How would it look to you next smartphone you will order εσείς το hardware του (ώστε π.χ. να συνδυάζει τον ισχυρότερο επεξεργαστή με μια μέτρια κάμερα, ή το αντίστροφο), ενώ όταν πια θα έχει «παλιώσει», θα μπορείτε να αλλάξετε όποια υποσυστήματα θεωρείτε απαρχαιωμένα;
That's what smartphone, thanks to which one will be able to use her last word technologyς χωρίς να χρειάζεται να αγοράζει κάθε λίγο και λιγάκι καινούργια συσκευή, θα κυκλοφορήσουν μέσα στο 2015 η Google και δύο λιγότερο γνωστοί κατασκευαστές – οι Vsenn και Circular Devices.
Common feature of the models of all three companies? That they will be modular ("modular"), that is, they will be supported by a variety of available components, from which the user himself will choose which ones he wants, and will assemble them on the "framework" of the phones. Conversely, components will be just as easily removed to be replaced.
In this way, these models promise each prospective buyer that for the first time he will be able to adapt them to the functions he considers most important. Also, for the first time, the user will be able to extend the life of the phone by refreshing the hardware.
Based on what the three companies have released so far, it seems that Google has the lead, having developed the idea that the first modular smartphone is expected to be launched in the 1 quarter of 2015. The reason is that the development of modular telephones, made under Project Ara, has begun more than one year ago. Thus, project chief Paul Eremenko not only has given enough interviews on how the concept will be implemented, but has shown original smartphone smartphones to be running.
From these elements, the first thing that stands out is the fact that three "frames" of different sizes will be available, with 10, 18 and 28 positions respectively, for the assembly of components. In these positions, he will have the freedom to assemble the subsystems he wants – such as processor and memory, camera, biometric sensors and display with resolution of his liking.
In addition, in the case of certain hardware categories (such as batteries), it can add two components of the same type to its device, while changing any subsystem will be done without disabling the smartphone. Equally important is that modular smartphones will start at low prices: the basic "kit" will cost 50 dollars and will consist of a "skeleton", a screen, a Wi-Fi chip, a battery and a modest processor performance.
Compared to "Project Ara" models, the Vsenn Finnish start-up modular smartphone will offer less flexibility as the parts being replaced will be the camera, battery, and RAM. But even so, in fact, these are the three "pillars" that largely determine the user experience, as well as the hardware that gets older faster.
At the same time, Vsenn also emphasizes the fact that, in addition to hardware, it will also deal with the software of its devices by pre-arranging services to ensure the privacy of their owners. This is because it will provide free access to a VPN, as well as a secure Cloud service.
On the operating side, smartphones will use Android, which was also chosen by Finnish Circular Devices for the first "generation" of its own modular phones, called Puzzlephone. Each Puzzlephone will include three assembled parts: the "Brain" with the CPU and the camera, the "Spine" with the display and the speakers, and the "Heart" with the battery and the rest of the electronics.
According to Circular Devices, the first "generation" of its phones is expected to be available in the second half of next year. Then there will be new models that will be compatible with other functional ones like Windows Phone or Firefox OS.
Three and ZTE
Along with Google, Vsenn and Circular Devices, ZTE also has plans to release assembled smartphones, which has named their development project Eco Mobius. The Chinese company είχε παρουσιάσει πρωτότυπα smartphone και «ανταλλακτικά» στην περσινή έκθεση τεχνολογίας CES στο Λας Βέγκας, αποκαλύπτοντας πως οι χρήστες θα μπορούν να προσθαφαιρέσουν όλα τα εξαρτήματα, εκτός από την οθόνη. Ωστόσο, στο χρονικό διάστημα που μεσολάβησε, δεν έχει κάνει γνωστές περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες για την πορεία του πρότζεκτ, ούτε για το χρονοδιάγραμμα λανσαρίσματος των μοντέλων.
Regardless, however, when the devices of the four companies will be released on the market, it is certain that the commercial success of all will depend first and better on how much variety they will offer on compatible components. This is because only if they offer several choices to available subsystems to the consumer will in fact confirm the advantages of the modular phone concept.
This in turn will be judged largely by the partnerships they will be able to secure, given that apart from ZTE, all other companies do not build hardware. In this respect, Google's specific "weight" seems to have already worked positively for Project Ara, as some well-known names in the electronics industry have agreed to produce compatible subsystems. Among them, Toshiba, Foxconn, Rockchip processor maker and Taiwanese Quanta Computer.
However, both Google and Vsenn and Circular Devices have set "open" standards for the development of compatible subsystems, from which they themselves will not receive any kind of commission. Thus, they expect that along the way they will attract several manufacturers - from giant companies to amateurs.
Source: kathimerini.gr
