Twelve South

Ever wonder what the ultimate Mac “battle station” looks like? A recent review of several of our products on electronista can give you a pretty good idea. They took a BookArc, a HoverBar, a BackPack, and a HiRise for iMac…and came up with something pretty awesome. Check this out:

Here’s what they had to say about BookArc:

“The BookArc is a made out of a beautifully machined aluminum with a high-quality anodised aluminum finish that complements the MacBook Pro very well. Further, the rubberized inserts not only securely hold a MacBook Pro, they are also designed in a way that ensures that users will not be in position where the aluminum MacBook Pro could possibly rub against the BookArc. It has been thoughtfully designed and also looks great while also helping to declutter a workstation.”

And HiRise:
“With our MacBook Pro safely cradled in the Twelve South BookArc, we raised the height of our Apple Thunderbolt display using the new Twelve South HiRise ($80). The HiRise is very easy to assemble and can do double duty by acting as a spot to store and hide an external hard drive, or personal items and other belongings. The display height can be adjusted according to the individual user’s requirements, although at the lower settings, it might only fit a pocket-sized mobile external hard drive. We had it set at the highest position and were able to hide our hard drive, further cleaning up our workstation. It also works just as well with iMacs.”

And BackPack:
“The BackPack 2 ($35) is a tray that is designed to attach to the rear of a Thunderbolt or iMac aluminum stand. It can support weights up to 3.5 pounds meaning that is a great place to store an external hard drive, helping again to free up and unclutter your desk space. MacBook Air users will also be interested note that the BackPack 2 can also stowe their ultraportable notebook out of the way, behind their Thunderbolt displays. Users can also opt to fit the BackPack 2 to the front of their Thunderbolt display or iMac stand as a shelf to keep their smartphone or other items out of the way when not being used. Two BackPack 2s can also be purchased separately and fitted, one to the front and one to the back, without one interfering with the other.”

And HoverBar:
“Of all the accessories from Twelve South we have been using, this is perhaps the most fun to use. We had ours fitted so that the iPad sits suspended next to our Thunderbolt display on the side, putting in our natural line of sight. In the vertical position, it can show documents and other apps like the Pulse visual RSS reader very effectively. Easily rotated, users can then easily switch to having a video playing while you are working. The HoverBar is very well made and inspires us with a sense confidence that it will not, over time, start to weaken and lose its ability to hold an iPad firmly in position.”

If you’re ready to use all your Apple products at once in a clutter-free “ultimate battle station” setup, order today — Twelve South now offers Flat Rate Shipping to most international destinations, so you can order your battle station all at once…and pay only one flat shipping fee.

Check out this great video review of our BackPack from RunAroundTech‘s Larry Greenberg.

The no-clutter crowd got a lift two weeks ago — literally, a lift — when we released our updated BackPack. The new version of our popular storage shelf for iMacs and Apple Cinema Displays features vertical support pegs and built-in cable management — not to mention the ability to be mounted on either the front or back of your display.

Here’s a peek at what one of our favorite sites, Lifehacker, had to say:

“We’ve talked before about using your monitor as a storage system, and we’ve certainly mentioned the original BackPack before. The newest iteration is even handier. The small shelf attaches to an iMac or Apple Display, and can hold up to 3.5 pounds. This is great for a storing an external hard drive, but the BackPack 2 also comes with pegs so you can stack your gear up as well (you can throw a MacBook Air back there, for instance). If totally hidden isn’t your style, the BackPack 2 can also clip on the front for easy access.”

Read the full story at Lifehacker. And get your own clutter-clearing wonder BackPack here.

This morning Mark Gurman over at 9to5Mac published his review of our re-invented BackPack, after a week of testing it out for himself on his own setup.

“I’ve been testing out the BackPack 2 in our workflow for the past week, and it is a great accessory. I have never tested out the original version, though the basis of the BackPack is neat. As an LED Display user with a MacBook Air, it is so convenient to store the MacBook Air behind the display when I am at my desk. That way, my desk can be used to store other things. The MacBook Air can be safely placed on the BackPack with an included set of pegs.

