How it works

The device

It boots into a clock. One press of the knob opens the menu: Games, Alarms, Settings, and the Pet. Every list works the same way: turn to move, press to choose, long press to go back, hold to return to the clock. The two buttons do the same jobs for small hands.

Parents

The first time it starts, a short setup lets a parent pick a PIN, set the clock, decide about WiFi, and choose which games are on. After that, the Parent controls can switch any game on or off.

Getting a new game

A parent allows installing in Parent controls (it is off by default, and every install asks for the PIN).
Pick an app in the store and get an install code, shaped like XXXX-XXXX-C.
On the device choose Install an app and type the code with the knob, or open the device's page on your phone and type it there.
The device downloads the app over WiFi, checks that it is genuine, and WiFi goes back off.

A code works for one device. It can be given as a gift before it is used.

The store and the build site are being built. This page describes the plan; nothing here is on sale yet.

Making games

The build site will let kids snap blocks together, draw pixel pictures, compose short tunes, and test the game in the browser. Games can be shared with friends in a testing mode; a game only appears publicly after a person reviews it.