Guide Note

Chumby is a fairly small, handheld "personal internet player" and Widget browser that is designed to be hacked and modified by the user. The screen is touch-sensitive and it is wrapped in a squeezable, leather casing that can be programmed to recognize the user's gestures.

Fast Facts

1. Developed by: Chumby Industries
2. Uses: Internet, alarm clock, digital photo display, news reader
3. Price: $179.95
4. Operating system: Linux
5. Premiered at the 2006 Foo Camp Conference
6. Public Release Date: February 2008

Reviews

Overall, the Chumby has received positive reviews.

• The New York Times: "After a night with Chumby, I still think it’s a great idea–with a couple of caveats."
• The Gadgeteer: "As an internet device, the chumby is a lot of fun. Sure, you can access all the same information on your regular computer, but you would need to manually go to each site to get the info. With this device, the info comes to you."
• Geek.com: "So far it’s a nice piece of gadgetry to have around."
• Engadget: "We were a little disheartened by the number and variety of widgets available (seriously, only 26 clocks to choose from?) but again, the device's success all comes down to user-generated content as units start to proliferate among the populace."