I've been hoping for properly modular mobile computing like in the desktop arena for two decades, and now I guess that means phones. So I am delighted at this news:
Project Ara brings the modular smartphone from concept to a reality; it almost seems like it should've made a cameo in The Lego Movie. The Ara consists of a metal endoskeleton, which is essentially the spine of the phone, and slots for replaceable components known as modules, which look a lot like tiles. (If you're reminded of Windows Phone when looking at the back, you won't be the first.) These tiled modules can include anything that makes your phone tick (processor, RAM, WiFi, power jack, baseband, display and battery, for instance), as well as plenty of other features like your camera, speakers and storage space.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:01PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 1) by Zanothis on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:10PM
From TFA *waits for gasps of horror to die down*: ..."
"Electropermanent magnets not only hold modules in place,
Not that modules couldn't fall off, but it does seem like they're trying to address that issue already.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:15PM
It's gonna be so much fun to watch people retrieve their phones after a fall...
"which way does this one go already?"
By the way, this thing's version of Siri HAS to be called Ziggy. Look at it!
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:15PM
I've been thinking about this since I posted and I think what I'm aching for is a case around it... but I'm thinking that'll defeat the purpose of this device.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 1) by mrchew1982 on Thursday April 17 2014, @08:44PM
I don't see why a silicon jelly case would be out of the question.
(Score: 2) by umafuckitt on Thursday April 17 2014, @08:54PM
Not out of the question, but it would defeat the idea of a modular phone somewhat if you have to wrestle it out of a silicone case to swap a module.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by edIII on Thursday April 17 2014, @09:26PM
No it wouldn't.
If these capacitive interconnects are just little wireless connections then the whole thing can be made to be flexible instead. Use a silicone encased flexible wiring between the module and the capacitive railing along the side. You would use pressure to keep the modules together and that can be very simple and maybe similar to how you adjust a baseball cap.
I even see placeholder modules designed to make it circular, ovular, square, etc. Once your done you just run a silicone casing around the whole thing.
Nothing says you can't make pieces capable of bending together like a clam shell either. Those interconnects can vary quite a bit.
Modules that are swapped out often can just be designed as a docking module. Standard framework for something that pops out. We do it with flash memory modules all the time. It would be awesome if you could just flick a catch and the battery would just pop out. Put two of them side by side and you have hot swap capabilities.
I dunno about you, but the net gains here are certainly worth the five minutes it would take you to physically construct your own smart phone exactly how you want it.
We are all used to doing that with building our own rigs, why not have it with smaller things you have to carry around?
If Google was smart they would try to adapt this all the way up to 17" laptops. I have to replace my keyboard which is dead now. I would love if it were as easy as removing a silicone framework and ripping flexible components off with my hands. I always have one screw left over.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by everdred on Thursday April 17 2014, @10:39PM
I know. That would make it only about a million times easier than it is now.
(Score: 2) by Woods on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:12PM
One of the most recent advances in the project is the magnetic attachment mechanism. I believe the plan is to have a software "lock modules" button that you would click when you did not want things to fall apart, then you would just "unlock" the modules using the same app when you wanted to switch something out.
Unfortunately, I do not recall if the software module lock function was just an idea, or if it is actually going to be implemented. But to me, it makes the most sense for a phone like this, and definitely feasible as well.
(Score: 4, Informative) by maxwell demon on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:26PM
That would get interesting if your battery fails. To replace it, just unlock it, replace it, lock it again. Except to unlock it, you need to run the unlock software. And to run the unlock software, you'd need a working battery ...
Also it will get interesting when the first computer virus appears that unlocks the parts at a random time ...
Some things are better done in hardware.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 1) by RandomSchmoe on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:46PM
Wouldn't the magnet be dependent on the battery since it can be shut on or off (i.e. an electromagnet)? I imagine if the battery dies the lock is dropped. And now that I'm thinking about it wouldn't the magnetic lock itself be a drain on the battery if it were to have any strength?
The Best Comments Ever Seen On Slashcode [seenonslash.com]
(Score: 2, Informative) by iNaya on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:55PM
Nope. They use electro permanent magnets, which can be turned on or off, and remain that way without power.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electropermanent_magn et [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:56PM
Electropermanent magnets need power to change state, but once on or off stay that way without power.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:12PM
I find it ODD (although welcome), that Google is perusing this at the hardware level, when they went so far out of their way to rip modularity out of the Linux that makes up Android.
Replacing the entire software load, to update a single module seems so backward in Android after years of running Linux, where you can update almost anything while its running by simply restarting the affected service.
Yet for some reason this was stripped out of Android, and is only lately slowly returning to certain features, (but it is done by adding overlays, not removing old versions, so you still pay a code-bloat penalty in Android).
Perhaps having replaceable hardware modules will force Google to revert Android to the modular model they worked so hard to strip out.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday April 17 2014, @11:15PM
They did originally *buy* Android, so it may not have been one of the original design intents. Bad design decisions hang around like a bad smell for a very long time.
(Score: 2) by Boxzy on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:38PM
Hotswap batteries, what about an ethernet addon? a proper zoom lens in your pocket, camera flash module, laser rangefinder... stepper motor controllers, remote control receiver, it would be the ultimate platform for robotics. I'm struggling to think of something you couldn't do.
Go green, Go Soylent.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday April 17 2014, @07:41PM
There is a limit to the number of things people ACTUALLY want in a phone.
Stepper motors are clearly over the top.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by mrclisdue on Thursday April 17 2014, @08:12PM
I don't know, I ACTUALLY want a coffee maker / harmonica in a phone:
The Pomegranatephone [pomegranatephone.com]
cheers,
(Score: 2) by lubricus on Friday April 18 2014, @06:53AM
... you forgot the shaver.
That was some of the funnier vapour I've seen in a while. I guess the only thing it doesn't allow is for flash-free presentation. (no fast forward / skip ... very irritating).
... sorry about the typos
(Score: 2) by Aighearach on Friday April 18 2014, @06:31AM
No, it doesn't need to be a phone; it is a modular pocket-sized computer platform. Stepper motors are a perfect fit. Makers will love it.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday April 17 2014, @11:17PM
All the choices must be driving Apple people completely insane.
(Score: 1) by james_covalent_bond on Thursday April 17 2014, @08:33PM
is in the making, with open hardware [makeplaylive.com] and open software [plasma-active.org]. Notably the Vivaldi tablet and the Improv - a system on a card if you will - which will be the exchangable heart of the tablet. The project deserves so much more publicity - and funding.
Personally I d love to use _open_ mobile devices.
(Score: 2) by dmc on Friday April 18 2014, @12:18AM
Here here. Personally the most important modular part I'd like to see is the microphone and camera. I'll be much more confident that the NSA isn't using the microphone when I'm not intending it to be used if it can be physically seperated from the device.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 18 2014, @01:58PM
nor remove is the Big Brother blackbox.