UPDATED 13:28 EDT / AUGUST 07 2015

NEWS

Hidden speakers: 5 unexpected smart home items that double as stereos

We have come a long way from simply connecting everyday devices to the Internet. A new trend is adding speakers to these everyday items, doubling their initial purpose and giving homeowners a myriad of options for playing music in every room of the house.

Talk about multitasking.

Here’s five unexpected smart home products that also double as wireless speakers, keeping your playlist connected anytime.

Kohler’s Moxie

MoxieIf you love singing in the shower, then you’ll love Kohler Co.’s Moxie, a showerhead with a removable wireless speaker. Like most other Kohler showerheads, the Moxie is available in a water-saving 2.0 gpm or a 2.5 gpm spray, and you can choose between two designs, a single-function showerhead with 60 angled nozzles or a rainhead showerhead with 80 angled nozzles for a more spa-like feel.

The removable speaker comes in various colors, can be used outside of the shower and comes with a USB cable so you can recharge it when the battery runs low. It is magnetic, so popping it in and out of the showerhead is easy enough. It uses Bluetooth connectivity to pair with your mobile device so you can listen to your favorite tunes or the news as you shower, hang out in your bedroom or lounge at the beach. A fully charged Moxie speaker lasts up to seven hours.

The wireless speaker is priced at $129, the Moxie single-function showerhead with wireless speaker costs $199 and the rainhead with wireless speaker is priced at $299.

LightFreq Square2

LightFreq Square2Recently funded on Indiegogo, the LightFreq Square 2 is a smart lightbulb with a built-in HD speaker. It supports audio streaming with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity and offers 40,000 hours of light and 16 million colors, including 2700k white.

It also has motion sensors that allow automatic turning on of lights of music when triggered, can serve as an intercom for your house with the use of the switCH app, and delivers voice and visual notifications from your phone for incoming or missed calls, text, email, social media alerts, calendar and event reminders, and more. At the time of this writing, the LightFreq website was down, but its Indiegogo page claims that those who order the device during the funding period can expect to receive their Square2 by October 2015.

Amazon Echo

Amazon EchoThe Amazon Echo is not only a speaker that lets you enjoy your favorite music, but has several other functions as well. It has been described as “Siri, Google Now and Cortana, all rolled into one screenless, cylindrical speaker” and a “learning, digital assistant for the entire household.”

It is always on, connects to the Cloud using your home network, is powered by Alexa Voice Services, has seven microphones that use beam-forming technology that allow it to hear your voice from any direction, and its noise-cancelling technology enables it to hear your voice even while music is playing. It also features dual downward firing speakers to deliver immersive audio.

Aside from serving as an audio hub for your home, it can also be used to control smart devices in your home. It also has an accompanying app that allows you to control your home or send commands to Echo even if you’re out of the house. The Amazon Echo is priced at $179.99.

Brant0

BrantoDescribed as the mind and soul of your home, Branto is a device that’s a security system, audio hub, smart home controller, infrared controller and communications hub all rolled into one. It can be used to see and communicate with people in your home, as well as for videoconferencing. When no one is home, Branto serves as a security system and sends notifications and video footage if suspicious movement and sounds are detected.

It streams music, audiobooks and radio via its dedicated speakers or through connected speakers. You can use it to control your smart home devices, such as connected lights, locks, thermostats and more. And a transmitter lets you control infrared devices, such as a TV and air conditioner.

Branto is currently not available for purchase, but if you are interested, you can help fund its Indiegogo campaign and expect to get your Branto by December 2015.

Divoom AuraBox

aurabox-big02.jpgThe Divoom AuraBox is more than just a speaker. It has an integrated LED lightboard that can be controlled and customized using an app on your smartphone; it connects to your smartphone using Bluetooth, and you are able to stream music from up to 33 feet and give a light show at the same time; and you can make hands-free calls using the AuraBox, as it has speakerphone features.

It has design and animation functions that allow your inner artist to come out and play, so you can leave a sweet message for your loved one or use it to display current promotions or slogan from your business. It can also be used to teach kids about national flags and anthems, and it can display notifications from your social media account. It features a built-in temperature sensor and displays the temperature reading in real time.

Another interesting feature of the AuraBox is that aside from serving as an alarm clock, it can help you fall asleep with its preset sceneries and sound effects to create the most soothing environments, such as rainforest, seashore or rainstorm. You can buy the newly released Divoom AuraBox for $69.90 at Amazon.com.

Photo by kevin dooley

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