Topic: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2014-01/viz … -benefits/

In the category of products that may never come to market, but nonetheless inspired us at CES, are the Vizio Smart Audio Android boomboxes. Beyond Vizio’s sharp industrial design and decent sound (which did seem to distort at max volume), wouldn’t you prefer your Jambox-esque device ship with a display? Better, yet, how about directly powering the gadget with full fledged KitKat… allowing music (and video!) options to dwell within the speaker itself. Given Vizio’s portable design and rechargeable battery, perhaps this is a better way to approach the Audrey and Sony Dash widget stations.

So, it's some reasonable speakers with the guts of a cheap Android tablet in the middle.  No details on if they'll have some sort of rotating widget display mechanism, and the ability to use it as a Bluetooth or WiFi audio receiver could be interesting.

Re: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

Yes, what Chumby intended of old is new again...

Here's another variation I appreciate the looks of:

Ampeq SoundPad 2

I learned of it in Brad Linder's Lilliputing blog:  http://liliputing.com/2014/01/ampeq-sou … iputing%29

Apparently it sold for $145, and apparently it is now sold out at the site in the Lilliputing post.

unwiredben wrote:

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2014-01/viz … -benefits/

In the category of products that may never come to market, but nonetheless inspired us at CES, are the Vizio Smart Audio Android boomboxes. Beyond Vizio’s sharp industrial design and decent sound (which did seem to distort at max volume), wouldn’t you prefer your Jambox-esque device ship with a display? Better, yet, how about directly powering the gadget with full fledged KitKat… allowing music (and video!) options to dwell within the speaker itself. Given Vizio’s portable design and rechargeable battery, perhaps this is a better way to approach the Audrey and Sony Dash widget stations.

So, it's some reasonable speakers with the guts of a cheap Android tablet in the middle.  No details on if they'll have some sort of rotating widget display mechanism, and the ability to use it as a Bluetooth or WiFi audio receiver could be interesting.

Re: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

It looks like the Ampeq boxes are coming back in stock under the Auris brand.  They just launched a Kickstarter for them: the auris willy is at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/au … owered-by.  I wonder if they've done a software update on it.

Re: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

unwiredben wrote:

It looks like the Ampeq boxes are coming back in stock under the Auris brand.  They just launched a Kickstarter for them: the auris willy is at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/au … owered-by.  I wonder if they've done a software update on it.

The kickstarter project was cancelled yesterday.

Linux Guy - Occasional Chumby Hacker

Re: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

The Ampeq SoundPad 2 features a 7 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel capacitive touchscreen display, a Rockhip RK2928 ARM Cortex-A9 single core processor with ARM Mali 400 graphics, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of built-in storage.

Not sure I would be willing to pay that much for a tablet with those specs. Probably better off checking for refurbs of quality tablets. A good place to keep an eye on for such tablets is the above mentioned Lilliputing web site. Place the tablet on some type of stand and add a set of computer speakers (many people have extras lying around). Maybe not quite as neat but definitely more functional. The speakers can be hidden behind the headboard of the bed to make things a bit neater.

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Fold-Up- … blet+stand
http://liliputing.com/category/deals

Tar, feathers, congress. Some assembly required.

Re: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

From the note I saw, the contract manufacturer for Auris was Ampeq, and the Kickstarter was cancelled because Ampeq breached their confidentiality.  Oops!

Re: Another take on the Chumby idea from Vizio

That's one take on it. Another theory I've heard is that Auris was rebranding a piece of hardware that was already available as a shanzhai design.