Google Ara modular smartphone demo

[shabby]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LU5UtG5-M&t=318
Open source, no licensing fees... mind boggling.

More info added from dev conference...

Mini - 118x45x9.7mm
Medium - 141x68x9.7mm
Large - 164x91x9.7mm

Project Ara Dev Conference in 5 minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCXOXQ0f7c

Dev conference day 1 videos
Overview, Objectives, Goals, Demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGV7HUffHuA
Prototype Demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSo3KeGUNO4
MDK and Ara Structure Information - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p89hlskJqUg
Industrial Design and Module Selection - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14uRKV1fnM
Power - Charging and Batteries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTSn2sAB4S0

Dev conference day 2 videos
Meta Concepts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdDhl8rdByU
Metamorphosys Tool Suite Overview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwPcBp4PxNM
Ara Development Board Information - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARfdXdyvglg
Ara Development Board Demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9asoyZV-qz8
Module Reference Designs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyovyo8ymyw

 

[SithSolo1]

Want to try one of these so bad.

 

[fr]

Interesting concept, but I doubt it will sell. Reminds me of my 2001 Dell Inspiron 4100 notebook. Switch out the optical drive for second battery or take out both to save weight.

 

[kpkp]

I was really sceptical about this, but after watching this it makes me hopeful.
Thx for sharing shabby.

 

[Red Storm]

I can't wait to see the final product.

 

[bearxor]

I should apply for that job @ 3D Systems again...

 

[vshah]

fingers crossed that this works out x eleventy billion. would do wonders for innovation in the component space. imagine nikon/canon duking it out for camera modules.

 

[gotsmack]

Wow, this is a game changer. I can see all of the manufacturers trying to crush this though.

 

[Joe1987]

Why is it I can't imagine Verizon ever allowing this on their network?

 

[Jodell88]

Why is it I can't imagine Verizon ever allowing this on their network?

Because Verizon sucks.

 

[bearxor]

Why is it I can't imagine Verizon ever allowing this on their network?

They won't have a choice in a couple of years.

 

[shabby]

fingers crossed that this works out x eleventy billion. would do wonders for innovation in the component space. imagine nikon/canon duking it out for camera modules.

Ya the camera module will definitely be the most popular module and will bring out some new competitors, red/arri camera's?

 

[Red Squirrel]

About time, this is awesome! I hope it takes off and that more manufacturers get involved. It's nice that it's not just being patented, but rather made open. That's how it should always be!

 

[Oyeve]

I see a drop and all modules scattering.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I see a drop and all modules scattering.

lol yeah I could see it too, but typically you'd probably have some kind of case around it anyway.

 

[BrightCandle]

Finally you can choose best of breed addons to the phone. What is a problem is that you still have to choose between SOC's but at least you have the choice to combine a decent SOC with a rubbish screen or vice verses.

Its certainly better even if it doesn't give us separate GPU/CPU/RAM etc.

 

[Viper GTS]

I see a drop and all modules scattering.

They talked about the use of electropermanent magnets, while they didn't explicitly say it I got the impression that they would be used to hold it together once assembled. Basically a weak permanent magnet to let you handle it without it coming apart, and a far stronger (he said an order of magnitude) magnet that holds it together during use.

If they can actually make this happen I could be excited about this. I am relatively content buying a new Nexus every year but there's always some compromise. Plus by the end of the year I'm jealous of all the new SoCs that everybody else is playing with.

I would gladly pay a premium (probably up to double) for the ability to upgrade components mid-cycle.

Viper GTS

 

[Dari]

What's the I/O speed?

 

[Viper GTS]

What's the I/O speed?

10gb/s per connector, so up to 20gb/s on the larger modules that have two connectors.

Viper GTS

 

[kpkp]

One problem I see with current prototypes is that there just isn't enough space for a decent size battery, only way it would be to get creative with the z-axis.

 

[dougp]

One problem I see with current prototypes is that there just isn't enough space for a decent size battery, only way it would be to get creative with the z-axis.

One of the 2x2 modules could easily be the same capacity as a typical Samsung or iPhone battery.

 

[kpkp]

One of the 2x2 modules could easily be the same capacity as a typical Samsung or iPhone battery.

If you consider that you have to include the magnet coils, the circuits, the removable top cover... The overall space for the battery cells is quite restricted.

It gets even worse on the Mini version.

 

[Dari]

10gb/s per connector, so up to 20gb/s on the larger modules that have two connectors.

Viper GTS

So it's not shared?

 

[gorcorps]

One of the 2x2 modules could easily be the same capacity as a typical Samsung or iPhone battery.

Uh... No

You can't much improve on the density of current lithium cells, so capacity is directly correlated with volume. Samsung is one of the few that still has a removable back so you can Google to see how large the batteries are compared to the phone. Now compare that to what's seen in the Ara and it looks like 2/3 the size at best. That's a big problem IMO

 

[Red Squirrel]

You could probably put more than one battery module right?

My biggest concern is the electromagnet that they use. Electromagnets normally use lot of power (I've blown plenty of power supplies while making electromagnets lol), so not sure how they'll make it strong enough but yet not drain the battery.