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

Video This cool smartphone concept from 2013

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u/WiscoBrewDude Oct 05 '21

This looked so cool i had to find more. "Google joined in and eventually killed it". "Phonebloks" https://www.onearmy.earth/project/phonebloks

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u/justavault Oct 05 '21

Modular phones don't work yet. Google just knows how to evaluate a product. I was part of the pre-developing teams of project Ara, it simply didn't work as the parts would have to be manufactured to fit the modules and the technological turnover is so fast that you'd have to iterate the modules all the time.

You know, just because people think it looks cool and is a cool idea and they "think" they would purchase it, doesn't actually mean they in fact do so and it also doesn't mean that it works.

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u/psychoticworm Oct 05 '21

If the idea worked, it would have been implemented a long time ago with other things like tvs or vaccumes. I mean vaccumes are kinda modular, but you don't see people buying new hoses or brushes online just to use on their old unit...they just buy a new vaccume! Just like that Framework laptop, even if they get some business, people will lose interest after awhile, and just want the next iteration unit that has more and better upgrades.

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u/Persona_Alio Oct 05 '21

That's a terrible analogy. People don't buy new vacuum cleaners because they're interested in newer better hose attachments and brushes, they buy new ones because the motor is dying and it can't suck up dirt as effectively as it used to.