Chumby One Video Review

Last year, while reviewing the first generation of the chumby, I fell in love. In fact, as a full disclosure, I became a proud owner shortly after the review. Now the new chumby one is out, and there's very little not to love.

First, a quick explanation of just what a chumby is. The chumby essentially runs a series of flash widgets, allowing developers to do a lot of clever things, from stock tickers and RSS readers, to games that can take advantage of the built-in touchscreen and accelerometer. Make no mistake, this is not an iPhone competitor, nor is it any kind of computer replacement. It's really a new generation of product that can serve as an alarm clock replacement, desktop radio, and information appliance (a term which used to have a negative connotation, but not in this case.) At the office, I use the chumby to off-load items I would normally have to keep checking manually on my computer. For example, I can see at a glance what friends are saying on twitter and facebook, read my favorite blogs and see new stories as soon as they're on the feed. Sitting next to my computer, it becomes a productivity companion, freeing up the computer and me to get down to actual work.

However, there were some limitations to the first generation chumby (known as the chumby classic). First, it was strictly a plug-in device, meaning if there was something cool you wanted to share with someone else in the house/office, or you wanted to bring your tunes with you, you couldn't. Now there's an optional battery, allowing you to take the chumby anywhere you want (provided you stay within a setup wifi connection.) Another big improvement with the chumby one, is the inclusion of a large dial on the right to adjust volume. Previously, you would have to touch the screen then use an on-screen slider. The audio from the new device sounds a bit crisper, and louder. Bear in mind this is a small system, so don't expect Bose-like sound. There's a headphone jack in case the rest of the office doesn't appreciate your eclectic music tastes. The biggest improvement with this model though, is the price. Starting at $99, the chumby now can be a logical alarm clock replacement for many. In fact, this model includes an FM radio receiver for those who just can't wake up without their local "morning zoo" dj. This also means there's a wire antenna on the bottom of the device, but it can be stowed in the battery compartment if you aren't using a battery with the device. The FM receiver is a nice add-on, but it seems to have poorer reception than most FM radios located in the same location. Plus, the streaming music tends to sound much "fuller." The only thing missing from the chumby one compared to the classic, is the soft beanbag-like construction of the classic. The one features a quirky/futuristic white plastic look, that will probably prove far more friendly to office desks and cubicles the world over.

You really have to play with a chumby to fully appreciate what it does, and unfortunately, the device is currently only available online.

The bottom line is the chumby one is a unique device that improves on its predecessor, and is priced to make it practically a bargain. What it ultimately becomes for you (radio,clock,weather,news reader,twitter client, etc.) will determine how you use it, but with 1500 apps, you will find a way to make it your own, and probably love it in the process.

Here's a look:

Comments

[Cory O'Brien]

I got a Chumby One for Christmas, and since putting it on my desk at work, almost every single person that walks by has asked about it. For one, the design is definitely eye catching, and looks like a tiny TV. (In fact, I've had quite a few people ask me if it was a tiny TV.) In addition, it's a concept that everyone seems to 'get' with just a brief explanation. They watch a few widgets scroll by, they get a demo of the Pandora functionality, and they ask about the price, and then many times, you can tell that they're thinking of purchasing one for themselves.

So far, I've been very happy with mine. It's great for keeping a peripheral eye on status updates, and allows you to keep up with news from a bunch of different places without distracting you or taking up extra screen space on your computer. Plus, with the deals that Chumby has been making with companies like Sony (Sony Dash) I fully expect the Chumby widget world to continue to expand in the future.

[BCM]

I just got the Chumby One last week. I have to say I think it is cool- but sooooo disappointed with the lack of customer service with this company. There is no phone number, no way to talk to anyone other than if you are lucky enough to catch a person to have a live chat with. I tried this several times before I bought it, to no avail. I pd for 2 day shipping, but didn't get it for 5 days. They told me that is because they use 2 day shipping but it may take 3 days before it leaves their facility. They refused to refund me in any way. Too bad that a nice product has such poor support. I DO NOT recommend dealing with this company.