[ANN] The world's first handheld Bitcoin device, the Ellet!

[notme]

no, there is simply not enough to do any kind of speculation.

What about wild speculation?

[Jan]

So can someone list the pros and cons of this device vs bitcoin card? Is there enough information to even compile such a list?

I have seen the bitcoincard, but until both devices are actually in the hands of users I'd be very careful with such comparisons.
As for the interoperability between different devices: I think it is important to keep all devices somehow compatible with Bitcoin itself. As long as each device supports sending and receiving funds to/from an arbitrary Bitcoin address on a standard notebook computer or a smartphone, everything will be fine.

I am also of the opinion that in the end it is about bringing Bitcoin to the users, not some device. It is pretty much the same as with different software clients: I couldn't care less if you're using bitcoin-Qt, Armory, BitcoinSpinner or if you happen to like crafting your own transactions with a pocket calculator

Everything which makes it easier for people to actually use Bitcoin (while staying reasonably secure) is certainly an improvement and I'll happily support every device that helps to achieve this goal!

+1

[bg002h]

Is this device real?

Elletsys.com won't load. Kickstarter finds nothing when searching or Ellet. Anybody know the creators?

Bump. I hope this project is real. Sounds ridiculously cool...but oddly prematurely announced to no apparent advantage to anyone but the competition... [[[[head alloc] init] scratch] harder]

[crazy_rabbit]

Ellet supports encrypted ham radio transactions with the iPhone CONFIRMED!

The iphone gets ham radio? Encrypted no less? Is there some Trucker CB radio app I've never heard about?

Please explain, on the surface that sounds ridiculous.

Not intended to be a factual statement. It is a joke.

Zip! (Over my head). Got it. :-)

[matthewh3]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned but it may be good idea to add a Bitcoincard (http://bitcoincard.org/product/) radio transceiver.  As it may benefit both devices if they could ad-hoc in the same network.

[matthewh3]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned but it may be good idea to add a Bitcoincard (http://bitcoincard.org/product/) radio transceiver.  As it may benefit both devices if they could ad-hoc in the same network.

Maybe if the Ellet has 3G and WiFi then Ellet's could act as a mobile gateway nodes for Bitcoincard's?

[notme]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned but it may be good idea to add a Bitcoincard (http://bitcoincard.org/product/) radio transceiver.  As it may benefit both devices if they could ad-hoc in the same network.

Maybe if the Ellet has 3G and WiFi then Ellet's could act as a mobile gateway nodes for Bitcoincard's?

But then MNW would have to play nice with the bitcoincard guys...

[makomk]

But that is the problem, I've actual photos of Bitcoincards.  Granted, still photos can be faked; but I have nothing at all from you concerning the Ellet.  From my perspectives, it's the Ellet that is vaporware.  At a minimum, the Bitcoincard guys have working test models.  I saw a youtube video of two such cards (sitting less than a foot from each other, mind you) perform a transaction on video.  A transaction that can be verified via the bitcoin blockchain.  If the bitcoincard is vaporware, the fog is getting pretty thick.

You sure about that? As far as I'm aware, all the stuff they've demonstrated so far is entirely technically feasable if a bit tricky. It's actually the claims which they haven't given any demonstration of so far - the solar recharging, the mesh networking, the usability of the cards in areas with no infrastructure - that are implausible. Each of them is a major advance on the state of the art on its own, and combining them is harder yet.

(Not Matthew N. Wright, but this sort of thing stands out like a sore thumb.)

[MoonShadow]

But that is the problem, I've actual photos of Bitcoincards.  Granted, still photos can be faked; but I have nothing at all from you concerning the Ellet.  From my perspectives, it's the Ellet that is vaporware.  At a minimum, the Bitcoincard guys have working test models.  I saw a youtube video of two such cards (sitting less than a foot from each other, mind you) perform a transaction on video.  A transaction that can be verified via the bitcoin blockchain.  If the bitcoincard is vaporware, the fog is getting pretty thick.

