Freewheeler speaker is wireless, round, and really expensive

Just because you can put a speaker in all sorts of form factors doesn't really mean you should. Take, for instance, the Freewheeler wireless speaker. Measuring in at 22.8 x 9.8-inches, the rolly sound producer will operate at up to 656-feet from its base station and includes an FM receiver. Doesn't sound so bad, right? Hold off, kiddos -- this thing sells for about $21,000. Yeah. Twenty one. Thousand. That said, the thing is completely wireless and will run on a single charge for about 8 hours, so if you have some swanky garden with swanky guests and you want some swanky speakers, here's your thing. Otherwise, we have a nice set over here in this white van. Just for you.

[Andrew Chung @ Aug 8th 2008 5:07PM]

Jesus Christ, how do these companies stay in business offering such ridiculous products? Is the rich-douche-with-no-common-sense niche really that big?

[whowhatme @ Aug 8th 2008 5:11PM]

don't think so, but it only takes one rich douche to generate the equivalent profit of a thousand price-conscious nerds.

[Ghen @ Aug 8th 2008 10:31PM]

Hopefully it contains gyroscopes and a laser light show.

[listen2c_k_y @ Aug 8th 2008 10:51PM]

You'd think 21K would net you more than of 8hr. battery life.

[Hexing @ Aug 9th 2008 5:04AM]

If you need a 21,000 wireless speaker outside then you have a problem with your life.

[quomen @ Aug 9th 2008 4:49PM]

Why are rich people automatically douches?

..'cuz if I had the money, i'd buy this.

Sorry for being a douche.

[Faar @ Aug 9th 2008 11:10PM]

For that price, the casing of that cheese wheel-looking thing better be made out of solid mother of pearl. Otherwise I don't understand how something so simple in appearance could be so damn pricey.

[whowhatme @ Aug 8th 2008 5:09PM]

for $21,000 just hire a pretentious jazz combo for your pretentious garden party with your pretentious guests

[EricR @ Aug 8th 2008 5:29PM]

You could probably _buy_ an un-pretentious jazz band for 21,000

[toxicpiano @ Aug 8th 2008 6:53PM]

Don't forget the cocaine!

[Pat @ Aug 8th 2008 5:19PM]

I wouldn't pay $21 for that. It's ugly, and probably sounds no better than those crap-ola ones you can get at Sharper Image.

[CraigJ @ Aug 8th 2008 5:31PM]

*could* get from The Sharper Image.

[John @ Aug 8th 2008 5:46PM]

*could have gotten*

[vdogg89 @ Aug 8th 2008 5:48PM]

I'm with you, if I saw this at walmart for 21 bucks, i'd go right on by.

[CraigJ @ Aug 8th 2008 9:13PM]

Touché

[Ignatius @ Aug 8th 2008 9:56PM]

Ugly... but remember, it's a wireless speaker with a rechargeable battery. Most new HTIB sets sell for $400+ with only the two back speakers being wireless.

[AlexGM @ Aug 9th 2008 10:24AM]

Yeah, you can hire a whole music band for less than $21,000 and playing for over 8 hrs., but only one time....

[dazepro @ Aug 8th 2008 5:25PM]

How and the hell does the iPhone have anything to do with this!

[zomg0t @ Aug 8th 2008 5:27PM]

This kiddie should be banz0red; most of his comments are one-word Apple products that have absolutely nothing to do with the article commented on. Although an email and IP ban probably wouldn't do much for long, it could pose an annoyance to the user that, after so many bans, would render his pitiful life worth more than idiotic comments such as these.

[fieldcar @ Aug 8th 2008 5:28PM]

Pull your finger out of your ass!

[Andrew @ Aug 8th 2008 5:32PM]

Since it's wireless it'll save you hundreds of dollars in cable elevators:

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73452

[Nicolae @ Aug 9th 2008 3:06AM]

YEAH, How did I leave without those cable elevators?

[Jhongerkong @ Aug 8th 2008 5:34PM]

Looks kinda like F.L.U.D.D

[Jhongerkong @ Aug 8th 2008 5:36PM]

That is, if you look at it with the shadow

[CraigJ @ Aug 8th 2008 5:38PM]

that's all there is holding his brains in.

[CraigJ @ Aug 8th 2008 9:14PM]

weird shit happens when the ban-hammer falls...

