H-Squared News

The new (2010) Mac mini and the Mini mount

2010-06-15T06:50:00.001-07:00

The new Mac mini is out and it is cool! With a totally redesigned look and features that put it into another class of computing experience, if there was ever a doubt about Apple's commitment to the mini, it is surely squelched now.

That said, it is a new design and it will require that H-Squared put their collective thinking caps on to figure out how to support it. But we will support it and, as always, we'll come out with a design that'll be both functional and minimal.

If you have a Mac mini with a white top, then the current Mini mount will work just fine. If you purchase a new Mac mini, the existing Mini mount will not work.

We'll get back to you, our valued customers, as soon as possible with more news.

-Jh

UPDATE: 23-June-2010: Good news! We're already working on a revision to the Mini mount that is in the design phase. We've determined that not only will this design work for customers wanting to mount the Mac mini on wall (or other vertical surface), but it will also work horizontally thereby replacing the Mini Shelf. As soon as we are able to produce some prototypes and test them, we plan to make the product available for pre-order. Timing is still TBD, but rest assured that we're working hard to deliver a great product as quickly as possible.

UPDATE: 7-July-2010: Our first prototypes are in production. Once we have a chance to verify the design, we'll get some pictures up here for everyone to see. Thanks for your patience!

UPDATE: 27-July-2010: We have been testing a prototypes for the past week and things are looking good. We want to make some minor changes before going to production and verify with the big A that these changes are cool. As a side note, we're going to post little updates to our progress via twitter starting this week. You can follow us by clicking the icon below.

The proper way to mount your Apple wireless base station

2010-03-07T15:36:00.001-08:00

A question we get asked frequently is "Can my AirPort Extreme/Time Capsule be mounted vertically/upside down and not affect the performance of the wireless signal?". The short answer is yes, it can- but with some caveats. Let's first take a look at why you would want to mount your AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule.

Get 'er up there!
Mounting your wireless antennae as high as possible will always give you a better signal than if it is sitting on the desk, on a bookcase, or on the floor. The concept is simple. The higher the antenna, the less objects a signal has to pass through and, thus, greater range should be the consequence. In nearly every instance, mounting your wireless antenna higher will result in better signal strength and speed. Each time the signal has to travel through an object- especially dense objects such as metal desks, etc- the signal degrades and speed drops off. Take look at the radio and television antennae in your area. They're always tall towers stationed at the highest possible point in your area. So, height is key. The higher, the better.

Central station
What about laterally? A centrally-located base station is always best. Meaning, if you placed your base station in the most center part of where you plan to install it (assuming as high as you can place it as well), the better your signal will be overall. This should be obvious, but we've seen a number of customers place their base station in a corner of the house and wonder why the signal is weaker on the other corner of the house. It's just as simple as the height issue- more objects to travel through. Of course, not everyone can locate their base station centrally for a number of reasons. Just do your best to get your base station to the most central part of where it will be installed and you should see consistent performance all around.

Going vertical
When Apple released the latest AirPort Extreme and, subsequently, Time Capsule, they changed the antennae array. While both Apple and H-Squared have confirmed that the base stations perform equally well in either orientation, there are reasons to believe that, from a technical standpoint, both AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule spread their signal better laterally when oriented horizontally versus vertically. At H-Squared, our Time Capsule has been mounted vertically since day 1 and gives us full strength around the entire facility. That said, your personal mileage may vary. If you're noticing the performance has degraded once mounting the base station, you may want to try our Horizontal Adapter product which allows you to still mount your base station high, but in a vertical orientation.

So, there you have it- short and sweet. The key theme is as high as possible and as centrally-located as possible. Then, you'll just have to see if a vertical or horizontal orientation works best for your installation. Should you have any questions pertaining to your specific installation, feel free to contact us anytime.

H-Squared introduces iPod Engraving

2009-12-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

December 9th, 2009: H-Squared is pleased to announce we are offering a new services for iPod owners (and future owners)- laser engraving and marketing. The sevice is available, currently by appointment only, can engrave or mark just about any iPod. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Unlike the free engraving provided by Apple, H-Squared's service offers the following features:

Marking and engraving of both text and artwork
Marking on both the front and back of the iPod
Any text, logo, or artwork provided by the customer (subject to copyright restrictions)
Choose from stock artwork provided by H-Squared
Use your own iPod or purchase new directly from us.
Discounts available on engraving mulitple (10+) iPods

The service is $39.95 for any iPod provided by the customer. For iPods sold new through H-Squared, you simply pay the iPod list price plus the $39.95 engraving fee.

