Can you think of a better beach companion than the Soulra ($200) from Etón Corporation? At first glance, it looks like most portable iPhone or iPod sound systems. A central dock holds the music player; speakers on either side let you listen to your tunes without headphones.
But unlike most iPod accessories, the Soulra is built for the outdoors. The rugged aluminum and rubber exterior is splashproof. The 11-watt speakers are internally sealed to hold out sand or water.
Most ingeniously, the Soulra draws power from the very thing that draws its users outside: the sun. A flip-up solar panel charges the device’s lithium-ion battery pack. So, like you, the better the weather, the longer it plays.
