3. Buglabs BUG Gadget Array

By Ed Tittel and Toby Digby

A huge hit at CES 2008 in Las Vegas, Buglabs BUG Gadget Array is best viewed as a bunch of interoperable hardware modules that users can combine however they like. Presently that’s true for up to four modules that can plug into the BUGbase base station at any one time (four is the number of ports on that handheld device). At present, available modules include a GPS receiver (BUGlocate), a two megapixel digital camera (BUGcam2MP), a motion detector and accelerometer (BUGmotion) and a color touch-sensitive LCD screen (BUGview). The base station and plug-ins may be purchased separately, but Buglabs sells a BUGbundle that includes all of those items for about 10% less than their combined costs if bought piecemeal ($629 versus $705).

Conveniently, Buglabs bundles all of its current offerings at a modest discount.

Who’s the target audience for BUG gadgets? The blurb at Buglabs’ Company Store reads "To use BUG you will need to be able to write software applications in Java." Other warnings that guard the gateway to that store also suggest that some familiarity with Linux is helpful, primarily because the BUGbase runs a version of GNU Linux that its users must know how to work (and write Java code for).

If you’ve got a grad or a Dad who meets the Java and Linux requirements, the BUG gadget array is bound to attract their interest. But beware: if you drop this kind of raw potential into a real über geek’s lap after graduation or on Dad’s Day, don’t expect your happy recipient to come up for air (or conversation, or perhaps even sleep) until having shaken a few wrinkles out of these fascinating techno-trinkets. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! For more details on these BUG gadgets, visit the Buglabs company store.