Leaks are always hardest when they hit at home. Now we know how Apple feels. The party responsible for the leak has been penalized severely (whipped with wet spaghetti), so believe us when we say this kind of thing won’t ever happen again. Anyway, so long as the cat’s out of the bag, we may as well give you a few more pics. What you see is a prototype, equipped with an Intel Atom processor and a 12″ capacitative touchscreen. Looks a little different than it did last time, doesn’t it?
Doubters, feel free to eat your hats at this point. It’s real and it’s spectacular. We’ve got more pictures than the other guys, and we’ll have video and more specs as soon as we can.
As for more details, they’re in flux or double-top-secret at the moment, but you can expect a full disclosure during the next week, along with video of the new text input and all that other good stuff. Look at this wonderful little thing. Who wouldn’t want one in their home?
I want 5 of them!!
OMG DO WANT
oh. um, let’s not talk about the doubters and eating hat. these photos are of an early new prototype, nothing new is being announced, and it certainly isn’t pat ourselves on the back time.
also, this is the work of our partner, Fusion Garage, and the leaked photos completely screwed them. all in all, not good.
Where can i buy one?
Twitter me @luke88addis
one thing that they haven’t announced but hopefully will is mobile broadband integrated in the cruchpad it would be a total win for me and many others, im sure of it. I would totally recomed this. MOBILE INTERNET
What I want to know:
1. Does it have moving parts? In other words, is it silent?
2. Can I add a keyboard? Bluetooth?
3. Any audio support?
What I want to know:
1. Will it run Windows 7?
If yes, I’ll take one.
Haha, seriously? This thing is being designed to run a lightweight Linux. Not a bloated copy of Windows. You have 4gb of storage, where would Windows 7 go? Windows 7 takes at least twice as much as that to even install. Now consider how low power this hardware is to help achieve the low cost goal. Windows 7 is not the purpose of this hardware.
OH PLEASE…. there are still nitwits out there that don’t get it… Bloatware is old school… DOA to Windows 7.
Yeah…
1. Please tell us it uses Android!
The community for Android apps is really taking off. That’d be the ideal lightweight, open OS.
2. Please tell us it has multitouch.
3. I assume it’s fully extensible (keyboard, mouse, etc.) given at least a USB port.
I’m not an Apple fan (costs too much, too proprietary, etc.), but their products at least tend to function very smoothly. I really hope this does too. I’ve been wanting to buy a cheap Android netbook.
Update us soon! :)
I’m assuming they went with an open source solution, at least, temporarily…
However, after checking out fusiongarage.com I would totally suspect they’re going to use a splashtop interface. Meaning really, no OS. Just a limited number of applications and probably rooted in web-based applications. Sounds interesting.
Oh, for goodness’ sake! This has all been covered. It’s stripped down linux and it basically boots into the browser. Every previous update has been rock solid on low-features: wifi, touchscreen (no multi-touch, the screen is plenty big), webkit custom browser, all the necessary codecs/plugins (flash etc), 4GB storage, and a virtual keyboard. That’s basically it!
I just want 1 please
i cant wait this little toy comes to the us i swear on anything ill buy one the first minute i hear of it here. my wallets ready i dont know what there waiting for
As far as I know, the us is where its coming.
this will be top #1 on my list to buy
LOOKS FANTASTIC! Very slick and clean package design as well. Love it.
I’m hoping once it launches that it will be available in Canada.
Keep up the great work TechCrunch and CrunchPad team!
-Chad
chadfullerton.com
I’m really looking forward to see it distributed internationally. This is the Internet age, isn’t it? ;)
Smile! Gerrit – We speak Online.
Yep, Germany would be cool. :-)
So happy to see the crunch tablet turn into such a pretty one! Eager to see the video! And have the specs remained the same from the last time, or have they been updated too??
And guess what, girls will drooooool over the pink color!! :)
how much?
Sorry, that falls under double top secret. Stay tuned.
breath: baited
Why would that be double-top-secret?
If it’s as nice to use as the Asus EeeTop is *AND* it’s portable, it’ll be just wonderful.
And… pricepoint?
::pretends this is 4chan::
bump
sauce
Damn! That is super hot, I’ll sign up immediately for 1 or 3… great job, and proves that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well… wow!
Wow..looks like Techcrunch spinning off to CrunchPad (or another company name) is becoming more of a reality. Great job and all the best.
I think crunchpad is just the name of the thing itself.
Slick. What’s the battery life?
Depending on weight, battery life, and durability that looks to be a grad students dream.
Grad students seem to spend all their time reading PDFs – A digital reader is long overdue.
Can’t agree more. will be great to be able to scribble on the margin’s of pdf’s without having to print stuff.
And pray have mercy on the poor grad students. less than 300 dollars please?
I don’t think you are going to be able to draw/scribble with a capacitive screen, look at the iphone.
I’m looking for a tablet that is tablet too (wacom pen quality, or Nintendo DS resistive input).
I’m with you, Jose. This will be a nifty, affordable, portable art tablet for graphic artists if it supports a Wacom pen and can run versions of Painter, illustrator and Photoshop.
