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Clever Kickstarter project puts a USB port on the front of your iMac

Launched at Macworld this week, a clever new Kickstarter project called the “iMacompanion” aims to put a USB port on the front of your iMac or Apple Thunderbolt Display. Video overview:

The port blends in with the aluminum coloring of the stands on those Apple displays and connects to the main USB ports on the back via an ultra-thin cable that slides under the base of the stand. If funded, the creators of the project aim to ship by fall of this year.

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Comments

  1. dcj001 - 10 years ago

    It is a good idea. But I feel that this iMacompanion clutters the look of the iMac or Cinema display.

    I feel that better options are either a USB hub, or what I use, which is a $2 12″ USB 3.0 extension cable that plugs into a USB 3.0 port in the back and is accessible from the front to use for my iPhone/iPad Lightning charging cable or can be connected to the Apple Superdrive if a need for it arises.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      I don’t even think its a good idea. It’s an extension cord. There are already many to choose from. Did this one pay to be mentioned here?

  2. Henry Floyd - 10 years ago

    Thank god someone invented this! I mean, how else am I gonna charge my phone from the front of my computer? Run a regular USB cable TWO INCHES TO THE LEFT of the aluminum foot so I can reach the USB port? Not likely! I’d much rather spend $19 of my hard-earned money on something that does the same job for more money. I—I mean—I mean for… flatter. Or something.

  3. dr3459 - 10 years ago

    The point of a Mac looking so great is to get rid of the clutter that PC has of like 5 usb ports on the back and another like 3 at least in the front. If people make such a big deal out of it it’s sad if anything get a hub for a few usb ports not some silly thing to stick on the base that sticks out like a sore thumb. They say it matches too and it matches about as well as the Space Gray iPhone 5s and iPads do to the iMac color scheme.

  4. Klaus Dietrich Lange - 10 years ago

    just thinking: how about a |____| -shaped USB extender. A single piece that plugs into the USB port on the back, extends below and to the front to give you an USB port on the front of the iMac, right below the lower edge of the monitor. No flimsy cable.

  5. Jesse Supaman Nichols - 10 years ago

    If there was an award for “Most Unnecessary Invention”, this product would be a front-runner! It would be right next to the DVD Rewinder, Picnic Pants, and Foursquare.

  6. And it won’t make your iMac annoyingly, ever-so-slightly teeter-tottery at ALL! We PROMISE!

  7. Scott Bessel (@sbessel) - 10 years ago

    While I like the concept I think it is too expensive, to limiting being only USB 2.0 and in my opinion could use a few more ports.

    For the same price if it had 4 ports and was USB 3.0 I would be all over it. I love getting rid of the extra desk cables.

  8. PhoenixNFA (@PhoenixNFA) - 10 years ago

    what if it had a provision for an iphone dock on the front of it?

    i need everyone to sign a NDA and the company to send me a $10k check.

    CHECKPLEASE!