Getting chummy with Chumby requires a bit of patience

— -- Remember when a clock radio was just a clock radio? The prototypical alarm clock of the cyberage may well turn out to be Chumby, the cuddly and versatile new gadget I've been testing. This compact Wi-Fi-connected touch-screen Internet "appliance" does a lot more than wake you up.

Chumby can broadcast Internet radio stations, deliver Facebook, MySpace and Twitter status reports, and serve as a digital picture frame for the likes of Flickr and Picasa. You can watch certain YouTube videos and clips of David Letterman's Top 10 lists. Or play games by tilting it from side to side — Chumby has a built-in accelerometer, or motion sensor. Chumby even moonlights as a speaker dock for some iPods.

Though my first impression is mostly positive, Chumby has the nagging earmarks of a version 1.0 device. The touch-screen could be more responsive. I encountered all-too-frequent networking snags.

It's unfortunate because there are several reasons to get chummy with Chumby, from tracking eBay auctions and stock prices to glancing at ball scores and Craig's List classifieds. And while Chumby's stereo speakers aren't the richest you'll hear, they function well enough given their modest place in your household — on a nightstand or kitchen counter.

Chumby went on sale on the Web this week courtesy of the San Diego start-up of the same name. The $180 unit is the initial delivery platform for the Chumby Network. There are no recurring fees, but there are ads; some appear in between selected widgets. A premium subscription model has not been ruled out.

At www.chumby.com, you choose which among the more than 400 customizable single-purpose Web applications, or "widgets," you want to show up in a loop on the 3½-inch color display. Developers can submit their own widgets, subject to Chumby's approval.

Chumby's content partners include CBS, MTV Networks, The Weather Channel, Scripps Networks (such as Food Network) and AOL's Shoutcast (online radio stations). So-called Radio Free Chumby adds more Internet stations. Podcasts are also available. Users can stream their own favorite stations, but URLs can be hard to find and entering them is cumbersome. A closer look at Chumby:

•The Chumby experience. You are pretty much drawn to Chumby right from the get-go. The just-over-4-inch-tall and 5½-inch-wide product arrives in a linen pouch, complete with tiny decorative charms you can hang on the outside. The company sells additional charm sets for $5. The hardware comes in basic black, pearl or "latte" and is encased in squishy-soft Italian leather. Think beanbag or one of your kids' plush toys. But at its core is a Linux-based computer.

Squeezing the top of the Chumby brings up the touch-screen panel to control the behavior of some widgets, adjust volume and access settings. Still, most of the prep work — customizing and selecting widgets, choosing Chumby "chums" to send widgets to — is done on a computer. Chumby lacks a browser.

The only other physical button is an on/off switch on the back, where you'll also find a headphone jack and a pair of USB ports, one of which I used to connect an older iPod. Chumby is not compatible with the iPhone, Touch or any sixth-generation iPods. And it will not load any rights-protected files purchased from iTunes.

Frankly, I wish there were also a physical volume switch, because bringing up the control panel when you want to quiet things down fast is a nuisance.

•Snags and quibbles. You'll need a computer nearby when you activate Chumby for the first time. On the PC, you'll see a grid of ovals that are similar to a grid on the Chumby, except some will be black and some white. The idea is to match the exact pattern of black and white ovals on both machines. Only then can you complete the activation process.

My test unit wasn't flawless. During setup, Chumby recognized my wireless Linksys network but still failed to automatically connect, even though I placed it close to the router in my basement. The company says the snag, which repeated, might have been caused by signal interference from other computers. I had better luck connecting upstairs. Certain cordless phones can also wreak connection havoc. And Chumby might not work in an office with complex network security.

More nits: Even when I finally connected, I had difficulty using the touch-screen to set the time zone — you have to tap dots representing cities on a map.

And Chumby's screen feels like it is running a slight fever, though the company insists it's operating within its normal temperature range.

Chumby, which has no battery, is meant to be plugged in and on at all times. But I still would have welcomed a rechargeable battery. It's light enough to move from room to room, and playing some handheld games while it's plugged in seems silly.

On the plus side, Chumby can deliver bug fixes and software updates over the air. Your prized clock radio of yesteryear couldn't do that.

E-mail: ebaig@usatoday.com