Chumby

File:Chumby One.jpg

Roughly resembling a small clock radio, the original Chumby features a small resistive touch-screen housed in a leather-and-plastic exterior with six color options. Power to the original Chumby and the Chumby 8 is supplied through an AC adapter. A later model, the Chumby One, also offered the option of a 9 v backup battery. Related devices, the Infocast 3.5 and Infocast 8, devices manufactured by Best Buy based on the Chumby software, are also only AC powered. The device is designed to be customizable by users:{{harv|Walker|2008}} after agreeing to the Chumby HDK License, users may download schematics and other hardware information. Wired magazine named Chumby one of its top gadgets for 2008.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/multimedia/2008/12/YE8_gadgets?slide=7&slideView=3|title=The Top Gadgets of 2008|last=Dumas|first=Daniel|author2=Charlie Sorrell|date=2008-12-22|magazine=Wired|access-date=2008-12-22}} Its software is mostly open source, running on Linux.

In 2012, Chumby ceased operation and was liquidated,{{cite web|url=https://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=9710|author=duane maxwell|title=Chumby news|publisher=blue octy}} with the assets being purchased by Duane Maxwell, the former Chief Technology Officer of Chumby Industries, who formed Blue Octy, LLC ("Blue Octy"). The server that was needed to keep the devices running was kept online as a full service by Blue Octy until March 2013. At that point, the server went offline and all devices only displayed a single widget, referred to as the "Space Clock." Blue Octy relaunched the full Chumby service on July 1, 2014 as a paid subscription service, currently charging US$3 per month. An open source firmware is available for free that allows existing devices some of the functionality of the paid service at no cost, although this may violate the copyright of those who developed the Chumby widgets.{{cite web |url=http://sf.net/projects/zurk/files/|title=offline firmware|access-date=2014-05-22}} Devices without a subscription still receive the Space Clock widget; they can be used as alarm clocks and to stream music.

Andrew "bunnie" Huang was the lead hardware engineer at Chumby.

The Chumby premiered on August 25, 2006 at Foo Camp and was released to around 100 alpha release testers at the event.{{cite web

|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/06/23/chumby-one-year-later/

|title=Chumby: One Year Later|access-date=2008-03-11

|author=Michael Arrington|date=2007-06-23|publisher=Tech Crunch}}{{cite web

|url=http://chumby.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/why-we-gave-away-chumbys-at-foo-camp/

|title=Why we gave away chumbys at FOO Camp|access-date=2008-03-11|date=2006-08-26

|publisher=chumblog}}

Shortly after Foo Camp, Chumby announced a free offer, where applicants would receive the same alpha-level Chumby as those previously given away. Applicants submitted ideas for software applications or hardware modifications. One of the goals for the free offer was to have Chumbys in the hands of developers who were willing to begin building applications.{{cite web

|url=http://chumby.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/free-chumbys-available-soon-widgetoons-wanted/

|title=Free chumbys available (soon). "Widgetoons" wanted!|access-date=2008-03-12|date=2006-09-13

|publisher=chumblog}}

In July 2007, a First 50 was released to 50 random applicants, who received the next generation of Chumbys.{{cite web

|url=http://chumby.wordpress.com/2007/07/29/chumbys-first-50-program/

|title=Chumby's "First 50″ Program|access-date=2008-03-12|date=2007-06-29

|publisher=chumblog}} This was followed, in September, with an Insiders Release. Interested parties could send e-mail to Chumby requesting release information, and were given the opportunity to join in the Insiders Release.{{cite web

|url=http://chumby.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/chumbys-insiders-launch/

|title=Chumby's "Insider's Release"|access-date=2008-03-12|date=2007-09-11

|publisher=chumblog}} Finally, in February 2008, the commercial release was made public on the Chumby Store.{{cite web

|url=http://chumby.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/chumby-launches-to-the-public-today/

|title=Chumby launches to the public today|access-date=2008-03-12|date=2008-02-25

|publisher=chumblog}} In May 2008, the price was $179.95{{cite web |url=http://store.chumby.com/|title=chumby store|access-date=2008-05-22}} for any one of three colors, latte, basic black, and pearl. In Japan, Chumby was available through Zyyx, Inc. as www.chumby.jp since October 23, 2008. In Australia, the Chumby was available through ISP Internode.

In November 2009 the Chumby One was released: a similar, all-plastic version of the original in white with blue trim. The major difference was the hard plastic case replacing the soft leather. Other changes include a slightly faster processor, only one USB port on the rear of the device, and inclusion of an FM tuner and physical volume knob. The hard plastic case allowed Chumby Industries to offer the Chumby One at a reduced price of $119.95.

