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Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

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Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#111

Post by bane »

I'd actually love it if this idea extended far enough to let me double my "phone" as an impromptu laptop/desktop. I know that we can use a bluetooth keyboard or whatever and kind of simulate things. But I'd love to carry around a single computing device that I can drop into a cradle at home and it's using my two big desktop monitors and nice keyboard/mouse, and when out and about, head into a coffee shop and swap the screen out for a larger screen and keyboard, and then head onto the subway and just swap the screen back and use it like a phone. Then end of the day, head to the gym and swap out a few parts and have it just play music for me while I work out. Head out for a hike on the weekend and configure it like the Gym, but put in a better GPS unit and a bigger battery or something. Go to the store and swap out the GPS unit for a barcode scanner so I can comparison shop a bit. If something breaks, I can fix it myself. Go home and plug it into an HDMI port and watch movies or play games or something. Want to read a book? Swap out the screen for an e-ink screen. Going on a trip? swap in the GPS device, big battery and the Nokia camera module so I can use my nice lenses and find my way to the sites. Swap the screen for the bigger screen later so I can review and edit my photos for the day.

I could trade my notebook, camera, desktop, console, media devices, mp3 player, e-book reader and tablet in entirely.

But all my data is present for me and I can work on it, context appropriate to the interfaces I have available at that moment.

I wouldn't mind having a few bits and parts floating around my backpack if it gave me the flexibility to do that kind of thing.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#112

Post by drakaal »

Raise your hand if you bought an "upgradable" mother board in the 286 and 386 days.... Do you still have it?

I have a computer that still uses some of the same screws that my 486 used. For a long time I kept the original hard disk spinning even though I didn't store stuff on it... But when IDE connectors went away I stopped bothering with keeping it for nostalgia.

Even my case is no longer compatible, the power supply stopped being compatible long ago.

Some of this is "advancements" some of it is just that manufactures want to sell you new stuff.

Houses are about the only thing that are modular and you can say you will only need to buy one... The house I grew up in is nearly 200 years old. So far it hasn't needed to be replaced to do incompatibility.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#113

Post by scott_karana »

bane wrote: post #111

I'd actually love it if this idea extended far enough to let me double my "phone" as an impromptu laptop/desktop. I know that we can use a bluetooth keyboard or whatever and kind of simulate things. But I'd love to carry around a single computing device that I can drop into a cradle at home and it's using my two big desktop monitors and nice keyboard/mouse, and when out and about, head into a coffee shop and swap the…

The Ubuntu Edge was designed around a similar multi-purpose idea, though it wasn't physically modular:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edge

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#114

Post by Slackwise »

AndrewDucker wrote: post #31

If one of the modules can be a keyboard, then I know a fair few people who will buy one...

The keyboard is the module I want.

I used my T-Mobile G2 until it died a month ago, and had to do an emergency replacement, which ended up being a Nexus 5. I'm going absolutely insane not being able to just type without thinking about it. When you have to think about your input and often correct it, you are no longer able to simply stream your thoughts, and each micro-interruption is actually quite a distraction from getting things done. It's frustrating.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#115

Post by lewaldman »

josefresco wrote: post #38
jan_g wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does matter when comparing with alternatives. Modular phone with comparable specs to other phones (screen size, cpu, camera, etc) would probably be bigger, thicker, heavier and uglier. In other words, even when a customer is buying a big 5"+ phone, then I think he/she will probably not choose the modular one.

I think the key is the purchasing model. A "free phone" with contract every 2 years creates a situation where the consumer doesn't value repairing/upgrading their phone. If you had to pay say $600-$800 for a phone upfront, one is upgradable/repairable and the other is not (but faster/sexier) I think some (maybe many) would choose the former.

I think you guys are missing the point here.

The point is: A barebone model for 50 bucks that you could transform in a high-end device expending more money on it when you can afford it.

Also... need more battery life? Why not replace that extra RAM memory module for battery one? Or even... why not to replace the 4 Gb RAM module for one with 1Gb + more battery?

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#116

Post by joshuapants »

As someone mourning the fall of the full-qwerty physical keyboard phone (yes there are the new BB phones, but by the next time I upgrade I anticipate that BB will be dead), this gives me hope. There may not be enough people who want them for manufacturers to make whole phones, but maybe there are enough to support a market in quality keyboard modules.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#118

Post by wtetzner »

LarryMade2 wrote: post #42

Yeah, right. I remember computers built in the 90s and 2000s, touting their modular construction and never having to buy a new system again. I wonder if those machines are still in operation? I think what would guarantee longevity is something that is rock-solid good, inexpensive, repairable, and easy to develop on. I'm thinking of track records of computers like the Commodore 64, iMac, or in vehicles like the beetle…

I think the real benefit might be that you can add non-standard extensions, not so much that you can upgrade.

That doesn't seem to be how they're marketing it, though.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#119

Post by mturmon »

abruzzi wrote: post #93

Once upon a time, when I was younger, I felt very strongly that I needed a computer with everything replaceable. I wanted to replace a CPU when it got too slow, new graphics card, upgradable RAM, storage, etc. But I found that in the end while I'd make small upgrades, I still replaced my computers at close to the same rate. That because some standard that was built into the old machine was no longer fast enough or wi…

Google might benefit strategically from a market where phones are commoditized down at the hardware subsystem level. This would further disempower hardware integrators like Samsung.

The analogy is Microsoft:beige box::Google:component phone.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#120

Post by eric_cc »

lewaldman wrote: post #115
josefresco wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the key is the purchasing model. A "free phone" with contract every 2 years creates a situation where the consumer doesn't value repairing/upgrading their phone. If you had to pay say $600-$800 for a phone upfront, one is upgradable/repairable and the other is not (but faster/sexier) I think some (maybe many) would choose the former.

I think you guys are missing the point here. The point is: A barebone model for 50 bucks that you could transform in a high-end device expending more money on it when you can afford it. Also... need more battery life? Why not replace that extra RAM memory module for battery one? Or even... why not to replace the 4 Gb RAM module for one with 1Gb + more battery?

I get what you're saying and yet the more I read about this the more I find myself shaking my head thinking how stupid this really is. It's clearly not marketed at me. I will continue to buy standard STRESS-FREE devices.
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