July 20th, 2010 by admin

For the last decade, researchers have been trying to come up with a way to give consumers internet access away from the computer. Whether you’re riding the El or stuck waiting for a meeting, any Chicagoan can appreciate the convenience and profitability of such a device. Early attempts included the Audrey, a countertop device with an 8-inch screen and a Geode processor, as well as the I-opener, a device which combined a terminal, keyboard, mouse, and 10-inch LCD display. However, none of these products were efficient enough to warrant their price tags.Today, high-end devices like the iPad and Kindle offer consumers that portable access that these initial products aimed toward. Video game consoles use Internet access for watching movies or playing against people on a network. Even some television makers are experimenting with connectivity. Meanwhile, more companies are trying to get in by offering more specialized products for less.One of these companies, Chumby, is selling products for around 100 which can create personal online channels for topics like news and weather. The developers recommend the product for a variety of uses, including keeping it by the bed as an alarm clock or as a desktop device for checking Facebook or craigslist. Chumby also has a growing user-created app service, with familiar ones like Letterman’s Top Ten and a Facebook status checker, as well as a Zoltar fortune teller.The DreamScreen from HP is another new product, which resembles a digital photo frame but can also function as an internet radio. These products don’t really seem to be competing with the bigger companies yetwhen’s the last time you saw a Chumby commercial?but as long as the desire for portable access at affordable prices remains, we’re sure to see other developers going along the same route.