This device wants to be more than an attractive speaker. Cone ($399) — from startup A-ether — "aims to be your cool friend, the one who always knows the perfect song for any occasion," said House Beautiful. Like Rdio and Stitcher, the music-streaming services it links to, the 6-inch-tall speaker accepts song and artist requests, learning your tastes as it goes. You make such requests by talking to it. It also notes the time of day and which songs you turn up; it recognizes when you move it to another room, too. "Soon, it starts anticipating what you might be in a mood to hear, which can be really fun."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.