I’ve been percolating a post on iPhone software enhancements I’d like to see rolled out as part of a 3.5 OS update. However, my requests are largely unchanged from the shortcomings I described back in January. And thanks to the Chumby One previews popping up across the blogosphere, we can focus instead on my top feature suggestion beyond folders/organization. Namely, a widget station mode.
The non-Hacky Sack Chumby One is being released at a low $100 — impulse purchase and/or stocking stuffer pricing for many. The WiFi-ed mini widget station (3.5″ screen) offers a variety of alarms, news feeds, Pandora streaming, Netflix queue management, and Twitter. As does my iPhone 3GS. And my loaner Sprint HTC Hero. And Melissa’s Blackberry Curve (8900).
So, what I’d like to see is more interesting and sophisticated widgetized smartphone home/today screen offerings. Motorola’s Droid is leading the way by offering a dedicated hardware docking station and custom view (below, right). In the iPhone space, where I primarily dwell, there’s no shortage of interesting stands such as the vertical iCrado and landscape Kensington Nightstand (below, center). But what I really want is the specialized software interface to go along with them.
the storm2 has a “bedside mode” that turns on when plugged into mini-usb, so when you use the storm2 cradle its the same solution as the droid. my only complaint is that although the screen brightness dims in bedside mode, i can’t control how much it dims, because its still too bright.
all of that being said, i have been toying with the idea of a chumby for a long time, but this price point has convinced me to get one.
I would love to see an Android based Chumby-like gadget that could take advantage of the Android Marketplace. Though the Chumby widgets seem somewhat comprehensive in their own right.
Ahhh, the Audrey lives on. I always liked the idea, just waiting for the right implementation.
My alarm clock is an app inside my ipod touch. As a cycling commuter my first step after shutting off the alarm app is to switch the ipod to the weatherbug app to check temp and wind.
The chumby seems nice but it doesn’t fit into my pocket, and I would never take it to the gym or on a trip. My advice to a potential chumby purchaser would be to compare it to an ipod touch.
Hilarious. I just said the other day that if I don’t have the cash to shell out for a new smartphone, I’m getting a Chumby.
When I saw that the new chumby is going for $100 the other day I told my wife I wanted one. After explaining what it is, she said “so you want an iphone that doesn’t make phone calls?!?”
Um… can I have both???
I purchased a Chumby One just a few days ago.