Click to see the Chumby One unboxing photo gallery.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)That was quick. A day after going on sale, the Chumby One cheerfully landed on my desk this morning. Curious to see what's inside? Take a look at Crave's Chumby One unboxing photo gallery.
The $99 Chumby One ditches the plush look of the previous model and gets a performance boost.
(Credit: Chumby Industries)The Chumby One (which is technically Chumby No. 2) officially made its way into the manufacturer's online storefront Wednesday, priced at a tantalizing $99.
For those who didn't catch the Chumby phenomenon the first time around, the gist of the thing is a do-it-all, hardware host for Internet widgets. You can use it to check the weather, update your Facebook status, browse your photos on Flickr, tune in to Internet radio, play games, and more. The original Chumby was a blast (I still use one at home for listening to Pandora), but it was a bit of a rich-kid novelty at $179.
Chumby One represents a leaner, faster, cheaper take on the original. Aside from ditching the plush Italian leather and beanbag shape of the original for the clean lines of ABS plastic, the new Chumby benefits from a faster processor (454MHz), a built-in FM radio, a dedicated volume knob, 2GB of microSD memory, and a single USB 2.0 port. They've now made it portable, too, with an optional rechargeable lithium ion battery good for an hour of use.
Many features haven't changed, which is surprising when you consider the big price drop. You still get a relatively spacious 3.5-inch resistive LCD touch screen, a 3.5mm stereo output, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, accelerometer control, and an AC adapter. Let's hope you can still play Quake on it.
Also, is anybody else thinking this thing is just a camera away from working as a Skype video phone? Come on developers, there's a built-in microphone, a USB 2.0 port, a reasonably fast processor--make it happen, OK?
Ever get so annoyed with your alarm clock you feel like yelling at it? With Moshi clocks, your words will actually accomplish something.
(Credit: Moshi)If Moshi's voice-responsive alarm clock got you in the habit of talking to clocks, you can now continue the dialogue while traveling.
Moshi's Voice Control Travel Alarm Clock is a smaller, cheaper version of the earlier device. Like the Moshi IVR Clock, the new clock lets you use nine voice control commands to do things like turn the alarm on and off ("set alarm...7:30 a.m."), hit snooze, ask for the temperature, and access a help menu. As far as we can tell, the device does not respond to exhaustion-related rants.
The travel clock measures 3.75 inches by 2.75 inches by 1 inches, costs $24.99, and comes in four colors--white, blue, pink, and black.
ZoneAlarm Pro protects not only your PC, but also your identity.
(Credit: Check Point Software)Keeping your PC secure requires diligence, common sense, and, perhaps most importantly, software. It's not enough to install antivirus and antispyware utilities; you also need a rock-solid firewall to keep hackers at bay.
Today only (in honor of my birthday, I'm guessing), Check Point Software is offering ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall 2010 absolutely free. That's a $39.95 value, my friends.
(Actually, what you're getting is a free one-year license. If you want to keep using ZoneAlarm after that, you'll have to pony up 40 bucks. On the other hand, this is the second year running for this promotion, so you might be able to score it free again next year.)
ZoneAlarm is widely regarded as one of the best firewall utilities on the planet. Look no further than the rare five-star rating at CNET's Download.com.
In addition to blocking unauthorized access to your PC, ZoneAlarm analyzes browser downloads to prevent malware infections, monitors your credit report on a daily basis, and steers you clear of phishing sites.
The software is compatible with Windows 2000 and later, including Windows 7.
Speaking of which, if you're relying solely on the firewall that's built-in to Windows--well, my guess is you're fine. That's what I do, and at the risk of jinxing it, I've never had a problem. But there's also a firewall built into my router, so I feel doubly protected.
In fact, I'll be honest. I don't run security software at all. I rely on the tools built into Windows and Gmail's outstanding spam-virus-malware filtering. I also use that aforementioned common-sense thing.
That said, my security "solution" isn't for everyone. If you want help keeping your PC (and identity) safe and sound, grab this valuable freebie. The offer expires at the end of the day.
Update: Be sure to use THIS LINK to download the software! It should take you to a page that looks like this. You should not need credit-card information or the like to take advantage of this offer. I've downloaded, installed, and activated the software and was never once asked for a credit card.
(Credit:
Quirky)
Good thing the lightbulb-shaped Watt Time alarm clock (Watt Time, geddit?!) isn't made of glass or it could pose a hazard when annoyed sleepers roll over to smack the snooze button located on the top of the socket.
Instead, the gizmo is constructed of high-gloss, hard plastic that illuminates the bright blue LED time display. If you don't like waking to sound, you can set the bulb to light up when it's time to crawl out of bed.
(Credit:
Quirky)
While the Watt Time features a sleek, simple design (all set buttons sit discretely on the back of the bulb), the product might not appeal to those with meticulous interior-design taste. After all, it could appear at first glance that you just left an old bulb on your nightstand when you went to change the one in the reading lamp.
Still, it's a bright idea for people who like their products infused with a touch of playful.
