Gadget of the week
Eton Rukus Solar Wireless Sound System: For the great outdoors
What is it?
With almost year-round sunshine, it’s surprising that more of us in the UAE don’t bother to take advantage of it. Well, California company Eton, which is looking to enter the UAE market soon, aims to change that. The company, which specialises in making solar-powered gadgets, recently launched its holiday season-bait: the Rukus Solar, a wireless speaker that uses the power of the sun to pump out big sound.
How does it work?
Eton is an expert in making solar panels small enough to power daily devices. Atop the funky design of the Rukus Solar are panels capable of generating enough power for use for up to eight hours of music play time. Eton says they are efficient even in low-light or cloudy conditions and the device charges fully in less than six hours.
The speaker can be used in two ways – either by wirelessly streaming music via Bluetooth, or connecting it with a wire through the aux-in jack.
What’s special about it?
Besides it being a totally green gadget, which also looks good, Eton has made sure the Rukus Solar is as portable as possible for use in the great outdoors, whether out camping, at a picnic or at a barbeque. Weighing only 1.6kgs, the integrated handle design is to ensure it can be carried and stored easily.
Pairing with Bluetooth-enabled devices is as easy as pressing a button. And the use of EInk technology ensures you will be able to read the display even under bright sunlight. Early reviewers have also praised the 14W sound quality coming off the two speakers.
But another highlight for us was the addition of an USB output port, which means you can power up most of your devices, especially the ones streaming music, and not have to worry about losing juice – all naturally.
When is it available and for how much?
Eton does not have a date yet on when exactly they are coming to the UAE, although we know it is very soon. The Rukus Solar meanwhile can be bought online at etoncorp.com for about Dh550. Colours currently available are green, white and black. There is also a non-solar model, just called the Rukus, for about Dh367.
