Chumby is your friend!
I just received my Chumby One yesterday and all that you hear is true-- you cannot help but love the little information device! After setting up Chumby on your wireless (or wired) network, you simply visit the Chumby site to both activate your device and to choose from the list of applications to install.
The adding of applications to the Chumby takes place via your Chumby's personal page on the Web site. Here you add and customize (if necessary) the widgets. It could not be any simpler! The applications cycle through, each staying on the screen for the time you have determined in the set-up. There is also a large button to push that both allows you to pick a certain widget to show, but also allows it to stay on-screen if you wish. Some of the widgets are interactive, like the Twitter widget which allows you to tweet using an on-screen keyboard and the sticky-note app which allows you to leave notes to yourself. You select items from the screen using the tip of your finger or your fingernail (or a stylus), and it works easily.
In addition to the 1500+ widgets you can install, the Chumby also allows you to choose from a list of streaming radio stations and podcasts that can even play in the background as your widgets cycle by. Of course, there are lots of clocks to select from, and there is a nighttime setting that dims the screen or even shuts it completely off if you want.
If you want to see how to set it up and how it all works, simply visit their FAQ page.
Here are the specs from the Chumby One page:
Labels: Chumby, Chumby One, Kathy Schrock
posted by Kathy Schrock at 9:48 PM
5 Comments:
you sold me, kathy. i just ordered one. (although it is back-ordered). thanks for the info and good review.
Kathy, I am trying to get a hangle on this gadget with the funny name.
I am confused....what EXACTLY is it? What makes a chumby better than other devices...such as my iPhone?
(curious- i have never heard of one and I am intrigued!)
Tara,
A Chumby is what I would call an "Internet appliance". It is more like an alarm clock that can house lots of information, too. I think it is meant to sit on a dresser or kitchen counter and provide easy access to info when and where you and the rest of your family need it.
You've missed the most important cool part and I write about it in my blog.
Writing your own widgets -- easily done with Flash.
Hacking the chumby, a lot more difficulty buy my chumby now thinks a share on my Windows Home Server is it's usb drive.
Greetings from Santa Monica.
I ordered mine about a month ago and waited..waited....walking to the mailbox every day mumbling "Chumby...Chumby"...Even saying "Where's my Chumby" under my breath every time I saw a UPS truck. Then one morning the dog barked (a rare occurance) and I looked out the window to see my wife going to the front gate. I ran out. Chumby had arrived. I explained it a bit to her. "THAT is a perfect Christmas gift from me to you", she concluded, and hid the box away. That was a week ago...I'm still waiting for my Chumby!
Very nice site...but the name makes me hungry. Too bad there isn't virtual goodies for the Kaffeeklatsch !
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