Here are some examples of what's possible:

Case pricing now available

2009-09-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

For our customers who purchase larger quantities of our products or for people just looking for a deal, we're pleased to offer case pricing. You can now save as much as 15% off of our most popular products simply by ordering a case. Visit our online store to see what products are available in cases. And remember that most orders ship within 1 business day!

The Wiing is now shipping!

2009-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

September 9th, 2009: We are pleased to announce that the Wiing mount kit for the Nintendo Wii is available for immediate order from H-Squared. We wanted to ensure that our mount is compatible with the new Wii MotionPlus attachment. It fits perfectly.*

The Wiing is a complete mounting solution for your Wii. It contains a wall mount for the main Wii console, one Wii remote mount, one Wii Nunchuck mount, and a mount for the power supply. The Wii console mount features a beautifully laser cut and etched cast acrylic piece that has a frosted edge which is illuminated with an included USB-powered white LED.

Other great features include sturdy holders for both contollers. The Nunchuck mount has a convenient cord wrap to clean up cord mess. The power supply mount can be angled in nearly any orientation. Additional mounts for either controller can be purchased separately.

The Wiing is available from the H-Squared online store now for $69.95 USD and soon from our worldwide network of distributors.

Revised Mini Shelf begins shipping

2009-08-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to announce the immediate availability of the new Mini Shelf. Based on our original design, the revised Mini Shelf is easier to install and protects your Mac mini more than ever before. The front stop is now removable so you can slide in your Mac mini from the front. This is especially useful if you've got limited space behind the mount- a common problem when mounting under countertops, shelving, or smaller desks. We've also added in two smaller rear holes in which you can screw in regular or security screws to prevent the Mac mini from being removed from the rear of the mount. We still have the same great "security bar" that still allows access to all of your ports- even in the newest Mac minis featuring Display Port and Mini DVI connectors.

Perhaps the best part of the Mini Shelf is how easy it is to install now. It takes 4 simple steps and your Mac mini can be hanging under a shelf, tabletop, or any other horizontal surface. You can even mount it vertically if you wish. (although, that's what the Mini mount is really for).

As with the original design, the new Mini Shelf features:

-1/4" clear cast acrylic material

-Includes a power supply mount for the Mac mini

-An optional backlight

-Stackable design for external hard drives, AirPort Extreme base stations, etc.

The price remains the same at $49.95 USD and is available now from the H-Squared online store and will be available shortly from our worldwide reseller network.

Announcing the Wiing mount for the Nintendo Wii.

2009-06-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

June 2, 2009 - Bellevue, WA: Today, H-Squared announced the Wiing, a mounting kit developed specifically for the Nintendo Wii. The kit includes four pieces, a wall-mount for the main Wii game system that is also backlit by a LED that is powered by the USB port on the rear of the Wii. It also includes a omni-directional mount for the Wii power supply that securely holds the power supply in any orientation. Controller mounts are also included, one each for the Wii remote and Wii nun chuck. Additional controller mounts are available for purchase separately.

Similar to other H-Squared products, the Wiing kit is laser cut and hand-crafted in Washington state to the exact dimensions of the Wii. The main Wii wall mount allows the Wii to be oriented facing either left or right and has a frosted edge that casts a white glow around the Wii when the integrated USB-powered LED backlight is on. The Wii remote controller's mount is constructed using a single-piece design that securely holds the Wii remote. The remote can either be clipped or slid in to the mount. It's base allows the nun chuck controller to remain connected even when mounted. The Wii nun chuck mount, similar to the Wii remote mount, is constructed using a single-piece design but also integrates a cord management coil for wrapping the lengthy cord of the nun chuck when it's not in use. The power supply mount grips the Wii power supply on both sides and can hold the power supply in any orientation (including upside-down) such as behind a flat panel display, under a table or counter top.

The kit is priced at $69.95 and will begin shipping in late June or early July 2009. Pre-orders are available from the H-Squared web store.

Something is waiting in the Wiings.

