Also, at least with the Chumby One, when you're playing music, there's a "Timer" button next to the "Stop" button at the top of the music channel selection screen that can be used to turn off the streaming after a set amount of time.

Going into Dark Night mode is only a 3-stroke method...

Don't know the exact number on power draw, but I remember one of the Chumbians saying that it takes less (or roughly equal to) your microwave's clock.

What's wrong with the "off" button on the back of the device?  The device really doesn't take all that long to boot.

The power doesn't drop that dramatically when the screen is dimmed - all it really does is extend the life of the backlight.  The main processor and wifi are still running at full power.  We don't claim that there is any sort of "low power" mode of the device.

Note that the device is typically drawing only about 2-3W when displaying widgets, and maybe up to 4-5W when playing music at full volume.  Compare that with any lights that are left on - a single 100W incandescent bulb is using the power of more than 20 chumbys.

Ok 1:20 to first widget running. Then there are 4 selections to make to get music playing with many possibilities for tapping the wrong thing sending a user into unfamiliar territory.  This while some-one has arrived at the office and is setting other things up. There is no way they are going to sit there for 1:20 and wait for Chumby to boot without becoming inpatient.

Honestly, A sleep and wake button is the best answer. I took the argument earlier on this thread that 'it's really not that hard' and let the actual experience play out (look at the timing of the posts). As I said, my original  anticipation of user frustration was correct.  Believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there who feel learning user interfaces a real drag so keeping it stupid simple is the best answer (just ask Apple).

I'm less concerned about the power consumption than the device glowing in a dark room making some-one who is locking up think they hadn't turned the Chumby off.

Again, it seems like the first widget run could easily fire up Pandora and map the button functionality. I just don't have the experience to create such a widget.

Can any-one help with this functionality?

@ Duane: I think the power button on the back is super! Other radios are completely missing this !!! When I start brushing teeth I turn the Chumby on and when I get to bed it is all set.
And according to my measuring the Chumby only consumes 1 watt if turned off. Compared to 3-4 watt with everything on.

But resuming the last played stream upon turn-on would be a nice thing!! :-)

Maybe the solution is that the button on the top that opens the control panel needs to open something else first. Clearly as more features are added the Control Panel has become the "catch all" and is over loaded with choices.

If Chumby is using the desktop computer as "model" for how the Chumby UI should function then pressing the top button should be similar to the Start menu in Windows or the Apple menu on Macs. Your choices should be (not sure of best order): Radio, Alarms, Night Mode, Favorites, Change Channel, Control Panel and Restart/Shutdown. These should be BIG buttons with easy to understand icons, one click takes you directly to the appropriate area.

The problem currently (IMHO) is the Control Panel is around HALF the screen is used to switch widgets within a give channel or used to rate widgets, this is overkill and a waste of valuable screen space I think. The other half of the screen has a few tiny buttons that take you into other areas that offer even more choices. Some of the choices (such as alarms and radio) are key features of the Chumby. Thus these features should not be hidden in sub menu choices, they should be immediately available after pushing the top button.

Control Panel should only contain preferences or options, just like on a desktop computer - things like volume, balance, brightness. Radio should not be in the Control Panel because the radio is an application/widget all by itself.

Is the Chumby aware of the power plug? What I would like would be something like a car accessory. If there is power at the power plug, then the Chumby runs, or if the power goes away, then Chumby goes into sleep mode and runs off the battery. Or if that isn't possible, Chumby would hibernate to a flash drive.

Possible?