Ybox: the set-top internet box in an Altoids tin
By Donald Melanson 
posted October 11th 2006 12:32PM
posted October 11th 2006 12:32PM
The folks at Uncommon Projects have taken the venerable Altoids tin where no Altoids tin has gone before, turning the scarily-versatile mint case into an always-on Internet appliance that'll work with any old TV. Dubbed the Ybox, the device works a bit like an Atari 2600-era Konfabulator, delivering a constant stream of stock quotes, weather forecasts, and other customizable information in ultra low res-fashion, controllable with nothing more than your standard TV remote. Currently, the Ybox requires an ethernet cable to get that info, though the developers say WiFi's a possibility in the future. Unfortunately, this is only a proof-of-concept device, meaning that you can't get your hands on one, although its intrepid creators do tantalizingly say that it's ultra-cheap to make, yet fail to make any plans available. Let's hope that their second place finish at Yahoo's recent Hack Day event will spur them to crank these suckers out, bring-yo'-own-tin-style.
I can always tell when an Altoids tin project is in my store.
The mints and the tins and the projects are refreshing in every way!
In response to this, Apple has just announced iToids and their mint tin will support 802.11n. ;)
This guy has the writing skills of a fourth grader, and I'm highly suspicious of any project that doesn't supply source code or plans. IMHO it shouldn't have won anything if it's just another commercial venture.
Is it just me or does it seem a little strange that when he hooks the thing up to his TV one end of the cable is an RCA composite video connector, but the other end is going into the RF antenna input of the TV? Also the "unique" serial number that is entered into the online database is the UPC of the Altoid tin? I guess this means that everyone is going to have the same channel lineup huh?
I thought the remote was kind-of suspicious - seen a couple with the same design, both for window unit air conditioners. I think it's possible, though, with a small enough CPU (Contiki?) or a gumstix board of some sort.
Adam, it's called an RF Switch, and this is just a proof of concept, on the final packaging I would assume they would put unique serial numbers.
They used an xport... cheaters! And that costs $100 so I wouldnt consider this thing ultra-cheap, especially for what it does.
The weird thing is, I recognize that remote. It's a Frigidaire wall unit air conditioner remote, have one just like it. Odd combination....
az1324: According to:
http://www.gridconnect.com/xport.html
the xport is only $50. Your point stands of course, but I think the idea is an interesting one all the same. Cheaper than a chumby and potentially much more visible...
This thing seems sweet and definitly would be cheap to mass produce- no one uses xport for production- that is like assuming you are going to ship your tamagochi with a Celeron processor because that was the development enviornment you started in....