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. With Chumby
Posted by Rob Walker on March 13, 2008
Posted Under: Products
Posted Under: Products
UnBeige observed recently the launch of the Chumby.
The Chumby is a compact consumer Internet device that is about the size of a coffee cup. But unlike a coffee cup, it can be plugged into an electrical outlet; then it finds an available Wi-Fi connection and streams Internet channels from the free Chumby Network, which has already signed up content partners such as CBS, MTV Networks, and MySpace.
I wonder if there’s a market for this? What do you think? It costs about $180. Here are the photos that people have uploaded of their Chumbys so far.
The management team includes creative director Susan Kare, who has done a lot of interesting things. So, we’ll see.
Further diversion may be found at MKTG Tumblr, and the Consumed Facebook page.
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Reader Comments
I like, but there are reservations. I’m confused as to where it’s supposed to go. The tagline is “Wake up to your internet life,” but it appears to offer far more “tools” than I need in the bedroom. Given the screen size, the average cubicle seems like the best place to enjoy the display and everything else Chumby offers. (As if we needed another workplace distraction.) But in the FAQs they note that the the wireless networks in many offices are closed.
Between our computers and our cellphone, don’t we already have access to everything Chumby offers?
If someone could figure out a way to combine this with Clocky (http://www.nandahome.com/products/clocky/index.php), I’d be more interested. Especially if it had a remote control.
Howdy!
If they were to merge with Idapt and/or Tivo I’d give them a spitting chance of surviving. Otherwise it is going to be a really expensive 21st century version of a lava lamp.
I’m not sure I’d agree with Braulio; chasing widgets around my room first thing in the morning? Not exactly the way I’d like to wake up.
http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2008/01/ambient-interru.html
If this post is onto something, there is a market for Chumby. Why waste precious seconds standing in front of a microwave when you could be streaming the Internets.