Phoneblocks

[asterwald]

 

[MRBJX]

Moronic idea from morons that have no idea how computers work.

 

[Tangwhich]

Apparently Motorola doesn't agree

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/motorola-s-modular-smartphone-project-ara-unveiled-1.2287283

 

[onthebottom]

It's a very compelling idea but one issue has to be form factor (size), one of the advantages of such an integrated manufactoring approach has to be smaller size / less weight, consider how large a device would need to be to accommodate a standard interface for all of these components:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...rdown-reveals-subtle-internal-design-changes/

This might be a solution looking for a problem.

 

[MRBJX]

Apparently Motorola doesn't agree

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/motorola-s-modular-smartphone-project-ara-unveiled-1.2287283

Motorola is brilliant? They haven't made anything great since the startak (sp?) which was clunky at best. Even their tablets are garbage.

So...to shed some more light, lets say you want to upgrade your CPU to the latest, and your RAM and the bus is so stinkin slow, your new cpu is useless.....
great idea. Or how about you want to upgrade your screen, only to find out the new high rez graphics need a faster cpu...oh shit, the RAM is too slow and the bus is too slow...drat.

And I'll tell you this much - its WAY CHEAPER AND GREENER to fabricate one PCB than to make 10 that connect together.

Simple rule of electronics, the parts work together, they don't work in silo's...or blocks. Yea you can force them too, but that's sort of why lego things never really work that great.

 

[Tangwhich]

Motorola is brilliant? They haven't made anything great since the startak (sp?) which was clunky at best. Even their tablets are garbage.

So...to shed some more light, lets say you want to upgrade your CPU to the latest, and your RAM and the bus is so stinkin slow, your new cpu is useless.....
great idea. Or how about you want to upgrade your screen, only to find out the new high rez graphics need a faster cpu...oh shit, the RAM is too slow and the bus is too slow...drat.

And I'll tell you this much - its WAY CHEAPER AND GREENER to fabricate one PCB than to make 10 that connect together.

Simple rule of electronics, the parts work together, they don't work in silo's...or blocks. Yea you can force them too, but that's sort of why lego things never really work that great.

I don't have vested interest here, I'm just pointing out the article. But I'll take the opinions of motorola over someone I don't know on an anonymous internet forum.
And the motorola xoom was an excellent tablet.

 

[onthebottom]

I don't have vested interest here, I'm just pointing out the article. But I'll take the opinions of motorola over someone I don't know on an anonymous internet forum.
And the motorola xoom was an excellent tablet.

OK, but it's not like his concerns aren't valid…..

And I don't know that Motorola is the gold standard for what works: http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrogowsky/2013/04/30/motorola-googles-12-billion-road-to-nowhere/

 

[Tangwhich]

OK, but it's not like his concerns aren't valid…..

And I don't know that Motorola is the gold standard for what works: http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrogowsky/2013/04/30/motorola-googles-12-billion-road-to-nowhere/

It might be a shit idea, but I'm going to assume that the engineers at motorola know more than someone I don't know on a forum. I lost track a long time ago of how often I see people posting as "experts" when they clearly have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[onthebottom]

It might be a shit idea, but I'm going to assume that the engineers at motorola know more than someone I don't know on a forum. I lost track a long time ago of how often I see people posting as "experts" when they clearly have no idea what they are talking about.

That's the thing, you can find a large company and engineers behind anything, are they more skilled than I am on this topic, clearly, does that mean they're right - not hardly.

For example: http://blog.uxpin.com/2837/10-worst-design-failures-of-all-times/

 

[MRBJX]

It might be a shit idea, but I'm going to assume that the engineers at motorola know more than someone I don't know on a forum. I lost track a long time ago of how often I see people posting as "experts" when they clearly have no idea what they are talking about.

Oh dear. I lost track a long time ago how naive people could be. If you actually think its a good idea, say why, reason it out and back it up with some calculations, rather than sticking with cool factor or the belief in engineers. Google has a tonne of failed products, and the motorola arm is starving for anything.

 

[onthebottom]

Oh dear. I lost track a long time ago how naive people could be. If you actually think its a good idea, say why, reason it out and back it up with some calculations, rather than sticking with cool factor or the belief in engineers. Google has a tonne of failed products, and the motorola arm is starving for anything.

It's a compelling notion, you have to give them that. While I think the motivation of phonebloks is a bit too tree-hugger to be practical, the notion that you can pick the tradeoffs you want would put Samsung out of business - that's their strategy - realize a gazillion phone with every conceivable combination and see what sells. While I agree with you (and I'm not an engineer so this is just an opinion) that it's not workable, I think it will end up being a pick what your phone looks like offer from Motorola.

 

[Tangwhich]

Oh dear. I lost track a long time ago how naive people could be. If you actually think its a good idea, say why, reason it out and back it up with some calculations, rather than sticking with cool factor or the belief in engineers. Google has a tonne of failed products, and the motorola arm is starving for anything.

