Wondering how to improve sound quality on your Mac without extra speakers? We’ve got one word for you: BassJump. According to website TekReview, which performed an in-depth analysis of everything from battery life to side-by-side audio samples using BassJump and not,
“…the beauty of the BassJump is that it can improve sound quality without the hassle, extra wires, and power cord required by external speakers. It’s easy to throw the BassJump in your bag to bring on vacation or business trips. Bus power also means that you can use it just about anywhere. And, for those who prefer the “Apple aesthetic,” the BassJump fits in perfectly. Even when using it with an iMac or Cinema/Thunderbolt Display, the device will look great sitting on your desk.
…What matters most is that when I first unpacked the BassJump and planned to do some quick initial listening, I ended up spending about 2 hours just listening to music. The sound quality, while not perfect, was so much better than what I was used to with my MacBook Pro that I was simply drawn into the experience.”
Check out the full review. And get the ear-opening BassJump for your own set-up here, which ships free in the USA.
So would we recommend that you stuff your BookBook for iPhone this full? Not really…but here’s the proof that somewhere out there in the wild, it has been done. George Costanza would be jealous at this insanely-full-yet-orderly-looking BookBook. Get your own BookBook for iPhone here.
The lovely ladies of women’s lifestyle and tech blog Chip Chick have gone and done it again. They’ve taken a Twelve South product, tested it for themselves, and come back with a “buy” verdict. This one? PlugBug World, which they tested in Spain. Here’s the scoop:
“Are you a MacBook owner that travels abroad a lot? Then you’ll want to check out TwelveSouth’s PlugBug World accessory. This accessory kit has two purposes. First it provides you with all of the adapters you need to use your MacBook anywhere in the world. Second, it also adds a USB port to your power adapter, essentially transforming your Macbook power adapter into a dual charger for the iPad and iPhone.
The PlugBug World provides 2.1-Amp of charging power, making it strong enough to power both your MacBook and iPhone or iPad simultaneously. This can be very convenient when you’re traveling and don’t have multiple outlets to use. It also eliminates the need to carry an extra AC adapter for your iPad or iPhone.
In the box you get the PlugBug World USB Charger and 5 red AC plugs for the US/Canada/Japan, Continental Europe, UK/Hong Kong/Singapore, China, Australia/New Zealand. Each one of these adapters snap on easily onto the PlugBug World USB Charger which locks onto your MacBook Pro/Air Magsafe Power Adapter. Aside from all of the PlugBug World adapters that are included, TwelveSouth also includes a convenient carrying case to keep everything together while traveling. So far we have tested the TwelveSouth PlugBug World kit while traveling in Spain and were grateful to have it with us during our travels.”
Read the whole review. And then, before you leave for spring break — or consider another far-flung business trip — make sure you’re packing your own airport-friendly, bullfighting red PlugBug World.
We’re fans of MacFormat, a terrific UK Mac magazine which features detailed reviews and great tips and tricks for Mac users…and we’re always delighted to find Twelve South mentioned in its pages! In the April 2013 issue, hitting newsstands this week, is this review of our PlugBug World:
“Out of the box, PlugBug World gives you a 2.1A USB charger for powering up your iPod, iPhone and iPad, and a selection of plug attachments so you can use it abroad as well as in the UK. It can also piggyback your MacBook’s power adapter, offering a two-in-one charging solution to use internationally. Why take two power bricks when you can get by with one?”
Why, indeed? And their rating…
Get your own PlugBug World right now before you book that spring break adventure.
If you’re anything like Charlie White of Mashable, you don’t exactly want to shout, “Look at me! I have a MacBook!” when you’re out and about. It’s not that you’re at all unhappy to have that fantastic MacBook Pro with Retina display…it’s that you don’t want would-be thieves to be overly excited to see the glow of the backlit Apple logo as they plot their next move. And that’s where a certain “dignified old tome” comes into play.
“Since the MacBook Pro is so outrageously expensive, I don’t want anyone to know I have one when I’m in public. Not only do I not feel the need to gloat about owning an Apple product, carrying around a MacBook in a populated area could be tantamount to placing a “mug me” sign on your back. The case is not heavily padded, but it’s thick enough to protect its contents.