Watt Time comes via Quirky, a relatively new collaborative design community that also conceived of the super-cute DigiDue tripod we told you about recently. The Watt Time is currently on presale at Quirky's online store for $24.99.
(Credit:
Jongchul Kim/Coroflot)
You've got to love designer Jongchul Kim's quirky take on the Cuckoo Clock. Aptly named the Bungee Clock, this features a little "man" that announces the hour, thens leap out his window--about 24 times a day, poor fella--in what must seem to him like an endless Groundhog Day.
As a value-add, this comes with a tiny camera below to act as a security eye. It's all still a concept, but hopefully when this clock does reach the mainstream, there'll be an option to customize a minifig version of yourself in place of the jumper.
(Credit:
Jongchul Kim/Coroflot)
(Source: Crave Asia)
Wi-Fi radios would seem to be a perfect bedside companion, but surprisingly few of them are designed to work as an alarm clock.
The Acoustic Research ARIR200 is one of few that is designed to (at least try to) wake you up in the morning, with a big snooze button on top and easy access to the alarm via buttons on the top. In addition, the ARIR200 is packed with many features not seen even on more expensive radios, including the ability to record stations to its internal memory, Slacker streaming, and weather updates--all for a very reasonable street price of about $100.
So why the half-hearted praise? Unfortunately we ran into some connectivity problems (although only at the office) and the ARIR200 tends to emit a hissing sound that's annoying even at this price. We were also disappointed that Acoustic Research didn't throw in dual alarm functionality, especially because it's available on the competing Aluratek Internet Radio.
The Acoustic Research ARIR200 doesn't have any deal-breaking flaws and the price is right, but a few critical improvements would have made us like it a lot more.
Shake, rattle, and roll over.
(Credit: iLuv)Heavy sleepers rejoice. iLuv will soon be shipping an iPod clock radio that features not only dual-audio alarms but a "unique" vibrating bed shaking accessory that it claims will "wake even the deepest of sleepers."
The official name of the product is the iLuv iMM153 Desktop Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker for iPod. It comes in four colors (black, blue, white, and pink) and will be shipping in July with an MSRP of $59.99. (More info here).
Personally, I'm waiting for the Desktop Dual Alarm Clock with Cattle Prod, but I guess this is a step in the right direction.
Comments? Jokes welcome.
(Credit:
iLuv)
The Zeo bedside display shows you personal sleep information such as how long you really sleep each night, and how long it takes you to doze off.
(Credit: Zeo)It seems like the market for alarm clocks and smart wake-you-up gadgets is getting more competitive than cell phones, MP3 players, and autos. But here's a new entry worth noting for those who already tried starting the day with the obnoxious Clocky, the Shocking Alarm Clock, the Philips Wake-Up Light, or even the Wake n' Bacon.
It's called Zeo, and it's a "personal sleep coach" that can give you data on the quantity, quality, and depth of your slumber. The product is being released now by Newton, Mass.-based Zeo, formerly known as Axon Labs, a Rhode Island start-up.
When the gadget first captured our attention in 2005, it was called SleepSmart and was essentially one of those devices that would make awakening less startling by choosing a moment when you are already sleeping lightly, like Sleeptracker or aXbo do.
The headband sends personal sleep data wirelessly to the bedside display.
(Credit: Zeo)Zeo is based on a headband that tracks your sleep patterns via a sensor that monitors electrical signals from your brain.
But the people at Axon probably realized how cruel the alarm clock market is and turned it into a lifestyle product by adding a whole sleep clinic concept, somewhat akin to the Snoremonitor for iPhone.
The headband transmits data wirelessly to a bedside display, where it's stored on an SD card.
The sleep information can then be uploaded to the "myZeo Personal Coaching" Web site, where the beauty begins with concepts such as a personal sleep score or "ZQ;" information on the "7 Sleep Stealers;" and a full "7 Step Sleep Fitness Program." The site notes that sleeplessness "is now the third biggest health complaint in the world after headache and cold, and there are currently over 80 known kinds of chronic sleep disorders."
We admit that this sleep fitness concept attracts the lazy part of us more than a gadget that forces us to head to the gym. Maybe that's just what could make Zeo survive in the wild, wild jungle of alarm clocks.
The Sony ICF-C414 alarm clock.
(Credit: Sony)With so many of us dreaming on a budget these days, it makes sense that Sony's latest Dream Machine clock radio (the ICF-C414) retails for a measly $20.
Granted, there aren't a lot of bells and whistles to inflate the price--no iPod dock, no CD player, no integrated sounds of pastoral splendor to rouse you from restful slumber. Nope, instead Sony's keeping this one lean and mean with an AM/FM radio, buzzer, automatic time set, daylight-saving time adjustment, snooze button, battery backup, and 1.4-inch LED clock.
The Sony Dream Machine ICF-C414 may be short on frills, but it's a Sony and it's $20, so you could do worse. Anyway, I have to admit there's something I like about the way this thing combines a kind of cold, menacing design with the words "Dream Machine." It's like a Nihilist with a unicorn tattoo.
The Sony ICF-C414 Dream Machine alarm clock will be available starting in April 2009.