I never said it was a good or bad idea. I pointed out that someone with resources was looking into trying it, in contrast to your first statement.

 

[Anynym]

So...to shed some more light, lets say you want to upgrade your CPU to the latest, and your RAM and the bus is so stinkin slow, your new cpu is useless.....
great idea. Or how about you want to upgrade your screen, only to find out the new high rez graphics need a faster cpu...oh shit, the RAM is too slow and the bus is too slow...drat.

And I'll tell you this much - its WAY CHEAPER AND GREENER to fabricate one PCB than to make 10 that connect together.

Simple rule of electronics, the parts work together, they don't work in silo's...or blocks. Yea you can force them too, but that's sort of why lego things never really work that great.

For a couple decades now, you've been able to buy a device and plug in different CPUs, different video adapters, different accessories, and they all work together. Every several years there's a technology shift that moves you forward to a new platform, but the general idea of a Personal Computer has survived. This just changes the form factor and the set of accessories you might choose.

Sure, manufacturing a complete unit in volume will be cheaper and greener than putting the pieces together yourself. But not everyone wants the same combination of features, and manufacturing dozens of different models in order to cater to individual needs is much less effective (from design, manufacturing and inventory management viewpoints).

Let's say a first-generation modular phone allows you to choose among three or four processors, two or three screens, three or four memory sizes, and choose to include or exclude telephony, 3G and/or LTE radio, audio recording, camera, AM/FM radio, speakers, biometric scanner(s), infrared receiver / emitter, bluetooth, WiFi / HotSpot, external video connector, video projector, and other accessories. Some accessories won't pair well with others: you still have to make your selection within the connector capacity of the base you choose.

In all likelihood, certain common features would be packaged together (e.g. Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G, with LTE support on a different variant of a plug-in module).

But some people would love to be able to do a video presentation using a projector they carry with them. Other people would enjoy being able to control their television using an IR emitter on their phone. Some people want just the basics, perhaps not even being able to make phone calls (yup, some people never actually talk on these things and wouldn't mind saving a buck or two, even connecting to an external speaker with bluetooth to play their music).

The business case can be made. If the technology is ready, and the market can be built, it can be very successful. If there isn't enough variety in the modules, it can sink like a stone.

 

[onthebottom]

For a couple decades now, you've been able to buy a device and plug in different CPUs, different video adapters, different accessories, and they all work together. Every several years there's a technology shift that moves you forward to a new platform, but the general idea of a Personal Computer has survived. This just changes the form factor and the set of accessories you might choose.

Sure, manufacturing a complete unit in volume will be cheaper and greener than putting the pieces together yourself. But not everyone wants the same combination of features, and manufacturing dozens of different models in order to cater to individual needs is much less effective (from design, manufacturing and inventory management viewpoints).

Let's say a first-generation modular phone allows you to choose among three or four processors, two or three screens, three or four memory sizes, and choose to include or exclude telephony, 3G and/or LTE radio, audio recording, camera, AM/FM radio, speakers, biometric scanner(s), infrared receiver / emitter, bluetooth, WiFi / HotSpot, external video connector, video projector, and other accessories. Some accessories won't pair well with others: you still have to make your selection within the connector capacity of the base you choose.

In all likelihood, certain common features would be packaged together (e.g. Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G, with LTE support on a different variant of a plug-in module).

But some people would love to be able to do a video presentation using a projector they carry with them. Other people would enjoy being able to control their television using an IR emitter on their phone. Some people want just the basics, perhaps not even being able to make phone calls (yup, some people never actually talk on these things and wouldn't mind saving a buck or two, even connecting to an external speaker with bluetooth to play their music).

The business case can be made. If the technology is ready, and the market can be built, it can be very successful. If there isn't enough variety in the modules, it can sink like a stone.

What % of PC users change an internal component of their PC…. I have no data but I'd hypothesis it's EXTREMELY low.

Interestingly enough that PC model (the desktop open HW PC) is dying in favor of mobile devices and well integrated laptops….. Instead of the mobile phone (or tablet for that matter) going to the configurable/upgradable desktop PC model I see PCs going to the disposable mobile phone model.

OTB

 

[Tangwhich]

What % of PC users change an internal component of their PC…. I have no data but I'd hypothesis it's EXTREMELY low.

I totally disagree. Hard drive upgrades are very common. Back in the day RAM upgrades were also very common, although I don't know how common that is these days.

 

[Anynym]

What % of PC users change an internal component of their PC…. I have no data but I'd hypothesis it's EXTREMELY low.

Interestingly enough that PC model (the desktop open HW PC) is dying in favor of mobile devices and well integrated laptops….. Instead of the mobile phone (or tablet for that matter) going to the configurable/upgradable desktop PC model I see PCs going to the disposable mobile phone model.

