Chumby, the snuggly bedside computer

If Chumby, maker of this rugby ball-sized computer by the same name, has its way, then it will replace all of our bedside digital clocks with a stripped-down computer stuffed in a cuddly exterior case. Apparently the Chumby is designed to be a little hackable nugget that will play Flash applications (known in Chumby-speak as "widgets") that can do various other things like (you guessed it): play music, check your RSS feeds, and display your photos. Inside this little furball is a 266 MHz CPU, 32MB SDRAM, 64MB Flash RAM, 320 x 240 3-inch screen, two USB ports, 2W speakers, and WiFi. Basically, it does everything that your regular computer does (except smaller and a little slower), but it comes in a fuzzy little self-contained box so you can snuggle up to it at night and have it try to read Engadget quietly to you while you sleep. That is, when they're actually available to the public.

[Via Dyl World]

[Snowmeister @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:57AM]

Top gadget. Interesting idea, and, an interesting use of the internet. Being able to get train times etc with the flash based widgets is one of those things thast can make your life that little bit easier. I say give it a chance.

Would be nice if it was available in the UK though!

[Me @ Aug 27th 2006 6:12AM]

Now that is truly sad...

[Jon Gray @ Aug 27th 2006 6:42AM]

"Rugby-sized" - wow, that is big. Rugby is a town in Warwickshire, UK. Did you mean rugby ball sized?

[Alexis @ Aug 27th 2006 6:42AM]

Or you could just buy a PDA...

[Taylor @ Aug 27th 2006 7:13AM]

The PSP has more processing power. It can get audio, picture and video RSS feeds, and it has a web browser for checking Engadget.

[guyinjapan @ Aug 27th 2006 7:15AM]

Actually, if you look at this from the persepctive of it being a replacement for your bedside clock radio, and not as a computer, it's a really neat idea. I don't think it's intended to be used as a computer anyway- your article is a little misleading. It's supposed to be controled via wi-fi from your main computer, and you can upload utilities to it, so it can update your bedside with news headlines, scores, music, etc. Not a bad idea, actually.

[mattie @ Aug 27th 2006 7:15AM]

don't need an alarm clock that will crash... thanks

[Rob @ Aug 27th 2006 7:16AM]

their website says itll only cost 150 bucks. thats not unreasonable. i say give it a chance.

[Reinard @ Aug 27th 2006 4:45PM]

Actually a *very* good idea... I picture it with a Bed side alarm clock widget, weather widget, news widget, access to my itunes library... hackable, so (due to circumstances ;-) a baby-monitor could also be included.... high WLIT factor... Hope they get the user interface right.

I'm in.

[Scoobydoo @ Aug 27th 2006 8:38AM]

I think this is brilliant. About time someone took the regular alarmclock and improved it.

[Jonathan Keim @ Aug 27th 2006 8:37AM]

I would love to own one, it would be so great to look over at a colorful screen and see the weather and my rss news!
@Taylor
I have a psp and believe me it would not work for this. It is so dang slow when using the web browser and it doesn't have an alarm (except for homebrew which most don't have)

[Alex @ Aug 27th 2006 8:43AM]

That's adorable.

[Gerry @ Aug 27th 2006 9:18AM]

I use my N80 (Nokia) for most of this - I love the idea ... but what would it take for a mini TV / MP3 player and a few other bits to be included ... an SD card reader ... but still keeping the price low ... (note USB DAB TV tuner is about £20) (UK based).

[Tom @ Aug 27th 2006 11:53AM]

I keep my MacBook on my bedside table. I watch video podcast until I sleep. DL.TV is the best to put me asleep.

[TheChosenOne @ Aug 27th 2006 12:09PM]

You beat me to it, Jon Gray.

Engadget, the ball used in the game of rugby is not called a 'rugby', similar to the way the ball used in tennis is not called a 'tennis'. Oh, and no, it does not basically do everything your regular computer does. It could come *close* after some extreme hacking and adding on peripherals.

[Master Bates @ Aug 27th 2006 2:23PM]

I smell bed side porno!!!1 WOOT!!!1111

[Einhanderkiller @ Aug 27th 2006 3:53PM]

But can it play Doom?

[chris @ Dec 16th 2008 9:45AM]

Yes, 2 years later it can now play doom...haha>>>
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/10/quake-ported-to-chumby-makes-for-an-adorable-first-person-shoote/

[mastershake916 @ Aug 27th 2006 4:18PM]

Here come the engadget crappers, killing something before it even has a chance, saying their "My *X product that cost me a lot more and is designed as a full computer/phone* is what I use therefore this sucks".
Jeez people, give it a chance, it's open source, hackable, this is great.

[Ryan @ Aug 27th 2006 4:34PM]

I agree, all you dumbasses out there don't even know what it really is, its just a prototype anyways give it a chance and get off your treos. And the rugby as a country thing is just stupid.

[Joseph Evans @ Aug 28th 2006 5:55PM]

This thing looks cool. I'd decide if I wanted one depending on price point.

But it's all in due time.

[Henrik @ Aug 27th 2006 5:22PM]

I like the idea so much that it strikes me as strange that no one has made a silent bedside "computer" before that only has these tasks. I seem to remember something about a Windows CE or Mobile alarm clock/mp3 radio but i couldn't find it again.

Are there other competing products like this that are on the market? I would love a customizable touchscreen alarm clock :)

[Kevin Sedgley @ Aug 27th 2006 6:50PM]

This is a damn fine idea, incredibly simple, and hackable!

I'd love to wake up to a weather report and schedule for the day.

[Matt Selnekovic @ Aug 27th 2006 8:38PM]

the chumby icon looks like Cthulu.

Truly, you can "wake up with the king." (To steal BK's breakfast motto). King of madness.

[PodMonkeys @ Aug 27th 2006 9:02PM]

Haha! Matt, your Cthulhu observation has to be the best yet! :D

I personally would like one of these. (I'd throw on a flash animation of Cthulhu!) It sounds like a fun thing to play with, as well as being functional. I really liked a lot of the mac osx widgets, but its not very handy if the computer is in another room. Its nice to have easy, quick to use features that don't require a full blown PC, placed in a nice convenient location.

[Rue @ Aug 28th 2006 1:00AM]

I love it.

[OffBeatMammal @ Aug 28th 2006 8:18PM]

not wanting to nay-say (coz I think it would be cool to be able to wake up, check the weather, news headlines and see if I have any mail waiting.... all before I put a toe out of bed) but... what's the emissions like on this thing?
There's already too much RF in my life, and adding more to the mix isn't too smart IMO
I already have to sleep with a cellphone too close to my bed because I'm on call, and no-doubt WiFi from my own router and various neighbours. Add to that leakage from the mains wiring and everything else in a 15 year old 'modern' house that's conspiring against my cellular wellbeing!
But for US$150 this is a very cool idea

[Jc @ Aug 28th 2006 5:39PM]

But... will it be silent?

[Plaid @ Aug 28th 2006 3:34PM]

I just signed up to try to get on as a hardware developer. I'd love to get bluetooth and/or IR working on it. Put a mic on board, and use it as a bedside VoIP phone, etc.

[DasFreak @ Aug 29th 2006 8:21PM]

There's some photos on my Flickr photostream.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dasfreak/tags/chumby/

[Cosmos @ Aug 30th 2006 10:11PM]

I use my phat DS and cellphone for my alarm. (Just in case I get up and shut one off and go back to sleep.) At least it's getting some use, since I got a DS Lite.