Recipes? What does it have to browse recipes on without a web browser?

I'd want it for that feature too, but I really need Google to find the broad range of cooking I do.

jantezana wrote:I bought one last time it was on Woot and I can say that it really is an awesome device. For the price you pay you really get so much. It's in my kitchen now and we use it for weather, quick search for YouTube videos, recipes, calendar, Pandora, news, and even netflix or amazon.

I know people will say, "well you can do that with an iPad", well this device doesn't cost $500. And for what I use it for, it does just the trick.

It's a great gift too. I'm thinking about getting it for my niece who's graduating High School and will need multiuse devices in college.

Good Luck

As a gadget sitting on my desk, it's fine. But more than that...it's too limited. I got it because I like to check the weather, the woot of the day (which is now a sony dash app) and a few RSS feeds...its too limiited for more than that.

it 50-50 as to whether the software update will work. There are a lot of updates and sometimes the devices loads the new software, and sometimes it reezes and has to be hard reset many times...you just never know if the update will work.

does anyone know if this still comes with hulu plus or if it is available as an app?

I am wanting to look and post to facebook and read and write emails on gmail. Is this a read only or can you comment as well?

schni wrote:Me too, but I think it's great as an Internet radio, while cycling through video streams from webcams around the world (ChumbySpy.)

I suppose if you've got a very limited number of preferred stations, entering them manually on the clumsy onscreen keyboard, once, isn't too bad. But I'm accustomed to the Public Radio and WunderRadio iphone apps, which give you extensive station directories and even let you browse by what program is presently being aired. There's nothing like this available for the dash. Similarly priced internet radios do have this functionality, as well as clocks and better speakers.

alexct wrote:I read someone's review on newegg complaining that the device does not have a screensaver and there's no way of blanking out the screen short of turning it off. Is this true? For me, having a source of light in my room while trying to fall asleep would be a deal breaker.

Not true. There is at least one clock widget that allows you to put it into "Power Save" mode which blanks out the screen entirely.

ohnomoment wrote:Just one more gadget to get our minds off the tedious task of driving.

You have a 110v outlet in your car? And a mobile WiFi network?

I guess a 12V DC to AC inverter and some tethered 3G/4G to WiFi device might work to support an in-car Dash, but it seems like a lot of work when an iPad or and Android tablet might suffice.

TheGrandWooterian wrote:Can I watch free HULU???

I want something that can do what my iPad can't!

Unless the iPad can do Hulu Plus, the Dash can still do something the Apple device can't.

I agree that no free Hulu sucks, but I can understand them making a business decision to restrict it from another set of freeloaders (like me) who aren't helping them pay their electrical bills and licensing fees.

gantt wrote:If you want a browser in a Chumby-based device, someone has hacked on together for the Infocast.

True, but I don't think the Dash is hackable in the way that the Chumby and Infocast are....

Wife just broke her Oregon Scientific ceiling-projecting, atomic-clock radio-linking alarm with one too many drops on the floor.

She's like that. We'll see how many trips to the floor this alarm clock can take.

It does look cool, and I like that you can turn off the alarm by tipping it onto its back.

Lots of people love it, and we have accounts for Netflix and Hulu Plus, Pandora and the rest. We'll see if it's as good a bedside tv machine as people say.

shekariyer wrote:I am planning to buy 2; one for bedroom and one for kitchen. Is it possible to configure both using the same sony account? It would be great if all the settings were same/similar on both the devices.

Yes. You have to associate both devices to the same username.

Woot just Tweeted that this thing has "WiDi!" I don't know what that is but I want it!

https://twitter.com/#!/woot/status/71802400922533888

ugh... missed it... anyone want to sell theirs?

Don't know if u will actually GET THIS but it sounds like u got the similar shaft that I received...my Dash came and everything seemed great until it booted up and said "needs software update...NO UPDATES AVAILABLE!". Being somewhat computer-illiterate, WHAT DO I DO?? Heeeelp!?!?