2009-05-28T14:24:00.001-07:00

We've just published a (highly non-professionally edited) video of a brand new product from H-Squared. It's called the Wiing and it's something totally different for us. It's a mount developed for the Nintendo Wii and it's other "parts" such as the power supply, the Wii remote, and the nun chuck. We're so excited about this product that we decided to post a sneak peek of the mount so you can see how fun it is.

Our thinking behind a wall mount for the Wii was fairly simple. We wanted to get the Wii in a more convenient location (near the TV), get the power supply hidden (behind the TV, under a table, behind an entertainment center, you name it), and organize the controllers when they're not in use. The Wiing does it all and, in typical H-Squared fashion, does it with style. Of course, you don't have to put your Wii or controllers in the same place we do. You might want to, for instance, place your Wii on the side of your coffee table or someplace that's easier for you. They beauty of our system is that each Wii component has its own separate mount so you can put them just about anywhere you want.

The video is now available on our YouTube channel. Pricing and availability will be announced within the week. In the mean time, feel free to share this video.

Follow H-Squared on Twitter

2009-05-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Twitter is all the rage these days. Now, we consider ourselves fairly technically-savvy but Twitter is something that we just haven't, as a company, ever considered as a way to communicate with our customers. Well, today that all changes.

H-Squared is now on Twitter and you can follow our updates as we work to build the best digital lifestyle products for you. If you're a Twitter user, you can follow us. Our name is hsqllc. If you're not, sign up and get the latest updates from us.

You may even find coupon codes in there from time to time. :)

New YouTube "How to" Install Videos Available

2009-05-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

One of the more common requests we receive is for guidance on how to install our products. While we include installation guides in every box, sometimes a moving picture works better than a static sheet of paper. That's why we're pleased to announce the first set of installation videos have just been released on our new YouTube channel. The initial series covers the Mini mount, Air Mount, Air Mount TC, AirPort Extreme power supply mount, and Mac mini power supply mount. We will constantly be updating this channel with additional material as we have the opportunity.

We selected YouTube because of the fact that we can always be sure our videos are accessible around the world by as many devices and to as many people as possible at one time. You can now take your iPhone or iPod Touch to where you plan to install your H-Squared product and see right there how to do it. No need to sit by the computer, watch, and then go try to do the install- all the while trying to remember what you watched. All of the current videos are less than one minute so it won't take much of your time.

Please leave comments using YouTube's comment feature. That'll help us improve the videos in the future to ensure we're always producing what you want.

Apple announces new products, H-Squared is compatible!

2009-03-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

March 3, 2009 - Bellevue, WA: Today, Apple announced a new version of it's Mac mini, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule products. As with each new release from Apple, H-Squared closely analyzed the new designs to ensure compatibility. We're pleased to announce that all of our mounts are completely compatible with the new products.

In related news, three of H-Squared's products are available directly from the Apple Store online. This includes the Mini mount for the Mac mini, tvTray for Apple TV, and Air Mount TC for Time Capsule. The products are online now with availability varying depending on the product. As usual, customers can always purchase H-Squared products directly from our online store or through our worldwide network of resellers.

Terry White and the tvTray, Mini mount for home theater

2009-02-04T06:36:00.001-08:00

Terry White recently had a problem getting wireless content streaming from his DVR to his Apple TV. So, after taking a closer look at the problem and listening to number of comments from his readers, he decided to mix things up a bit.

In the process, he found two of H-Squared's products, the Mini mount and the tvTray incredibly useful in getting the job done.

The new tvTray - Now Shipping

2009-01-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2009 - Bellevue, WA: H-Squared previewed the new tvTray at Macworld in San Francisco. The revised mount for the Apple TV now includes the USB backlight as a standard feature. The mount now also has a hand-sanded frosted edge that, when illuminated, casts a soft glow around the perimeter of the mount. This gives the effect of the Apple TV glowing from behind.

The new tvTray has a limited-time introductory price of $44.95 and is available now. After January 25th, 2009, the price will return to it's normal list price of $49.95.

H-Squared at MacWorld 2009!

2008-12-30T20:16:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2008 - Bellevue, WA: We’re pleased to announce that we’ll again be showing at MacWorld 2009 in San Francisco. As with last year, we’ll be partnering up with our primary distributor, Dr. Bott, but this time we’re doubling the size of our exhibit.

