Australian-Made Technology Earns Disney Seal of Approval

With the new Disney-helmed trilogy well underway, Star Wars fanaticism is touching base with mainstream popularity once again. As to be expected, the explosion of public interest has sparked a widespread desire for products adorned with, and designed for, the beloved sci-fi franchise’s booming return to the big screen.

As this fervor spreads across the globe, it has given way to a success story in the Australian tech industry. Plox has gained viral interest from the online world with their upcoming product line soon to be released in celebration of Episode VII: The Force Awakens’ widespread acclaim, and in preparation for a new addition to the cinematic legacy; Rogue One.

While Plox may not necessarily be a household name, their appearance in the tech world has not gone unnoticed. Receiving a CES Innovation Award in 2015 for their “Plox Freedom” portable powerpack release, the Australian-born technology company has developed a stream of successful products with a particular focus on bluetooth speakers, a speciality that is directly linked to their new partnership.

Plox’ new variety of character-themed headphones, floating Death Star speakers, and an abundance of other products paying homage to the Star Wars series, have earned the relatively new startup a mark of approval from Disney, the new owners of the Star Wars brand.

Few companies have managed to stay relevant and popular in the way that Disney has. Opening their doors in 1923, the iconic company has produced some of the most beloved films of all time, building a likely-unparalleled following that spans multiple generations. In 2012, this legacy was reinforced once more with Disney purchasing Lucasfilm and, in turn, ownership of the Star Wars brand.

Star Wars, a space saga that has been heralded a masterpiece by its fervent fan base that spans far beyond the sci-fi community, has been an influential benchmark for science fiction since the theatrical release of 1977’s Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Considering the legacy of both these names in modern pop culture, Plox’ task to create a piece of technology to the standards of this audience is not one to be taken lightly.

The Product

Rotating above its platform, the gravity-defying Plox levitating Death Star speaker has been the main draw of this product line, as the internet eagerly awaits its release. These 5w speakers, designed as an impressively accurate replica of the titular space station, holds 5 hours of charge, and is the ideal size for any fan hoping to bring a touch of the dark side to their work desk.

This highly coveted partnership has given Plox the freedom and capital to bring their designs and concepts to life without a loss of quality, a pitfall that many companies have come to while attempting to cheaply cash in on the phenomenon. Although consumers online were eagerly anticipating this line of products before, this added support and quality control from Disney’s team has led the Australian tech company to viral success ahead of their October 1st release.

Of course, this anticipation doesn’t come without its drawbacks, as customer expectations are inevitably high for any products associated with Star Wars, especially for a startup that is yet to prove themselves on a large-scale venture such as this one. 

However, while time will tell how this line is received come its official release, Plox’ feed of information and designs, coupled with a collaborative greenlight from Disney, has given gadget fans well-deserved sense of confidence.

It is an amazing feat for any company to amass the amount of hype that has accompanied this release, and if Plox can deliver on the expectations the have accumulated for themselves, this may be the start of a much larger story for this budding Australian company.