As a graduated student, I couldn’t agree more. However, 12 inches is like too much for a portable device. I was considering an Archos 705 with a nice 7″ screen, but been a close device, I stepped back.
7″ is too small … especially if it’s not at least 1024×768 … my original eee 4G is pretty much unusable, and that’s a 7″ish screen.
the newer eee’s 10.2″ @ 1024×768 is pretty workable.
12″ does start to feel less mobile … but I could still see keeping it on the coffee table, the counter, in the bedroom, and easily taking it with me on the commute to work or school, unlike my current bulky laptop and bag that I dread dragging anywhere … 90% of the time, I just need browsing and email, not development or presentation capabilities.
At 12″, it’s just not going to fit in any pockets …
Yeah, both things are true, but u know, I think the idea is more browsing around your house than portable browsing.
I buy a lot of books as PDFs, many of them in color, and something like this as a PDF reader would be wonderful.
will admit, pretty cool. But how does the battery charge, and how does it get online?
What about websites that dont comply with its browser
The browser is based on webkit. So pretty much all the websites tat can render on Safari and Chrome should work on this as well.
I think any non-compliant websites will quickly get upgraded if these guys can keep the price point low. You won’t be able to ignore it.
Non-compliant websites are non-compliant for a reason. They tend to stay that way. My bank’s website still won’t recognize Chrome for instance and Chrome has had one of the best browser take-offs ever.
Yeah, because the lazy bar stewards are still employed and overseeing the site, and still can’t code a website to save their life.
You won’t see it fixed until you and a whole heap of other people complain about it.
Check your bank’s website in Firefox, and if it doesn’t work, point out that over a quarter of the world’s internet surfing traffic is conducted using Firefox, and that Firefox has the largest single browser share in Europe and 100% usage in Antartica.
I have pointed this out to several large companies whose websites were useless.
Rash, don’t know if it’s the same bank, but my bank won’t allow Safari either…. scandalous
damn. please do ship this overseas or something.
definitely something that i would need to bring to lecture to refer to.
omg. this is like a dream come true. :D
gimme gimme gimme!
Very very very cool. The only thing I love more then the device is that you guys had the balls to do it. Respect.
looks like a big ITouch
====
Where do I swipe my credit card?
TC will do this for you. Just post your CC number and valid-thru date.
he was trying to be funny, not actually asking.
Cail was also being funny. *rolls eyes*
Ever heard of sarcasm?
It comes in BROWN!!
oh, and, I WANT ONE.
Very freakin cool guys!
Sign me up!
very proud of you guys. cant wait for more info. congrats!
Wasn’t it leaked to be around $200 or so?
Also, OMG i want one sooo badly. Please release it in time for the fall semester so that I can use it in University <3
Pleaze? I’ll love you forever *puppy-dawg eyes*
> Wasn’t it leaked to be around $200 or so?
It’s called inflation, buddy. In two years time, you’ll have to pay $2.000.000,00 for it.
Looks cool and you are beating Apple to the punch!
I really really want one!
OMG I want one like super crazy right now. I’d expect something like this from apple. God damn a 12 inch screen. I’m almost crying, it’s just so beautiful. Cudos to you guys!!!! Oh and BTW, you will be rollin’ in doe when this gets released.
Thank god it has professional industrial design. It really would have been a showstopper to ignore the ID as sooo many companies do unnecessarily. Acer, Asus, are you listening and watching?
Odds are not in favor of a news site being able to deliver a great tech device for the masses. The ‘feel’ is the final step in the eval. When?
And fingers crossed for multi-touch. A must have for a tablet in today’s world.
Why would it need multi-touch if it’s mainly/solely for web browsing?
ever browsed with an iphone?
ever used a 12-inch screen, Jose? Trust me, it’s plenty big for browsing? Honestly, how much zooming in do you do on your computer?
Why? Is TechCrunch now becoming a hardware company? I can’t wait to see how you fair against Apple or some of the other real hardware companies.
I wouldn’t buy one because how long will you guys be in business to support this thing?
Thanks, I will wait for Apple to wake up and bring out a slightly larger iTouch.
Wake up and Smell the Coffee.
shmidiot
Because this device will be 1/3 the price, a key requirement for real adoption of a tablet. This is why IBM barely sold any, and why Apple never shipped one.
It’s called not wanting to pay more for Apple products and not wanting to use the closed ecosystem of their OS.
TC has every opportunity to make this a big hit given their reach.
They’re not necessarily competing against Apple. They’re competing against all of the other device makers out there who have the fiduciary responsibility to max out profits on their customers and other burdens. I’ll buy one if it /works well/. It’s that simple. So will millions of other people worldwide.
There’s a large, international market for a cheap CrunchPad.
Because it takes innovative thinking as well as perfect execution to make a gadget that’s actually not an expensive door stopper.
As the owner of a Philips Nino (for fuck sake) and couple of iPaqs (shit bricks), I promised myself never buy anything that’s not produced by company with a track record in usability.
So far my iPhone, AppleTV (and a mac of course) are money well spent, thank you very much. I would definitely wait for an Apple Tablet before risking my money on a product such as this.
