can perch. The stand charges your device using your Lightning charging cable, and positions the iPhone -- or iPad mini -- at a raised height so you can easily engage in FaceTime or Skype conversations hands-free. Twelve South notes that the HiRise can be used with many iPhone 5 cases installed, including the OtterBox Defender, Speck CandyShell and its own BookBook for iPhone. The rear support is adjustable forward and back to compensate for the different thicknesses of cases and shells, and since the devices are raised off the desk or table surface, sound is completely unimpeded. The HiRise is available for purchase today from the Twelve South website, and we'll have a full review soon.
Twelve South's SurfacePad for iPhone: sleek, slim and sleather
Yeah, sleather's not a word, but I'm going to use it anyway because I love alliteration. Twelve South, that wonderful company that has brought a gaggle of gorgeous Apple-only products to life, has just announced the SurfacePad for iPhone (US$34.99). Here's a quick review of this latest addition to the Twelve South family. Design I refused to put a case of any sort onto my iPhone 5 for one very personal reason; I love the sleek look of the phone. But, as expected, I got a little scratch on the anodized black aluminum as a result of my stubborn refusal to put the device into a case. At a meeting with Twelve South founders Andrew and Leigh-Ann Green last night, the company unveiled the SurfacePad for iPhone. The case immediately attracted my attention -- it's thin and it's genuine leather. The leather makes each case literally one of a kind, with a unique feel and look that improves with age. The company built upon experience from the SurfacePad leather cover for MacBook, creating a durable and thin cover that wraps your iPhone 4/4S or 5 in black, white or red leather. %Gallery-177774% Rather than making the case thick by adding a plastic or wood cradle, Twelve South simply attaches the leather back to the iPhone with a removable adhesive pad. It's very easy to take off and replace later, so if you wish to protect your iPhone with something like an OtterBox Defender while hiking and then switch back to the SurfacePad for dinner at a nice restaurant, you can. There are nice little touches; half of the adhesive backing is securely fastened to the leather, the other half isn't. That means that you can use the SurfacePad like a miniature Smart Cover to prop up your iPhone for watching video. On the "spine" of the case there are two small embossed buttons so you don't need to open the SurfacePad to adjust the volume of your iPhone. It's a nice detail that fellow TUAWer Megan Lavey-Heaton pointed out to me, and another example of the fine design work done by Twelve South. If you've been waiting for a classy protective iPhone case that doesn't add bulk to your device, your ship has come in. The SurfacePad for iPhone delivers a luxury feel and has great looks that compliment the sleek design of your device. As one would expect from a firm that includes a former fashion designer and marketer in the list of founders, Twelve South shot a high-fashion video that highlights the case. Check it out below.
Twelve South's PlugBug World: the little red gizmo goes international
Remember the Twelve South PlugBug? It's a cool little bright red adapter that adds a 2.1 Amp USB charger to your MacBook power adapter so you can charge both your MacBook and favorite iOS device at the same time. Today Twelve South unveiled PlugBug World (US$44.99), an international version of the charger that includes snap-on plugs for use in outlets around the world. Made with the traveler in mind, PlugBug World has snap-on plugs for use in US/Canada/Japan, UK/Hong Kong/Singapore, Continental Europe, Australia/New Zealand and China. They're available for purchase now, and Twelve South is picking up shipping costs in the US. International customers can get flat-rate shipping to most countries. We'll have a review of the Twelve South PlugBug World soon. It's too bad PlugBug World wasn't out a couple of weeks ago; our intrepid world traveler Mike Schramm could have used it on his trip to Marseilles, France this week.
PlugBug World brings global travel to the MacBook / USB charger
Globetrotting Mac users looking to slightly condense their cable packing will no doubt be happy to learn that the outlet-obsessed folks at Twelve South have announced the launch of the PlugBug World. The latest version of the hybrid charger adds five international plugs (US / Canada / Japan, UK / Hong Kong / Singapore, Continental Europe, Australia / New Zealand and China) to the combo MacBook / USB charger. Interested parties can pick one up now through Twelve South's site for $45 -- or £39.99 / €44.99, depending on which part of the world you're in at the moment. The domestic version of PlugBug, meanwhile, will run you $35. There's a press release after the break for your perusal.
