The Bug Too is the successor to the very successful Bug. While some find the design more ugly than quirky, there's no doubt that its distinctive looks have earned the Bug an iconic status among DABs. Perhaps it's fitting that such an odd looking gadget should be the flagship for DAB, since digital radio itself is a medium that has, like the Bug, polarised opinion and inspired controversy.
Though the new Bug retains the chassis of the old, it improves on its predecessor in several key areas. The Bug Too adds an electronic programme guide (EPG) and 20 alarms (ideal for those who have trouble getting up in the morning unless at least 20 alarms are set at consecutive five-minute intervals).
The EPG is invaluable if you want to listen to specific radio shows without throwing yourself at the mercy of schedulers. The Bug Too will quietly record the shows you like to SD card and let you listen back to them when you've got time. It's essentially the TiVo or Sky+ system for DAB radio.
Many users of the original Bug insist that the oddly shaped chassis is a design classic, but can the Bug's new features win over those who flinched from its pleading electronic eyes the first time around?
Design
The Bug Too is the DAB radio equivalent of Chris Morris's Shoreditch caricature Nathan Barley. The chassis is trendy in an annoyingly brazen, crude way. It's knowingly cool to the point of being uncool. Like a city trader on a Sinclair C5, you're not sure whether it's irony or stupidity, but at least it's something different. The verdict here is open -- you decide.
The large LCD on the end of the Bug's metal umbilical gives a bright and clear visual indication of the station you're listening to. It's a blue and white display with 122x32-dot graphics. On the abdomen there's an array of navigation buttons, which let you scroll through menu options.
The rear of the unit sports a dizzying array of inputs and outputs, including power, USB, digital optical out, headphones, line out and aux in. There's also an SD card slot for use when recording to removable SD cards.
Setup
If you've used a DAB before, you'll be familiar with the tuning system on the Bug Too. As with all the DABs we've tested, an automatic tuner activates itself when the radio is first switched on.
Extending the telescopic aerial on the back of the Bug Too can improve reception, although we had no problems leaving the aerial retracted. The Bug automatically locked onto available DAB broadcasts and listed them. Tuning speed on the Bug is as snappy as we've seen from other DAB radios. First-time users will have no problem at all getting the Bug Too to a point where they can enjoy DAB.
Features
The Bug uses PURE's 'ReVu' to pause and rewind live DAB broadcasts. You can rewind live radio a maximum of 30 minutes into the past, using the 'ReVu dial'. You also have the option of recording songs or entire radio programmes to an SD card. A 2GB card can contain approximately 30 hours of broadcasts.
When you're out on the mean streets and want to record a programme at home, there's a timed-record option. Using the Bug's EPG you can select the programme you want to record, and hit the Record key. The recorded show will play back on the Bug, but you could conceivably take it with you on a mobile device that supports playback from SD cards.
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User reviews3
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Rich Bradshaw 10 December 2006
Good: Easy to use
Bad: Nothing!
Comment: Brilliant, does everything I want, can pause radio, rewind, record, sounds great and even has eyes!
Adrian Byron-Parker 17 November 2006
Good: Great choice of radio stations
Bad: Very difficult to use
Comment: I was looking forward to using my Bug Too as a clock radio. I got myself a 1GB SD card to do my recording bit and was all set.
First problem I had to upgrade the Bugs software to work with BBC EPG, OK... no problem.
Then when I started to use it the 'scroll/Select' button was very unfriendly, you have to press it just in the middle to select a function and then you are not so sure you have selected what you want because it is so slow to react to the button press... try this in bed... awkward!!
The display is so bright even on 'Dim' setting that I had to face the 'Head display' away from me or I would never get to sleep!
When you finally set your alarm setting and it is difficult to get a good volume for the alarm radio as the volume adjustment is not continual but in small jumps from quiet to loud. These jumps are not fine enough and I found myself having to set it too quiet to really hear, as the next step in volume would wake the whole house!
If you do use the alarm and the volume is too low or loud and you adjust it the act of adjusting the volume will cancel the alarm snooze function... so you can't touch any other button when the alarm is on other than the snooze button else the alarm is cancelled... Very frustrating. PURE say "this is because the BUG assumes that you want to use the radios full functions"
I got this radio because of all the great reviews but as a clock radio it has too many problems. The Bug Too should be sold as a radio and not a bedside clock radio then other than the slow and awkward buttons it would be OK if just by the fact you can record programs with it.
I am very disappointed and am off back to the shop to get my money back!
Anonymous 4 November 2006
Good: The simplicity of the controls and the sound quality
Bad: The absence of a remote control
Comment: A brilliant radio for anyone, with easy to use functions and brilliant sound. This is a cool, easy to use radio. Its ability to pause and even rewind live radio is awesome. 9 out of 10 is a honest mark, but the Bug Too is totally deserving of this.
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