The BookBook exudes quality, with high-end zippers and a thin layer of soft padding inside. You can still access all of the MacBook’s ports, even as the laptop sits in the case.
I’m fond of the irony of mixing up the old and the new with products like Twelve South’s “book” series. It’ll give you the individuality, protection and stealth you need, and its quality handcrafted leather construction gives it the looks of a classic.”
Check out this image (courtesy of Charlie White/Mashable) of our BookBook for MacBook Pro with Retina display…it fits right in with any book collection! Add one to yours. Ships free in the U.S.A.
Twelve South’s modern classic is now ready for iPad mini
Charleston, SC, March 12, 2013 – Today Twelve South unveils an update to its BookArc family welcoming iPad mini. Sleek and sturdy, the popular BookArc for iPad is the perfect place to park iPad mini at home or work. The arc-shaped, steel stand safely elevates iPad or iPad mini off the kitchen counter, coffee table or desk for viewing and hands-free use in both portrait and landscape mode. The new BookArc for iPad mini is available now at twelvesouth.com for just $29.99, with free shipping within the US. More info and images can be found here.
Fashioned from a sliver of heavy steel, the elegant BookArc for iPad mini is at home in every room of the house. Use it in the kitchen to raise iPad up off the counter while you swipe through recipes or stream a cooking video. At the breakfast bar, BookArc for iPad is perfect for catching up with family and friends during a hands-free FaceTime chat.
Move this multi-use stand into the living room and it becomes a coffee table pedestal for iPad. Wirelessly stream your favorite shows from apps like HBO Go to your Apple TV, while iPad stays parked in BookArc. Using iPad mini in a BookArc, stream your favorite vacation photos and movies to your HDTV. Think of BookArc as your iPad’s comfy recliner – right next to yours.
At your desk, rest your iPad into BookArc to monitor stocks, Twitter or news feeds alongside your Mac. You can also pair iPad with a wireless keyboard to create an instant workstation. BookArc has a wide, sturdy stance and soft, silicone feet to protect the surfaces you set it on. iPad sits at a comfortable viewing angle inside the stand’s silicone insert in either portrait or landscape.
“BookArc for iPad mini helps redefine how you can use your iPad at home. Whether in the kitchen, living room or home office, BookArc invites you to use your iPad for so much more than just an on-the-go tablet. And it looks like a modern piece of furniture while doing it.” said Andrew Green, Creative Director of Twelve South.
BookArc for iPad ships with silicone inserts for use with iPad mini, iPad with Retina display as well as all previous generations of iPad. The arc-shaped stand is the perfect place to safely store and charge iPad when not in use, as well. Order BookArc for iPad + iPad mini today at twelvesouth.com.
This SurfacePad review is just so good we had to share it with you. If you’ve been following our SurfacePad for iPhone news, you already know it’s a product for, well, people who would rather their iPhone be au naturale…but they want to protect the screen and back from keys and hard surfaces. Gizmodo editor Jesus Dias gets it. In his doesn’t-mince-words-words:
“No, you don’t need a damn case for your iPhone 5—but if you have butterfingers and you must use a case, this seems to me like the only acceptable one. The SurfacePad is not only simple and elegant—complementing the iPhone’s design rather than turning it into an ugly hulk or a clear-plastic-wrapped granny sofa—but also has function. And it protects your screen too, unlike 99 percent of the offensively horrible covers out there.
Made of ultra-thin and smooth napa leather, the TwelveSouth’s SurfacePad can also serve as a stand. Like the manufacturer says, it’s not designed to resist a car getting over your iPhone, but it will protect your mobile against the most common threats without turning its clean lines into a unrecognizable mass of deformed plastic. And for that alone, I applaud them.”
Get your own non-Granny Sofa, ultra-minimal iPhone covering SurfacePad here. In pop red, white, or black.
We noticed something a little familiar in the first episode of ABC’s new show “Zero Hour” — which aired online ahead of the show’s official TV launch. It’s a BookBook for MacBook…in the hands of lead character Hank Galliston (played by Anthony Edwards, formerly of “ER” fame).
Ever spot one of our products on TV or in film? Be sure to drop us a line: marketing (at) twelvesouth (dot) com!
