Google Ara - Modern Era?
I recently upgraded my smartphone to Google Nexus 6P. It is undoubtedly one of the best smartphone of 2K16. Happie for it.
Booom! then comes the news about the next Nexus device under HTC flagship. Rumors says, it might have the powerful processor of SD 821 and all parts of hardware specs being improved.
And now for smartphone freaks like me, this news will be a bitter pill. Everybody wants to have the most updated smartphone both hardware and software wise. So buy latest smartphone in market which eventually will become old in next couple of months. And accidental drops "Oh shit", are inevitable while using smartphones. Imagine, if you can manually upgrade or change parts of your smartphone. Yes, I did mention "parts of your smartphone".
Phone Bloks:
The idea is to build a smartphone of your own using individual modules as shown in image below. When Google came up with this concept in 2011, conceived from Motorola's Advanced Technology and Projects group(Team ATAP). Google acted smartly retaining it's ATAP team when it sold Motorola patents to Lenovo. The advancement Google showed till date in implementing its concept is mind blowing. Basically Modular smartphone has modules which are upgradeable and replaceable. The skeleton frame of the phone referred as "Endo" by google has connectors were all the components of the device like camera, battery, screen are stuck using the electro-permanent magnets. Google wants to make the Smartphone hardware completely opensource as it does with the Android Operation System giving power to the users all around the globe to fabricate the parts of the smartphone.
Semi-Modular Devices available:
- LG G5 is one semi-modular device currently available in market. It has a modular component located on the bottom of the device’s chassis. This is the G5’s big USP. Inside, you get access to the G5’s removable battery. This is the dull stuff, though, because the really interesting part is the fact that you can attach accessories to the phone -- accessories like LG Cam Plus, which adds 1100mAh battery and hardware controls (hardware key, a video button, zoom controls) to the G5’s camera.
- Motorola has launched its Z series smartphones Moto Z and Moto Z force(Shatter Proof) with Moto-Mods, magnetic snap on back panels. The Moto Mods connects via 16 dots at the rear, includes JBL sound boost, Moto-insta share projector(deliver 70 inch projector experience) and the Power pack(22 hours of additional Juice) and also Style shells.
Concept Come True:
And now, it's turn of the tech giant Google showcase the first working prototype of Google Ara in at Google I/O 2016. Meeting customer needs being ultimate goal of Google, has relied and partnered with various strong hardware manufactures in order to produce the modules. "OK Google" voice service from android if integrated with these modules will be a huge jump in innovation. Say, "OK Google, Eject Camera", Oh man that will be awesome and that is what a real success for ATAP Team. Google is delaying the launch of Ara to go through a complete Modular Google Phone.
*Images sources - Google