Phoneblok

stupid idea. Modern system on chip processors have the CPU, RAM, wifi, bluetooth, FM transmitter, USB, graphics card, GSM transmitter and almost everything else built into one chip. the only thing you could upgrade are a couple of bits, battery, memory, camera maybe. You can do this anyway with many phones. This phone would be huge and bulky due to all the modules needing casing, connectors, boards to mount to etc. In the video it showed all the bits fitting perfectly but in reality the jigsaw would never work. It would probably be very unreliable too. Lots of connections to come loose, very complex busses due to the number of pins, too many configurations to test properly.

Also most consumer electronics are not thrown out because they are broken, they are chucked because they have been upgraded or are out of fashion. The same would happen with this when the next big thing came along.

I'll stick to my iphone thanks. Has everything I need in a sleek case, I keep it for 2 years, then sell it on and upgrade.
 
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The upgradable bit is fine, but already look at laptops - they generally aren't upgradable spare a few components. Some mobiles you can already expand and swap out storage.

From a design point the ability to customise your phone to suit you would be quite cool. Even for the same user; switch out the large capacity music for a better camera when you go on holiday for examble.

However having to design, create and multiple different 'add-ons' seems like it would be expensive. At the moment and the inferior/smaller/cheaper components would have to be manufactured to similar standards and be all compatible with the same device.

Additionally technology is going the opposite way and this could be an interesting design avenue to explore; separate all the technology from one device.

In many countries the wireless speed and cloud storage is sufficient to stream content from the 'Cloud' - there goes your need for capacity. Have a separate camera lens that you can link to your phone, now not only do you save that space on the phone but you can change how you take pictures. Etc.
 
MissChief said:

Camera only 4MP? Upgrade it. Never use Bluetooth? Remove it and replace it with, say, an FM Transmitter if your car doesn't have an audio jack. Screen not high enough Res now you've started watching movies on the train into work? Get another one. Use your phone on long journeys and not able to charge it every night? Get a bigger battery. The potential is great. Thoughts?
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Not sure this will take off.

People upgrade their phones not just because they want a better camera etc, but they want something that looks different or is smaller.

I also can't imaging the networks being too keen on this model.
 
Not looking so crazy now as Google get on board:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24726071

Google-owned phone firm Motorola has announced a new project to let users customise their smartphone components.

Project Ara allows users to buy a basic phone structure and add modules such as keyboard, battery or other sensors.

Motorola has partnered with Dutch designer Dave Hakkens, who has created Phonebloks, a modular phone idea, on the project.
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Could be promising with some kit apparently going to be available in the near future and they're going to go to third party developers to make some of the kit.
 
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