Introducing a whole new kind of protection for iPhone, aimed at users who would rather use none.
Charleston, SC, January 31, 2013 – Twelve South introduces SurfacePad for iPhone, the first accessory designed for the millions of iPhone users who prefer no case at all. SurfacePad for iPhone is a new breed of cover for iPhone crafted from a credit card-thin layer of Napa leather that weighs less than an ounce. It’s not designed to withstand a two-story fall or a dip in the pool. SurfacePad shields your iPhone from the keys in your pocket and the concrete countertop at your favorite restaurant, all while letting the beautiful iPhone still look like, well, an iPhone. Made exclusively for iPhone 5 and 4/4S, SurfacePad for iPhone is available now at TwelveSouth.com for $34.99. More info and images can be found here.
What makes SurfacePad special is what it’s not: a military-style rubber grenade for your iPhone. SurfacePad is an ultra-thin, luxury leather cover that shields iPhone 5 or 4/4S from the more typical hazards of life, like the change in your pocket, jump drive in your backpack or the nail file in your purse. It allows you to set your iPhone down on rough spots like a concrete bench or stone tabletop without worrying about scratching the sleek surface of your iPhone.
The modern, minimal design of SurfacePad beautifully complements the stylish design of iPhone. Holding an iPhone wrapped with a SurfacePad feels like curling your fingers around the leather steering wheel of a luxury automobile. Whether you choose Pop Red, Modern White or Jet Black, SurfacePad gives iPhone a distinct, luxury look and elegant feel.
SurfacePad for iPhone attaches to the phone using the same special adhesive as the SurfacePad for MacBook, which leaves zero residue behind when removed. The re-useable adhesive makes installation easy and allows users to peel off their Modern White SurfacePad and put on the Jet Black version when the mood arises.
The surprise feature of SurfacePad for iPhone is its built-in display stand. The stand is sewn into the back of this micro thin cover, allowing SurfacePad to flex just enough to prop up iPhone horizontally on any flat surface. This nifty, built-in stand makes a great cartoon player at a slow restaurant, bedside alarm clock or a stand for hands-free FaceTime chats.
“There are many iPhone owners who wouldn’t be caught dead with their iPhone in a thick, oversized plastic case,” said Andrew Green, Creative Director of Twelve South. “So, just as we did with BookBook for iPhone, we’re inventing a whole new category of covers. SurfacePad is a gorgeous layer of luxury leather that shields and enhances the look and feel of iPhone. With SurfacePad covering iPhone, there’s still no doubt you’re holding an iPhone. Just don’t call it a case… call it a SurfacePad.”
Made with premium Napa leather, SurfacePad for iPhone does not interfere with any of the iPhone buttons, ports or camera. The feather light cover is less than 1/10th of an inch (1.7mm) thick and weighs less than one ounce (25 grams). The smooth leather cover is backed by a soft, supple microfiber to protect the iPhone screen. SurfacePad for iPhone is available in Pop Red, Modern White and Jet Black for iPhone 5 and 4/4S. Enhance the look and feel of your iPhone by wrapping it in a thin leather SurfacePad. Order today at twelvesouth.com.
It’s so nice to have one of our products featured on a site with design that we greatly admire ourselves…and that’s certainly the case here, with Gear Patrol, and seeing our new PlugBug World get their notice.
“To combat the global low-power epidemic, the Twelve South PlugBug World ($45) doubles your juicing capabilities to your iPhone, iPod, iPad, or MacBook anywhere there’s an outlet.
Powerful and red, the 2.1-Amp USB wall charger/adapter can function as a separate USB charging unit and charge iDevices faster than your computer’s USB port. Or, it can easily dock onto to your Macbook’s standard power supply to simultaneously charge a computer and an iThing. The five included wall adapters (contained in a nice little travel pouch) allow you to boost your batteries the world over, so you’ll never again miss an Italian Instagram opportunity or Singapore Skype date.”
Or, if you’re really smart, you’ll use all that extra power to spend more time perusing the Gear Patrol site. Highly addictive stuff. So get all charged up now, worldwide, with a PlugBug World of your own. (Available at Apple Stores across the galaxy in February.)
