Have you ever thought if you can modify your android phones like desktop PCs?
Google finally announced that they will launch first modular phone codenamed "Project ARA" which is based on PhoneBlocs. What is the most exciting thing about this phone? It's price! Starter pack at just $50 (around 3000 INR). Project ARA was demoed by Google's Paul Eremenko, head of Project Ara at Google, on Day 3 of the Launch Festival 2014 in San Francisco. Google is planning to launch this modular phone next year. No matter how much critism was faced by Phoneblocs their prototype is now going to final stage.
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Currently the project is handled by ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects - Google's wing that handles most challenging and futuristic projects). Project Ara's end users get power to customize each and every hardware part. E.G. after buying phone in 2 years if you feel your phone is getting slow... Then just change your old SoC with new one. You can compare it with barebone kit of "Assembles PCs". Google will also start store for its "modules". Google is planning to launch this device in three variants - small (4"), Medium (<5") and Large. Super basic version will have 4" screen with Wi-Fi and other standard capabilities to boot into Android, it'll be priced at mere $50. According to interview of ATAP by Time, They revealed that most modules will be just 4MM thick and overall thickness won't exceed 10mm. ATAP also adds that there will be some sort of arrangement to avoid modules from disengaging automatically when phone falls. Removing the modules will require a confirmation from app, which will tell phone's locking mechanism to disengage particular module. ATAP will reveal more details about hardware and Manufacturers in Project ARA's developer conference in April. We can expect the phone will be completely open source in all aspects - software as well as hardware.
Bottomline
Though ARA is in initial state of development but still we can expect another beast from search engine giant Google. Who knows if future will be flooded with modular phones. At $50 price point this device will surely worth try.
Though ARA is in initial state of development but still we can expect another beast from search engine giant Google. Who knows if future will be flooded with modular phones. At $50 price point this device will surely worth try.
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