Stop by booth #1912 in the South Hall of Moscone Center and see what’s new with H-Squared! We’ll have some give aways for those folks that do stop by so make sure to include us on your “must see” list!

For those that can’t attend, we’ll make it a point to post news when we can about what’s happened at the show and what new products of ours you can get your hands on.

H-Squared adds OWC and Mac Warehouse as Distributors

2008-09-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

September 11th, 2008. Bellevue, Washington. We’re pleased to announce the addition of two new distributors of H-Squared products.

OWC: Long known for selling all-things Mac, Other World Computing specializes in selling both main stream and hard-to-find Apple products and accessories. OWC will primarily serve our North American customers but if you’re outside the US, they may be able to ship to you as well.

Computer Warehouse: One of the largest resellers in the UK, Computer Warehouse will serve our customers in the UK. We’re looking forward to having additional “local” representation for such an active market for H-Squared.

Both distributors are beginning to stock our products so if you don’t see our products listed, check back in a week or two and they should have them online.

The New Mini mount - Now Shipping

2008-04-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

April 17, 2008 - Bellevue, WA - Today, H-Squared announced the release of a new Mini mount, the premier mounting solution for the Mac mini. Precision designed and engineered to exacting standards, the laser cut cast acrylic securely grips the Mac mini. Utilizing a solid-piece design, the new Mini mount is even more low profile.

The multi-function mounting holes on the rear of the mount allows for vertical, horizontal, and VESA mounting applications. With the standoffs on the rear of the mount, cables can easily be routed behind the Mac mini ensuring a clean look. Combined with the optional power supply mount, the entire Mac mini assembly can be mounted virtually anywhere in virtually any orientation.

An optional backlight kit (shipping May 2008) is available for order as well. The USB-powered clear white LED casts a white glow on the mounting surface calling attention the understated design on the Mac mini.

The new Mini mount is available immediately for order and will ship on April 21, 2008.

Air Mount TC for Time Capsule: Now Shipping

2008-03-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

March 20, 2008 - Bellevue, WA: We're pleased to announce that the Air Mount TC's have begun to ship with some having already reached our customers. As we ramp up production of the Air Mount TC, our distributors will be taking on stock as well. Customers outside of the US waiting to pick up an Air Mount TC shouldn't have to wait too much longer to be able to order theirs. The Air Mount TC retails for 39.95 from the H-Squared web store.

New Airport Extreme Power Supply Mount and revised Mac mini Power Supply Mount now shipping

2008-03-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

March 20, 2008 - Bellevue, WA: H-Squared recently released two new cutting-edge designs for the Mac mini power supply and the Airport Extreme power supply. These low-profile mounts can securely mount either power supply on virtually any surface in any orientation. The unique c-bracket grips the power supplies from the mounting surface rather than the traditional U-brackets that are common for this type of application. The mounts work by using the actual power cables coming in and out of the power supplies as the method to secure the power supply to the mounting bracket. The Mac mini power supply mount and Airport Extreme power supply mount are 5.99 and 4.99 respectively and are available for purchase now from the H-Squared web store or from our resellers.

Air Mount TC launches

2008-03-10T22:53:00.000-07:00

The Air Mount TC is here! Designed around the same principals of the original Air Mount, the Air Mount TC is custom designed for Apple's Time Capsule. Like the Air Mount, the Air Mount TC can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. The streamlined design is low-profile, yet strong enough to securely hold Time Capsule. Check out the product pages to learn more!

Time Capsule will begin shipping within one week.

Time Capsule Mounting: UPDATE

2008-03-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

We now have our Time Capsules in hand and will be working diligently to design a proper mount for it. As soon as we have something viable, we'll let everyone know. Here's a few notes so far:
1. There is no external power brick. There's just a power cable that's about 6.5 ft (~2M) long. This means that, for mounting, it can't go too high without using some sort of extension cord.
2. Time Capsule has the same dimensions as Apple TV. Our tvTray works beautifully with it nearly as-is, but it would only work in a vertical mounting application.
3. Time Capsule is much heavier than Airport Extreme. As such, any horizontal mounting will require extra support.

