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-   -   Google Modular Phone (https://www.graalians.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27328)

Ryan 01-15-2015 07:07 AM
Google Modular Phone
 


This is googles version of the phonebloks concept from 2014 called Project Ara. It is set to come out next month

Tricxta 01-15-2015 07:18 AM
I've been following this too. I'm super stoked about it! To say the least I'm very interested as to how it'll perform with semi-standard modules given it will be running the android OS. Watch out graal!?

5hift 01-15-2015 02:38 PM
Is looking ugly as **** apart of it as well?

Ash Ketchum 01-15-2015 02:57 PM
Probably going to be heavy as hell too

Spirit19 01-15-2015 03:58 PM
That looks cool. Not sure if it will hold up to many expectations though. But hey, if anyone has the funds to do it, it's Google.

Johnaudi 01-15-2015 09:42 PM
Will definitely buy 2 of them, with 20 damn battery modules for hiking trips.

Any pre-orders yet?

Talon 01-15-2015 10:50 PM
Looks pretty neat. How are the add-ons distributed though?

The Doctor 01-16-2015 05:14 AM
Can you provide the source of it being released next month?

Tricxta 01-16-2015 09:44 AM
Quote:
Posted by Talon (Post 535603)
Looks pretty neat. How are the add-ons distributed though?
I believe there will be an ara store where manufacturers will be able to sell their modules.

Platinum 01-16-2015 12:29 PM
This looks interesting, but the extra parts/widget things would be easily lost. I don't think the design looks good, hopefully that can be changed?

Johnaudi 01-16-2015 01:34 PM
Quote:
Posted by Platinum (Post 535659)
This looks interesting, but the extra parts/widget things would be easily lost. I don't think the design looks good, hopefully that can be changed?
What are you talking about? It's amazing! I couldn't think of a better way to attach modules, electromagnetic attachments are actually a great idea.

Do you know how Desktops' parts are assembled? It's kinda-of an ugly mess.

Platinum 01-16-2015 01:43 PM
Quote:
Posted by Johnaudi (Post 535672)
What are you talking about? It's amazing! I couldn't think of a better way to attach modules, electromagnetic attachments are actually a great idea.

Do you know how Desktops' parts are assembled? It's kinda-of an ugly mess.
I meant the parts that would not be on the phone, almost like the extra charms that would not be on a charm bracelet.
I can't say I do

optimuswhat 01-16-2015 09:24 PM
Looks interesting.
I imagine that people will be complaining that they lost their modules, though. Theft of modules would be pretty easy, too.
The idea is pretty interesting, though.

TWIZ 01-16-2015 09:39 PM
I can already predict that this won't go anywhere. They're gonna have a pretty damn small target market.

Pimpsy G. 01-17-2015 04:34 AM
Quote:
Posted by TWIZ (Post 535737)
I can already predict that this won't go anywhere. They're gonna have a pretty damn small target market.
I'm not sure about. I could see a lot of people liking the idea of just upgrading your camera if you want a better camera instead of buying a whole new phone, or if you crack your phone and you dont have a warranty, just get a new screen (maybe a higher resolution one, too!). Could save people a buttload of money, and money makes the world go round. But yeah I agree with the sentiment shared here that they need to make them look prettier.

TWIZ 01-17-2015 03:22 PM
From what I've observed in the past years, it's that the people like unity and simplicity. That's one of the reasons why iPhones are so popular. I actually think this is the start of a good idea, but they still haven't hit home run. They should try a different approach if this doesn't work out as expected.

5hift 01-17-2015 04:50 PM
Yeah I don't really want my phone looking like a plastic mosaic all the time.

Some of those little add-ons seem kinda redundant since they're just a physical version of some app or widget you can just download.

However I do like the idea of adding more storage, repairing your screen or improving your camera, that can actually save you a bunch of money.

Crono 01-18-2015 01:34 PM
Quote:
Posted by TWIZ (Post 535863)
From what I've observed in the past years, it's that the people like unity and simplicity. That's one of the reasons why iPhones are so popular. I actually think this is the start of a good idea, but they still haven't hit home run. They should try a different approach if this doesn't work out as expected.
Enthuasists don't, and modular phones would attract people like us who like to piece together our own hardware. The fact that there's such a massive custom PC scene shows that there is a market for this.

hosler 01-18-2015 04:30 PM
I'm definitely getting one. Gonna be sweet.

