Google's Project Ara will have a store for its modular bits

23 October, 2014
The search giant has announced that it will launch a dedicated hardware store for the Ara.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • iny
  • 26 Nov 2018

My suggestion on this one is greatly inspired by the game The Surge.

how about having a Core base which can accomodate a certain number of mods or slots. the higher core it is, the more it can accomodate more mods. prices may vary on how many slots does a consumer can afford or needs.

Then for the mods like camera mods, memory mods and etc. the higher spec the mod the more slot or core power it will consume. for example, a core of 16slots may a 8-slot camera, 4-slot memory and 2 slots for others, then you have a phone primarily built for pictures. or same slots with 2-slot camera, 5-slot memory, 5-slot gpu, 4 for others, then you have a basic gaming phone at hand.

Just my idea on a modular system.

    • D
    • AnonD-330840
    • t7X
    • 13 Nov 2014

    Google spent a lot in this project. Teams of senior experts and pros in each tech specs, one must stop being impossibru fanboy. Its a new era and the only prob is if they plan to release a v2 that wud make v1 extinct (like on ancient "future proof" motherboards)

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • jKr
      • 24 Oct 2014

      AnonD-43136, 24 Oct 2014If you want high end modules then you will have to pay more... moreThe thing is manufacture won't destroy their profit model by supporting ARA.they also will not help google control more of the business.

      Even if some higher spec module gets released you won't get the same peromance improvement.you will have to upgrade multiple module at the same time and still the low cost base frame will show it's limits.

        • D
        • AnonD-43136
        • 39x
        • 24 Oct 2014

        If you want high end modules then you will have to pay more. It's the same with cars. You can get a Mercedes or BMW at a certain price but have to pay through the nose if you want top specs.

          • D
          • AnonD-276015
          • PA7
          • 24 Oct 2014

          So, if we want to install a new module, do we also need to install new module driver ( and maybe also app to have the max out of new module)?
          Or the OS is going to accomodate all modules changing?
          Or all modules that are going to be sold should be within the limit of what the OS capable of?
          what about SOC, display, camera? They won't be simple plug and play upgrades.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • jKr
            • 24 Oct 2014

            Its a nonsensical myth that just upgrading one part onto a low cost main base will be enough to receive the performance benefit.

            in the end you might still have to upgrade CPU ram, battery and other parts to support that upgrade.it may end up cost you more and not work as well as a normal phone.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • jKr
              • 24 Oct 2014

              As long as Google's goal is to make it extremely affordable, expect maybe a over all mid level phone especially when the low cost base component start to show its limit years down the line.

              just don't be surprised if all the new high end upgrade modules never show up or when the few that show can't perform as they are build in a pre made phone.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • jKr
                • 24 Oct 2014

                Why are people believing they will have any part they want to build their ara phone?

                The manufactures already give up so much control to google using android.

                The point is you won't have a phone exactly as you want,and with vast selection of pre made phone out,it make more sense to value the compadability,efficiency,stability,reliability,durability and many other beneficial attribute of pre made phone.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-315264
                  • JKU
                  • 24 Oct 2014

                  WTH, 24 Oct 2014no fm radio :(You will be probably get FM Radio as the module to install it just like on the Desktop PC

                    • D
                    • AnonD-315264
                    • JKU
                    • 24 Oct 2014

                    AnonD-315264, 24 Oct 2014And one simple question what we should all ask how e can kn... moreThat question first must be regulated with Google by international law and regulatives to protect us innocent people from internet criminals and fakes and internet frauds designed to steal our hard earned money from us

                      • D
                      • AnonD-315264
                      • JKU
                      • 24 Oct 2014

                      Anonymous, 24 Oct 2014Dear James Simple. Don't buy on the weekends. Five other... moreAnd one simple question what we should all ask how e can know that we get a real original stock modules for our money how we can know that with todays internet frauds designed to fool and steal money from the people on the internet how we can know who is the original and genuine manifactures and who is fake and hackers and cybercriminals we have to solve that problem first it is for our safety and security.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-315264
                        • JKU
                        • 24 Oct 2014

