Google Project Ara Specs: Are Modular Phones The Next Evolutionary Step In Smartphone Technology?
Project Ara, Google's ambitious initiative to create highly modular smartphones, has not been in the news all that much.
However, that might change pretty quickly with the launch of the first Ara device later this year.
Just in case, you don't remember, the major Project Ara specs allows users to swap out parts of their smartphone, eliminating the need to spend hefty amounts on upgrading the entire phone every year or so. Instead, they will be able to upgrade one or more specific "blocks", such as the processor, the camera and such, based on their own individual requirements.
How this initiative will fare in the rapidly expanding global smartphone market, in the long run, remains a matter of speculation.
However, Google believes that when it's finally ready to be served to the consumer market worldwide, Project Ara's specs will bring in new possibilities for 6 billion people across the world, including 1 billion existing smartphone users, 5 billion users who are connected through feature phones as well as 1 billion future users who are not yet connected.
In addition, it could also potentially lower the entry barrier for smartphone hardware manufacturers.
As by this Times report, this could lead to tens of thousands of developers entering the hardware space as opposed to just five or six big manufacturers.
So far as to Project Ara specs are concerned, each device will be built using metal endoskeletons, commonly referred to as "endos". The endos will facilitate connectivity between the different modules inside it by playing the role of a switch.
Simply put, the endos, as well as the modules inside, will collectively comprise the on-device network.
During the initial phase, all Ara devices will have two frames to choose from - a mini frame roughly resembling the size of the Nokia 3310 (4.65 × 1.77 × 0.38-in) and one medium frame with the same size as the Nexus 5 (5.55 × 2.68 × 0.38-in).
The mini endos specs will have a maximum capacity of housing 2 x 5 modules whereas the medium frame will be designed to host 3 x 6 modules.
Moving forward, the Redmond-based tech giant will roll out a third variant of the endos sized at 6.46 x 3.58 x 0.38-in and carrying 4 x 7 modular slots.
All three endos will reserve their front slots for the display and other key modules. There'll be additional slots at the back for other modules, leaving enough room for the buyers to customize their devices.
According to Android Police, individual frames will cost around $15, give or take.
The standard data transfer speed specs between the modules will be 10 Gbps. However, because all 2 x 2 modules will have dual connections, their data transfer speed can go as high as 20 Gbps.
In addition to providing the basic smartphone specs such as cameras, speakers, and microphone, the modules will also allow buyers to add specialized features like pico projectors, medical devices, night vision sensors and much more.
Considering all those specifications, it's only fair to assume that Google Project Ara not only will redefine user experience, but it could potentially bring some revolutionary changes in smartphone technology.