The Bluetooth speaker that runs on the sun

The tech world is littered with Bluetooth speaker systems. I get pitched to write about a new one almost every week. Some are excellent; the rest are fine examples of “you get what you pay for.” Worse, many of them are just plain boring – ugly, uninspired, dull. So when I heard about Etón’s Rukus – a Bluetooth speaker run by solar power – I was intrigued.

“No longer are you saddled to a speaker that doesn't allow you to use your hand-held device while also playing music,” said a spokesperson. That’s cool, but it's true of many speakers. What’s cool about this thing is the sun can power it. And it can charge other gadgets via USB. Its 40-square-inch embedded high-efficiency solar panel is big, but that’s also part of the unit’s charm. It doesn’t look like anything else out there and, while on the big side, it’s not cumbersome or heavy. The Rukus also has an AC adapter for charging indoors.
Rukus rearSo, is it worth its $150 price tag? That depends on your expectations and level of audiophile nerdery. Despite being named Rukus, this thing is unlikely to start one. If you’re planning a rave in your backyard you’ll be disappointed. However, if you’re grilling with friends or just puttering around outside, the Rukus is a good choice. The sound is great, the solar panel is efficient – more than just a novelty – and you can easily read the control panel even in the brightest sun.
The Rukus loses some points for weak bass, even with the “boost,” and the absolute certainty that most people will scratch the solar panel after a few uses. It’s prone to scratching, though that shouldn’t hinder its performance.
If this is your first experience with Etón, you should know that they’re a company worth checking out. While I have only used the Rukus, they boast a line of impressive gadgets that go beyond neat to necessary. One of their taglines is “Be Red Cross Ready,” referring to a line of products that should be in anyone’s emergency kit. Again, I have not used these products and similar ones are available from other companies, but the practicality of having a few of these around is clear.

Red CrossOne such product is the FRX3, a multi-powered, multi-function weather alert radio and flashlight that can also charge your smartphone and other devices. The FRX3 is rechargeable and comes with a solar panel and hand turbine power generator. When the next major storm hits – or when the zombies come – you’ll want one of these in the cellar.