The New Year TUAW iPad mini case roundup and giveaway
Note: We're fixing an issue with the giveaway form and will have it back around 2pm EST. As we begin the new year, a lot of people wound up receiving an iPad mini as part of their holiday celebrations. Case makers are looking to make outfitting your iPad mini much easier, and we've gotten so many that TUAW Labs head mad scientist Steve Sande had to ship some of them out to the newly created iPad mini satellite office for us to then try to pass on to you guys! Celebrate your new year with a new case for your new iPad mini! BookBook for iPad mini We reviewed the revised BookBook in June, and BookBook for the iPad mini ($69.95) is a smaller version of its bigger sibling. Like Steve, I wasn't a fan of the straps that secured the iPad to the original BookBook, and it's what turned me away from buying one when I had a full-sized iPad. The leather enclosure protects your entire iPad mini, and you can unsnap it from the back to position it in a comfortable typing mode and viewing angle. It has the look and feel of a real book, and as you can see in the picture, I can easily shelve my iPad mini among my regular books if I want. It's the case I kept on my iPad mini the longest out of all the review cases to date, and the one I'm most likely going to buy for myself. Speck FitFolio The Speck FitFolio ($34.95) is a competitor for the Belkin cases you can find at most retail locations. The draw to the Speck for me is the colors, which I like better than Apple's selection and Belkin's. I like the viewing angle standing position for watching video, but not so much the typing position when you fold the case behind itself. If you don't do it just right, typing isn't comfortable at all. The fit was a bit so-so. The plastic case wasn't flush with my iPad around the earphone in the review case I received, but it doesn't impede with the protection. If you can live without the sleep/wake function and like the colors, give the Speck case a try. Gumdrop Drop Tech Putting the Gumdrop Drop Tech ($59.95) on my iPad was like encasing it in a tire, a sentiment that Steve shared when reviewing the iPhone 5 case. Like Otterbox cases, there is a rugged silicone exterior that surrounds a thin plastic case with a screen protector. Your iPad is sandwiched in between. Silicone covers all the ports, and you can flip the Lightning connector, earplug and side switch. The fit over the ports is good. Everything aligns perfectly, and the buttons you press through the silicone (home, power and volume) work like normal. I worry about the quality of the plastic frame and can see it easily breaking if you make a habit of inserting and removing the mini from this case. Also, if you're not careful in putting on the silicone cover, the four corners of the case can bulge out. If the case is put on correctly, it's a good one to use if you're carrying your iPad mini outdoors a lot. X-Doria Smart Jacket When it comes to looks, the X-Doria Smart Jacket ($34.99) comes fairly close to the Apple Smart Cover, but with a plastic, 3D-texturized back. It boasts the same viewing angles as the Smart Cover, but the built-in stand doesn't work at all. The cover doesn't hold its shape when you fold it into the viewing angle or the typing angle, so the iPad mini keeps falling over. If you want just a very basic cover with sleep/wake function, then the Smart Jacket is OK. If you want to do anything else with your iPad mini, spend your money on another case. X-Doria SleeveStand However, I liked X-Doria's SleeveStand ($29.99) far better than the Smart Jacket. It does what it says on the tin -- provides a plush home for your iPad mini with tabs in the opening of the jacket to hold your iPad mini in portrait or landscape mode. It's a sturdy viewing stand, but it's not good for typing. It comes with a carrying handle tucked into the front pocket, but I don't see the need for it. If you're swinging your iPad mini from your wrist, you're asking for someone to come rip it off. Giveaway Now it's time for these cases to go from my home into yours! Here's your chance to enter to win one of five different cases from TUAW and the manufacturers discussed in this review. Keep in mind, these cases are all for the iPad mini, so if you don't have one (or don't know someone who does), please don't enter! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 5, 2013, 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. Five will be selected and will receive an iPad mini case (value of case varies, please see descriptions above) Click here for official rules Loading...
