Remember Chumby? That Wi-Fi enabled beanbag widget thing that hit the US back in February? Well it’s launching in Australia on Wednesday. Awesome, right? The surprising thing is that it’s coming to us not through a regular retailer, but through ISP Internode.
That doesn’t mean you need to be an Internode customer to get one though - they’ll be completely ISP-agnostic. It’ll cost you $299 for the squishy, linux-based device, plus you can pick up a variety of “outfits” for it for $39 each from Internode’s website.
At the moment, all the widgets for Chumby are pretty US-centric, but according to APC, Internode are hoping that Australia’s tech elite (that’s you!) start writing relevant Australian widgets. For its part, Internode will be releasing some Internode-specific applications like Internet radio channels that make the most of their unmetered content.
We’re trying to get our hands on a review unit, but if you happen to pick one up before us, let us know what you think. If you’re really keen, you can register your interest in the product on Internode’s Chumby page.
Mark
November 10, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I’ll be getting one, sure I’m not on internode, but I’m sure I’ll be able to do something with it. If not, I’m sure I could get my mum to use it so she can finally check her blooming email!
Report Permalinkferal
November 11, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Finally!
Report PermalinkDontgetit
November 11, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Ok I’m a certified techno junky. I love technology with the best of them. I don’t get this device. There are so many other gizmos out there that do pridominantly the same thing. It’s pricy and at this stage it does appear to be very US centric.
Report PermalinkColin
November 13, 2008 at 8:42 AM
I’ve owned a Chumby for 6 months and love it. Favorite features/widgets are: 1. Waking up to my fav shoutcast stream, 2. Facebook photo’s and updates 3. RSS feeds. 4. Podcasts 5. Weather
I got mine a lot cheaper when the dollar was high. It’s not really US centric as you can choose your own RSS feeds, podcasts etc, so I read the ABC Australia news, australian weather etc.
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