Bug Labs, a company I never heard of before, is releasing something very cool for all the hardcore geeks out there. Is it a computer, a GPS device, or a camera? What if I told you that it is all that and a whole lot more. BUG is a modular computer system that will appeal to those who like to tinker around with things. It is a GPL device that has modular components to enhance functionality, and it is fully programmable.

What It Is

(Image Credit: Bug Labs)
Bug Labs has announced the BUGbase and four modules at the 2008 CES. An ARM processor acts as the brain of BUGbase, and it has 128MB of RAM to work with. The system has a wide array of connectivity options and other features that can be read about in detail on the Bug Labs product site.

The Bug Labs site calls it a "fully programmable and 'hackable' Linux computer." The BUGbase is only part of the system though. Modules can be added to BUGbase which will enhance the system further.

(Image Credit: Bug Labs)
Four modules were shown at CES: a colorful touch-sensitive LCD screen (nearest), a 5-megapixel camera (right), an accelerometer/motion detector (left), and a GPS (farthest). Each do exactly what they sound like they would do. Each module is GPL based, and you can also create additional modules--if you have the skills required.

What It Does

Check out this video by CNET which shows off BUGbase and its modules if you are interested in learning more.

BUG is a modular computer system that will likely be embraced by the open source community. The system offers those who are interested in programming and hacking a chance to do so. With additional modules on the way, it might very well become a hit.

The SDK will allow you to program BUG to do what you want it to. It runs by using the Eclipse development environment. This is also great news for potential buyers.
(Image Credit: Bug Labs)
What It's Worth

For your typical geek, this product might be slightly overwhelming, but for those who like to push the limits of technology, this might be right up their alley. BUGbase is available on the Bug Labs website for early adopters at $299. The GPS ($79), camera ($69), LCD ($99), and accelerometer ($49) modules are all on sale for early adopters as well.

My Thoughts

It is something that I would love to get my hands on in the future. If I had one of these a few years ago, I probably would have done far too many illegal things to wireless networks. Bug Labs, send me a BUG for review immediately!

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In the early 1980s, Pac-Man made its debut in Japan, and then shortly after made its impact felt throughout the United States. Over 25 years later, Pac-Man is still played, well-known, and interpreted as a distinguished icon of the gaming industry's growth in the early going. Some of you experienced this first-hand, and some of you were not even born yet.

Programming a game back then was quite the difficult task. The hardware available was severely limited, and the programmers had to push the systems to the limits. If better hardware was available, we would have seen even better games sooner.

Compared to the current time, it could be reasonable to say that game development was much more simplistic, and could be accomplished with far less resources. Those days are long gone. Today, many game studios have more than a dozen employees working on a single game, and the costs to put a game into production are enormous.

If you are nostalgic about what many consider the glory days of gaming, and have the slightest interest in developing games as a hobby or career, then this product is something to seriously consider. At around $200 USD, it appears to be priced just right for all that you are getting.

The HYDRA Game Development Kit, created by Andre LaMothe, comes with all that you see to the right; it is essentially a gaming computer that runs on your television. You will not be designing Halo 4 on HYDRA; however, you would be learning and experiencing plenty about game design and programming. This is a pleasant way to introduce someone to game development as HYDRA avoids the complexity of developing on a computer.

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