As far as I can see, when you have plenty of screen space (12 in is ample) and it’s browsing only, there’s not that much that can go wrong. Obviously it would be prudent to wait and hear about all the features, but… especially coming from a company that makes its living reviewing and commenting on technology, I would say this is a pretty good bet.
Also, a Philips Nino? You poor, poor thing…
OMFG HE SAID ITOUCH!!!!! RAAAWWWRRRR!!!!
Should Apple be concerned?
They should. I’ve been waiting for a similar device from apple since ages. :(
Smile! Gerrit – We speak Online.
Apple isn’t ever going to go after this market (price shopping tablets).
When Apple rolls out their tablet, it will have the best hardware design, the best UI, the best software, the best app store, work the best with all of their other products and services, and cost more.
True. But I won’t need 2 digital readers, will I?
Smile! Gerrit – We speak Online.
1 word, Origami.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/06/scoble-i-have-seen-the-future-and-it-is-origami/
TechCrunch tablet is Origami mark II.
Get Scoble to endorse it and you’ve sealed it’s fate.
I’m sorry, this bird is not going to fly. You’re new business selling research data against Gartner is a way better avenue.
TC Tablet is your Hindenburg, your Titanic.
2nd to last paragraph should read:
Your new business selling research data against Gartner is a way better avenue.
That’s a severely short-sighted attitude.
If everyone prevented their own success based on the failures of others, there’d be no success. That said, one must take lessons and learn from other failures. In case you haven’t noticed, there is a huge amount of support for this and TC has a tremendous reach. They can just do what Amazon did with Kindle and promote it non-stop.
All the cPad has to do is be extremely user-friendly, be open enough, cheap enough, and geek friendly (Android) and the masses will purchase it in bulk for themselves and gifts for others.
There’s a secret to success. And it isn’t in avoiding what others have done. It’s avoiding the doubt and pushing ahead when you know you’ve got something that people want: not being afraid to fail.
wow..I am waiting..
Looks great, and of course I want one! Congrats!
looks great!!
the very first design is still better than this version, I think. Is the design going to be improved. However, it’s definitely much better than the Prototype A and B :)
This looks really nice. I’m sure the strategic “leak” must have been devastating:)
FAb-u-lous. Great innovative success story. Golf clapping ….
When will it run Android and when will it have built in 3G ?
looks nice and impressive given that you just put a team together, etc. … but why would I buy this? apple is coming out with their own tablet thing very soon, and this looks like a knockoff of an apple product.. and somehow i feel pretty sure you will have lots of issues with reliability, having just built your first consumer device… still impressive nonetheless. congrats.
Because then it would have that ‘orrible ‘apple ‘operatin ’system ‘on ‘it.
An it’d cost a pretty ‘tuppance ‘extra, naw wouldn’t it?
Seriously dude, have you douched lately? Your attitude stinks.
Does your TV look like a knockoff of an Apple product too?
You sound like Apple has a sentence on their front page saying “We are selling a tablet this year FOR SURE”.
Wow. So apparently Apple doesn’t even have to actually MAKE a device before the iBots start talking about how everyone is copying them. Amazing! A true advance in the realm of causal logic!
I like this idea ever since the first post last year, can’t wait to see it on sale, and hopefully own one…
Oh hell yeah, I am getting me one and whoever else in my wants one! Thanks guys for making something that myself and many others have been wishing for.
And a blog is getting into the hardware business because?
Can’t wait for the real thing…
Wow. I was one of the doubters. I didn’t think you guys would actually carrry though with this. I honestly thought it was a Arrington ‘hey, this would be awesome’ idea for a day and we’d never hear about it again. Good job. Hope it does well. I officially apologize.
Finally a replacement for my smart display. Can’t wait to turn off my wireless B I maintain just for that device. I think my netbook may be facing early retirement too.
A quick question; what web browser does it run? Safari? Chrome? A super-lightweight FireFox?
Last I heard they used a custom built webkit-based browser
Wow this is completely awesome. I can’t wait until these are going to be “on the shelves.” Especially if it is at the $200 price tag previously leaked, you can sign me up! Would be a great device for on the go, and some serious competition for the Kindle, and Newspaper companies. You could basically use this as a “digital newspaper” to check on all the news sites, social media sites, catch up on your TV shows and podcasts, and more. Wow. Just wow. I cannot wait! :)
I’m in for 1!
Surprised to see the fancy packaging. Its nice and all, but wont it increase costs? I’d say, save fancy packaging for special additions.
I wouldn’t call a cardboard box with a plastic handle and a slab of foam fancy, I’d call it practical. The attention-getting colors are a good thing. This product deserves all the attention it’s going to get.
Do absolutly want. Definitly.
If you’re looking for french translations, you’ve got my e-mail :D
What an Elegant little device! Major kudos to you gents! If you bring this to market they will come. This is exactly what I’m looking for. I’ll definitely get one… or two. Hope there’s plans for a black one! I hope it can run Firefox, I needs me my extensions!
This looks awesome but something tells me all this new tech in it will drive up the price from the initial rumored priced.
wow, looks so much better, I am look forward to this, hopefully its in my price range.