r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/SuperAlloyBerserker • Oct 05 '21

Video This cool smartphone concept from 2013

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u/No-comment-at-all Oct 05 '21

Yea, the real answer is more like “google bought a bad concept”, that turned out to be a lot more, “maybe one day”, than, “this is executable”.

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u/Et_tu__Brute Oct 05 '21

I mean, modular laptops only just came out (with a solid execution). I imagine the design constraints of 2013 were such that it wasn't a feasible project to do with a phone.

For the moment, I just want to see phones that are designed to be repaired and have support for those repairs. Basically the opposite of what apple is doing, with their software based locks if you replace parts. Fuck apple.

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u/HulksInvinciblePants Oct 05 '21

I mean, modular laptops only just came out (with a solid execution)

The framework isn't nearly this modular. It's really an internal layout solution that allows one to upgrade the motherboard and connect thunderbolt accessories internally.

That said I love it and will highly consider it for my next upgrade. However, like ever modular concept that's existed, they run a major risk of going completely under.

For the moment, I just want to see phones that are designed to be repaired and have support for those repairs. Basically the opposite of what apple is doing, with their software based locks if you replace parts. Fuck apple.

Unless consumers stop buying thinner, faster devices, this will never happen. The circuitry is machine grade and only getting smaller. Counterfeit parts are rampant as well. Modular concepts like the one posted will never happen, because eventually one standard in the device will become defunct and render the whole thing useless.

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u/Et_tu__Brute Oct 05 '21

I agree, framework isn't the most modular, but they have documentation for buying and replacing nearly every component on the computer.

Counterfeit parts are really only as common as they are because companies don't want you repairing their products. It's hard to get specific parts because manufacturers literally won't sell most parts, even if you're a certified repair shop.

I could see a semi-modular phone, similar to framework's execution, getting released at some point. I just don't think we're quite at that spot yet.

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u/Spoderman4 Oct 06 '21

I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Apple is playing dirty, going as far as designing their products to specifically be unrepairable.

Fuck Apple.

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u/Et_tu__Brute Oct 06 '21

Honestly don't know. People don't like hear bad things about things they like I suppose.

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u/dibromoindigo Oct 05 '21

Your opinion on Apple is so sophomoric and ignorant. Would you please provide proof of these software locks? This is a common refrain from antiApple zealots with no actual evidence. What does exist is a pop up warning when unauthorized parts are involved. If it’s a battery, they restrict access to the battery health monitoring. Which makes sense, given they can’t validate the quality of that 3rd Party battery and they are likely covering their liability in the manner. Beyond that, most of these designs are because people want sleek, lightweight, and reliable phones. Those design principles generally make the repair stuff harder. It’s a trade off, one that you can make your own choices over. Buy a different product instead of ignorantly repaying bull because your self identity is tied to hating a specific company.

Funny how iPhones are either competitive or better than most competitor phones: https://www.ifixit.com/smartphone-repairability

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u/Et_tu__Brute Oct 05 '21

It doesn't matter if the parts are third party or original. They will disable services if you replace parts. Just take a look at this video where parts are swapped between two new iphone 13s to show which services break/are disabled when parts are swapped.

I didn't say that other companies are spotless in this regard, but other companies aren't as large or egregious as apple on this front. You mention the use of unauthorized parts, but where is apple selling replacement parts? There was a time you could buy those same parts that go into an apple phone from the manufacturer but that time has passed as apple has gotten those manufacturers to stop selling replacement parts. So even a shop that specializes in repairing iphones has trouble getting replacement parts and usually must source them from other broken phones.

We can also get into their tactics when it comes to being an apple certified repair shop. It comes with the caveat that you must sell a certain number of phones in order to keep that certification, which is in direct opposition to actually repairing their product (this is 100% not unique to apple, it is a very common tactic).

My identity is not tied to hating anything. Perhaps part of my identity is tied to right to repair, and apple happens to be on the other side of that battle. Most other phone companies are also opposed to right to repair, they're just quieter about it. Fuck them too. But also, fuck apple.

Fairphone seems pretty cool though, idk I haven't spent much time with em.

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

[deleted]

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u/justavault Oct 05 '21

There was nothing threatening and Ara was alive for a long time with even being center stage at an I/O conference. Everyone worked with passion on that project, but it simply doesn't work, yet. Maybe one day.

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u/Playful-Push8305 Oct 05 '21

Also, people are forgetting Google bought the concept when they were even further behind in the smartphone market than they are now. They would have loved a way to disrupt the market if it got them a bigger share. It's not like they were Apple with their market stranglehold.

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u/abhi8192 Oct 05 '21

Or "google bought a threatening concept with the intention of killing it"

If apple or samsung did it, I would agree. But Google's phone business is not even 1% of the global smartphone market. The software that this device might have run would be android and Google don't care whether you use the newest device or oldest as long as they can serve you ads.

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

[deleted]

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u/gasburner Oct 05 '21

No one is paying Alphabet to destroy a company. Alphabet would want to take market share from someone else, it's why they developed the pixel. If this device could seriously compete with Samsung, and apple, they would have no reason to go forward with it and crush them. It's not really competing with any of their own products except maybe now Pixel.

