Topic: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech … getstation

Come on chumby guys beat these to market.

If anything it confirms that the people creating chumby are on the right track.

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

Yeah, we just heard about this.

It's hard to say anything about it because the information is very limited.

I guess we'll wait and see. I'm curious how they got an award for CES 2007, when that doesn't even happen until January next year.

At least people actually *have* our units, you can see photos (not computer renderings) with non-Chumby people holding them, and there's an actual website with actual widgets.

3 (edited by jonsmirl 2006-11-16 21:05:10)

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

They got it from CES International.  US CES is in January.

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

OK, then I guess I'm a little baffled why there's no mention of the either the company or the product on the CES International 2007 site, especially this page, which appears to list all of the 2007 honorees.

The CES website even has a search box - no hits for either "emtrace" or "widgetstation".

I don't mean to sound like I actually care, it's just odd.

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

CES award
http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/awards/ … tegory=119

A Philips RC9800i remote control is pretty close to being a Chumby
http://www.homecontrol.philips.com/index.cfm?id=829

It runs Linux, source is available. Engineers did session at Linux World.
CPU is i.MX, 3.5in QVGA touch screen, speakers, WiFi
Plus it is battery powered and can do TV out from the dock.

They are $199 from buy.com and ritzcamera.com

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

OK, thanks, I see it now.  It appears that each category has 10-20 "honorees", with one chosen as the "best" in that category.  That would seem to imply that there are about 300-400 of these "honorees" across all categories.  I have to think that represents a substantial fraction, if not all, of the self-selected nominees - which makes sense given that it can cost between $225 and $950 to even *apply* for the award.    It would be a bummer to pay $950 and get *nothing* in return.

Apparently, Gizmodo has some comments on the topic, as well as Chris Null over at Yahoo Tech. Chris gives an example of the same award for a product that does not even exist - not that it was cancelled as so many products are, but that the description of the product is completely preposterous.

A Philips RC9800i remote control is pretty close to being a Chumby
http://www.homecontrol.philips.com/index.cfm?id=829

It runs Linux, source is available. Engineers did session at Linux World.
CPU is i.MX, 3.5in QVGA touch screen, speakers, WiFi
Plus it is battery powered and can do TV out from the dock.

They are $199 from buy.com and ritzcamera.com

Oooh, very interesting - I'll have to pass this on to bunnie.  Thanks!

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

The Philips VP5500 phone is almost exaxtly a Chumby, it is i.MX21 based.
http://www.press.ce.philips.com/apps/c_ … endocument

Currently it can only be bought in the Netherlands for $199 euro.
http://www.kpn.com/kpn/show/id=1634846
They are trying to do deals with VOIP providers link Vonage to bring it to the US.

And there is the Sony Milo. This article is in conflict as to i.MX21 or i.MX31 inside.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5744003201.html
$350

Slides from Philips at Linux World
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5744003201.html

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

I forgot to mention that both the RC9800 and VP550 are UPNP AV devices and can stream audio from UPNP servers like Xbox media center or Twonky.

I use an NSLU2 running Linux and Twonky for a media server. NSLU2 is $70 and smaller than a paperback and uses a USB drive for storage. It is a perfect companion for streaming audio to Chumby.
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Applica … onkyVision
http://www.twonkyvision.de/
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2004/08/0 … _hack_pt1/

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

Don't worry...chumby has a gazillion times more appeal than that black plastic executive toy! Chumby is going to be made as individual as the person who owns it. It is going have multiple outers and the content is totally customisable. It will therefore have multiple personalities and moods. If you don't like the cover, change it...if you don't like your widgets, make some, swap some, buy some... and it just doesn't have a cutiepie sexipus as a mascot either!

Ppppph! Why am I even bothering to post this? Chumby has it all over this as as yet not materialised, award-buying lunchbox...

Funny...the CES webpage seems to be down...

Also says here lunchbox clock radio doesn't have wifi...that's gonna need one heck of a long cable from the bedroom to the ???? room....and it shows photos stored on the owner's computer...does that mean a cable to the computer too??? And I don't think it has a touchscreen either... Like I said PPPPH! tongue

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/widg … ut-of-bed/

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

HA! That thing is really ugly! Chumby is much more handsome....

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

That thing is ugly! I think you guys have this market cornered...from what I see..

mmm....chumby...

Re: Could this be a Chumby rip-off/competitor/problem ?

I don't think there will be any real rip offs; but their is competition. iTouch and some other outfits out there like Bug. It all depends on who gets to market first and is their design something superior. iPod has held on to the market because of its design; Furby had a lot of buzz but it was a one trick pony that after the shortages had nothing really to keep people hooked. For chumby the challenge will be to make a newer model that is not a slave to a power cord.