Customizable, Modular Smartphones are here!

Alex_Spider

Sidekick
Joined
Dec 3, 2005
Messages
2,527
Reaction score
0
Points
31
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/11/phonebloks/

Phonebloks: a utopian world where smartphones are a bit more like Lego

[YT]oDAw7vW7H0c[/YT]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oDAw7vW7H0c

Most smartphones are not very upgrade-friendly. The batteries start losing their ability to hold a charge, or the processor isn't fast enough for new apps, or--well, you get the idea. But Phonebloks wants to turn the idea of locked-in smartphone features on its head, offering the chance to swap out each component of your device at will.

Each portion of the Phonebloks system is its own, unique block that clicks into a pegboard-like base. Need a bigger battery? Snap a larger one into the base. If you like photography, you could snap in a Nokia module. Yes, the concept allows for branded blocks, so you can mix and match your favorite components.

Designer Dave Hakkens created the Phonebloks concept as a response to the wastefulness of smartphones. And honestly, with the emergence of carrier-based trade-in programs offering a new smartphone every year, maybe that's not such a bad idea.

Hakkens has created a Thunderclap campaign--think Kickstarter, but replace the money with a unified social media blast--set to launch at the end of October. Will Phonebloks ever become a reality? We don't know, but it's certainly a cool idea.

We hate to open too negatively here, but let's just say that this seems like one of those ideas that's just too good to be true. But heck, much stranger things have happened in the world of consumer electronics, and certainly the maker and crowdfunding communities have gone a ways toward helping us rethink our devices. What about a smartphone that could score a 10 every time iFixit teared it down? A simple, modular handset that you could configure and reconfigure it to your heart's content and upgrade simply instead of throwing it all away? Phoneblok is still firmly in the chipper YouTube video concept phase, but its creators are hoping that, with enough social push at the same time, the company will be able to attract some big names to its big idea. Crazy? Sure. But crazier things have happened.

This is so awesome. It opens the doors to customizable pc, cars etc. I am purchasing it as soon as it comes out.
 
Interesting concept but it'll never happen
 
It won't happen because the way they want it to work isn't compatible with a phone so you'd need to make tech from the ground up. Even if you do get it to work the blocks being changed out at every upgrade would cause just as much trash if not more then just replacing phones would. So the whole idea behind the phone is null and void anyhow. Not to mention the fact that you can't future proof like they claim and you'd need to upgrade the breadboard every few years anyhow.
 
It won't happen because the way they want it to work isn't compatible with a phone so you'd need to make tech from the ground up. Even if you do get it to work the blocks being changed out at every upgrade would cause just as much trash if not more then just replacing phones would. So the whole idea behind the phone is null and void anyhow. Not to mention the fact that you can't future proof like they claim and you'd need to upgrade the breadboard every few years anyhow.

I didn't get from the presentation that it needs tech from the ground up. Maybe when you do upgrades, the disposable blocks will be recyclable or they will have a return program or something. Still, if the disposable blocks can't be recycled or returned, at least you won't be dumping a whole phone, but a small part of it. In the end I think the phone will be fine with its specs. It's when a part of the phone breaks that people are forced to dump it and buy a new one. Not so much for upgrading its specs like memory or storage.
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top
monitoring_string = "afb8e5d7348ab9e99f73cba908f10802"