[photopress:fonera.jpg,full,center] Linux, as we’ve been stressing all week, is not just for desktops. Linux works in all sorts of ways on all sorts of devices. Embedded Linux is a popular choice with many manufacturers to keep development costs down on new hardware. It’s also good for portable devices with open architectures because if you know desktop Linux, you know portable Linux. Peter highlighted a handful of cool mobile devices running Linux, and here are a few more cool devices running different versions of the OS, including a forerunner to KITT. KITT must run on Linux, right? → Read More
/bugs/cg.swf I just built a little RSS reader for the Chumby. Pop over to the Chumby site to check it out or just stare at it here. Never let it be said that we will ever force people to buy small, beanbag-like devices to consume our content. → Read More
We love the Chumby. Not only is it innovative, it’s damn cute. And today Chumby has announced partnerships with a number of content providers to further increase the device’s value, including MySpace, Shoutcast, Weather Channel, MTV, and many TV shows. And the Food Network! The best part is the Chumby is still only $180, and don’t forget that you can get all your TechCrunch and CrunchGear news as an included feed, free. Chumby Industries Debuts Its Innovative chumby™ Internet Device and Chumby™ Network [Chumby press release] → Read More
Chumby is officially available for $179.95 with free shipping. Run, nerds, run! Chumby → Read More
Less than 1 year ago a startup called Chumby began handing small squeezable Internet-ready devices at the Foo Con in Sebastopol, Cal. Recently, they have begun prepping the final version, which features some updated specs and features. This small alarm-clock-type thing packs a 350MHz CPU, 32MB RAM, 64MB flash ROM, Wi-Fi, 320×240 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, speakers, audio output, microphone and two USB ports. It also features motion and squeeze sensors. Although it comes with a slew of widgets from sites like Flickr, customers are encouraged to take advantage of their Chumby by hacking and modifying it to their hearts content. Chumby [via TechCrunch] → Read More
Chumby is a small, wifi-enabled linux hardware device is designed to be hacked and changed by its owners. The device has a 350MHz ARM controller, 32MB SDRAM, 64 MB Nand Flash Rom, a 320×240 3.5 inch touch LCD screen, two speakers, audio output, a microphone, and two USB ports. Chumby also has a squeeze sensor. All of this is housed within a soft, sqeezable shell about the size of a coconut. It was announced a year ago at Foo camp, and the company gave out about 500 of the first generation devices. Users register the device on the Chumby home page and connect the device to their network via wifi. Once registered, content widgets are added – so the Chumby may include a news widget, flickr widget, etc. Now, a year later, the company has made upgrades to the hardware and sofware that makes up the device, and say they will make it available for sale in a couple of months. The biggest change is that Chumby now runs Flash Lite 3, which is the first mobile version of Flash to support streaming audio and video. Users can now run music or video over the Internet and play it on the Chumby. The Chumby will be sold for $179.95, fully delivered. The company has 23 employees and is headquartered in San Diego. They raised just over $5 million from OATV, Avalon Ventures and Masthead Venture Partners in December 2006. → Read More
TechCrunch got a chance this weekend to check out the Chumby, a device that is certain to make a huge impact next year. It is notable because of its complete hackability. What one does with it is essentially limited only be one’s imagination. Users can program this small handheld device to perform pretty much any desired function. It features a 266Mhz ARM controller, 32MB SDRAM, a 320 x 240 3.5″ touchscreen display, WiFi, two speakers, audio in/out and a USB port. It can be controlled via the touchscreen or squeeze sensors on the casing. The internals can be easily removed from its housing and fit into another shell. It is expected to be available in March 2007 for an MSRP of $150. Developers can visit Chumby now and request a sample unit. Chumby Devices Handed Out at Foo [TechCrunch] Announcing the Birth of Chumby [Christine] Story of Chumby [Chumby] → Read More
The founders of Chumby wanted to create a new device that begs to be hacked. Yesterday, they introduced a prototype of their new gadget to 100 or so attendees of Foo Camp in Sebastopol, California. I was lucky enough to get one. Chumby is a small, wifi enabled, touch screen information device. When you take it out of the box and plug it in it is essentially a glorified alarm clock. But when you take a moment and register your particular Chumby at their website, it can become just about anything you like. A number of widgets are available now and can be enabled on Chumby with a click. And Since Chumby is completely open source and has made a HDK and SDK available for developers, expect modifications to come quickly. I enabled a few of the available widgets, and my Chumby now shows pictures from my flickr account as well as Google News headlines. Other Foo attendees have new Digg front page stories, Google Calendar and Slashdot stories on their Chumby. The device has a 266MHz ARM controller, 32MB SDRAM, a 320×240 3.5 inch touch LCD screen, two speakers, audio output, microphone input functionality and a USB port. Chumby also has a squeeze sensor. All of this is housed within a soft, sqeezable shell about the size of a coconut. Don’t like somthing about your Chumby? Hack it. The founders not only allow it but are actively encouraging modifications, even leading a number of hack sessions here at Foo. The hardware can easily be ripped out of the shell and put inside something else. The hardware itself can be hacked, or developers can use the tools available on the Chumby site to simply create new widgets. The examples are limitless. Use the USB port to take a thumb drive with MP3s and build a music player widget, for example. Or a divx player. Or use Chumby to control the air conditioning in your house. Or as a remote control for your television. Etc. Chumby will not be generally available for purchase until March 2007, but developers can request one now on the Chumby home page. Tell them why you want it, and they may send you one. When it does eventually go on sale, the target price point is $150. The basic service is free, and Chumby may add paid premium services over time. Most of the Chumby team, → Read More
