Actual Pictures of my CherryPal

A blog reader requested pictures of my CherryPal and here they are, taken with my phone.

You can see the black box it arrived in that has the picture of it on the outside, a close up of the CherryPal sitting on the box, hooked to the monitor and power supply, and the CherryPal sitting on the keyboard so you can see the comparative size of it.

Took my CheryPal out to a cafe!

So I thought it would be interesting to see just how portable this device is. Yes, it is tiny and hand held, but that's before you add the monitor, keyboard and mouse peripherals.

So I loaded everything into my black HBO duffle bag. The keyboard is weightless and it would have fit into a messenger bag if not for the fact that my flat screen monitor is of the desktop variety, and not the smallest, slimmest available.

Cafe Roma is in UC Berkeley territory, and there is a back room where people can sit for hours working, studying, reading, without being disturbed. I have been there for live performances in this back room as well.

So I chose a table next to the wall where there was a 3 prong outlet, necessary for my monitor. Of course the CherryPal requires electricity, but only a 2 prong. (Note to self- place a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter in my bag for future CherryPal outings.)

I felt like a magician pulling out my bag of tricks, wires and peripherals in front of an audience. It is funny that the CherryPal itself is so non-intrusive. I was pleased that I had both a full size keyboard and monitor for much more comfort.

Some places provide the monitor for hooking up your laptop - and so now I have a new opportunity to explore conducive CherryPal locations outside my office.

I did explore the word processing program briefly. I plan to blog directly on location from my CherryPal for future posts!

Received my Username and Password!

Ok - just to manage some expectations here:

There is no huge organization behind the CherryPal from my direct experience.

Max Seybold is answering emails personally and recently said:

"At the Brand Angel party July 3rd I clearly stated that the success of CherryPal's design principles (building the same product, though, lower energy consumption and much cheaper) is much more important to me than the success of CherryPal (the company) itself. Don't get me wrong, I am fully commited to making CherryPal successful.

CherryPal evolved from a project to a company just recently. We are not a multi-billion dollar company. We don't have budget nor desire to put any spin on what's going on. It is what it is."

So, it goes that I received my username and password,
and my 2 colleagues and I are working to get the keyboard, mouse and CherryPal all communicating...

We plug in the username, the password, and a desktop comes up that has icons for
Home, Trash and File System.

:)

Plugged in My CherryPal, and...GNOME?

So I immediately plugged in my CherryPal to the electricity and plugged in my waiting monitor.

On the screen, the CherryPal logo appeared!!!!
Yeah, I'm in now, finally, after all these months -
then I saw a small box appear that said

"GNOME Desktop Manager"

across the top, in a gold color, with the following horizontal menu underneath:

"Session / Language / Actions / Sun, Jan 13 4:21 AM"

(followed by:)
Welcome
_____________________
Username

and box to fill in a username followed by:

Please enter your user name."

I thought that this related to the monitor as it has been around for about 7 years and originally belonged to an HP sys admin who may have swiped it before selling it to me...

So, I went out to Radio Shack with the intention of purchasing a PS/2 Female to USB-A Port Adapter to plug in my keyboard to one of the USB ports. I thought I would need two of them or else a USB mouse, and decided to purchase a cordless keyboard and mouse for $29.00 (Logitech Cordless Desktop EX100).

I put batteries into keyboard and mouse (included in box), plugged in my CherryPal (there is no on or off switch), and voila! CherryPall logo appears on screen and a connection bar (much like sending an email via cell phone) appears - then,

GNOME Desktop Manager...

WTF!

Max had said that there should have been a one page start up sheet included in the box. I did not get anything other than a small tshirt (thank you!) in the box with the cardboard packaging and the foam pocket on the CherryPal unit.

More to come...

CherryPal At My Front Door!!!!

It arrived!  

In a small, black cardboard box with a picture of the CherryPal on the outside.

I'm openning it - It is soooo tiny - like a compact make-up case.

It is even smaller than a paperback book - its the size of a handheld Nintendo GameBoy - the original ones - about the size of the Nintendo DS (dual screen).  If you take a standard 8 1/2 by 11 inch  peice of printer paper and fold it in half, it is smaller than that.

I've plugged in my monitor, which goes directly into the back.  I went to plug in my keyboard, but found I need a USB connector to plug it into the CherryPal...there are 2 USB ports available - which means one for the keyboard and one for the mouse.  It only came with a cord to plug it into the wall.  I'll also need a phone connection, as there is a port for a phone jack.

There is no literature, no user manual, no directions, NADA...

I thought I was prepared with everything I needed, but guess its off to Radio Shack for my USB connector for the keyboard and mouse.

More to come in the new adventures of plugging in my CherryPal!

Announcing Cherrypal C114 - 8GB local FLASH storage

CherryPal™ replaced the C100 with the 8GB SSD C114

- still the same price!!!

CherryPal™ C114

The CherryPal™ C114 desktop is about the size of a paperback book, but has the performance you would expect from a full-size desktop computer. Freescale's fast triple-core mobileGT processor delivers exceptional multimedia performance and feature-rich user interfaces, while only consuming as much power as a clock radio. CherryPal uses 80 percent fewer components than a traditional PC, and because it has no moving parts, it operates without making a sound and will last 10 years or more.

