Bug Labs fleshes out BUGbase, BUGmodule details

Bug Labs just threw the door wide open on its website, and is finally hitting us with the nitty gritty on its open source hardware modules. There are too many details to get into, but the BUGbase "foundation" module is boasting an ARM1136JF-S processor, 128MB of RAM, 802.11b/g WiFi, USB, Ethernet and a small LCD with button controls. There are four connectors on the BUGbase to plug into other modules, and plenty of support for cameras, networking, displays and the like. So far the confirmed modules include GPS, camera, touchscreen LCD and an accelerometer, while under "coming soon" we've got features like a double-width touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, audio speaker and mini jacks, and of course the all-important "teleporter" module. Bug Labs is still on the hunt for beta testers, so if you're not afraid of getting your hands dirty with an SDK and some halfway-there-hardware, be sure to hit 'em up.

[Todd @ Aug 28th 2007 2:02PM]

Hmmmmmm..."teleporter". I may need that once I unlock my iPhone. It'll help me stay one step ahead of the Death Star stormtroopers.

"...these are the plans to unlock the iPhone. Help me Obi Wan Kanobi...you're our only hope..."

[sr1329 @ Aug 28th 2007 2:02PM]

Wow! This sounds really cool. They should add a GSM phone module or HSDPA also.

[tso @ Aug 29th 2007 7:13AM]

i would not be surprised if it shows up.

but the base got wifi under the hood, so skype and similar should be available almost from day one imo.

[James @ Aug 29th 2007 10:48AM]

I see a number of people that use GSM modules in projects -- where do you get the service from? Obviously you don't want to use a SIM that's under contract... is there any prepay in the US that's a good deal for this sort of thing? Presumably you're going to be using data or text messaging instead of voice, and most prepay plans I look at don't discuss the rates for those (at least, not in a prominent place).

[sr1329 @ Aug 29th 2007 11:33AM]

Why not use a regular SIM? I have data plan attached to it. Even if you wanted to go prepaid you can get Medianet unlimited data on Cingular with prepaid these days.

[James @ Aug 29th 2007 11:40AM]

I would not go with a regular SIM because I would like to be able to create e.g. a remote burglar alarm without paying for (and getting a contract for) another "real" cell phone. That is, I'm not talking about using the SIM from my personal day-to-day cell phone to experiment with some fun little project, I'm talking about making a device that I'd like to leave on all the time. I want a SIM that gives me the best value when I use it to transmit at most a few KB of data per day, no voice, etc. Even if I added another line to my family plan for 10 bucks (plus, in my case, $6 or more per line for data), I think that's a contract extension, and if I decide I don't need it anymore after a few months, tough luck for me.

Ideally, I'd like to buy a 30-50 dollar prepaid mobile card, which is good for at least a couple of months (forever would be better), and be charged X cents per KB of data I transmit with it (where X, hopefully, would be ~3 or less). I haven't found that yet, because nobody's pay-as-you-go plan page ever ever effing ever talks about data rates (or if you can even do data at all).

[johnzilla @ Aug 28th 2007 2:10PM]

I've been waiting for this like crazy. I really want to try a webcam+touchscreen variant for home automation and security.

[dj-kenpo @ Aug 28th 2007 4:19PM]

all I can hear is "is that a 1/15th scale madcat mech?" "ya I think it is, I hope it doesn't have bottle rockets in those launchers". ahhh hahha.

the hardware doesn't look all that amazing compared to other mini linux paltforms, but the sdk+emulator look great

[Adam @ Aug 29th 2007 12:29PM]

I'm still supremely skeptical of BUG, based on what I've seen so far. They're targeting an odd niche - people who want more than Lego Mindstorms but aren't motivated to learn to build their own hardware. But it's definitely not for the casual hobbyist, which is what the blogs keep touting it as, unless the casual hobbyist also knows Java.

And there are already several communities around open source hardware development (like Arduino) which support any component you can throw at them. I suspect the BUG hardware won't be cheap, since it will essentially be those components packaged into snap-together casings.

The SDK looks like a modified version of Eclipse, so maybe they're trying to lure software developers into doing hardware dev? I really want to know from the BUG folks who they're targeting, because it looks like a niche geek product to me that will only further fragment the indie hardware development that's been blossoming recently.