I think the word, “could” should be “couldn’t” in the title of this Woot. Signed… grammar queen.
[QUOTE=brheneb, post:32, topic:331991]
do these have a web browser in them or can you only view internet content via an ap??
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You can browse the web with one- but you won’t want to.
Two alternatives to the Dash:
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Get yourself a cheap Android tablet. I have a Velocity Cruz ($69) that comes with an easle to be used a digital frame or beside device. Unlike this Dash, it gives true Internet browsing and has tons more apps. I have instead of a clock by my bed.
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Get an Insignia Infocast with an 8" screen. Unlike this Dash, it is 100% Chumby-based so you can use all 1500+ apps. The Dash uses a modified Chumby OS. CNET gives the Infocast the best review when comparing the Dash, Chumby and Infocast. Strangely, BestBiu discontinued the Infocast just weeks after its debut. I think it was for legal licensing reasons. The device is available through eBya however. I got mine for $49. The SRS sound is phenomenal.
A plus for the Dash is that it can access Hulu, which chumbys can’t. Android tablets have the ability too.
[QUOTE=Groovymarlin, post:31, topic:331991]
I bought one of these from Woot a few months ago. I used it to replace a Phillips digital photo frame that had died. The DASH is so much better! It can show a slideshow with the time, date, and weather at the same time; plus you can have it display a feed (I point it at my Flickr photo stream) so the pictures are always up to date - no manual re-loading ever required. I love it and highly recommend it.
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Thanks for the info! I’m actually more interested in this aspect than anything else. Does it show only your public Flickr photos, or private, too?
A friend has one, and they’re very strange devices. Plug-in tablets, basically, but not nearly as useful.
The one he had didn’t even have a web browser, I’m not sure how something can be an “internet viewer” without a web browser, but the brilliant minds at Sony have found a way.
Maybe there’s been a software update?
Feeling frisky. In for one.
W00t!
Has anyone else had any problems with it locking in on a certain page. While I appreciate the functionality of it, I have noticed that when it is scheduled to change modes (from energy saver, etc.), it will turn on and lock in on one screen/application. I can advance it along by manually forwarding it, but I am curious if other people are seeing this.
[QUOTE=mavent, post:65, topic:331991]
A friend has one, and they’re very strange devices. Plug-in tablets, basically, but not nearly as useful.
The one he had didn’t even have a web browser, I’m not sure how something can be an “internet viewer” without a web browser, but the brilliant minds at Sony have found a way.
Maybe there’s been a software update?
[/quote]
There are plenty of posts that already address this.
Bought one of these last time and still in the “getting to know you” phase. Many different “themes” for you to access the “apps” (chumby only). Personalize different “channels” for different times of the day or different people. I set one up for the wife that has all the weather so she can know what its like outside before walking the dog. Tons of music and can be used as your waking alarm. Streams netflix like a champ and some of the games arent bad. 1190 apps right now (236 different clocks).
Moved it from the kitchen to my desk…then it will go bedside. Considering another one!
[QUOTE=etradup, post:67, topic:331991]
Has anyone else had any problems with it locking in on a certain page. While I appreciate the functionality of it, I have noticed that when it is scheduled to change modes (from energy saver, etc.), it will turn on and lock in on one screen/application. I can advance it along by manually forwarding it, but I am curious if other people are seeing this.
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Works fine for me, you might want to contact support or reload the firmware.
[QUOTE=aphroat, post:40, topic:331991]
Chumby, is that you?
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It is Chumby OS and pretty much does what Chumby does… except built in support to play video like Amazon VOD or Netflix.
It’s much better than the old Chumby One- although haven’t seen the newer chumbies in action.
Big difference is in how it is marketed:
Sony markets it as a “Personal Internet Viewer” which is in reality a little disingenuous.
Great device- but it isn’t a tablet or- really even that great at browsing the web.
[QUOTE=joshbg2k, post:44, topic:331991]
can you hack these things?
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The Chumby and Insignia Infocast (basically an 8" Chumby) are fully hackable. The SOny Dash uses a modified Chumby OS (that’s why it only has about 1000 apps while Chumbys have 1500+) and is locked down so it’s not normally hackable.
Is it a reliable alarm clock??? Since it does not have battery back up and sometimes has to reboot can you rely on it??? And is the sound decent???
the ability to alarm clock to internet radio… is priceless, when you live in the sticks and have no usable OTA radio.
love these things.
Internet viewing while driving? Does that mean I have to put my makeup down?
■■■■ :bs:
[QUOTE=grampawizard, post:39, topic:331991]
What a great idea! You can view the internet while driving . . . and killing people on the highway. You go, Woot! Let’s cut the population.
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Yes, this is especially dangerous because you have to switch to a new wifi hotspot every 100 yards.
does anyone know how to adjust your order. I ordered 1, but wanted 2.
[QUOTE=urkidn, post:73, topic:331991]
Is it a reliable alarm clock??? Since it does not have battery back up and sometimes has to reboot can you rely on it??? And is the sound decent???
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It’s fairly reliable, the only issue I’ve had is if the internet doesn’t come back soon after a power outage it won’t go past trying to find the wifi access, and won’t even work as a clock until it re-connects. A rarity to have such an issue, but it’d be a good idea to put it on your UPS if you absolutely need to have the alarm go off.
[QUOTE=urkidn, post:73, topic:331991]
Is it a reliable alarm clock??? Since it does not have battery back up and sometimes has to reboot can you rely on it??? And is the sound decent???
[/quote]
I can’t give specifics about the Dash but generally speaking, once powers comes back up it’ll get the time from the Internet and your alarms aren’t lost. That’s the case with my Infocast and no backup battery is necessary (although there may indeed be an internal non-replaceable battery). If you’re interested in alarms, consider the two alternatives I gave: a cheap Android tablet (i.e. I used a Cruz R101 for $69), which comes with an easel, or the Insignia Inforcast. The tablet has lots of clock apps so you can do a lot with alarms, i.e. run other apps. And according to CNET, the Infocast has the best alarms of all Chumby-based devices. The SRS-based sound on the 8" Infocast is fantastic.