Grace Digital, a manufacturer of innovative electronics, has taken the wraps off its latest portable Bluetooth speakers from the ECOXGEAR lineup. The roster now includes the ECOPEBBLE Powerbank, which boasts a whopping 50 hours of battery life, and the ECOSMART 4000 HD with a built-in solar panel to keep it charged easily.
The new products will be showcased at the International CES 2015, which kicks off in Las Vegas on Jan. 6.
"We set out to develop a family of outdoor portable products that use renewable energy as the main power source, drastically reducing energy consumption," said Greg Fadul, co-founder of ECOXGEAR. "It was also important for us to provide users with a completely wire-free experience with their portable devices, not having to search for a place to plug in while they're enjoying the great outdoors."
While solar panels have been around for a while, the ECOSMART 4000 HD speakers tap into this technology. These Bluetooth speakers are not only solar-powered but also water- and dust-resistant. Moreover, these rugged speakers are made for the outdoors as they can withstand mud and snow as well. These speakers offer 18 hours of battery life, but the solar panels should compensate for that.
The ECOPEBBLE Powerbank, on the other hand, has an internal 10,000 mAh battery. This can charge other devices as well and can extend the usage time of one's smartphone or MP3 player; it offers over 50 hours of use on a single charge. The waterproof and dust-proof speaker is also protected from mud and snow.
ECOXGEAR has also revealed its plans of releasing a standalone solar panel, which will deploy Bluetooth to pass on the energy patterns and charging status.
However, the shock-resistant speakers could run into issues given the size and their bulky appearance. The speakers look cumbersome, which could lead to issues of portability.
The performance of the speakers is also another question, and it remains to be seen how they fare in the consumer space.
ECOXGEAR has not revealed the pricing or the release date of the portable speakers. However, Gizmodo reported the ECOSMART 4000 HD may cost $100 and the ECOPEBBLE Powerbank $130.
Grace Digital has been at the forefront of producing weather-resistant products for years. One example is its waterproof Bluetooth speakers.
While Grace Digital's offerings have not always been the most fluid in terms of performance, they do show the company to be in tune with consumer demands with the kind of innovations it has been developing.
