The Cone, the first product released by San Francisco start up (aren't they all) Aether, is a beautiful speaker with some highly convenient features. Resembling a standalone megaphone with a sleek yet old school look, it bears the now requisite function of wireless connectivity with Mac devices -- similar to the Singing Machine Home Karaoke system. Like the Singing Machine, it has neither an LED display nor an assortment of buttons. A single dial controls its functions.
"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."
Once synched with your mobile device (with the app downloaded), the Cone can draw from a playlist or enter a Pandora-like mode in which it anticipates your next song. More than Pandora, it learns from the songs you typically select and even when you select them. If you happen to disagree, you can ask (i.e. voice command) for a specific song, genre, or something else, like a podcast or Eminem's epic battle scenes in "Eight Mile."
"The world of music offers so much choice and capability that it can be overwhelming and difficult to simply enjoy listening," said Ben Fullerton, Head of Design at Aether. "Cone makes it easy to hear something great by applying Aether's machine learning software across music and content services in order to learn what you like and play what you love. Cone is the first music player to integrate hardware, software and services to create a new kind of listening experience."
For its design and convenience, the Cone goes for $399 -- a hefty price for something that likely doesn't get too loud but, like anything, worth it if you've got the cash and/or don't know what else to ask for for your birthday. It's not available until the spring/summer, but can be pre-ordered.
