‘Thinking’ music speaker changes mood with a twist and learns users’ tastes

The Aether Cone is a next-generation conical speaker that instantly offers a different vibe when it is twisted, and uses algorithms to detect users' music taste at particular times and locations.

Over the past few years, music speakers have transformed from having one simple purpose to featuring wifi connectivity and integrated subscription streaming services, such as the Sonos. Now taking these features as granted, the Aether Cone is a next-generation conical speaker that instantly offers a different vibe when it is twisted, and uses algorithms to detect users’ music taste at particular times and locations.

The device is a standalone speaker that connects to the internet through an iOS 7 device, giving it access to a number of services including a library of 20 million songs, internet radio and podcasts. Cone has a simple, sleek design, with a button in the middle that plays and pauses tracks when pressed, or initiates a voice search for songs when held down. The front of the speaker can also be twisted in order to quickly change the vibe of the tracks being played. However, the smartest part of the device is that it detects how it’s being interacted with. Cone builds up a profile of its users dependent on whether they listen to the whole track, linger on it before skipping or passing on it immediately, as well as the time of day and location. It then feeds this back into the track selections it makes to personalize users’ streams. The video below acts as an ad for the product:

The Aether Cone retails for USD 399 and will ship in early summer 2014. The speaker is one of string of new products that aim to bring smart and social tech to previously ‘dumb’ electronics, along with Chüne — a device that gauges the music taste of party crowds and creates a perfect playlist for everyone. Are there other ways to combine the power of the web with existing home electronics?