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The Techcrunch Web Tablet Project

Nik Cubrilovic

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Nik Cubrilovic (koo-bree-low-vick) is an Australian-born entrepreneur, technologist, software developer and blogger. Nik has been a writer and advisor to Techcrunch since 2005, is a founding editor of TechcrunchIT, and is currently working at Techcrunch and on the Crunchpad project. Nik is the founder and CEO of Omnidrive, a web content and storage platform. Nik was also the founder... → Learn More

Monday, July 21st, 2008
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Today at Techcrunch we announced that we are building our own web tablet hardware device. This all stems back from a conversation a few weeks ago when we were discussing the ultimate web browsing/cloud computing client hardware. The iPhone is nice but too small, and most laptops are over-powered for the task. With applications on the web most of us just need a web browser most of the time, so the ideal device would be a light-weight small tablet running nothing more than Firefox on a decent screen and with a WiFi connection.

The software development aspects of the project will be managed here from TCIT. Our goal is open source from top to bottom (including the full design, eventually). Leave a comment and we will get in touch with you and send you an account on the project management system we will be setting up (I am also nik at techcrunch on email which might be easier than flooding comments). It would be interesting to hear general feedback and ideas – we really want to open this up to everybody.

The planned stack so far is to run BSD or Linux, with the Gnome desktop. We will probably take the Gnome Onscreen Keyboard project and adapt that as the primary input device (the hardware design includes multi-touch under the LCD screen, I will have the full specs shortly and will post them to the wiki). Then there will be Firefox, running in a stripped down interface mode with a simple system tray showing battery life and wifi (and simple settings for the device). Plugins would include Gears, Flash and probably either VLC or Mplayer with open codecs for media.

Once the stack comes together and we can set the hardware spec in stone, we will do a small manufacturing run and ship some devices out to developers so that we can work on specifics. Once that is done there will be a larger manufacturing run with hopefully a retail price of $300 or less. If you are excited about this as we are, please get in touch.

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  • http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/21/we-want-a-dead-simple-web-tablet-help-us-build-it/ We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet For $200. Help Us Build It.

    [...] be coordinating the project over at TechCrunchIT. Leave a comment there if you want to participate and we’ll be in touch [...]

  • Tim

    I’ve always wanted to participate in an open-source, open-hardware project like this. I’ve worked as primarily a software guy for the past few years but recently started dabbling in hardware for my startup. We could possibly even lend some of our employee’s time to the project if it looks like it’s taking off (electrical engineer, possibly mechanical as well).

  • infomofo

    I’d be interested in this device both as a consumer and a software developer.

  • http://scripting.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/scripting-news-for-7212008/ Scripting News for 7/21/2008 « Scripting News Annex

    [...] those guys over at TechCrunch, they always get me with their April Fools jokes. Now here comes this piece that announces they’re getting into the hardware business! Could it be for real? [...]

  • jeffrey

    not to engage in scope creep but if you add pdf support it could double as the ultimate ebook reader as well. i would be very, very happy to buy something like that.

  • http://adrianpike.com Adrian Pike

    I’d be interested from both the developer and consumer standpoints.

  • Bill Musgrave

    Hopefully you can pull this off, cause if you do, I am going to get one in every room of my house including all the bathroom’s, my office waiting room, etc. Replace all my magazines and newspapers with these. Good Luck!

  • http://edwink.devhd.com Edwin Khodabakchian

    This is an interesting idea. Would love to help with the firefox integration side. May be even build a special version of feedly for it. What it the best way to learn more about this project?

  • harry

    It’s like your reading my mind.

  • Jonathan

    I’m in — hardware, software, whatever I can do.

  • http://www.techcrunchit.com/ Nik Cubrilovic

    I will get a new community site running shortly and will post all the docs and info that we have so far. If you leave a name here or email me I will shoot you an email once it is up

  • http://www.joebuddejr.com Joe Budde Jr.

    Awesome idea, Ill help with project specs or testing

  • http://www.nitinbadjatia.com/2008/07/21/techcrunch-calls-for-the-firefox-tablet/ TechCrunch calls for the Firefox Tablet | Thought Stream: Nitin Badjatia’s Weblog

    [...] TechCrunchIT » Blog Archive » The Techcrunch Web Tablet Project Today at Techcrunch we announced that we are building our own web tablet hardware device. This all stems back from a conversation a few weeks ago when we were discussing the ultimate web browsing/cloud computing client hardware. The iPhone is nice but too small, and most laptops are over-powered for the task. With applications on the web most of us just need a web browser most of the time, so the ideal device would be a light-weight small tablet running nothing more than Firefox on a decent screen and with a WiFi connection. [...]

  • http://judsoncollier.com Judson Collier

    Hey folks,

    love the idea. I’ll do what I can if you’d like– I mainly work in Photoshop/ web design. I can whip up logo ideas, design a site for it, etc.

    I’ll copy this over to Nik’s email.

  • http://www.aninternetvoice.com Edoardo Piccolotto

    I’m an User Experience and Usability Consultant… I’m in for this project… I really think there is the need of a device like that…

  • http://leekraus.blogspot.com Lee Kraus

    I would be interested in checking out the site and contributing if I have anything to offer.

  • David Fine

    College student will help with writing the marketing aspect.

  • http://friendfeed.com/alexandercarlill Alexander Carlill

    Let me know if I can help.

  • Ash

    I’m in.

  • http://www.informallearning.net David Smailes

    Wow, this sounds like an awesome idea. I’d love to contribute in some way, I have lots of education contacts and some limited coding expertise. Maybe my biggest asset is enthusiasm and time? Contact me if I can help.

  • http://www.splashtop Kevin Tu

    Would love to help where I can.

  • http://www.livedigitally.com Jeremy Toeman

    Built a few gadgets in my time… email if you could use a hand.

  • Willy Cheung

    awesome idea…i’d be interested in helping out on the hardware end

  • Vibhav

    Definitely interested. Sounds likes a fascinating idea. Being a kernel hacker, I would love to help with developing a stripped down version of linux for the TC Tablet.

  • http://www.techcrunchit.com/ Nik Cubrilovic

    Great! We are pretty excited about it as well..

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