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Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices)
LinuxDevices looks at the
BugBase. "Bug Labs will ship its tiny, open-source ARM11-powered
BugBase and three add-on modules in October, and will switch to Poky
Linux. Meanwhile, a recent review finds the hackable Linux-based platform
to be intriguing, but currently too "flaky" for typical consumers."
(Log in to post comments)
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 9, 2008 22:47 UTC (Tue) by jengelh (subscriber, #33263) [Link]
Read headline.
Parse "modules". Think /lib/modules/**/*.ko. Now add Lego...
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 10, 2008 11:45 UTC (Wed) by ledow (guest, #11753) [Link]
You mean your first thought was /lib/modules/2.6.xx/kernel/drivers/usb/misc/legousbtower.ko ? That's a lot of /'s for a first thought. :-)
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 10, 2008 4:02 UTC (Wed) by bronson (subscriber, #4806) [Link]
> The BugBase ($350), BugView ($120), BugLocate ($100), and BugMotion ($60) are available for order now, with shipments starting in October, says Bug Labs.
So these products will be sold to people who have a large amount of money, time, and technical acumen. Does Bug Labs their target market will be very large? It's a neat idea but I can't imagine they'll sell many of these things...?
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 10, 2008 13:11 UTC (Wed) by lolando (subscriber, #7139) [Link]
Also, think that for the price of base + screen, you can get most of the same features + GPS + accelerometer + bluetooth + wifi + GSM. And a proper Debian system, too :-)
(Yes, I'm still raving about the Openmoko Freerunner.)
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 10, 2008 20:28 UTC (Wed) by dufkaf (subscriber, #10358) [Link] You can also get Beagle board, any Nokia internet tablet or wait for openpandora. All cheaper, more powerful, expandable/hackable, Linux based and with extra stuff already builtin.
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 10, 2008 21:23 UTC (Wed) by leoc (subscriber, #39773) [Link] Speaking of openmoko, when they first announced the "open sourcing" of their case design, I had a bit of a head scratch. It turns out, though, that people are starting to do cool stuff with it.
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 10, 2008 15:12 UTC (Wed) by shapr (guest, #9077) [Link]
I've ordered a BUG bundle, I look forward to its arrival.
I think it'll be more fun than the comments here predict.
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 12, 2008 3:10 UTC (Fri) by dmag (subscriber, #17775) [Link]
Agreed. I haven't played with one (I did touch one), but I've read about them:
Pro:
Con:
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 12, 2008 3:18 UTC (Fri) by shapr (guest, #9077) [Link]
I'm pretty sure the OSGi layer is on top of the C layer, so you should still be able to use straight up C with the BUG.
Since it has a built-in battery, I would assume that the BUG is meant to be used like my Nokia 770 & N800, you just leave it on, and charge it once every day or two. I do agree that the BUG is expensive, but there's nothing else like it at the moment. Hopefully this approach will become more popular and modular palm sized devices will become cheap.
One downside I see for the BUG is that the four modules plugs are basically just breakouts for the electrical connections. I'd rather have a BUG that speaks to its modules more like networked peripherals, allowing me to plug in a nearly unlimited number of modules at once.
Lego-like Linux modules to ship in October (LinuxDevices) Posted Sep 14, 2008 22:14 UTC (Sun) by joey (subscriber, #328) [Link]
I got the impression from something I read on the bug site that the modules contain some sort of microprocessor, with firmware etc, and communicate over some sort of bus. How exactly that works, and how meaty the processor on the individual modules are is something I'm curious about.
I think it's a pity they're not using a standardized bus and connector type, like usb, for the modules. The size is also a bit larger than I'd prefer. (Price also.) But if you look at the current bug system as a prototype, there'a a lot of promise to their idea.
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