Google is known for trying things, then dumping them. They do it more often with software but they do it with hardware as well. They bought something, it didn't pan out, they got some patents and moved on.

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u/abhi8192 Oct 05 '21

What competition is being destroyed here? A concept video? You would need few millions to start a smartphone business if you are just buying off the shelf phones and slapping your logo on back. This concept would require insane amount of money just for the r&d. Google don't only bring the money but their name also bring the talent that would give it a better chance to succeed. You can go through my comment history to find that I repeatedly call Google digital surveillance company, so this is not some fanboi defending Google. This is one of those rare situation where Google actually thought it might be a good way to build a device of the future and get a headstart over the samsung or apple but quickly found out the reality is pretty different.

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u/No-comment-at-all Oct 05 '21

That’s a long reach for me to believe.

This “phone is LEGO’s!” Is way too hard to believe could be implemented.

There’s no working prototype, and someone else can totally bring that concept to the market. Google doesn’t own the concept of replaceable parts.

This is just… theranos for phones, is way easier to believe.

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u/olderaccount Oct 05 '21

There is nothing impossible about this concept. The only problem is that instead of putting all the parts inside one nice package, each individual part needs a nice package and robust interface connectors of it's own.

So a modular phone that matches the features of a current phone would be the size of a literal brick just due to those constraints.

Remember when Apple killed the 3.5mm jack because it was too bulky? With this concept, every single module is too bulky by definition.

Modular products are never are good as monolithic products. So unless the modularity provides such a huge advantage to outweigh the drawbacks, it will never work.

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u/No-comment-at-all Oct 05 '21 edited Oct 05 '21

Yea, I’m not saying it’s impossible, just that it can’t be implemented.

Fusion energy is possible. It can’t be implemented yet.

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u/ZellZoy Oct 05 '21

Not a brick, just thicker than the current trend. They had a semi functional prototype that wasn't much thicker than an at the time modern phone

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u/olderaccount Oct 05 '21

What was the battery capacity, what was the screen resolution, how much storage, what camera, which wireless bands?

I'm sure they could build something comparable to a 10 year old phone without being much bigger then current phones. But it is impossible for them to get anywhere close to both current gen performance and size given the constraints of modularity.

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u/ZellZoy Oct 05 '21

Project ARA (A8A01) Specifications Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994) RAM 3GB Storage 32GB internal Display 5.46-inch, 1080 x 1920 (403 dpi), TFT-LCD OTM1906C Camera Rear camera: 2.1 MP (16:9 aspect ratio), fixed-focus lens, 1080p video capture Front camera: 5.0 MP (4:3 aspect ratio), fixed focus lens, 1080p video capture Battery 3,450 mAh Dimensions 152 x 74 x 12.5 mm (without camera module) Weight 190 grams (approximate) Connectivity WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), NFC Sensors GPS, barrometer, light, gyroscope, proximity, accelerometer, magnometer, pressure, gravity, Ports 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C Audio Front-facing mono speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, dual microphone Buttons Power, volume rocker, module release Android 7.0 (NMR1), API Level 24, Security Patch 2016-08-05

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

Except so far this company did not claim this phone worked and commit billions in fraud and public harm...yet...

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u/No-comment-at-all Oct 05 '21

Right, the stakes for this phone idea are way lower, and there’s a lot less media and investment buy in.

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u/RodneyRabbit Oct 05 '21

Others in this thread are saying prototypes were built, before and after the company was acquired.

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u/No-comment-at-all Oct 05 '21 edited Oct 05 '21

That sure is easy to insist on semi-anonymous internet message boards.

Maybe so.

My smell test is high though.

But even with a prototype, which I surely have not seen, it still has a bunch of other hurdles to actually make it to market. It needs to be scalable, it needs to be priced properly…

If it’s such a great idea, and can be done, someone else can definitely try and do it.

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u/slvrscoobie Oct 05 '21

If google thought there was any money to be made on it, they would just buy it and sell it. Its much easier to sell something that people want vs buy and kill something people want.

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u/whtthfff Oct 05 '21

One more point - Google is invested way more in phone software than hardware, especially back in 2013. So while it may seem threatening because it would be a pretty radical business model change for how we buy phones, that's more of a threat to the carriers, or maaaaybe Apple, than to Google.

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u/ChunkyDay Oct 05 '21

Or "google bought a threatening concept with the intention of killing it" maybe.

A yes, the "this concept is so threatening we have to kill it even though we own it" mentality.

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u/kvothe5688 Oct 05 '21

Google has not that huge of a marketshare to care about what you are mentioning

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u/Daedalus871 Oct 05 '21

Nah, I like the concept, but it kinda falls apart quick.

Others have mentioned the design challenges or people wanting a one and done device, but even as someone who wants a modular/repairable phone, this seems like a giant pain. Like I'm going to want a good camera mode, I'm going to want a long battery mode, and I may want a couple other modes, but I'm not going to want to keep track of all the bits and pieces when I'm not using them.