Duane wrote:Note that there is at least one other way for this user to address this problem - for instance, he can take it to the distributor of the chumby product in Japan, and they'll gladly do a firmware update. Using a USB dongle is not at all *required* to perform this update, it's just one way that's convenient for the more technically savvy. We agree it's not for everyone, and fortunately for Japan, we have a local company that addresses these problems....In this particular case, the poster claims to be using a "Mac iPort" as his access point. I assume by that he means he's using an Apple Airport ...a USB dongle
Well, then. I just might do that. But if I need to track something down, I may as well just get the flash drive. I assume you all are writing from the USA. Jump in the car, drive down to a discount store and get the flash drive, back home in a few minutes. Not quite as easy here, depending on where one lives. No big box local place for me to pop in. It gets quite inconvenient.
Yes, Airport. iPod, iPhone, iBook, Mac, Apple, easy to get it all mixed up.
The link to the Restore Special Options advice includes this:
"Download and unpack the 1.7.1 update to a USB dongle.."
I was getting confused. Wikipedia says "A dongle is a small piece of hardware that connects to a computer or laptop.[1] It is a portable device and is often identical in appearance to a USB Pen. Although earlier use of dongles was to authenticate a piece of software, the word dongle is now widely used to refer to a broadband wireless adaptor". Prior to checking Wikipedia just now, I thought a dongle was a kind of adapter.
So I guess the flash drive is the dongle.
It was starting to look to me like "unpack the dongle".
No, all of you are correct about products not coming with all of the possible components that might be useful to address some sort of failure mode. I agree with your assessments.
I'll survive with the Chumby nag screens for a few more days until I can get a flash drive. (Hey! It might be good to have the flash drive around for other purposes too, dessho?)
To everyone - thank you for the assistance.