<div><img class="caption" src="images/stories/crunchpad.png" border="0" alt="CrunchPad technology" title="CrunchPad technology" align="right" />Its time for an update on the progress we have made on the low cost touch screen tablet that I first wrote about in July 2008 when I asked for a dead simple touch screen web tablet that boots right to the browser. Heres our first post on the tablet, which were now calling the CrunchPad internally.</div>
<p align="justify">The idea is to get a new type of device into peoples hands for as cheap as possible (we were aiming for $200, it looks like $299 is more realistic). It fits perfectly on your lap while you are sitting in front of the TV, so you can look up stuff on Wikipedia or IMDB as you channel surf. It plays Flash video flawlessly so you can watch movies and TV shows on Hulu or Joost or wherever. Or listen to music on MySpace Music. Or use TokBox to have a video chat with your parents. Then check email and call it a day. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Hulu, Wikipedia, Google Docs and Gmail are the killer apps for this device.</p>
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<p align="justify">Because the device skips the resource-sucking parts of the operating system and focuses on one application - the browser - very low end hardware can be used and still give users a desktop-like Internet browsing experience.</p>
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<p align="justify">We built a working but very humble Phototype A in August. It barely booted, but once it did it was a working touch screen web tablet built on very low end hardware. And when I surfed the web with it, I knew I wanted one that worked properly.</p>
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<p align="justify">Since August a lot has happened. First, we now have a team lead - Louis Manier. Louis, formerly the founder/CTO of AltaVista (he is credited with building one of the first Internet search engines), has also spent time at eBay (head of the Advanced Technology Group), Google and Cuil. Louis left Cuil in the Fall and has been spending his spare time working with outside teams to build the new prototype. Hes in love with the project, and were lucky to get his time.</p>
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<p align="justify">Second, weve completed Prototype B of the CrunchPad and are ready to show it to you. I include pictures and video to show it in action.</p>
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