The ‘do it yourself’ phone from Buglabs!
by subacati
Buglabs have done it! They've made the 'lego' phone that Mik was wanting! :yes:. …
(click on the images to enlarge)
The Bug is a modular development system that uses a linux computer as a base unit. In addition to the base unit, you have several modules that you may choose from to add to the device such as a touch screen, a gps unit, an audio module and so on. Some modules are not yet available, but are planned for the near future. The camera module has been temporarily removed from the catalogue recently. Apparently, due to a flaw with the current design, they will be re-designing the camera from scratch.
The Bug is not a small device. In fact, it looks rather chunky for a handheld device of this century. :left:. The clip together design, together with it's chunky appearance and square, blocky appearance makes it look very eighties. Perhaps that's why it appeals to me. :p. That, and the commodore-ish way in that you initially get a nice piece of hardware, but you have to fiddle with it yourself to make it do something. :lol:. I like the idea of a small, open-source computer that you are encouraged to mess around with.
The basic kit ships for US$575 and includes the base unit, the screen module, a gps receiver module, an accelerometer module and the breakout board module (replaces the camera module). But don't quote me on that as the contents of the package has changed before and will probably change again. :lol:. Your can also buy each module seperately to add as you wish.
You can add more than one of the same module to the base unit as each slot has it's own, independent address. Now I can't help but think that, once the camera module is sorted out, that by adding two camera modules to the same side, you create a simple 3D camera. :D. (technically, stereoscopic) Used together with advanced algorithms that are now common, you can create virtuall Reality scenes from such a camera. Now, add the Bugbee wireless module, and a VR helmet with a usb connection, (did I forget to mention the usb port? :whistle:) and interactive net gaming just became very interesting. :yes:. (bye, bye Wii, we won't miss you! :p)
So to round up, I think the Bug has a lot of potential, but it has to be marketed to the correct people. The highly successfull Commodore 64 was mostly a success because of the way it was sold, not to elitist computer-jerk geeks, but to the average american teenager. That said, I don't think the average american teenager even knows about the Bug, nor do I think that teenagers, in the current economy, can afford it. :(.
This product is intended as a development tool or for educational purposes, but I think they're using the wrong marketing model. One good thing though, if you are a student, and you can prove it, you qualify for a discount. :D.
The following links take you to various pages on Buglabs site. If your on a desktop, or using the Skyfire browser, you can watch some videos there as well. :up:. (use use VuClip and search for Buglabs)
http://www.buglabs.net/products
http://www.bugcommunity.com/wiki/index.php/Hardware_Specifications
http://www.buglabs.net/downloads
subacati 
This isn't going to last long at all. A small but dedicated community will keep creating applications until they move on to better featured operating systems. It's happened before with this type of thing and it'll happen again. These days you need form and function together to survive, or a load of fans who'll buy any turd with your fruit logo on it.
:lol:@ 'fruit turd' comment. :D.You're probably right. :awww:. But if it can last untill I can afford one, I'm still getting me one. :p.Two things in it's favour though is that it's open-source, both on software and hardware, and that it's being marketed primarily as a development board. Earlier press releases said that it would run the Android operating system. I'm not sure if they intended to piggy-back Android on top of linux or what though. :left:.But the modules are recently developed and yet they still look twenty years old to me! :insane:. That cannot be a good thing! :awww:.
too bulky
I've seen a load of "this device is primarly a development platform…" combined with "based on Linux for completely open source…" and "loyal community building applications for distribution…" in my time. A hell of a lot. None make it past the internet ordering and small apps stage. Most go under leaving the few owners to support each other using their own resources.http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_PageThey never have the backing or features to stand up to the big names, and the devices become outdated in terms of hardware quite quickly. As they're designed to run whatever OS is put on them they tend to never be anywhere near as good as something specifically designed for one OS. Quite sad really as the potential is there (just look at Android) if you've got the backing.
It is a great idea, but considering what you get for the price, I don't think it'll get off of the ground. For about US$150 and a two year contract, you can get a Blackberry Storm. Most of your other smartphones are in about the same range.
Pity if it doesn't last – looks groovy! :up: Somehow reminds me of what Jet Lee's character was using in 'The One'.
What I like about the Bug is that it's not been marketed as a phone at all. Although a gsm/hspa module is due to be released this year, it's not the main drive behind the concept. This isn't actually meant to be a 'product' in that sense. Most development systems are purely software CAD based. The hardware has to be designed as assembled into a prototype from scratch. With this system, you can go from basic concept to working concept prototype pretty quickly. Once you've proved the workability of the concept, you can either redesign from the ground up, or simply repackage the prototype into a marketable product. The difference between the Bug and the modular system that Nokia is working on is that the Bug is not exclusively intended for mobile phone manufacture, but can just as easily be used to design a modular alarm system, a hospital heart monitor, a vehicular instrument panel or pretty much anything else. These three ideas are just off the top of my head based on modules that are already included in the basic package. If this system does manage to beat the odds and become a successfull development and design tool, then, as more developers come up with more imaginative prototype devices based on it, more variedand advanced modules will be created for it
Hmm … I think I'm starting to understand a way it'll fail … some big companies will buy it up. "A one-fits-all device like that is far too convenient, chewing up profit from many smaller devices that only do one thing", they'll say. :irked:
The gnu license makes for an interesting possibility though. Take all the circuit boards and circuit diagrams etc, find a chinese electronics factory, and produce a cheap knock-off. Market it in South Africa as the i-Tokolosh :p. :devil:.
Why not go for this one?http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1978540,00.asp😀
:rolleyes:.It seems that I'm gonna have to just put my money where my mouth is and prove the concept of the Bug. :irked::p
*beats Nepmak with a stick*That's not a phone. Stop corrupting my bloggers, you. :p
*beats Nepmak with a stick*That's not a phone. Stop corrupting my bloggers, you. :p
:yikes: 😆 😆 😆 😆
Wow.. Furie got cloned :p
Coooool~!…..Now, where the Hell didja fund this thing?! 😆
I was searching for images of bugs. :p.
I want one,I want one, I want one ………… 😀
Ooh.Well,d amn. I want one now……….:insane:!!