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Today at Techcrunch we announced that we are building our own web tablet hardware device. This all stems back from a conversation a few weeks ago when we were discussing the ultimate web browsing/cloud computing client hardware. The iPhone is nice but too small, and most laptops are over-powered for the task. With applications on the web most of us just need a web browser most of the time, so the ideal device would be a light-weight small tablet running nothing more than Firefox on a decent screen and with a WiFi connection.
The software development aspects of the project will be managed here from TCIT. Our goal is open source from top to bottom (including the full design, eventually). Leave a comment and we will get in touch with you and send you an account on the project management system we will be setting up (I am also nik at techcrunch on email which might be easier than flooding comments). It would be interesting to hear general feedback and ideas - we really want to open this up to everybody.
The planned stack so far is to run BSD or Linux, with the Gnome desktop. We will probably take the Gnome Onscreen Keyboard project and adapt that as the primary input device (the hardware design includes multi-touch under the LCD screen, I will have the full specs shortly and will post them to the wiki). Then there will be Firefox, running in a stripped down interface mode with a simple system tray showing battery life and wifi (and simple settings for the device). Plugins would include Gears, Flash and probably either VLC or Mplayer with open codecs for media.
Once the stack comes together and we can set the hardware spec in stone, we will do a small manufacturing run and ship some devices out to developers so that we can work on specifics. Once that is done there will be a larger manufacturing run with hopefully a retail price of $300 or less. If you are excited about this as we are, please get in touch.
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I’ve always wanted to participate in an open-source, open-hardware project like this. I’ve worked as primarily a software guy for the past few years but recently started dabbling in hardware for my startup. We could possibly even lend some of our employee’s time to the project if it looks like it’s taking off (electrical engineer, possibly mechanical as well).
I’d be interested in this device both as a consumer and a software developer.
not to engage in scope creep but if you add pdf support it could double as the ultimate ebook reader as well. i would be very, very happy to buy something like that.
I’d be interested from both the developer and consumer standpoints.
Hopefully you can pull this off, cause if you do, I am going to get one in every room of my house including all the bathroom’s, my office waiting room, etc. Replace all my magazines and newspapers with these. Good Luck!
This is an interesting idea. Would love to help with the firefox integration side. May be even build a special version of feedly for it. What it the best way to learn more about this project?
It’s like your reading my mind.
I’m in — hardware, software, whatever I can do.
I will get a new community site running shortly and will post all the docs and info that we have so far. If you leave a name here or email me I will shoot you an email once it is up
Awesome idea, Ill help with project specs or testing
Hey folks,
love the idea. I’ll do what I can if you’d like– I mainly work in Photoshop/ web design. I can whip up logo ideas, design a site for it, etc.
I’ll copy this over to Nik’s email.
I’m an User Experience and Usability Consultant… I’m in for this project… I really think there is the need of a device like that…
I would be interested in checking out the site and contributing if I have anything to offer.
College student will help with writing the marketing aspect.
Let me know if I can help.
I’m in.
Wow, this sounds like an awesome idea. I’d love to contribute in some way, I have lots of education contacts and some limited coding expertise. Maybe my biggest asset is enthusiasm and time? Contact me if I can help.
Would love to help where I can.
Built a few gadgets in my time… email if you could use a hand.
awesome idea…i’d be interested in helping out on the hardware end
Definitely interested. Sounds likes a fascinating idea. Being a kernel hacker, I would love to help with developing a stripped down version of linux for the TC Tablet.
Great! We are pretty excited about it as well..
Please count me in however I can help. Also, please include me in the email info.
Like the idea … I’d like to help where I can too …
Any thoughts on UI design? Cause I’m in if so..
I didn’t hear anything about funding, but I’d like to give the first $200 towards this, assuming it stays open source.
Design thoughts - maybe get rid of the power button, put that on the back or something. Also, in terms of size, if it can be the size of a text book, then there’s a huge opportunity in the future of using it for ebooks, text books, etc.
Overall, awesome project, give me a chance to put some money towards it. Also, I can provide all the website hosting for it, at least until it becomes outrageous.
Basically: $200 + website hosting is what I’m willing to donate/give/whatever
Wow sounds like a great project. Need an Instructional Designer? Also I’m very good at breaking… erm I mean testing things.
Shameless Plug - Sounds like you need a wiki!
crunchtablet.pbwiki.com for example?
If you make it, I can help you sell it. My company, Chalkface Project Ltd, sells to all 5,000 secondary (”high”) schools in the UK - approx 5,000,000 students, plus est. 1,000,000 in British International Schools. Most of them buy our books and also use our assessment platform http://yacapaca.com
If the price was right we could make a case that every schoolkid should have one of these. I think a lot of people in education would listen if we pitched it as a ’secondary device’, not replacing desktop computers with their M$ software, but extending their reach. It would be totally in line with our mission to get behind this project.
Finally! I can help promote this in and bring it to Canada. Let me know if you’re interested - I am!
Cheers
Software dev here. I’ll help out.
It would be nice if it used a lightweight package manager for updates. Interface-wise, OLPC’s Sugar interface could be good, they already have a minimal Firefox, maybe modifying that would be best?
I would love to get involved!
I’m in! Get in touch with me ASAP :) Don’t forget to include BLUETOOTH for both the Skype function AND the ability to use a Bluetooth KEYBOARD if one so desired.
I’m very experienced with Firefox/Mozilla/XUL development, if you still need help on that front.
Uhhh, question: how are you planning to handle text entry?
I’d like to help with software development if possible — this device sounds great.
Still in college but would love to get involved and help out in any way I can
Good timing; entering market research phase for something similar. Please reach out - would be interested in collaborating.
I’d love to help - I am a marketing and advertising type - with basic architecting - tech-wise talents. Count me in. –Chris
Let me know how I can help.
count me in for dev and my company for marketing/distribution …
(name hidden from web crawlers–email me for real info)
Hello,
I would be happy to contribute my companies resources and expertise to the project.
Dan Ushman
Vice President
SingleHop, Inc.
Software experience.
Happy to help.
Nit picking the comments in TC, might i suggest a firefox plugin for access to & status of other applications like skype, instead of showing the taskbar/quicklaunch/systray. If your differentiation is simplicity, I wouldn’t compromise it.
I am interested. do send me an email once the community site is setup.
I would love to help. If you need any help with spec writing, technical writing or instructional information I have a lot of experience.
Very interested, and would love to help out however I can.
(oops, posted to the original article) I have founded and sold a CE company, having built and brought to market half a dozen Linux / WinCE products over the years. Designed in California, engineering in Taiwan, production in South China. I may be able to help out, just contact me.
BTW, the screen and battery are going to be your biggest design challenges, not processor selection etc.!
Sounds like an awesome idea! Would love to help!
count me in to help! Great concept.