The Boombot REX Ultraportable speaker from Boombotix is an intriguing new Kickstarter project that promises to deliver quality sound in a durable, pocket-sized package.
This hexagon-shaped Bluetooth speaker is designed to be worn externally, and as such, it sports a built-in clip and a rugged, water resistant exterior that can even withstand grime and mud.
It has high powered dual drivers and a bass woofer, along with speakerphone capabilities and a lithium-ion battery that is rated for six hours of continuous use.
We built the REX to be rugged, rechargeable, and water resistant, so you can take it with you just about anywhere. The sound of the REX is driven by two 36-millimeter drivers and a bass woofer. The bass woofer allows us to generate a full rich dynamic range sound without increasing power consumption.
Most impressively, the Boombot REX is the first ultraportable speaker to offer Siri integration, similar to how the feature works with Bluetooth headsets and vehicle systems. Users can push a button, make a request to Siri, and Siri will answer back through the speaker.
After just a day on Kickstarter, the Boombot REX is 80 percent funded, with over $22,000 of a $27,000 goal. Interested backers can get a limited edition Arctic white REX speaker for $75, or for $80, the REX is available in Electric Blue, Savage Green, and Pitch Black. For more information on the Boombot REX, which is currently expected to ship beginning in February 2013 should it reach its funding goal, check out the Kickstarter page.
Top Rated Comments
Any outdoor activity where my phone is safer in my pocket. Say around sand or water. My back yard pool or around the beach or desert. Even at home by the bath where I would like to keep my phone away from the water but still listen to my audio book and be able to answer a call if needed. Seem useful to me:)
It takes mere seconds to get it out of your pocket.
Siri integration seems like a small thing, not the main reason most people would get this.
But it would be useful: your phone is in your pocket, while the speaker is on your desk. Want to dial a call, request an album, set an alarm, fire off a text, cancel an appointment? (Anything Siri does faster than getting the phone out and tap-tap-tapping, and that doesn’t need your eyes.) Touch the speaker and go!
Basically, the same uses Siri has on the iPhone’s included headset, or a Bluetooth headset, when the phone is pocketed.
To be fair, size alone is not the only cost of designing a product. There’s some other tech in here (like the buttons and Bluetooth interface) lacking in most speakers. And this is a specific-use product that probably won’t sell as widely as simple outdoor speakers; and it comes from a small startup. So—no economy of scale yet.