TWIZ 01-18-2015 05:55 PM
Quote:
Posted by Crono (Post 536055)
Enthuasists don't, and modular phones would attract people like us who like to piece together our own hardware. The fact that there's such a massive custom PC scene shows that there is a market for this.
Custom computers are completely different. About a year ago, I had the idea of custom phones, rather than piecing together a backside of the phone with different apparatuses, it would essentially be the same as building a custom computer. When you compare these two concepts, it shouldn't be very hard to tell that they are completely different. Let's take cars, for instance. They are customizable, and yet people still buy them. But this is different. Instead of customizing, you are piecing together a bunch of blocks on the back of your phone to perform various operations. The only useful thing I believe would change the future of smart phones would be the easily replaceable screen.

Crono 01-18-2015 10:01 PM
Quote:
Posted by TWIZ (Post 536088)
Custom computers are completely different. About a year ago, I had the idea of custom phones, rather than piecing together a backside of the phone with different apparatuses, it would essentially be the same as building a custom computer. When you compare these two concepts, it shouldn't be very hard to tell that they are completely different. Let's take cars, for instance. They are customizable, and yet people still buy them. But this is different. Instead of customizing, you are instead piecing together a bunch of blocks on the back of your phone to perform various operations. The only useful thing I believe would change the future of smart phones would be the easily replaceable screen.
Not completely different at all, the same people who love piecing together hardware will love piecing together their phones. There's a massive market for things that aren't done like iDevices. This is useful because it can extend the lifetime of certain parts.

Dusty 01-18-2015 10:30 PM
I remember the original modular phone concept from Google looked like this:
http://image.ec21.com/image/tianlipl...Link_Cubes.jpg

And I was like D: but it looks much more appealing now.

edit: Here it is, guess it doesn't quite look like that but still looked ugly as hell:
http://img.weburbanist.com/wp-conten...ne-concept.jpg

5hift 01-18-2015 11:51 PM
Quote:
Posted by Crono (Post 536055)
Enthuasists don't, and modular phones would attract people like us who like to piece together our own hardware. The fact that there's such a massive custom PC scene shows that there is a market for this.
Yeah only the market for a modular phone would probably be 1000x smaller then the market for PCs.

I don't really see a whole lot of customization here besides adding a bunch of redundant pieces on phone.

I'd rather buy a Lego iPhone case and build on that.

Tricxta 01-19-2015 02:00 AM
Quote:
Posted by 5hift (Post 536132)
Yeah only the market for a modular phone would probably be 1000x smaller then the market for PCs.

I don't really see a whole lot of customization here besides adding a bunch of redundant pieces on phone.

I'd rather buy a Lego iPhone case and build on that.
Redundant pieces? because you don't need any additional hardware to measure water ph or any kind of special camera to see in the dark? :sarcastic:

Seriously though, what modules would you see as redundant?

5hift 01-19-2015 02:03 AM
Quote:
Posted by Tricxta (Post 536150)
Redundant pieces? because you don't need any additional hardware to measure water ph or any kind of special camera to see in the dark? :sarcastic:

Seriously though, what modules would you see as redundant?
Measure water pH?

Night vision?

I'd never use those options unless I was a Navy Seal or something lol.

And what I meant by redundant was like some stupid compass or clock widget.

Why the hell would you need a physical version when you can just download some app for it or something?

The whole idea just seems kinda silly.

Tricxta 01-19-2015 02:14 AM
Quote:
Posted by 5hift (Post 536152)
Measure water pH?

Night vision?

I'd never use those options unless I was a Navy Seal or something lol.

And what I meant by redundant was like some stupid compass or clock widget.

Why the hell would you need a physical version when you can just download some app for it or something?

The whole idea just seems kinda silly.
The idea means the device can cater to an individual person's field of work.
But what you've mentioned are only proposals of potentially infinite modules that could exist, there's no rule saying you need to include a watch or a compass or anything!(just don't get silly).

For the average user though, there's always the possibility of upgrading to the latest and greatest camera without having to scrap the entire device. If not for yourself, do it for the environment. You only get one earth(for now).

