Hasta La Gadget!

Back when Motorola revealed that it’s seriously trying to bring modular smartphones to the masses, it left more than a few of the particulars shrouded in secrecy. Granted, that’s probably because most of the particulars haven’t even been fleshed out yet, but the Google subsidiary is slowly starting to reveal its vision for how these crazy things will actually be made.

Their approach? 3D printing, and lots of it. Motorola has just announced that it’s locked up an exclusive partnership with 3D Systems that will see that printing pioneer producing “Ara smartphone enclosures” and the nifty component modules that snap onto the phone’s main body.

Haven’t been keeping tabs on Project Ara? Here’s the gist of it – Motorola has apparently grown a little weary of the traditional notion of a smartphone where all of the things that make it tick are wrapped up in a plastic body, away from curious eyes and prodding fingers. Now that Motorola has basically inherited Google’s penchant for kooky ideas (not to mention the money), it’s working on creating a phone body with a display (they call it an “endoskeleton”) that users will ultimately be able to snap new components into as needed. Growing weary of your old camera? Pop a new one on there. Need a snappier processor? That’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Now 3D Systems is an interesting player, to say the least – while it’s devoted resources to cracking the consumer market with low-cost printers and 3D scanners for the past two years or so, it’s bread and butter continues to be the sort of hefty, industrial printers that can turn around jobs at a much faster rate. That’s not to say that the company in its current form is ready for the sort of rigor Project Ara demands, so 3D Systems has apparently been asked to create a “high-speed production platform” to churn out those modules and enclosures with the quickness. At this point there’s still no word on when production will start (Motorola is still soliciting early feedback from its so-called “Ara Scouts”) but the company has said that it’s aiming to get the alpha version of its Module Development Kit out the door and into hackers’ hands some time this Winter.

When Motorola threw its weight behind Phonebloks’ modular smartphone concept, it pretty much signaled to the rest of the industry that the Google company was dead serious about customization. But that radical vision of a completely upgradeable handset needs an equally radical manufacturing partner and Motorola’s found that in 3D Systems. Today, the two companies have announced a multi-year deal that’ll see 3D Systems building what Motorola calls “the factory of the future,” and providing a complete end-to-end fabrication process for ‘Project Ara.’ As part of the deal, Motorola’s exclusively tasking 3D Systems with creating new “multi-material printing capabilities including conductive and functional materials” to build these modules (e.g., chassis, battery, etc.) and help it keep pace with eventual consumer demand for ‘Ara’ phones. That’s all if 3D Systems can prove its undeveloped printing process actually, you know, works. If not, well, 3D Systems can kiss that exclusivity agreement goodbye.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google

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If you’re one of a few who obtained a Developer Edition handset, you’re likely the type who’d want its bootloader unlocked so that you could tinker with it as you so please. Unfortunately, requesting such an unlock code would often void your warranty, which seems rather strange and unfair. Motorola has thankfully seen the errors of its ways and has recently agreed to let anyone who’s purchased a 2012 or 2013 Developer Edition handset — that includes the recently released Moto X — to keep their warranties even after requesting an unlock code. Further, that warranty is actually retroactive, which means warranties that were previously voided due to the unlock request are reinstated as of today. And if you’ve messed things up beyond repair, Moto has agreed to post Google’s P&L sheets. Interested parties can head on over to the source link below for more on the company’s changes to its Developer Edition program.

Filed under: Mobile, Google

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Motorola

Google’s all about getting you to spend, spend, spend money these days. While the search giant just announced a very plastic means of dipping into your Wallet, its Motorola arm’s taking the financing route. Backed by Comenity Capital Bank, Motorola’s offering users a no money down way to buy a Moto X or any of its other mobile wares — so long as you pay it off within the promo period. Motorola Credit’s pretty much the equivalent of signing up for a credit card — just without the actual card — so be mindful there are fine print strings attached, like a 29 percent APR. You also still have to go through the requisite approval process, but once that’s cleared, you’re free to spend above your means. But really, no phone’s worth the potential debt, so think hard before you sign on the dotted line.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google

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Via: Droid-Life

Source: Motorola

How much is customization worth to you? Because if you can forego a personalized palette, you can grab a Verizon Moto X on Amazon in black or white for one penny right now.

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