Bug Labs BUGbase and BUGmodules hands-on
By Ryan Block 
posted November 1st 2007 7:16PM
posted November 1st 2007 7:16PM
- The BUGbase uses a bus with four module slots. Each module has a base size of 2 x 2-inches (meaning the BUGbase itself is ~4 x 2-inches).
- Multiple BUGbases can be physically conjoined and communicate wirelessly for greater than four simultaneous devices, but there is no system for bus expansion of a single BUGbase.
- While it can charge via USB, there's also a backup power input should you use the USB for an external peripheral.
- Bug settled on MMCmicro instead of microSD because it's open source. We're torn about this one. We get it, but really, who the hell has any MMCmicro cards laying around?
- Yeah, that's a standard camera mount you see on the side. Nice addition.
- The modules we looked at included a display, GPS receiver, motion detector, digital camera, and 3G radio. Obviously those are just a few listed on the site.
- The LCD module apparently uses the exact same QVGA LCD panel as the iPod classic. If that matters at all to you.
- The module plastics are colored according to purpose: input, output, or input-output. For example, the light blue modules are output only (like the 3G module above); dark blue modules are input-output (like a touchscreen), while white modules are input only (GPS receiver, etc.).
- Yeah, they made a Hiro Protagonist reference.
- Still no price / exact launch details, but we're obviously getting close.
"Each module has a base size of 2 x 2-inches (meaning the BUGbase itself is ~4 x 2-inches)."
Wouldn't that be 4 x 2 inches?
Damn, even I got it wrong. I meant to say Wouldn't that be 8 x 2 inches?
Each module is 2 x 2, and it's two modules next to each other, two modules per side. That's 4 x 2-inches, double-sided.
The Deliverator would not be caught dead with such an fugly item in his possession...
Meh.
What the hell is this?
A modular failure.
A modular failure, FTW!
yes what the hell is this thing?
1) This thing is cool, and I want one.
2) That said the average consumer is not going to want a square, bulky, mismatched thing such as this.
3) It would make a good learning tool for mobile programmers.
It's like... computer Lego. I like it.
Cool! I'd buy one.
1 x EVDO module
1 x battery module
1 x double sized module for 2.5" hdd
Assuming the built-in wifi can act as an access point, or there's a bluetooth module (in the EVDO module, or in the base unit) so I can do bluetooth DUN and bluetooth FTP.
Put it in my backpack or briefcase, and I've got a portable access point for my Nokia N800 or Nokia N810.
It might also be good to have a module for an express card slot and/or PCMCIA/PC-card slot, if it has drivers for the various cards that Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-mobile sell.
wow, I dreamed about exactly this just over a year ago (http://wiki.zooid.org/wiki/An_ideal_gadget) and here it is. I need to read up on it, hopefully it is using standard buses (eg usb), then there can be a nice market of cross vendor gadget components. It will be a while though, and size will always be an issue compared to integrated devices.
This is definitely an idea that will not go mainstream but I could see it becoming a Geeky status symbol; a way for the geek (i.e. me) to express himself. "EVDO, eh? I went for the WiMAX myself..."
This is a major step forward and I can't wait to get mine (since I'm a student that'll probably be a few years).
I think this is cool as hell...with some time and programming skills you could do all kinds of fun things with something like this. User imagination and customization needs to be included in more gadgets and tools...geeky or not, wasting countless hours on something like this would keep me out of the trouble I generally cause myself
Something like this would be an awesome educational tool for schools if they were set up right too.
man, this was my concept and they beat me to it... i know you'll say this has been around for a while now, but trust me i really did think of it before they did...
oh well
this is a reminder to everyone, don't procrastinate..
I thought of the internet way before they did.
wouldnt a touchscreen output visual data?
Touchscreen is I/O. Oh, wait, were you joking?
Seriously, I want one of these, or two. Fun, useful and educational. I'm on the mailing list but somehow missed recent announcements.
This is trick.
duh nevermind... my brain is not outputing.
the braille is a cool touch but overall this unit looks a little hodg-podge...
i want a razor and tooth brush module, a motion sensing module would be nice too
This is similar to products already out there. What about the Virtual Cogs (http://www.virtualcogs.com/) that have been on the market for >1yr already?
From what i can tell the cog's dont come with a housing, the bug does. Imo thats a plus on the bug's side.
Hi Turn_self_off, not entirely true.
Have a look at their portable computing COG. It has a nice enclosure to go with it. http://www.virtualcogs.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=59 -- I think the key advantage here is that you can stack pretty much as much as you want on these, rather than limited to the 4 devices of Bugs.
Anyways, its hard for any of us to comment right now because we haven't seen the BugLabs stuff in person yet. Ill likely pick one up to play with regardless...
my impression was that one could connect multiple bugbases together to form larger devices. also, there is this:
http://www.buglabs.net/images/press/community_apps_med.jpg
i suspect that the 4+base is just the start.
and yes, i see the enclosure entry. looks like i missed it on first pass. still, i cant really make heads or tails of the image that accompanies it.
The point of Bug Labs is more of a development tool/platform - but for hardware - not ultimately meant to be widespread end-user devices - the idea is to let technical people build innovative hardware faster by combining some of their own custom work with other pre-existing modules in interesting and non-obvious ways - just as happens with web development these days. The best combinations could then be distilled down into a non-modular refined version for end users. That's a pretty big idea!
-Mathew Johnson
http://www.blist.com/
If you are looking to develop software for the BUG then join www.bugmodules.co.uk