Bug Labs sells-out of initial inventory, founder pumped

The whole claim of a product sell-out is a bit dubious without any numbers to back up the boast. Was it 100 or 100,000 units sold? Nevertheless, Bug Labs has depleted its initial stock of Bugs. Those of you looking to get your hands on the open-source, modular hardware platform will have to wait until the next shipment in May. While most of the purchases went the way of tinkerers, about a third of the devices were surprisingly scooped up by corporations looking at Bug to possibly replace expensive, custom devices. At least that's how Bug Labs' founder, Peter Semmelhack spins it. Could be, or perhaps it's just the same compelling curiosity we all feel about Bug with a desire (read: R&D budget) to keep abreast of industry change? Regardless, good on ya Pete.

[roflercopterer @ Mar 27th 2008 3:22AM]

I still haven't wrapped my brain around the significance of this thing. What is the potential here?

[john @ Mar 27th 2008 3:48AM]

Build your own PDA/mobile-computing-device, with expandable modules so it has exactly the features you need, and none of the features you don't. All based on an open OS instead of Windows. It's an all around no-lose situation.

What's not to understand?

[zaxconsulting @ Mar 27th 2008 4:10AM]

@ john: Well said.

@ roflercopterer: Think of Android except both the software and the hardware are fully open to customization and sweet, sweet hackery i.e. HTC getting caught red-handed over the display driver issue won't be a problem anymore if Bug takes off like everyone hopes they'll be able to.

Between Bug, the OHA, the spectrum auction, and Verizon's recent pledge to open up their network (jury is still out with them, as far as I'm concerned), the pieces of the puzzle seriously seem to be coming together. I'm going to continue to dream that before long, it'll be the provider/OEM having to make the compromises as opposed to the customer.

[Firebird @ Mar 27th 2008 4:03AM]

Well, I know what it *is* but I have yet to figure out what it is good for. I admit that being able to essentially build a gadget to your specs on your terms with a nice open source os is nice, but considering the size, price, and limited uses of the components being offered I can't figure out what the use for it is other than 'toy'. Not that it being a toy is a bad thing, but, eh... I dunno guys, I'm not sold at this stage.

[nDee @ Mar 27th 2008 5:01AM]

For that price you can get all those feature-packed devices that are in fact packed.
Those who are interested in engineering phones should go and apply for jobs from NOKIA instead of buy a stupid ugly phone and bring another phone out
(I am quite sure not much people would like to bring that brick out, even 1100 looked better than that)

[G_White @ Mar 27th 2008 8:09AM]

Wow nDee, guess you don't like to tinker. Why so much hate for an innovative idea?

[Dubb @ Mar 27th 2008 9:25AM]

From what I know it does a lot more things then just a PDA/Mobile phone. From what I've seen there are "shells" and then there is a programmable "core". The "core" holds all your music, contacts, OS, and other Software.

You then buy a phone "shell" if you need a phone, a car stereo "shell" if you want you play your music in the car (with the ability to use a hands free bluetooth device to take calls), a MP3 Player shell, and some other things that I can't remember off hand.

[OneLove @ Mar 27th 2008 10:40AM]

build your own I.E.D

[UKNigel @ Mar 27th 2008 11:26AM]

Basically it's like Lego, but not as much fun.

[Joe @ Mar 27th 2008 3:41PM]

Mostly useful for prototyping I think ...

[john @ Mar 27th 2008 3:46AM]

Great! Are they going to move forward on the WWAN modules now? (there had been speculation that they were going to do an EVDO module; I'm thinking they should try an UMTS/HSPA module as well)

[supermeerkat @ Mar 27th 2008 4:58AM]

WANT ONE!

[Casassovici @ Mar 27th 2008 5:02AM]

Or you can just head over to www.gumstix.com who have been providing even better hardware for year at a smaller price ...

[John Stracke @ Mar 27th 2008 6:13PM]

My impression is that Bug Labs has modules designed to be more plug-and-play. Gumstix is nice, but they seem to assume that most of their customers will be comfortable soldering their devices.

(Although I haven't looked at them in about 6 months; maybe they've changed.)

[Cassini @ Mar 27th 2008 5:35AM]

Oh my word. Wow. You have GOT to be kidding me? Now THIS is funny. Someone is ACTUALLY building this. I remember suggesting YEARS ago on a mobile-tech forum, that some company should step up to the plate and offer this: Building a mobile device with hardware features based on the desires of the individual - like slapping Legos together - assembled from a variety of components. "You want a camera? Slap it in. You want a keyboard? Plug that in. You want the mobile phone I have with the exact same components/features but withOUT the camera? No problem!" And so on.

This would radically change, in a variety of ways, how mobile devices are made available to the public. Individually upgradeable components, customized hardware catered to the individual, all built upon a core base and a set of hardware interface standards. Mobile devices could be built as simple or as sophisticated as a person would want them to be. Upgrades could and would be made available much faster and more often.