TWIZ 01-19-2015 02:32 AM
Quote:
Posted by Tricxta (Post 536155)
The idea means the device can cater to an individual person's field of work.
But what you've mentioned are only proposals of potentially infinite modules that could exist, there's no rule saying you need to include a watch or a compass or anything!(just don't get silly).

For the average user though, there's always the possibility of upgrading to the latest and greatest camera without having to scrap the entire device. If not for yourself, do it for the environment. You only get one earth(for now).
Let's briefly narrow down the possibilities:
If you initially have a small target market, you're going to have a relatively hard time sufficing to their positional and personal needs. Accounting for this, many investors and manufacturers will be screwed and go out of business.

5hift 01-19-2015 02:33 AM
Look, I just don't see physical widgets and addons for phones much as a viable selling point considering downloadable ones are much easier to get and cheaper.

As for interchangeable cameras, storage, audio and screens, those seem like actually logical ideas for a modular phone.

TWIZ 01-19-2015 02:47 AM
Quote:
Posted by 5hift (Post 536157)
Look, I just don't see physical widgets and addons for phones much as a viable selling point considering downloadable ones are much easier to get and cheaper.

As for interchangeable cameras, storage, audio and screens, those seem like actually logical ideas for a modular phone.
Exactly my point I made earlier. Although they are interchangeable already, it would be nice to have easy access and replacement.

Tricxta 01-19-2015 03:06 AM
Quote:
Posted by TWIZ (Post 536158)
Exactly my point I made earlier. Although they are interchangeable already, it would be nice to have easy access and replacement.
Oh but it does... hot swapping all the way!

TWIZ 01-19-2015 03:16 AM
Quote:
Posted by Tricxta (Post 536161)
Oh but it does... hot swapping all the way!
Not electromagnetically... Although it's very convenient, it seems very insecure with this level of ease when swapping.

Crono 01-19-2015 03:48 AM
Quote:
Posted by 5hift (Post 536132)
Yeah only the market for a modular phone would probably be 1000x smaller then the market for PCs.

I don't really see a whole lot of customization here besides adding a bunch of redundant pieces on phone.

I'd rather buy a Lego iPhone case and build on that.
Not really, phones/tablets are incredibly popular...dare I say even more so than PC's. Only a matter of time before a custom market opens up.

5hift 01-19-2015 04:20 AM
Quote:
Posted by Crono (Post 536165)
Not really, phones/tablets are incredibly popular...dare I say even more so than PC's. Only a matter of time before a custom market opens up.
Phones are understandable because almost everyone above the age of 12 has a phone.

But you can't count on a phone to do computer things.

Tablets may be able to but not very well.

TWIZ 01-19-2015 04:31 AM
I'm assuming their counter argument will be that computers and phones are essentially the same thing. While I agree with this because it's a fact, consumers don't even consider it because they see the two as completely different devices that serve different purposes.

hosler 01-19-2015 02:31 PM
You will get to design and make your own mods

Crono 01-19-2015 03:22 PM
Quote:
Posted by 5hift (Post 536171)
Phones are understandable because almost everyone above the age of 12 has a phone.

But you can't count on a phone to do computer things.

Tablets may be able to but not very well.
I never said it would replace computer things, not yet anyway, but technically it's possible. I haven't really followed it but if you can dock your phone and have it output to your monitor (im sure this is possible, right?) you'd just need to couple it to a bluetooth keyboard & mouse (they have those too, right? for phones? no? damn :() and you basically have a PC.

DeliriousNoob 01-19-2015 04:23 PM
the next step of the human race...

hosler 01-20-2015 06:18 PM
Can't wait to become a drone in the Borg collective

Emera 01-20-2015 06:49 PM
What the **** is this ****.

TWIZ 01-20-2015 09:40 PM
Quote:
Posted by Emera (Post 536447)
What the **** is this ****.
http://m.quickmeme.com/img/32/329861...ac9e1a5492.jpg

5hift 01-21-2015 01:26 AM
Quote:
Posted by TWIZ (Post 536471)
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/201...ndy-corn-o.gif

TWIZ 01-21-2015 02:14 AM
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Posted by 5hift (Post 536512)
Attachment 17093

Crono 01-21-2015 05:34 PM
Quote:
Posted by TWIZ (Post 536518)
not even close

TWIZ 01-21-2015 06:41 PM
Quote:
Posted by Crono (Post 536610)
not even close
Exactly


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