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Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

wired.com

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Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#151

Post by Zak »

Alphasite_ wrote: post #147
Zak wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think a modular phone factor like shown here solves any of those problems though It may not, though I'd be surprised if nobody hacks together a sliding keyboard for this thing. It'll probably be bulky. The fragility issue can be solved by putting a good case over the whole thing. Assuming the overall platform works out to a limited number of sizes, I'd likely offer to sell cases made of various fiber-reinforc…

How would cases work for a modular design? It might be okay for small modules, but the moment it gets bulky, the phones entire profiles changed, and any normal cases are out.

In the photographs shown, no module other than the extended camera lens sticks out very much. A case that's roughly a rectangular prism, open on one side will be able to enclose many possible configurations.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#152

Post by icoder »

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…

I agree but want to add that altbough like you I did not often upgrade my PC, I did replace broken stuff like a fan, power supply, harddrive for a fraction the cost of a new PC. I also extended with extra, not better, hardware like a card reader and bluetooth. Also one or two times I did upgrade (ie memory). Taken together all this probably doubled or tripled the life of my PC and I can see this extrapolated to phones as well.

For instance I'd love to add, say, NFC and Bluetooth LT to my Samsung S2 and use it one or two more years.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#153

Post by Trione »

netcan wrote: post #51

A musing about the aesthetic of modular: My first 21st century "gadget" (for some obviously arbitrary definition of the term) was an ipod nano. I'm not very sensitive to the niceness of things in general so I was pretty surprised at how much I liked how it looked and felt in my hands. It was, cold metallic, small, sleek and completely solid. It had no give in it at all and felt like a magic rock. The solidness of it…

You should read the Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe. Techno-magical, sci-fi wizardy in an ancient future world.

Re: Project Ara – Google's modular phone project

#154

Post by netcan »

Trione wrote: post #153
netcan wrote: post #51

A musing about the aesthetic of modular: My first 21st century "gadget" (for some obviously arbitrary definition of the term) was an ipod nano. I'm not very sensitive to the niceness of things in general so I was pretty surprised at how much I liked how it looked and felt in my hands. It was, cold metallic, small, sleek and completely solid. It had no give in it at all and felt like a magic rock. The solidness of it…

You should read the Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe. Techno-magical, sci-fi wizardy in an ancient future world.

Thanks. Looks good. I'm giving it a try.
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