Ken C. Pohlmann

Well, it's come to this. Apparently, a parrot used Alexa to order some stuff off the internet.

There is no shortage of all-weather Bluetooth speakers but the Boomjacket takes longevity to a new level with 40 hours of playback time on a single charge. (Moreover, Altec Lansing claims that you don't have to lower the volume to achieve that.) The Boomjacket is the sequel to the Life Jacket; like its predecessor, the Boomjacket features rain/dirt/shock-proof construction; in addition to its improved playing time, it has improved sound quality and more mounting capabilities.

You might recall a recent Signals column about a Google patent application that described an anthropomorphic entertainment controller. The microphones/ears and cameras/eyes of the proposed Chucky-like device really creeped me out. Then a reader alerted me to an Amazon product that has similar functionality. It's not a document in the Patent Office; it's a real thing keeping tabs on people in their homes.

Sound System Designer: “How many speakers would you like in this car?”
BMW: “Yes.”