Plz and Thanks?! Hehehe...
Eric




Here's a way to think about this product: It's a great, slick-looking alarm clock that comes with a few built in special features (Pandora, Netflix, Amazon VOD, digital picture viewer) and can also be enhanced with downloaded free "apps" from the Chumby community. (The literature calls the special features "apps" as well, but that just leads to confusion since they are accessed through the user interface
I'd rate those three features: Alarm clock: A-, Special Features: A-, Apps: C-. The alarm clock is capable, but suffers from a needlessly complicated interface. The core special features are solid; the problem is that they're surrounded and vastly outnumbered by *numerous* ones that are lousy but which cannot be deleted, nor can their order of appearance be changed (e.g. some kind of app for the movie "SALT" - I think it just plays a trailer or something, but it will always be there unless a software update removes it). As far as the apps: the VAST majority of the Chumby apps are barely useful or entertaining at best, and totally broken at worst. For example, RSS reading apps nearly always cut off the posts they show (you only get the first few sentences) and the link to "read the rest" doesn't work, so it's simply a tease. Most useful are a handful of news headlines streamers and some cooking/recipe-of-the-day apps.

Also important: the Woot write-up of this product on 4/11/2011 stated "... around Mother’s Day there’s going to be a new web browser app so I can surf the web and even set up my Dash without a PC." Mother's Day has come and gone and, to my knowledge, that app does not yet exist. Woot, you have been called out.

Finally: the Dash is pictured in many places, including on its own packaging, running a slick looking "GMail" app. An app that looks like that DOES NOT EXIST. There IS a GMail app, but it's a severely limited, ugly looking thing that doesn't at all resemble what's pictured. It's more like viewing your e-mail in DOS, without the ability to do anything but read or delete.

All that being said, I still think this is a solid device with useful features and a slick look at this price. But much more is promised than is actually delivered.[/quote]

fxfuji wrote:True, but I don't think the Dash is hackable in the way that the Chumby and Infocast are....

Which is why I said, "for the Infocast." RIF.

I saw these today at my local Sam's Club for $136. It actually looked pretty nice. Made me glad I Wooted one, even if it is just a jazzed up alarm clock. I needed an alarm clock anyway and a jazzed up to is always better than a plain one.

Hi all - I bought one hoping it can sit in the kitchen...play pandora or some internet music. Stream Netfilx. I'm not toooo tech wise?

do you need to pay to get Developer API?

fxfuji wrote:You have a 110v outlet in your car? And a mobile WiFi network?

I guess a 12V DC to AC inverter and some tethered 3G/4G to WiFi device might work to support an in-car Dash, but it seems like a lot of work when an iPad or and Android tablet might suffice.

Not that I would use it in the car but yes, my car has a 110 volt outlet and my android phone works just fine as a hot spot so it is pretty simple should I choose to.

RetiredGuru wrote:Seems like an expensive alarm clock, and I really don't see other good uses!

I see this as an internet radio. Much cheaper than Logitech Squeezebox. With the added benefit of watching netflix/Amazon Video on demand/Youtube.

I have Chumby powered devices all over the house and I love them. Originally set out to buy an internet radio and ran across these devices while shopping and bought one just to see if it could do what i wanted and it did, and a whole lot more. As long as you understand its limitations and don't mind a little setup its a lot of fun and a very useful tool. This will be my first Sony Dash but as long as it does what my others do with the addition of Netflix I will be one happy wooter.

SO if i get this thing set up, plugged in, and ready to go...can I just unplug it and replug it in anywhere in the house and it's set and ready (or do i need to re-enter information)?

sprkmaker wrote:SO if i get this thing set up, plugged in, and ready to go...can I just unplug it and replug it in anywhere in the house and it's set and ready (or do i need to re-enter information)?

Yes you can, it pulls your information from the network at boot time.

Um shil date? Mine still is not showing as having moved??

darlingone wrote:Um shil date? Mine still is not showing as having moved??

Wait 5 business days, then ask again.

never mind, I answered my question.

I am able to track by reference now. Says they should ship today. Woot.

Got Fedex tracking number. Hopefully will receive by next Wed

hooked up and running - so far, the thing is AWESOME!!! I was worried when I saw it needed an update, which took 30 minutes, but since then it's blown me away. Way better than i could have ever expected. Sometimes the buttons are a bit delayed, but the screen has a great touch sensor in general...typing is a breeze.

