Showstoppers is another press event held during CES and this year it was mainly focused on web applications and products we were able to find a couple of companies that had some interesting things to show off. So let's take a look...
Bug Labs
Last year, Bug Labs wooed the media with its Bug modular computer. The ARM-based, Linux-running development board had but four modules available: a touchscreen, a camera, a motion sensor, and GPS receiver. Since then, Bug Labs added to its lineup a debug/development module called the von Hipple (for the famous MIT professor of the same name), a GSM module with SIM card slot and antenna, an audio module with line in, line out, mic, and an accessory, a Zigbee module, and a WiFi/Bluetooth module.
Shown here is a device which a Bug Labs developer made. It uses the development module with its USB port and 40-pin ribbon connector, the touchscreen module, and the motion sensor module to create a unit which changes the color of the display based on the light sensed from a set of detectors atop the module. One engineer representing Bug Labs conjected that, if the audio module would be added, the developer could easily modify the device to be a rudimentary Theremin.
Planned modules include a CDMA module for Verizon and Sprint folks and a pico project module on par with the various other devices unvieled this year. Bug Labs worked very closely with Texas Instruments, using TI's DLP technology to create a two-spot module capable of throwing a 480x320 display up to 30 feet.
Alicia Gibb of Bug Labs explained that the primary market for Bug Labs at the moment is developers, hackers, and geeks. The entire design of the Bug, including the CAD schematics, is available on Bug Labs' web site. One intrepid developer produced a device using the combination of the Bug Base, the GPS module, and the audio module to create a location-based alarm. Gibb recounted that the user expressed an interest in gaining some more sleep on a long morning train commute--sufficient motivation for creating the device combination and programming it.
The Bug Base costs $249, while modules cost $40 to $100. A bundle packing including the original four modules—touchscreen, motion sensor, camera, and GPS—costs $579.
TrendNet
Networking products maker TrendNet showed off its new 7" camera monitor digital picture frame. The device can not only function as a standard digital picture frame, showing photographs and a variety of widgets such as news feeds and weater, but it can also function as a monitoring device for up to 10 security cameras.
TrendNet jumped on the green computing bandwagon with its GreenNet line of switches. GreenNet devices lower the amount power on a port if no device is connected or the connected device is determined to be asleep. Additionally, the unit can determine cable length and scale back power levels accordingly.
TrendNet also showed off its 2.5" by 3.25", USB-powered travel router, its 802.11n gaming adapters, and 802.11n USB adapter in addition to its newly announced 450 Mbps 802.11n routers.
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