BookBook arrives for iPad mini, delivers a novella-sized tablet disguise
If Twelve South's BookBook for iPad is War and Peace, its new BookBook for iPad mini case is The Old Man and the Sea: a lot smaller, but no less appreciated. The black, brown or red shell protects Apple's tiny tablet with real leather in much the same way as its larger cousin, including a signature support frame for lifting the iPad to more natural angles. Photographers can also briefly peek the tablet out of its shell to snap photos. While there's only a $10 discount versus the full-size BookBook, we'll live with the $70 price if we can pretend we're engrossed with some light reading while we play Letterpress.
BookBook for iPhone 5 now shipping, rear camera hole and all (hands-on)
It took a little longer than some of those other cases, but Twelve South's BookBook for iPhone 5 is now shipping en masse. Some of those who pre-ordered began receiving their units as early as last week, but if you missed that wave, there's no need to gesture for the panic button. The outfit's newest wallet / iPhone case is actually more than just a resized version of the prior one; indeed, it finally figured out how to add a rear camera hole without worry of flash echo, and there's a new snap-in mechanism that holds your phone in place. The clever exterior remains largely the same, and there's still room for your most important IDs and credit cards as you flip it open. We were pretty big fans of the prior build, but the addition of the camera hole makes this one a no-brainer for fans of the style. The gallery below is completely free to peruse -- those who hit the source link, however, will be asked to fork over $59.99 to get one of their own.
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.
Twelve South HiRise for MacBook
Twelve South just announced another of their good-looking and extremely functional products for Apple -- the Twelve South HiRise for MacBook (US$69.99). Like the other entry in the HiRise line, the HiRise for iMac and Cinema Display, the HiRise for MacBook is designed to lift up your device above a table or desk surface to give you a bit more space to put stuff. Design Like many of Apple's iconic products, the HiRise for MacBook is made out of aluminum. There's a "foot" that sits upon your desktop with an adjustable riser that ends in a "swept-wing vee" to hold your MacBook. That aluminum vee is covered with a non-slip material to keep your pride and joy from sliding off. It looks great and works with all of Apple's MacBooks from the 11" MacBook Air up to the 15" models. If you still have one of those monstrous 17" MacBook Pros, you're out of luck. The riser can be adjusted by up to six inches, allowing the MacBook's screen to be bottom-aligned with an external monitor. You won't be typing on your MacBook while it's on the stand. Instead, it's designed to work with an external and preferably wireless keyboard and mouse or trackpad. The HiRise for MacBook feels solid; that's one of the hallmarks of the Twelve South products we've reviewed previously. There's no need to feel like your MacBook is going to slide off of the HiRise -- it's not going anywhere. Functionality As with most products from Twelve South, the HiRise for MacBook is beautifully packaged. Popping open that package, you're greeted with a bright red liner and a thank you note. The HiRise is pre-assembled, so once you've removed it from the box it's ready to go. Adjusting the height is done by loosening a knurled screw by hand, moving the "wing" up or down, and then tightening the screw again. Once adjusted, the HiRise stays in place. While I don't have an external monitor to use with my MacBook Air, I could see how useful the HiRise would be to someone who does. Conclusion For anyone who uses their MacBook as a primary machine with an external monitor, keyboard and pointing device, the HiRise for MacBook is a perfect solution for aligning the monitors to the same height and giving you some additional storage space on your desktop. The HiRise for MacBook is another fine product from the design geniuses at Twelve South. Pros Extremely well-constructed Beautiful design that compliments any aluminum unibody MacBook Adjustable to align with almost any external monitor Cons None Who is it for? Anyone with a MacBook who uses it with an external monitor, keyboard, and pointing device. Giveaway Some lucky TUAW reader is going to get a free HiRise for MacBook valued at $69.99 courtesy of Twelve South. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Twelve South HiRise for MacBook valued at $69.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
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.