Other than that, we haven't even fired the ones we have up yet. Those of you waiting, the good news is that we now have something to measure against. Just give us a little time to confirm that everything works as advertised and we'll get a product to you ASAP.

Mounting Time Capsule

2008-02-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

We've received several...no...many...no...an insane number of queries about mounting the upcoming Time Capsule. The first question is "Will the Air Mount hold Time Capsule?". Unfortunately, the answer is no. Time Capsule is a full 1.2 inches (that's a little over 30 mm for you metric folks) larger than the Airport Extreme. While we're actively working on a solution, we have yet to see, touch, smell, or get anything from Apple to aide in our quest to develop the perfect mount for you.

The other question that we often ask ourselves is "Will it be OK? What about those hard drives?". Time Capsule is both larger and heavier than it's non-hard drive-equipped counterpart. There's also the issue of heat dissipation that we have to consider. With Air Mount, the solution was rather straightforward. For Time Capsule, a few additional- yet critical- questions come into play. Since Time Capsule will function as backup storage for many people, the absolute last thing we want is for our products to contribute- in any way- to the early demise of those integrated hard drives.

The good news is that we're on it. The bad news is that you'll have to wait a tad longer. www.h-sq.co,

So. Hang tough. If there's a solution, we'll come up with it- and quick. Stay tuned and subscribe to our RSS feed to get the latest news from H-Squared.

2-25-08 UPDATE: From what we can tell, Time Capsule is set to ship very soon. Possibly this week. We'll keep a sharp eye out one of our 4 local Apple Stores and provide any additional updates that we may have when we have something to report.

2-29-08 UPDATE: We now have our Time Capsules in hand and will be working diligently to design a proper mount for it. As soon as we have something viable, we'll let everyone know. Here's a few notes so far:
1. There is no external power brick. There's just a power cable that's about 6.5 ft (~2M) long. This means that, for mounting, it can't go too high without using some sort of extension cord.
2. Time Capsule has the same dimensions as Apple TV. Our tvTray works beautifully with it nearly as-is, but it would only work in a vertical mounting application.
3. Time Capsule is much heavier than Airport Extreme. As such, any horizontal mounting will require extra support.

Other than that, we haven't even fired the ones we have up yet. Those of you waiting, the good news is that we now have something to measure against. Just give us a little time to confirm that everything works as advertised and we'll get a product to you ASAP.

iLumi debuts at Macworld

2008-02-10T21:23:00.000-08:00

January 15, 2008. San Francisco, California. H-Squared introduced iLumi, an interactive lighting system designed for the Mac and PC. The USB-powered 3-LED system communicates with the user via color and intensity. While still under development, the current design can function as a iTunes visualizer, interact with the Growl notification system, and is compatible with Applescript for total customization.

iLumi works by responding to system commands for color and/or intensity changes. Each of the three LEDs can be independently controlled through a GUI interface, Growl notifications, and even Applescript. The system becomes most useful when it is tailored to the user's needs. Such as displaying the weather forecast, stock prices, new message notifications, or anything where color can convey information.

iLumi will ship in the summer of 2008. Pricing and final specifications have not yet been finalized and will be announced at a later date.

H-Squared brings on PWI AB as a Scandinavian distributor

2008-02-10T21:19:00.000-08:00

February 11, 2008. Bellevue, Washington. H-Squared recently signed on PWI AB as a distributor for the Scandinavian region. In Western Europe, this region represents a significant portion of our customer base. Customers and resellers wishing to purchase H-Squared products who reside in this region should contact PWI AB for inventory and pricing information.

H-Squared at Macworld 2008

2008-01-02T07:26:00.000-08:00

H-Squared will be attending the annual Macworld conference in San Francisco from January 15th to 18th at the Moscone Center. We'll be at the Dr. Bott booth (S-1912). We'll be showing off the Air Mount, Mini mount, tvTray, and a few surprises. If you just bought a shiny new hard drive for Time Machine, you may want to stop by. (hint, hint)

See you there!

Review: "This mount is custom designed for the AirPort Extreme and therefore is a PERFECT FIT"

2007-10-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Tech blogger and president of the and North American Technical Resources Manager for Adobe Systems, Terry White is at again, posting a review of his experience mounting the Detroit Macintosh User's group's Airport Extreme Base station with the Air Mount. In his words (again), "It's... a PERFECT FIT."