Show us your Chumby

November 16th, 2007 by Doc Searls

is a wireless Linux-based stuffed plush box that can do pretty much anything you can hack it to do. That was the promise when we wrote about it in the September issue of Linux Journal. Now it's also reality: Chumby is shipping.

Ours hasn't arrived yet, but we know they're moving because Dave Winer has one. What's more, he says,

First impression: This is a breakthough device, kind of like the Cobalt Qube was in the mid-late 90s.

Then he details some hacker-oriented specifics (widgets, feeds, customizations...) and concludes,

I got it set up and running my widgets within an hour and it was fun! I love this device, it just reeks of potential. And they did a beautiful production job. It's easily as innovative as the iPhone, but it isn't getting as much attention. Take a look you won't be disappointed.

I take this as a special challenge to Linux Journal readers. Meaning that I'd like us (you and we) to follow this thing and see where it goes.

Or better yet, make it go there.

So, whaddaya got? Or whaddaya wanna do when you get one?

Bonus linkage: be sure to read the comments to Dave's post. Especially the one by Chumby founder and CEO Steve Tomlin, who addresses my own first feature request: streaming Internet radio, like I get with my (also Linux-based) Sonos, among a pile of other things. Key point: Chumby is intentionally unfinished and open. Some additions are up to the Chumby folks. The rest are up to the rest of us.

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Doc Searls is Senior Editor of Linux Journal

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Show us your Chumby

On May 11th, 2008 sindy says:

this is a very good article

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Congratulations

On April 17th, 2008 Betsson (not verified) says:

I bought a Chumby for my wife to use as an alarm clock/weather/Google headlines reporter and was delighted at being able to turn on sshd and ssh in from my Linux machine at home. I teach an Intro to UNIX class and Chumby will DEFINITELY be on the topic list in the Spring. I persuaded out Chief Lab Tech to buy one for the college so I won't have to bring in my wife's Chumby for demo purposes.
Congratulations!

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Tuxdroid FTW!

On November 20th, 2007 Shawn Powers says:

Now I want a Chumby AND a TuxDroid. Thanks a lot, Steven.

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Shawn Powers is the Associate Editor for Linux Journal. You might find him chatting on the IRC channel.

Me too...

On November 21st, 2007 Webmaster says:

I still want the Chumby most though. Hoping my husband got the not so subtle hints, as my birthday is coming up :)

I am very excited about the Chumby's potential. I hope it lives up.
How can it not though? It's awfully cute.

Katherine Druckman
webmaster

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Katherine Druckman
webmaster

Chumby vs. Linuxdroid

On November 19th, 2007 Steven Klassen (not verified) says:

I picked up one of these Kysoh (keep your sense of humor) Linuxdroid bots at the last OsCon. Very neat stuff.

http://www.kysoh.com/

Chumby vs. Linuxdroid

On November 23rd, 2007 Forex Trading (not verified) says:

Neat stuff in deed.