Let's Talk Tech
I’m really excited for modular phones. Replacing pieces when they get worn out, instead of having to buy a whole new phone.
Phonebloks took a tour around Google’s lab to see some of the new design work happening on Project Ara, recently acquired from Motorola. Discussing design and aesthetics, one of the highlights is the discussion on magnets for holding all the pieces together.
Here’s to hoping we see a full prototype in action soon!
I WANT THIS!
I posted a little while back about Phonebloks, a Lego-like phone concept allowing smartphone users to customize exactly the kind of phone hardware they want. I thought it was exciting as it would allow people to upgrade over time, while hopefully preventing a significant amount of e-waste. When one piece of your phone becomes obsolete or breaks, just swap it out for an upgrade. You don’t have to throw the whole phone out.
I got A LOT of cynicism on social media from a BUNCH of people who said it could never work, further reinforcing the notion that people online don’t really want actual NEW things.
Well wouldn’t you know it, today Motorola announces that they’ve been working on this very idea for over a year now! It doesn’t get much more legitimate as a concept device than that. Dubbed Project Ara, Moto is trying to push an open hardware standard which would compliment software like Android. In an age where increasingly our magic glowing rectangles are often glued shut, this would be a refreshing change of pace, especially for someone like me who still prefers building his own workstations.
Best of all Moto knows that they aren’t first in pushing this concept out to the masses, and they’ve reach out to Phonebloks to do some community building and partnerships, while moving forward during the development process. Really classy move.
Get the full scoop at Moto’s blog!
***UPDATE***
Now there’s a video showing Phonebloks and Moto working together!
Tech moves fast, and what was top of the smartphone heap on week is old news the next. In actually using these devices, that aggressive release cycle can induce a little liberal guilt whenever I consider the amount of e-waste being generated.
We’ve long considered the dream of a modular phone which can be upgraded over time. Unfortunately the opposite trend is taking root in the phone industry. What little access and upgradability we did have, like swapping a back plate, battery, or increasing storage is often going away in the name of sleek design.
Well Dave Hakkens wants to change that. He’s released this teaser on Youtube showing his design renders for PhoneBloks, a phone which will last longer, allowing users to upgrade the components they care about over time. The concept rests on a Lego-like system of pieces that the user picks to customize their experience.
He’s starting off with a social media push on Thunderclap, and if this concept interests you, if you’d like to see this move beyond design renders and mock ups, head on over to PhoneBloks.com.
(via Andrew on G+)