                        Me too I want to upgrade from my today Sony Xperia E1 D2005 Black and next year from Sony Xperia E3 to the Modular Smartphone please prepare Ara Modular Smartphone for Serbia too.I am waiting for Ara Modular smartphone in Serbia.And please give us possibility of choice of the Operating System we want to instal to this phone between Android,Ubuntu Mobile and Microsoft Windows Phone 10.And in the next Ara model have in plan to make Ara modular Smartphones running with real Desktop OS just like htc Shift UMPC who is running with Windows Mobile 6 and real Microsoft Windows Vista.That is my idea and request for Ara Modular Smartphones.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • mAt
                          • 24 Oct 2014

                          AnonD-43136, 24 Oct 2014I hope it's better regulated than playstore. You get fake a... moreDear James
                          Simple. Don't buy on the weekends. Five other days should be enough.

                            • D
                            • AnonD-43136
                            • 39x
                            • 24 Oct 2014

                            Maybe Google gave us a phablet for nexus 6 hoping nexus 5 users will get this instead?

                              • D
                              • AnonD-308243
                              • fjR
                              • 24 Oct 2014

                              Nexus6Owner, 24 Oct 2014Unless they put up variety options to choose from. If all w... morethats exactly what I've been waiting for. eg the nokia 42mpx cam module fitted to 2k display and mated with a custom soc to trully make them both work to thier best is very appealing to a person tired of oem short falls. this project, if implemented correctly could be that answer to disappointing handsets some of us had to use without any means to change what we disliked. so I'm waiting to see if google can backup this truly unique approach.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-43136
                                • 39x
                                • 24 Oct 2014

                                I hope it's better regulated than playstore. You get fake apps on the weekend with playstore so I hope you don't get modules with malware for sale on the weekends in this store.

                                  • W
                                  • Wonderful project
                                  • Sf{
                                  • 24 Oct 2014

                                  I wait to upgrade from Note2 to this phone. Note3 & Note4 all have different batteries & S Pens. Everything is incompatible with the early model. It is very bad for customers (so you are ripped of every time you buy the next model).
                                  This project is the best one for the customers after the invention of smartphones.

                                    • l
                                    • lada
                                    • 3E@
                                    • 24 Oct 2014

                                    Anonymous, 24 Oct 2014Silly concept. Cellphones are getting dirt cheap and they ... moredevelopment, customization, new ideas, community, same as Raspberry Pi (crappy hardware, yet... 3.9 million sold ) but mobile. Modules that extend the platform to whatever the user wants (...measurement applications, servo driving, autonomous robots, data gathering, customized security appliances, mobile terminals ...)

                                      • N
                                      • Nexus6Owner
                                      • Hkt
                                      • 24 Oct 2014

                                      AnonD-308243, 24 Oct 2014hmmm. some of the posting are disappointing. ok tell me how... moreUnless they put up variety options to choose from. If all we needed was the best of everything, the rest of the choices are all going to be useless and ignored by majority of the Ara enthusiasts. All-in-ones and best-of-the-bests all come with a pricetag, which is something to be kept in mind. Hoping that even more manufacturers and OEMs put their effort into this project and contribute modules n stuff

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-308243
                                        • fjR
                                        • 24 Oct 2014

                                        hmmm. some of the posting are disappointing. ok tell me how many have bought a phone for a specific feature and got disappointed. this kin of tech addresses that u dont have to be stuck with a crapy component on ur device any more. if it sucks just take it off and place a better one. i always hatted nokia screens but loved thier camera modules now it will be possible to mate the best cams, best cpu/gpu, best diaplay combinations. it depends on ur mindset to see real potential in ptojects that could begin a new era for mobiles. hack in PC computing this is the norm. hardware gets changed all the time.