In April 2012, Chumby announced the cessation of hardware sales, having ceased manufacture of their own hardware the previous year and exhausted their inventory.{{cite web|last=Murph |first=Darren |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/chumby-halts-hardware-sales-out-of-business/ |title=Chumby halts hardware sales, long-term support looking mighty unlikely |publisher=Engadget.com |date=2012-04-19 |access-date=2013-06-07}} On April 20 it was confirmed that the company itself was being broken up.{{cite web|author=Nilay Patel |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/4/20/2963003/chumby-broken-up-employees-at-technicolor-technology-sold |title=Chumby no more: employees at Technicolor, technology waiting to be sold |publisher=The Verge |date=2012-04-20 |access-date=2013-06-07}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/04/20/chumby-kaput/ |title=Chumby calls it quits after tricky move from hardware to software |publisher=VentureBeat |date=2012-12-04 |access-date=2013-06-07}} Dedicated fans managed to keep the service running for a period following the company's demise,{{cite web|author=Chris Welch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/14/3875198/chumby-platform-could-die-in-february-as-funding-dries-up |title=Chumby platform could die in February as funding for open source project dries up |publisher=The Verge |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2013-06-07}} but on 20 February 2013 Chumby shut down its servers, leaving users with a simple clock that shows time, calendar, and date. A brief message appears on the Chumby Web site, explaining the suspension of service. Alternative open source firmware prepared for such an eventuality became available at this point.

{{As of|January 2013}}, Blue Octy was in the process of reviving the chumby technology, with one of the original chumby developers working on the project. Visiting www.chumby.com shows details.

Towards the end of March 2014, Blue Octy began beta testing the soon to be revived chumby service.

On July 1, 2014, Blue Octy relaunched the Chumby service as a sustainable, subscription-based platform.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/remember-chumby-cute-touchscreen-gadget-returns-from-the-dead|title=Remember Chumby? Cute touchscreen gadget returns from the dead|author=Amanda Kooser|publisher=cnet}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/2/5864391/chumby-rises-from-the-dead-smart-alarm-clock-relaunches-with-1000-apps|title=Chumby rises from the dead: smart alarm clock relaunches with 1,000 apps|author=Adrianne Jeffries|date=2 July 2014 |publisher=The Verge}}

In July 2017, Blue Octy undertook an effort to rescue the Sony Dash after Sony discontinued support for it. {{cite web|url=http://forum.chumby.com/viewforum.php?id=19|author=duane maxwell|title=Dash news|publisher=blue octy}} and by August 2017, a patch was released for the Sony Dash HID-C10 models to allow them to connect to the Blue Octy Chumby servers, thus extending their useful life. {{cite web|url=http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=9843|author=duane maxwell|title=Dash news|publisher=blue octy}}

In 2022 to early 2023, programmer Doug Brown added support for running a modern Linux 6.x kernel on the Chumby 8, with much of the support being accepted into upstream Linux. {{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Doug |title=Upgrading my old Chumby 8 Linux kernel part 1: U-Boot |url=https://www.downtowndougbrown.com/2022/12/upgrading-my-old-chumby-8-linux-kernel-part-1-u-boot/ |access-date=8 September 2024 |date=18 December 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Doug |title=Upgrading my Chumby 8 kernel part 13: the end |url=https://www.downtowndougbrown.com/2024/08/upgrading-my-chumby-8-kernel-part-13-the-end/ |access-date=8 September 2024 |date=3 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Matthew |title=At Last, Chumby Is Ready |url=https://hackaday.com/2024/08/05/at-last-chumby-is-ready/ |website=Hackaday |date=5 August 2024 |access-date=2024-09-17}}

Image:Chumby rear close-up.jpg

The Chumby is designed to be modified by users, with schematics, printed circuit board layouts and packaging/outerware designs available. Hardware specifications are as follows{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4509751265.html|title=Linux gadget to replace the clock radio?|access-date=2008-03-11|date=2007-06-14|publisher=LinuxDevices.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630224209/http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4509751265.html|archive-date=2007-06-30|url-status=dead}}

The Original Chumby

• 350 MHz ARM9-based Freescale i.MX21 controller
• 64 MB of SDRAM
• 64 MB of NAND flash ROM
• 320×240 3.5 inch touchscreen TFT LCD running at 12 frames per second
• stereo 2-watt speakers, an audio output, an integrated microphone
• two USB 2.0 ports
• integrated Wi-Fi
• a bend sensor for squeeze-based user interface features
• motion sensor (accelerometer).

The Chumby One {{cite web|url=http://wiki.chumby.com/index.php/Main_Page |title=Chumby Wiki |publisher=Wiki.chumby.com |date=2013-02-03 |access-date=2013-06-07}}

• Freescale iMX233 454 MHz ARM926EJ-S processor
• 64 MB DDR SDRAM
• 2 GB internal microSD card (capacity depends on production date)
• 320×240 3.5-inch TFT color touchscreen
• 2 W mono speaker
• Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 b/g)
• FM radio tuner
• Uses rechargeable lithium-ion battery (not included); about one hour on a full charge
• 4 in wide × 4 in tall × 3.5 in deep
• 1 USB 2.0 high-speed port
• Stereo headphone output
• Volume knob
• Accelerometer (motion sensor)
• ABS plastic housing
• AC adapter included
• USB Ethernet compatible
• Dimmable backlight

