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January 8, 2008 9:19 AM PST

Bug Labs: Build your own dream gadget

Posted by Michelle Thatcher 17 Comments

Bug Labs platform

Snap up to four modules onto the BugBase, and you've got your own custom gadget.

(Credit: Bug Labs)

It's the rare product that excites CNET editors across all categories. The Bug Labs platform, which has been the subject of several conversations around the CNET booth, is one such rarity.

Described as "the Lego of gadgets" by Webware's Rafe Needleman, the Bug Labs platform starts with a minicomputer, the Bug Base, onto which you can snap multiple modules, such as a digital camera or an LCD screen. You can then program your own software to run your custom gadget or download software others have written from the Bug Labs site. Need a GPS-enabled digital camera that will automatically upload your images to Flickr? With the Bug Labs platform, you can build one.

Aside from being eager to tinker with the product, we're thrilled to see such an innovative approach to consumer electronics. The Bug Platform is totally open source, highly configurable, and designed to go wherever consumers' imaginations take them. Plus, the company has a unique "early adopter" pricing scheme, in which the price is lower during the first 60 days; this is a great way to encourage people to start developing software to share.

For more information, check out Tom Merritt's video from the CNET Stage.

Topics:

Emerging technologies, Gadgets

Tags:

open source, gadget, DIY, hacks, CES 2008

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 17 Comments (Page 1 of 2)


by qc4000 January 8, 2008 11:20 PM: YUMMY!; Reply to this comment


by yu_buffon January 9, 2008 4:26 AM: Wow... Great Idea...!!; Reply to this comment


by keith_s_mills January 9, 2008 6:14 AM: The gadget is brilliant, but the "early adopter" program is equally so. Finally a company that wants to reward early adopters rather than penalize them!; Reply to this comment View reply
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by wvbailey January 9, 2008 8:51 AM: Tres cool. Will go to their homepage and poke around. Have been fiddling with OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) as an early adopter ( Give One Get One (G1G1) program) but this bug thing is really interesting in a similar way, especially if the price is right. wvbailey; Reply to this comment


by cant_get_enough_tech January 9, 2008 1:01 PM: Hopefully, the programming won't be in binary or hexadecimal that nobody understands. If they can have it with a programming software that is easy and user-friendly, this should be a huge hit!; Reply to this comment


by xZero2007x January 9, 2008 4:24 PM: Holy crap this looks great. it's like HOLY CRAP I want one right now... lol. Lets hope it's successful.; Reply to this comment


by riku0116 January 9, 2008 4:34 PM: Wow, what an awesome idea... But I'm worried about how well the individual components can do the things they're supposed to do. Especially when it comes to the quality of the photos taken with the camera chip...; Reply to this comment


by EliarTres January 9, 2008 6:26 PM: Reminds me of the Handspring Visor Springboard Expansion modules.Then they abandoned PDA (and module) tech for the Treo line. Like the Newton, maybe they were ahead of their time.; Reply to this comment


by Richsr40 January 9, 2008 9:23 PM: Great Item; Reply to this comment


by matthew.holmes January 11, 2008 6:30 AM: I wish I had thought of that!; Reply to this comment

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