You sure about that? As far as I'm aware, all the stuff they've demonstrated so far is entirely technically feasable if a bit tricky. It's actually the claims which they haven't given any demonstration of so far - the solar recharging, the mesh networking, the usability of the cards in areas with no infrastructure - that are implausible. Each of them is a major advance on the state of the art on its own, and combining them is harder yet.

(Not Matthew N. Wright, but this sort of thing stands out like a sore thumb.)

Mesh networking isn't implausible at all, hams do it constantly.  That is exactly what a packet TNC does.  The real question is can they do it in such a small device and with such small power requirements, but 100 meters is nothing for a modern digital mode even at low power levels, so I don't consider that unrealistic either.  In fact, I'm hoping that they are under stating the effective range, because 100 meters isn't practical except in some pretty dense urban areas.  I'd say the bear minimum effective ranges start at 300meters.  And nor is communications sans (commerical) infrastructure implausible, for that is the very nature of mesh networking anyway.

[cbeast]

Yay! It's Next Week! Oh wait, it's now this week. So last week was this week then, but now this week will be last week next week. So which next week will be coming?

[rjk]

Yay! It's Next Week! Oh wait, it's now this week. So last week was this week then, but now this week will be last week next week. So which next week will be coming?

Free fish tomorrow!

[Rarity]

I'd say the bear minimum effective ranges start at 300meters.

No way I'm letting bears smart enough to use bitcoin within 300 meters of me out in the wild.

[norulezapply]

Is this device real?

Elletsys.com won't load. Kickstarter finds nothing when searching or Ellet. Anybody know the creators?

Bump. I hope this project is real. Sounds ridiculously cool...but oddly prematurely announced to no apparent advantage to anyone but the competition... [[[[head alloc] init] scratch] harder]

Eww, is that Objective-C I just read? D:

[John (John K.)]

I sure hope this won't come that slow like the mag did.

[bg002h]

Is this device real?

Elletsys.com won't load. Kickstarter finds nothing when searching or Ellet. Anybody know the creators?

Bump. I hope this project is real. Sounds ridiculously cool...but oddly prematurely announced to no apparent advantage to anyone but the competition... [[[[head alloc] init] scratch] harder]

Eww, is that Objective-C I just read? D:

I'd have typed it in java, but I don't have that kind of time

Seriously though. Why publish so early? To what end? I'm confused.

[Mushroomized]

Too bad this might not be real, i kind of want one

[Matthew N. Wright]

Well it's Saturday here in Korea and my American engineers were having trouble recording a video of the second generation prototype due to their laptop not showing any transactions on the blockchain (even from my client to theirs). Sorry for being so late in the week, but it's still "this week" which is still "next week" a week ago.

Hope to get it all finished today!

Cheers

[terrytibbs]

Well it's Saturday here in Korea and my American engineers were having trouble recording a video of the second generation prototype due to their laptop not showing any transactions on the blockchain (even from my client to theirs). Sorry for being so late in the week, but it's still "this week" which is still "next week" a week ago.

Hope to get it all finished today!

Cheers

[Matthew N. Wright]

UPDATE: The first video release will show the second generation prototype only. We are already working on a third generation but it's not yet ready to the point of being able to put it on video.

Interesting fact: I looked up our feature set of brainstorming and it turns out the next private release of IOS6 beta is planning on using one of the same features I came up with a few weeks ago. That should tell you how much we are ahead of the curve to build some faith

The bad news: I can't show you the 3rd generation prototype.

The good news: The 3rd generation prototype is half the size of the 2nd.

I'll stop teasing and report when my engineer calls me today. Cheers

(Serious note to newbies: You might have noticed some people in this thread are claiming this is vaporware. Please refer to the Bitcoin Magazine threads where the exact same people had said that that was also vaporware (it was published, printed, shipped and delivered starting last month). Then when it was announced that it would be distributed by Barnes & Noble, the same exact people claimed it was a lie (it has been officially approved and will be picked up by Barnes & Noble). So please understand that as the creative lead on this project, I won't be wasting my time answering the baseless accusations, only the actual questions, and only when it's something that won't be in an official press release mere days later. Cheers!)

[LightRider]

Ooh ooh...Cloud Condensor!