Although portable record players have been around for decades, they're generally still not small enough to just be thrown in a bag – after all, they do have to accommodate a spinning LP. The RokBlok, however, doesn't "house" the record at all. Instead, it drives around its surface in circles, sort of like a tiny Zamboni with a needle on the bottom.
To use the bamboo-bodied device, users start by placing their record on a smooth flat surface. They then turn the RokBlok on by flipping up a built-in lever, set it down at the outer edge of the record, then let it go. Its soft rubber wheels will propel it around (it can be set to either 33 or 45 rpm), while its pivoting needle follows the grooves.
According to its creator Logan Riley, the wheels don't harm records' vinyl surfaces.
Music is played back through the RokBlok's speakers, although the sound is obviously going to be getting projected in ever-tightening circles. Fortunately, the device can also be wirelessly paired with a stationary third-party Bluetooth speaker or set of headphones, for better audio quality.
When it's time to stop, the RokBlok is turned off simply by waving a hand over the top to flip the lever back down. One two-hour charge of its battery should be good for a claimed four hours of playback time.
If you're interested, the RokBlok is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. A pledge of US$59 will get you one, when and if it reaches production. The planned retail price is $99.
It can be seen and heard in action, in the video below.
Source: Kickstarter
