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Help Fund This Alexa-Powered Terminator Speaker

Meet the Terminator T-800, an Amazon-Alexa powered speaker in the form of one of the world's most iconic sci-fi robots.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Imagine if a Terminator was present in your living room to play music, answer your questions, and keep an eye on the place. That dream could soon become a reality.

Meet the Terminator T-800, an Amazon Alexa-powered speaker in the form of one of the world's most iconic sci-fi robots. The company behind this amazing invention, UK-based ACWorldwide, has already built Bluetooth speakers that look like Star Wars characters and Master Chief from Halo, but says the Terminator T-800 is "the most advanced, and therefore complex, project" it has worked on to date.

So, it's taken to Kickstarter to help fund the project.

"We need the support of you guys to deliver our vision, one that we hope you share with us," they wrote. "Only your pledges can provide the development funds needed to get us over the finishing line."

This "menacingly beautiful" speaker stands 18-inches tall and is constructed out of polished alloy.

"Every single detail of the original character will be incorporated," ACWorldwide Founder Karl Grimsey said in a video. The eyes, for instance, will have "illuminated red sockets," just like the real Terminator.

The left eye is a high-definition camera, which "gives you an option to turn on the red filter to replicate the Terminator's head-up display," Grimsey said. The device also features motion detection and "night vision," so it can be your eyes and ears when you're not around and livestream the footage to your smartphone.

It also packs a tweeter and subwoofer, which promise to deliver "crisp, clear sound and powerful bass." The speaker connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or an old-school auxiliary cable. It offers complete Amazon Alexa functionality and features a built-in microphone, letting you make and receive hands-free calls when connected to your smartphone.

ACWorldwide has so far raked in more than $5,000 from 14 Kickstarter backers. That's quite a ways from its $176,572 goal, but there's still 29 days left to go in the campaign. Remember, as with all Kickstarter projects, it will only be funded if it reaches its goal before the end of the campaign, so if you are keen on seeing this thing come to life, you know what to do.

If all goes well, ACWorldwide expects to deliver its first batch of speakers to Kickstarter backers in February 2018.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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