So far, super pumped for this purchase.

Awesome device... My dream of internet radio has been realized!!! Good I got two.

Video thru Youtube and Netflix is super. You can run your youtube playlists.

It prompted for an update after using the device for 30 mins. The update took 3 mins though it says 30 mins. I think the Screen has better response after the update.

jamesbottomtooth wrote:do you need to pay to get Developer API?

Nope, they do not charge and do encourage development.

But API in that sense may be a little misleading.

I don't think sony is accepting any modification to core functionality.

What they do allow is submission of the SWF's for either private release or mainstream adoption.

From the dash.sonydeveloper.com site:
"Interested in dash development?

Dash apps are based on Adobe Flash ActionScript 2.0. The Adobe Flash development tools make it simple and easy for almost anyone to create apps that run on the dash. For more information about Adobe Flash Professional, visit the Adobe.com website."

now if you go here: https://dash.sonydeveloper.com/common/pages/documents/view/?id=dashdocs

there are some developer documents

Received my Dash today - liking it so far. I will like it better when I get the netflix app working! Any help? I put the rss in but it says netflix data unavailable...help!!!

Also - I would have liked more radio apps - nto just those that personalize.

Lastly - I thought I read Hulu is available but I do not see it on the site where u manage channels.

Thanks all.

Ok-I found Netflix - woot! Alo found Hulu - woot again! I'm liking my new little device! Thanks...

The rss feeds are just for updates and info from you netflix account - to watch movies you have to download a new app for netflix...you'll need to get a registration code from online to do it. It should have instructions for setting up once you get the app going.

winnielou wrote:Received my Dash today - liking it so far. I will like it better when I get the netflix app working! Any help? I put the rss in but it says netflix data unavailable...help!!!

Also - I would have liked more radio apps - nto just those that personalize.

Lastly - I thought I read Hulu is available but I do not see it on the site where u manage channels.

Thanks all.

Anyone set up Pandora for your wake up alarm? I set it, and it comes on and works fine, but when I hit the snooze button, it does not turn the music off. It only ends pandora when I end the alarm completely.

Has anyone else had this problem or know how to fix it?

Mine came today. I like it a lot. when I first hooked it up I thought it was broken because the screen kept flipping over. then I figured out it's supposed to do that. the touch screen also didn't seem to work very well until it completed the update. Now all is well. I need to add some radio stations and set up a few more things, but Pandora works great and the streaming Netflix works well, though I doubt I'll watch that many small screen movies. they look nice though.

sprkmaker wrote:Anyone set up Pandora for your wake up alarm? I set it, and it comes on and works fine, but when I hit the snooze button, it does not turn the music off. It only ends pandora when I end the alarm completely.

Has anyone else had this problem or know how to fix it?

A quick look in the Dash forums reveals this is a problem Sony knows about, and plans on fixing the next firmware update.

https://forum.sel.sony.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=8871

(though that response was a month ago... so who knows when the update will happen)

sprkmaker wrote:hooked up and running - so far, the thing is AWESOME!!! I was worried when I saw it needed an update, which took 30 minutes, but since then it's blown me away. Way better than i could have ever expected. Sometimes the buttons are a bit delayed, but the screen has a great touch sensor in general...typing is a breeze.

So far, super pumped for this purchase.

Mine said it needed an update after I had registered it. I went ahead and let the update run for a good hour (I had it setup @ home on the wireless network here) while I was out running errands. Came back and it still said "updating". Watched TV for another 30 minutes (The WLAN was active all this time as I had a program downloading on my computer via wireless while this was going on and it completed in that timeframe), came back, and it was still stuck at Updating. I decided to unplug it and update it manually. It got stuck on the Sony logo (couldn't even get to the special options menu). I called Sony and they said I'm going to have to ship it to them and have them fix it.

Sigh, this could've been avoided with two minor adjustments:

1) A physical factory reset button
2) A progress meter on the update

Ok this picture pretty much sealed the deal for me buying this thing:
http://tom2network.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Sony-Dash.jpg
However I have been unable to replicate this, anyone know if it's possible?