Comparison table

Hacking the Chumby hardware was encouraged by the manufacturer.{{cite web | url=http://wiki.chumby.com/mediawiki/index.php/Hacking_hardware_for_chumby | title=Hacking hardware for chumby | access-date=2008-06-08 | publisher=Chumby Industries, Inc.}} Schematics and other hardware information may be downloaded after the user agrees to the Chumby HDK License.{{cite web | url=http://www.chumby.com/developers/agreement | title=Chumby HDK License Agreement | access-date=2008-06-08 | publisher=Chumby Industries, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616063423/http://www.chumby.com/developers/agreement | archive-date=2008-06-16 | url-status=dead }} For example, users on the Chumby Forums have experimented with and documented some battery hacks, allowing the Chumby to be operated without AC power for short periods of time.{{cite web | url=http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=1402| access-date=2008-06-08 | date=2007-12-31 | title=Please clarify 9 Volt issue | publisher=Chumby Industries, Inc.}}{{cite web | url=http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2452 | access-date=2008-06-08 | date=2008-05-20 | title=DIY 5 hour battery pack-$25 | publisher=Chumby Industries, Inc.}}

There also exists a Chumby Hacker Board that mostly resembles a Chumby One motherboard. There are some differences to hardware connectivity. Chumby Industries did not officially support the board.{{cite web|url=http://www.ladyada.net/learn/chumby/ |title=Sensor tutorials |publisher=Ladyada.net |date=2012-04-27 |access-date=2013-06-07}}{{cite web|url=http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?pid=34841#p34841 |title=Chumby One vs. Chumby Hacker Board? (Page 1) — Chumby Hacker/OEM boards — chumbysphere forum |publisher=Forum.chumby.com |access-date=2013-06-07}}

Image:Chumby in hand.jpg story]]

Chumby units run a modified Linux kernel. The software originally installed on the device was designed to play a set of user-customizable widgets, small Adobe Flash animations that deliver real-time information. This is possible because an embedded version of Adobe Flash Player is installed. The animations have the ability to control and interact with the low-level hardware, thereby enabling functionality such as smart alarm clocks that bring the hardware out of sleep, a Web-based picture viewer, a Web-based camera, online RSS feeds, and physical user interface features, such as gesture recognition by squeezing the soft housing.

The software for the Chumby automatically updated when something new became available. The updates came from the free access to the Chumby network, and a modified BitTorrent client was used to upgrade the open-source portions of its firmware.

Although the prototypes did not support video playback,{{cite web

|url=http://wiki.chumby.com/mediawiki/index.php/Developing_Widgets_for_Foo/Katamari

|title=Developing Widgets for Foo/Katamari

|access-date=2008-03-10

|publisher=Chumby Industries

}} all versions since May 2007 use Flash Lite 3[http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?pid=2478#p2478 "Some questions?"], thread on official Chumby forums which allows for Sorenson, FLV, H.264, VP6 and On2 video playback.{{cite web

|url=http://wiki.chumby.com/mediawiki/index.php/Developing_widgets_for_chumby#Summary

|title=Developing widgets for Chumby

|access-date=2008-03-12

|publisher=Chumby Industries

}}

• Amazon Echo Show
• JooJoo
• Personal Information Display

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/home/technology/forbes/2008/0324/064.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312233111/http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/forbes/2008/0324/064.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |title=Chumby and the Ambient Web |work=Forbes |date=March 24, 2008 |last=Lyons |first=Daniel |access-date=2008-06-23 }}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/technology/personaltech/01chumby.html?scp=5&sq=chumby&st=cse|title=A Wi-Fi Gadget for Music and Photos, All Wrapped in Leather |last=Haughey|first=Matthew|date=November 1, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=2008-06-23}}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/magazine/22wwln-consumed-t.html?scp=1&sq=chumby&st=cse|title=Tinkerer's Toy |last=Walker|first=Rob|date=June 22, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=2008-06-23}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C9293/|title=Chumby: portable Wi-Fi device you can make your own|author=Dave White|work=Mobile Magazine|date=2006-08-28|access-date=2006-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901035418/http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C9293/|archive-date=2006-09-01|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/2061-10801_3-6110156.html|title=Wi-Fi clock radio cuddles up to hackers|author=Erica Ogg|date=2006-08-28|work=Gadget Blog|publisher=CNET Networks Inc.}}
• {{cite news|url=http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,1861126,00.html|title=What is a Chumby and why would I want to hack it?|first=Jack |last=Schofield|date=2006-08-31|work=Guardian Unlimited.}}
• {{cite web|url=http://current.com/items/88973297_tech_report_chumby|title=Tech Report: Chumby // Current|access-date=2008-05-31|date=May 2008|publisher=Current TV's InfoMania|quote=Satircial criticism of Chumby|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530043241/http://current.com/items/88973297_tech_report_chumby|archive-date=2008-05-30|url-status=dead}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.chumby.com www.chumby.com] — official Chumby site
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726074228/http://www.wikispecs.org/index.php?title=Chumby Chumby at WikiSpecs]
• [http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/08/announcing_the_birth_of_chumby.html Summary of the product from O'Reilly]
• [http://www.broadcastingworld.net/reviews/home/1/ Chumby Review at Broadcasting World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723033441/http://www.broadcastingworld.net/reviews/home/1/ |date=2011-07-23 }}

{{Linux devices}}

Category:Embedded microprocessors

Category:Computer-related introductions in 2008

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