With that in mind, the BackPack 2 is an amazing solution for clearing up the technology from your desk. Perhaps an extension of that sentiment are the new cable rails on the right and left sides of the unit. These rails are perfect for pulling your cables through for increased organization.

On that note, the BackPack 2 is also perfect for storing external hard drives behind your display. New in the 2.0 version is the ability to place items below your display. On the note of clearing up your desk, you can use the BackPack 2 to store your wireless trackpad, keyboard and/or mouse in an easy position for taking and placing when needed.

Overall, we’ve enjoyed using the BackPack 2 and we recommend it for those who need an easy and cost effective ($34.99) solution for clearing up their desk and storing their technology.”

We couldn’t agree more. Read the whole review at 9to5Mac. And get your own BackPack here.

Twelve South announces a major redesign of its BackPack Shelf for iMac and Apple Displays.

Twelve South adds three major enhancements to its inaugural Mac-only accessory

Macworld Asia, Beijing China, August 2, 2012 – Three years after Twelve South released BackPack, its very first product, the company unveils an elevated new version of the tiny shelf with three major enhancements. Designed exclusively for iMacs and Apple Displays, BackPack now features vertical support pegs, built-in cable management rails and the option to use BackPack as a front-facing shelf. The sleek metal shelf is designed to hold backup hard drives, external peripherals and even MacBook Air with its new vertical support pegs. BackPack is available now for $34.99 at TwelveSouth.com. More info can be found at twelvesouth.com.

The first upgrade to BackPack is the addition of vertical support pegs, designed to prop up vertically-oriented hard drives, Apple’s Time Capsule, Airport Extreme or even a MacBook Air. Inspired by feedback from users of the original BackPack, the four support pegs can be arranged in different formations atop the perforated BackPack shelf to accommodate a wide range of devices. Each peg is coated with soft silicone, protecting devices from scratches while supporting them. BackPack supports up to 3.5 pounds and like its predecessor, installs onto iMac using two adjustable clips and gravity – no screws required.

BackPack is the perfect accessory for those who like a tidy workspace. This clever shelf is great for storing portable hard drives and other USB peripherals that would otherwise clutter desk space. BackPack’s new cable management rails allow users to unplug their hard drive or MacBook Air without the cables falling to the floor. When they’re ready to plug their device back into their iMac, the power cables and connections are ready and waiting.

Twelve South Creative Director, Andrew Green said, “BackPack was our first product. It was meant to keep the area around the beautifully designed Macs clutter free. The new ramped up version of BackPack includes three awesome new features that help keep eyes on the Mac instead of the peripheral devices scattered around it.”

The third new BackPack feature is the ability to use it as a front-facing shelf. Perched on the front of iMac or a Thunderbolt Display, BackPack can be used to store an iPhone, wallet or anything else that needs to be up off the desk, but still handy and accessible. Since BackPack is height adjustable, two can hang on one iMac. A rear-facing BackPack can hold a MacBook Air while the shelf on the front cradles a MacBook Air SuperDrive. Along with electronic gadgets, BackPack has been used to display everything from pamphlets in retail stores to action figures and awards in ad agencies and creative studios.

Click here to read the original release.

Sometimes you look at a product and think, “if one is so useful, wouldn’t two be even more useful? Or even three?” That was exactly the case with William Grose, the guy behind BigHugeNerd.com. A longtime fan of Twelve South products, he had a BackPack on his iMac, and kept thinking of things he wanted to add back there, so he figured, what the heck, I’ll use three BackPacks.

Here’s how the whole thing went down, in his words:

“For some of us, we’d like to be able to use a second, or third, or fourth (!) hard drive with our iMacs and not have them dangle around the desk, annoying us with their presence. Enter, then, Twelve South’s BackPack to the rescue!”

