At first glance, you'll probably admire the stylish design of the Cone speaker. But this so-called "thinking music player" promises to be more than just another pretty face.
The first product of San Francisco-based startup Aether Things, Cone is a Wi-Fi speaker that syncs with Apple's iOS and Mac products and promises to learn what type of music you like to create a personalized music experience, and get better over time. The stylish speaker has a minimalist design that resembles an old antique phonograph and is devoid of excess buttons or an LCD screen.
To operate the device, you simply twist the front dial and it will play audio from streaming music services, Internet radio stations, and podcasts. If you like what you hear, leave it alone and you'll hear more music like it. If you're not digging the jam, turn the dial again to hear something completely different. When you have something specific in mind, you can tell it out loud exactly what you want to hear.
"The world is filled with new devices that do amazing things, yet the more you own, the harder you have to work to connect, manage, and troubleshoot them," Duncan Lamb, co-founder and chief product officer at Aether, said in a statement. "At Aether, we decided to make products and experiences that work harder so you don't have to. Our ultimate goal is simple—to make everyday life nicer through beautifully thought-out products."
The device uses machine-learning software across music and content services to learn your music preferences. Aether did not specify which streaming music services will play on the Cone, but said it's "working hard" to ensure all your favorites work.
Weighing in at just 2.9 pounds, the Cone measures 6.3 inches high, 6.3 inches wide, and 6 inches long. In terms of specs, it has a built-in Lithium ion battery, which Aether said offers 8 hours of continuous playback, and a 3-inch woofer plus a dual tweeter design for a "natural stereo envelopment." For setup, you'll need a device running iOS 7 or Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
The Aether Cone will be available later this spring or summer for $399. It comes in either black and copper or white and silver. If you're interested in the Cone, you can reserve one on Aether's website now.
For more, check out PCMag's roundup of the 10 Best Wireless Speakers.