OTB

On the contrary, a high percentage of PC users will upgrade a video card or plug in a customized component (be it a fax modem, video capture card, PBX controller, or whatever. The bus technology has gone through a few generations, and a wide variety of boards are available.) Granted, many components today are connected externally over USB, but that's a more limiting option when you're talking about a mobile phone. (Although we could expect a USB module to be another of the selectable components.)

 

[MRBJX]

For a couple decades now, you've been able to buy a device and plug in different CPUs, different video adapters, different accessories, and they all work together. Every several years there's a technology shift that moves you forward to a new platform, but the general idea of a Personal Computer has survived. This just changes the form factor and the set of accessories you might choose.

Sure, manufacturing a complete unit in volume will be cheaper and greener than putting the pieces together yourself. But not everyone wants the same combination of features, and manufacturing dozens of different models in order to cater to individual needs is much less effective (from design, manufacturing and inventory management viewpoints).

Let's say a first-generation modular phone allows you to choose among three or four processors, two or three screens, three or four memory sizes, and choose to include or exclude telephony, 3G and/or LTE radio, audio recording, camera, AM/FM radio, speakers, biometric scanner(s), infrared receiver / emitter, bluetooth, WiFi / HotSpot, external video connector, video projector, and other accessories. Some accessories won't pair well with others: you still have to make your selection within the connector capacity of the base you choose.

In all likelihood, certain common features would be packaged together (e.g. Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G, with LTE support on a different variant of a plug-in module).

But some people would love to be able to do a video presentation using a projector they carry with them. Other people would enjoy being able to control their television using an IR emitter on their phone. Some people want just the basics, perhaps not even being able to make phone calls (yup, some people never actually talk on these things and wouldn't mind saving a buck or two, even connecting to an external speaker with bluetooth to play their music).

The business case can be made. If the technology is ready, and the market can be built, it can be very successful. If there isn't enough variety in the modules, it can sink like a stone.

The market would have to be built, and that takes a tonne of money and resources, and with tech changing as fast as it is, an on hand stock of current parts is more likely to be an on hand stock of yesterdays parts. Further the business case would be / likely is full of holes - take for instance the cost of manufacturing and warehousing 3 screens, 3 cpu plugin modules, 3wifi chipsets and then having to contend with not selling 1/3 of product because no-one wanted that option. And where does unwanted stuff end up - the dump ! Modular approaches to any hardware item, phone or not, make the items physically bigger, much more open to inter-compatibility issues, fragility issues and bigger costs.

The idea of phoneblocks is flawed before it even gets off the ground. In the volumes that phones sell its far more economically feasible to sell a complete hardware platform and licence the OS in multiple modes

I would be much more open to using a visual studio software to design my own phone - with virtual phoneblocks, have it "printed" at foxconn where minions stuff in the right bits, maybe thats were phoneblocks is headed, but physical blocks that are being portrayed now is poorly thought out.

People are working on 3d printing of chips and cpus, once that is successful, it will change the world of gadgets, and maybe the real world too.

 

[onthebottom]

I totally disagree. Hard drive upgrades are very common. Back in the day RAM upgrades were also very common, although I don't know how common that is these days.

If you can find data I could be swayed, I can't find any reliable data. I bet less than 10% of desktops are upgraded, and the # of upgradable (i.e. not all-in-one) desktops is declining quickly.... Other than gamers and high end graphic artists it's hard to think who might need a desktop.

 

[MRBJX]

If you can find data I could be swayed, I can't find any reliable data. I bet less than 10% of desktops are upgraded, and the # of upgradable (i.e. not all-in-one) desktops is declining quickly.... Other than gamers and high end graphic artists it's hard to think who might need a desktop.

Engineers, Scientists, Researchers, Programmers, Artists, Gamers - to name a few, but do they upgrade some but not alot. You do have the NCIX, TigerDirect, CanadaComputers of the world that cater to an upgrade/gamer market , but the vast majority of offices use all in one pcs or an"always all in one" apple product.

Sooin your phone will be your PC, just bluetooth on a keyboard and hdmi into a monitor and you are off to the races.

 

[Tangwhich]

If you can find data I could be swayed, I can't find any reliable data. I bet less than 10% of desktops are upgraded, and the # of upgradable (i.e. not all-in-one) desktops is declining quickly.... Other than gamers and high end graphic artists it's hard to think who might need a desktop.

I am neither a gamer or an artist. I don't use my PC as often as I used to because of my phone and tablet. But would I give up my PC? Not a chance in a hell. Somethings are just far too difficult or time consuming on a small device to do. People may not be buying them as often as they used to because even a low end unit these days can do just about anything. But people ain't throwing them away either.
As for stats, I can't give you anything solid, but I know from my own experience (professionally and personally) that almost everyone upgrades something on their PC at some point.