I'd love to be able to plug in a new screen, a new camera, a new processor, new radios, a new keyboard, additional and/or faster memory, etc., all independent of each other; and build a phone according to what I desire, then upgrade it as often as new components are made available. This is a mobile-hardware geek's dream.

Back then I thought, "We have configurators for desktops and laptops, why not for mobile devices?"

And here we are. Hmmm... Maybe I should've patented this idea, LOL.

This is exciting. I'm looking forward to what the future has in store. Thankfully, someone with the same vision - and who actually had the means to make it happen - stepped up. Great job, Bug Labs. This is the type of innovation that truly changes the landscape of technology.

[giuliop @ Mar 27th 2008 6:37AM]

"This is a mobile-hardware geek's dream."

Ah, and that's the problem. You nailed it down: it's a geek dream. And geeks represent only a small fraction of the mobile phone user base. The other 99% (yes, it's that high) aren't geeks. A lot of them have problems even with the simplest functions besides calling a number; and the others could not be bothered and/or could not understand this thing.
"What parts should I buy?" "Is that compatible with this?" "But this one has it all and costs less!".
It's not a bad idea per se, but I'm afraid it has no future.

[Cassini @ Mar 27th 2008 9:57AM]

"...but I'm afraid it has no future."


I have to completely disagree with you there. Sophisticated phones started out as geek's dreams, and after years, have finally morphed into the iPhone. Now "everyone" has one.

I said it was a geek's dream because more often than not, we're the ones who always want to push the envelope and can see ahead in regards to how something could benefit so many. With that in mind, the point is that this concept isn't just for geeks. This is just the beginning. Providing that the industry will give this thing a chance, this will be developed into something that everyone will eventually see the advantage of.

Think of desktops and laptops. Imagine if you couldn't choose your components. One size fits all, so to speak. Of course, there are always some limitations, as with all things, but thankfully, we can, for the most part, choose to make them what we want. One day, I believe, mobile phones will be adopt this design model. And what Bug Labs is showing is that we're on our way.

It'll take a while, but give this three to five years and if it hasn't been killed off by men with little to no vision, I'll bet this model will be the norm. It would certainly open up an amazing array of possibilities.

[Cassini @ Mar 27th 2008 10:01AM]

Oh, and keep in mind that I'm not suggesting that the average consumer will or should code for their own device. I'm saying that this concept in many ways is still in its infancy and has a LOT more needed development before it's ready and easy enough to use, and marketed and sold to "Joe Consumer".

[rootie @ Mar 27th 2008 6:21AM]

So Bug Labs and Modu are direct competitors? Modu doesn't have any units out yet, I understand? But in any case, how would they compare?

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 27th 2008 8:34AM]

Someone should slap the "AMIGA OS" in that baby

[garry_lingle @ Mar 27th 2008 9:00AM]

I miss my Amiga!

[oakie @ Mar 27th 2008 8:46AM]

this was and will always be a niche product. the average consumer will never want to write code for their new device, nor will anyone ever produce code for every conceivable creation. anyone who thinks otherwise needs to move out of their mother's basement.

[ChewableFood @ Mar 27th 2008 9:59AM]

Reminds me of the HandSpring Palm derivative. Remember the cartridges?

[method9455 @ Mar 27th 2008 12:15PM]

It is definitely not an iPhone or other slim/sexy phone competitor. Why would anyone want something that big and brick like to be their phone or PDA? I don't think any at Bug Labs want it to be that way either. If you look it is more along the lines of do something that no body else does. For example, if you want to keep track of the position of a bunch of cars on a rally course, you can buy a system for thousands and thousands of dollars like they use on TV. Or you can buy one of these with a GPS, a cell phone module, and some quick Java software could do it for $500 per car. That is nothing compared to the current situation, and all I need to know how to do is whip up some Java program, no hardware skills required. I've tried with gumstix, they are not the same. This has a whole Java layer that abstracts everything out. Want GPS coordinates? position = gps.getLattitudeLongitude(); Or what if I want something to keep track of how many runs I did while skiing? Or what if I want a device that has a radar detector and uploads speed trap positions to a google map so other people can see where police are? There are simply a lot of things that COULD be done technically but are not profitable for companies to do because of the R&D. BUG will make the modules and then groups will be enabled to do things they want to but don't have the knowledge to do. The revolution is not the hardware, not even the way to connect them that has been in the PC/104 arena for YEARS. The innovation is the software stack that enables it to be mashed together so easily. Sure it is clunky, but if you just want a sexy open source phone wait for Android to catch on.

[Brett_nyc @ Mar 27th 2008 3:20PM]

Think of it more as a Long Tail device. It's modularity, hackability, openess...allow it to do anything a specialized device can't.