Specifications:

-Freescale’s MPC5121e mobileGT processor, 800 MIPS (400 MHz)
of processing
-256 MB of DDR2 DRAM
-8GB NAND Flash-based solid state drive (increased from 4GB
C100)
-WiFi 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
-Two USB2.0 ports
-One 10/100 Ethernet with RJ-45 jack
-One VGA DB-15 display out jack
-Headphone level stereo audio out 3.5mm jack
-9vDC 2.5mm 10 watt AC-DC adapt er power supply
-Weighs 10 ounces
-1.3” high, 5.8” x 4.2” wide

From Max Seybold, CEO, Cherr ypal

"The first CherryPals will get shipped on US election day, November 4th, guaranteed. We were able to upgrade the C100 to the

C114 for the same low price. We increased the local Solid State Disk Drive from 4GB to 8GB and slightly changed the casing, lighter and slimmer, very cool. I am sure you will like it. So, the store is open again with guaranteed shipment 11/4/2008, guaranteed."

1. Order directly at http://cherrypal.com/SHOP.html:

for $249.00 plus shipping. Shipping begins on November 4, 2008.

2. For $10 off, use the coupon code CPP206:
You will be asked to enter the coupon CODE at the Google Checkout site. ENTER CPP206
YOU MUST ENTER THE CODE CPP206 IN ORDER TO GET TEN (10) DOLLARS OFF!
You will be notified when your new CherryPal has shipped.

3. Please come back to http://cherrypal.blogspot.com to share your comments about your experience of purchasing, receiving, using and being a CherryPal!

CherryPal will start shipping the C114 (read that as C-eleven-four) on US Election Day, Tuesday November 4th, 2008. We all hope this day will change the world for the better.

All open and future orders will get an automatic upgrade
to the C114 - same low price of $249.00 but with 8GB
(C100 4GM) local FLASH storage.

Use Code CPP 206 for $10 off

CherryPal will start shipping the C114 (read eleven, four) on US
Election Day, Tuesday November 4th, 2008.CherryPal is accepting orders again, shipment on 11/4 guaranteed!!!

We all hope this day will change the world for the better.

CherryPal thanks you for your interest in green/open/fair personal
cloud computing.

For international buyers: The C114 comes with US power
adaptor 110V to 240V.

From cherrypal.com:
CherryPal HyperCloud™ Technology

CherryPal is the only company that provides a patent-
pending combination of both hardware and software
encryption, making it highly secure. The CherryPal also
offers a patent-pending single software layer technology.
This collapses the operating system and browser into
one layer, where there had traditionally been three
separate layers. It makes the computer exponentially
faster and virtually eliminates any risk of bugs or viruses
for the user.

Why being in a "CLOUD" is a good thing...

The CherryPalCloud™ Innovation

CherryPal has removed the hassle from personal
computing by moving most of the software and data that
traditionally sits on the desktop to the Internet. Instead of
accessing programs and data from your desktop
computer, the majority of information is processed and
stored on the web in a highly secure environment called
the CherryPalCloud™, which is automatically accessed
at boot-up. The CherryPalCloud removes many of the
headaches typically associated with traditional personal
computers, including:

* application downloads, software upgrades and
crashing operating systems, because everything is
maintained in the CherryPalCloud by CherryPal
administrators

* viruses and hackers, because the user’s hardware
is no longer exposed to local bugs and viruses

* lag time, because the majority of cumbersome
software applications are stored in the CherryPalCloud,
the computer operates just as fast – if not faster – than a
traditional PC.

Portable TVs To Be Left Behind in Signal Switch

By David Lieberman 



October 10, 2008 7:16AM 

Many electronics manufacturers find themselves waiting to reach an agreement with broadcasters on a technology standard for a new generation of energy-efficient mobile televisions that could work in cell phones, iPod-like portable players and PDAs. Broadcasters would then transmit a separate signal to these devices. 

In an era of dazzling battery-powered portable devices including iPods, computers and cellphones, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be unable to catch the news and entertainment anytime and anywhere we want. But millions of people who own portable televisions, including those who depend on them when they flee their homes or lose power during hurricanes and other emergencies, may soon return to the dark ages. Virtually all of the nation’s 7 million battery-powered TVs receive analog signals. They’ll become useless after Feb. 17, when broadcasters must abandon analog and just transmit digital signals — unless the sets are connected to digital-to-analog converter boxes. 

The problem is, the vast majority of converters must be plugged into the wall. That makes them unreliable in an emergency. 

“Unfortunately, a lot of well-intentioned policymakers found out after the ink was dry that there were more (portable) devices and households affected” than they imagined, says Richard Doherty of The Envisioneering Group, a research and consulting firm. 

That’s a “great irony” in the federally mandated move to digital TV, says Shannon Dunham, a communications specialist at law firm Sherman & Howard. Although the government “intended to reclaim the (analog) bandwidth for emergency use” — including police, fire and medical communications– “in the end, they’re going to affect people who get emergency information” from portable TVs. Radios equipped to pick up audio from local TV broadcasts also will lose those analog signals. The Red Cross says that it’s not worried. 

“More people tend to listen to radio (stations) than watch TV in a disaster,” spokesman Jonathan Aiken says. Looking for Local News But many local disaster officials are apprehensive about the loss of portable TV at a time when lots of chain-owned radio stations have cut back on local news. “It is absolutely a concern of ours,” says Veronica Mosgrove, a spokeswoman for…

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Portable TVs To Be Left Behind in Signal Switch

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© 2008 USA TODAY. All rights reserved.

© 2008 Mobile Tech Today. All rights reserved.

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