BugLabs
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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.
Bug Labs store open for business, BUGbundle unveiled for $549
We knew today was the day, and now Bug Labs has opened its doors and cautiously invited shoppers inside. Cautious because Bug doesn't really want non-developers snapping up the kit right now, since the hardware itself is pretty much useless to the proletariat at this point without any mature software, and there isn't a bunch of it go around. To kick things off, Bug Labs is also announcing the BUGbundle, which packages a BUGbase (the WiFi-free Hiro P edition), GPS, LCD, accelerometer and 2 megapixel camera for $549. Orders are limited to one per customer at this time, and educational promotions will be coming in March.
Bug Labs announces WiFi-free Hiro P BUGbase
Looks like Bug Labs is fixing to release its BUGbase in more than one version due to apparent issues related to solid, stable open source WiFi chipsets and drivers. Picking up the Hiro P Edition monicker (let's hope it doesn't snow crash), this revised first BUGbase will ship without 802.11, but adds a small joystick control, and as recompense for the wireless sacrifice, Hiro P owners will get a free BUGvonhippel module (the hardware breakout box, basically), and the option to snag a pluggable WiFi attachment on the cheap at a later time. For those who want to wait for the full, integrated-WiFi experience, Bug's not yet offering a set schedule for the "regular" base kit, but Hiro P goes on pre-sale at the Bug Labs store for the regular early adopter price this Monday.
Video: A little Bug Labs demo
You know our nerd hearts beat deep for the just-released open-source modular Bug Labs gear, and Mahalo Daily's Veronica Belmont caught up with Jeremy Toeman for a quick little demo. We're not sure exactly why you'd want a motion-sensing camera with the lens on the opposite side of the motion detector, but hey -- let's see your iPhone do that. Check the whole vid after the break!
Bug Labs announces price, release, and new BUGmodule
The moment hardware hackers have been waiting for: final price and release details of the Bug Labs BUGbase and BUGmodules. And even better for those enterprising early adopters, Bug is giving a discount to everyone who buys gear within the first 60 days. Here's the story: Pre-orders start Monday, January 21, 2008 Gear ships by Monday, March 17, 2008 BUGbase: $299 / $349 (early adopter price / regular price when bought after 60 days) Touchscreen LCD: $99 / $119 GPS: $79 / $99 Camera: $69 / $79 Motion/accelerometer: $49 / $59 New Von Hippel BUGmodule (adds interfaces and I/O ports for further hacking of the BUGbase) Bug is also launching BUG+EDU, promoting to the education-market (additional details to come)
Working Bug Labs hardware hands-on
As a publication whose bread and butter is handheld gadgets, we're obviously more than a little excited about Bug Labs' upcoming LEGO-style DIY electronics kit, which allows users to affix various modules to a small, open-source computer and create such magical products as a GPS-enabled digital camera with built in 3G modem and motion detector. While we've seen the hardware before -- including the BUGbase and current BUGmodules -- founder and CEO Peter Semmelhack invited us over today to check out some of the very first working applications, including the Linux-based PIM software you see running in the photos. Apparently we can expect pricing details shortly, as well as a demo of the final system in action, all leading up to an official launch before the end of the year. Check out the gallery below for even more hands-on action... %Gallery-10677%
Bug Labs BUGbase and BUGmodules hands-on
There's no doubt Bug Labs is getting closer to launching its open source modular gadget kits, but for those wondering when we'd see some physical hardware, today's your lucky day. We got a chance to check out an early BUGbase unit and the full complement of BUGmodules. While we didn't get to see it up and running, we did get to fool around with the whole experience of plugging (and unplugging) modules, and got a good feel for how things work. Some details: 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. %Gallery-9625%%Gallery-9624%
Bug Labs shows off new product render
Ok, we're not actually any closer to Bug Labs's DIY gadget kits than we were yesterday, but at least we can start to get a better idea of what they're talking about, courtesy of these new product renders found on their site. Kind of reminds us of one of those kitchen-mounted DVD / TV sets though, so we're hoping Bug sexies it up a bit. Ain't no reason DIY can't be well designed, is there?%Gallery-8270%
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.
Bug Labs is looking for beta testers
You already know that Bug Labs's DIY gadget line is geared a little more towards the Joneses (and not necessarily those trying to keep up with them), so if you're a little closer to the nerdy hacky hardware / software developer type, Bug has its eye out for you. In its first wave of beta testers the company is looking for software devs to get in deep with the Bug software and SDK, and eventually get going with the first round of hardware when that's ready to get pushed out in its a later phase of the beta. Head on over to the Bug site for more.
Bug Labs' DIY gadget guts revealed
These may only be samples, but you're looking at the first, in what is expected to be a series, of easy codin', open-source hardware modules from Bug labs. Unfortunately, they didn't have any working prototypes assembled at their Bug+Bar+NYC gathering, but we'll still chalk it up to progress while we wait for the DIY gadget kits to launch in the coming months. [Via Make:]
Bug Labs DIY gadgets to turn consumer electronics on its ear?
Last night we sat down for dinner with a company that, with the use of open source hardware, intends to invert the top down consumer electronics market as we know it -- a lofty goal, no doubt. But when Bug Labs (based in New York) introduces their modular gadget kits later this year, end users (read: tech enthusiasts) will be able buy interchangeable electronics components with a common interface capable of mixing, matching, and building custom devices (without having to lift a soldering iron). Sounds kind of out there, but here's the model: Users snag a small Linux-based micro-PC with USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, and plenty of special ports for attaching these functionality modules. Users can develop Java apps and load custom software onto the base device to take advantage of expansion modules for any usage scenarios they can dream up. Users expand each portable's capabilities by adding modules, such as a small or large screen, QWERTY keyboard, GPS, camera, speaker, etc.; the user can add whatever is necessary to build the gadget that fits their purpose. (Sorry, no cell radio modules at launch.) Each component is accessible and web addressable, meaning users can write and load software to / from their own or other users' components, as well as share their functionality or data (i.e. user A can use an app to remotely share his / her GPS locator or digital camera with user B). Of course, all these hardware component schematics, interface protocols, etc. will be made available online if you want to build your own Bug-based gear. Bug Labs might also allow users to submit novel and relatively marketable configurations for mass manufacturing, and serve as a storefront for budding gadget designers using the Bug platform. Will a DIY open source hardware hacker's kit ever be enough to enable Joe Blow to develop the next RAZR or iPod? Probably not to start; effective portable electronics requires a very vertical design process, but if CE development is ever going to be democratized the way software development was over 30 years ago, then clear and open source components and systems is the kind of approach that could be capable of doing it.
