Hasta La Gadget!

 Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group has released a Module Developers Kit (MDK) for Project Ara, its forthcoming modular smartphone, providing reference implementations for various design features. Read More

One of the decisions we make when choosing smartphones is deciding if we are happy to trade off one feature for the other. For example you might like the HTC One M8’s design, but you prefer the Sony Xperia Z2’s camera, or you might like the Nokia Lumia 930’s design but prefer the Lumia 1520’s large screen instead.

This is why Google’s Project Ara has managed to get so much attention because modularity could eventually allow us to create the perfect smartphone for ourselves, much like how PC builders mix and match components to create the rig of their dreams, or at least one that’s value for money.

That being said, when can we expect Project Ara to be released? That is unfortunately still a mystery but the good news is that things have been progressing pretty well at Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group because it seems that the first working prototype of Project Ara can be expected this month, and could be just in time for the Project Ara Developer Conference which will be taking place next week.

It has also been revealed that Google could be planning on testing Ara devices in South or Central American countries. These devices will be pretty basic and features a WiFi module, chipset, screen, and battery. This is because wireless hotspots are pretty common in such regions and by creating such devices (which apparently only cost $50 each to make), it could target emerging markets as well.

All in all Project Ara sounds like it is shaping up rather nicely and it is definitely something to look forward to in the future, so if you’d like to learn more, do check back with us from the 15th-16th of April during the Project Ara Developer Conference for the details!

First Working Project Ara Prototype To Be Ready This Month , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, Google, Motorola, project ara,

Google has shed more light concerning the Project Ara modular smartphone, despite the very first Ara Developers Conference being set to happen this coming April 15th. What you see above happens to be a video of the team behind the project, where it clearly lets the world know in no uncertain terms on how the smartphone of the future will stay together, in addition to the individual modules’ ability to arrive in different external textures and styles.

A trio of endoskeletons were shown in the video too, if you are eagle eyed enough to notice those renders. These endoskeletons will vary from one to another when it comes to pricing and capacity. For instance, the smallest of the lot is tipped to carry a $50 price tag thereabouts with at least the ability to hold half a dozen modules, while the mid-sized version should be able to tote eight or so, and the phablet-sized version in all probability will carry a minimum of nine modules.

The modules in question that will carry different items such as processors, storage, camera sensors, and others, will remain in place within the aforementioned endoskeleton thanks to an electro-permanent magnet. There will be an electrical current that will change the magnetic properties of a permanent magnet so that the module will remain stuck there even when there is no power available. Pretty neat, eh?

Project Ara Demonstrated In Video , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, project ara,

The Project Ara team have released a new video, showing a bit of their progress with getting the modular smartphone concept up and running. In it we find the team’s … Continue reading

Google announced on Wednesday that it will host a series of three developer conferences, focusing on the alpha release of the Project Ara Module Developers Kit (MDK). Project Ara is an initiative to move the idea of modular smartphones into a reality.

Instead of purchasing a whole, new pre-configured smartphone every time your device (or part of your device) is outdated you would have the option of purchasing just a single component of the device, and mix and matching it as you would like.

The first of the series of conferences will be based on a slower prototype implementation of the Ara on-device network, and will be held on April 15-16 in Mountain View, CA. There is a $100 ($25 for students) attendance fee with developers having a priority at the show, or you can watch a live stream of the conference for free.

Project Ara