[thomasvda @ Aug 8th 2008 5:48PM]

STAY in business? Ehm... Maybe Engadget should be a LITTLE more critical? Obviously this is an ugly render so, ehm, how to stay in business? Let's see: make a cheap render of an unexisting product (that sells for 21000 dollars) and try to get very uncritical editors to write about it. Then wait for five orders and have some prototypes made, for which the 100.000 dollars is more than enough.

Come on Engadget.. I think the Apple/iPhone coverage debate is really silly, but you should know better than to post such irrelevant stuff.

[primalogix @ Aug 8th 2008 5:57PM]

you couldn't design a worse shelf to put a completely circular speaker on...

i sure hope it doesn't end up in the pool... but maybe it will -- right next to one of the waterfalls...

[nate @ Aug 8th 2008 7:24PM]

I have no idea what the crap that thing is supposed to be sitting on in that picture, but the speaker is the size of a tire, nearly 2 feet tall. Just to clarify, because the picture makes it look about 3 inches tall.

[bjsguess @ Aug 8th 2008 5:57PM]

I hope that isn't in US Dollars ...

[Derek @ Aug 8th 2008 6:35PM]

you mean you hope that IS american dollars, otherwise it would be REALLY fucking expensive

[Harry Wagstaff @ Aug 8th 2008 8:36PM]

Actually I was going for Zimbabwean Dollars. Then I'd buy 3.

Thousand.

[Nitin Mehra @ Aug 8th 2008 6:12PM]

But look on the bright side, you save money on Anjou speaker cables :)

[bcrider @ Aug 8th 2008 6:17PM]

White Van comment = hilarious and one of the reason I enjoy visiting the site. :)

[Milkman Dan @ Aug 10th 2008 12:37AM]

I think that was actually supposed to be "black van" if they were referencing Clutch's "Profits of Doom". The lyrics go, "Never trust a white man driving a black van. He's saving all his voodoo just for you. Just for you."

[letstakeawalk @ Aug 8th 2008 6:22PM]

Reminds me of a Bozak B-1000 Outdoor model.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bozak_outdoor_b_1000b100.html

[vonbroner @ Aug 8th 2008 6:57PM]

Sadly, the article doesn't say how many speakers you get for the money. Because if it's about 1,000 then maybe we got a deal.

[az_runner @ Aug 8th 2008 7:11PM]

FINALLY!!!! A set of speakers to go with the new "I Am RIch" App I just purchased for my iPod Touch.

Now my iPod can play music to my premium priced speakers while running my premium priced App. I feel sorry for all you common folk.

Good times.

[Steven @ Aug 9th 2008 6:15AM]

rather "I _was_ rich", if you ask me

[dlehmer @ Aug 8th 2008 8:21PM]

i'm surprised it doesn't come from Bang and Olufsen with a price tag like that, and mediocre speakers

[Dillon @ Aug 8th 2008 11:24PM]

Dammit, why are all these products that run on magic so expensive?

[MadMike @ Aug 9th 2008 12:21AM]

You mean, there are people rich enough that are actually dumb enough to buy this? I just lost all faith in the human race's survival.

I, for one, welcome our corporate run robotic overlords.

[Sean @ Aug 9th 2008 12:40AM]

If your guests are unable to hear the speakers, they could be easily tossed, or better, rolled to a better place.

[BratPAQ @ Aug 9th 2008 1:07AM]

maybe you get 4 of this and it can double as tires, that'll be cool, having your tires produce music while youre rolling.

[Amz @ Aug 9th 2008 1:16AM]

I don't think they'd last very long. Still, this looks like a job for Pimp My Ride!

:

[A.C.E.R. @ Aug 9th 2008 1:51AM]

If the battery lasts 8 hours you aren't turning it up loud enough.

[Magallanes @ Aug 9th 2008 11:48AM]

for $21k i can buy a whole car, not just 1 wheel but 4!!.

[Chris @ Aug 10th 2008 7:48AM]

The size of that cone in shameful.

[Free ps3 @ Aug 11th 2008 1:07PM]

Who would actuall want one of these? The price is stupid!

[pbBlimp @ Aug 13th 2008 10:55AM]

Sooooo....if I want stereo sound, I have to shell out $42,000 for a pair? 'Cause, if so, then I'll have to think about it.

On the other hand, if it's merely $21K for the pair -- damn -- I have that much in my sock right now!