Maybe we're just seeing things, but darn if
Insignia's new Infocast Internet Media Display isn't a dead ringer for the
Sony Dash. Out of seemingly nowhere, Best Buy's own in-house electronics brand has outed an 8-inch connected display meant to bring glanceable information as well as a slew of web-based widgets to your bedroom / office / den / underground cavern. Boasting inbuilt 802.11b/g WiFi, an integrated microphone, SRS audio and an 800 x 600 resolution touchpanel, the Infocast is equipped with 2GB of internal storage as well as a media card reader, and in case you couldn't guess, the software is provided by none other than
Chumby Industries. Users should have no issues displaying photos, video and music, and the $169.99 asking price is a full $30 less than the Dash's MSRP. According to Best Buy's website, this here gizmo is simply "coming soon," but according to our man on the inside, it'll be ready for purchase on June 20th. So, who's down for squeezing a battery into this thing for some makeshift tablet action?
[Thanks, Anonymous]
posted June 12th 2010 7:14PM
Slow News Day EVER! :(
@potretr I agree..Not much going on this weekend it would seem.
Do we really need these? My alarm clock cost 5$ and it has radio in it!
@AxJ I sure don't, but then I don't understand the social network craze anyway. Maybe if you're into that stuff, you just MUST see the latest updates first thing in the morning!?
It looks cheap, I better pay little more for better quality and brand, nevertheless I am not buying neither of them.
@Dking7
It has almost the exact same specs as the Archos 8. Although the Archos's picture frame seems to be a lot nicer.
http://www.konstant.de/fileadmin/templates/zipfiles/archos/ARCHOS_8_home_tablet_front_transparent_small_res_Kopie.jpg
@SeeKo - Almost exact same specs. If by "exact same", you mean it has a screen and Wi-Fi, I'd say you are right. Other than that, these two devices couldn't be any more different.
@Dking7 Holy double-negative batman!
Looks like that crap the sharper image(remember them?) use to sell.
Hey, I saw the Sony Dash at my local Sony Style the other day.
PIECE OF TRASH!!!!!! Horrible navigation with a poor, poor, poor quality screen. Man that thing sucked!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like something the cat dragged in.
@Namminamm A cat with terrible taste!
Insignia = Samsung re-branded for Best Buy.
@Volker Ummm, no, Insignia products are made by dozen's of companies including Wowwee, Wistron, Hisense Top Victory, and many more.
Looks reasonably attractive until you see the side view.
Youch!
These little things have pointlessly but painfully small and over priced screens.
Put this crap on a 26" to 30" screen and hang it on a wall.
paperweight.
Wow, that thing is ugly!
I want a Sony Dash but Sony hasn't released it in Canada. If I can get this in Canada I will be scooping one up.
I rather get the Dash
My next alarm clock. Don't know when I'm getting it. The Sony I bought back in 95 won't die!
Sorry, but an iPod Touch or iPad (assuming price drop in due course) renders this thing obsolete. A single iOS app could perform what this does. And both Apple devices are a tad slimmer.
I hope that's not a CRT display. Cause it looks like it.
@ZackC456 exactly what i was thinking.
@fokka It says touch screen LCD.
That thing has a BIG BOOTY!
Why does it have a mic
@Gavin M I believe some Chumby apps can use the microphone for certain things.
Wait, so it's $30 less than the Dash and yet the Best Buy website makes no mention of it having the capability to stream Netflix. Why buy this? Shell out $30 for a Dash and you get the option to watch movies on it!
I'd love to have something like this for my kitchen to check the weather, email, and watch stuff from Netflix while I cook (and not pay $500 for an iPad). I guess I'll be getting a Dash when Sony drops the price.
@(Unverified)
It runs the same widgets as the Dash... They both use the same OS.
that's a really half-assed rear end
Wow, more useless crap that will end up in landfills. So, will anybody question the wage of the worker factories that make these?
Anything Insignia is garbage. I'd pay the extra 30 beans for the Sony if i wanted one of these.
Not digging the bezel.
Fugly. That is all.
I think I prefer my Dash but I'm loving the SD slot on this thing and Sony still doesn't have video from a USB device up and running
Once again, the same question plagues this entire iteration of the product cycle: where's the front facing camera for ubiquitous video comms? ;-) This time next year, no display will be considered complete unless it includes camera. Any display surface that can only receive or only send is only half a display. We're almost to this noteworthy waypoint.
@engadget: When you review a touchscreen device, it would be good practice to always state if it is MULTITOUCH OR NOT ! FFS
Uhhh.. baby got back.
In a bad way.