abarron wrote:The question is "what *is* the infocast"?
An "Internet Media Display" and fits in the "Ambient Consumer Electronics" genre
abarron, please read this as a friendly debate and not me being a what ever you wanna call it...
Also from what I can recall, unlike the Dash, both the Chumby and Infocast are not billed as an alarm clock as their main function.
However, I think the Chumby One is a killer alarm clock.
I bet Insignia will fix the alarm short comings soon with a firmware update. I bet they had a very small beta group and why it was not obvious from the get go.
I'll go set my alarm again on the Infocast and see if the top button does anything.
Also, it's all relative, I think just for a Facebook conduit it's a great value (and I don't even use facebook much). I have friends that want one now just for that.
My wife likes all the news and gossip at a glance stuff (People, ET, MTV, headlines).
Out of curiosity, can your android pull pictures off your LAN via UPuP and play a slideshow with it?
How big is the screen on the Android? I would not want a small screen for pictures, IMHO, the Chumby is too small for pictures and why I really like the Infocast for that. I am thinking about modifying it and hanging on the wall in the kitchen as a "picture frame".
And not to be a wise butt, but I have never seen an alarm clock that looks like the Infocast (or the Chumby for that matter), if anything it looks like a Digital Picture frame and is why I bet some Best Buy's have them in that area.
You are right though, there are over 200 clock apps and the next biggest one is Entertainment with only half that amount.
Re: SmartPhone - IMHO, that genre was started by HandSpring and they called theirs a "Communicator" and that really fit the bill IMHO. I have a Treo SmartPhone and have had all the models since they were branded HandSpring and not Palm starting with the Treo300. I use mine about 33% phone, 33% email and internet and 33% media player to stream Radio Paradise or play WMA files (as a DAP) that I have on it. I sure miss Handspring...
Just my 2-cents worth, Matt
BTW, here is the Infocast description from the Best Buy site and I don't even see the word "clock" in there.
The Insignia Infocast Internet Media Display allows you to instantly access your favorite web-based content without the hassle of a computer and to easily view and share apps, photos and videos with friends and family. Quickly and easily access popular Internet content and services like Pandora Internet Radio, SHOUTcast, Photobucket and more than 1,500 apps from chumby industries with the Infocast Internet Media Display. With its built-in Wi-Fi connection, you can stay connected to your digital world and even share favorite apps, photos and videos with other users of chumby-powered devices. In addition, the integrated microphone and remarkable audio with SRS Sound technology enhance both communication and music apps. Plus, there are never any subscription fees for all of this great content.
Featuring a vibrant 8" touch screen LCD with 800 x 600 resolution for easy viewing of Internet content, photos, videos and more, the Infocast Internet Media Display makes the perfect bedside, kitchen, office or living room companion. The 2GB internal memory and support for media cards, including Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, MultiMediaCard, CompactFlash I/II, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO Duo, allow you to easily enjoy your favorite photos, videos and music even if there isn't a Wi-Fi network nearby.