First, the installation phase:

“Putting the shelf together is a simple affair. Just slide the required insert (the instructions tell you which one you need) into the shelf, and attach them to the back of your iMac or Apple Display. You don’t need to hand-screw the simple bracket very tightly, as gravity will do the rest: Because Apple stands get wider as they go down, just the weight of the shelf will prevent it from sliding down. Thank you, gravity! There’s also no easy way to do damage to your aluminum stand, because the inserts are made of plastic and rest very gently on the aluminum. We likey!”

Then the exhibitionist phase:

“Yep, there are three hard drives behind the iMac in this picture, and you never knew! We are sneaky little nerd monkeys! Not a cable to be seen, not a hard-drive LED to be seen. Nothing. If your cables are a little messy back there, Twelve South does include a sweet little twisty-tie for your usage, but we found we didn’t need to use it. Still, nice touch, Twelve South!”

So if you’re thinking to yourself, “I wonder if I could use one of those BackPacks on my iMac,” that’s not the right question. The question isn’t whether you could use one…it’s just how many you could use. Get one, two, or three BackPacks for your clutter-free iMac setup today. Ships free in the USA…and we’re happy happy happy to tell you that we now offer International Flat Rate Shipping via DHL for most of the rest of the planet. (Which means whether you order one BackPack or 10, the shipping price is one flat fee.)

You can enjoy the full review on BigHugeNerd here.

You’ve gotta love this, the latest post in our series of “Cool Ways People Use BackPack” with their iMac. First, the location seems familiar…because it’s an Apple Store. The accents sound sexy…because it’s in London, and well, those Londoners just do. But where are the hand-held scanners kept in this ultra-tidy Apple Europe Store?

On BackPacks. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re happy to be of service.

Get your own BackPack here, whether you own a hand-held scanner or not. (Surely you’ve got something to hide. Doesn’t everyone?)

We make time to read Design*Sponge every chance we get — their tales of small space renovations for city dwellers and old furniture getting new life are awe-inspiring. We are suckers for great before-and-after shots. (And we should do a shout-out to the wonderful D*S founder Grace Bonney here…her new book, Design*Sponge at Home, is available for pre-order on Amazon.com right now, and you can bet we’ve ordered ours.)

Kate Pruitt, a Design*Sponge Senior Editor whose personal specialty is DIY, is one of our favorites on that site, and on another site, My Life Scoop, where she’s not afraid to show her love of all things tech.

In her words:

“As someone working in the design industry, I can tell you that getting your technology in order is crucial to your success in any creative field. The majority of graphic designers are already on board — take the fabulous typographer Jessica Hische and her streamlined office above, for example. But fine artists, craftsmen and other hands-on, low-tech worshippers should take note–the tech devices available for creatives today are really amazing, and can genuinely help creatives of all kinds spark ideas, manage their workflow, and stay organized and efficient.”

“I’ve rounded up some great gadgets and accessories that everyone in the creative class should check out. Whether it’s scanning and sharing your work online, sketching and jotting ideas on the go, or just minimizing the clutter in your office or studio, these tools can streamline your daily tasks and help open your mind to new ideas and inspirations.”

Thanks for taking notice of our BackPack (shown at #2)…it’s the best way we know of to hide things behind your Apple Cinema Display!

(TIP: If anyone finds #4, at $399, to be a bit steep for a laptop stand, may we suggest a certain “Apple-centric” stand we like to call BookArc for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iPad?)

Here at Twelve South HQ, we are downright avid followers of Mashable. So it’s quite a kick when they choose one of our products in a feature article. In their roundup of “Creative Office Storage Solutions,” they mention our BackPack alongside some other cleverly designed and useful items that make offices more clutter-free, including the Mummy Mike rubber-band holder (love it), and a Giant Paperclip Wall Hook.

Here’s some great photography showing off how well BackPack works:

And here’s Mummy Mike the Rubber Band Holder because we simply can’t resist.

Get your BackPack here and make your office storage clutter-free, too. Ships free for a limited time in the US.