Friday 16 January 2015

Puzzlephone, modular smartphone from Finland

Puzzlephone, modular smartphone from Finland
Puzzlephone, modular smartphone from Finland

At times we talk about features you would like or we could see in controversial large party devices, and once the device never announced not everyone is happy. What if anyone could build their own device? In this the Google based on the Project Ara, the ambitious plan for flip smartphone.

However, Google is not the only one to be released smartphone that you can build whatever you want and upgrade whenever you want. A Finnish company, Circular Devices creates its own alternative smartphone called Puzzlephone and divided into three main parts. The so-called Spine (spine) has the LCD, speakers and basic construction, the Heart (heart) has the secondary battery and electronic parts and the Brain (brain) that has the processor and the modules for the camera.

The company was formally established in September in the city Espoo, from where comes and Nokia, and is working on the project since 2013. The aim is to beat the first Puzzlephone market in the second half of 2015 at a price which is equivalent to mid-range devices if all goes well in terms of funding. It runs forked Android while the pieces are from third-party vendors.

Project Ara, the Google adds Tegra K1 and Marvell Processors

Project Ara, the Google adds Tegra K1 and Marvell Processors
The modular smartphone which you can build yourself with that hardware you want, is long in Google's plans. Some months ago when it announced that Rockchip will be one of the companies that produce processors for Project Ara, and now announced its official partnership with two more, the Marvell and Nvidia.

The Google and Quanta, which is working to build the hardware, created two separate prototypes. One is based on Marvel PXA1928 processor and the other uses the Tegra K1 of Nvidia, which indeed we saw at this year's Nexus 9 tablet that HTC is made on behalf of Google. Unfortunately, Google does not show us any of the two yet.

To say that the idea of modular telephone born from Motorola and Phonebloks, then passed into the hands of Google when in 2012 acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012. Next month we expect announcements from Google about the progress of the Project Ara, but and when sales will begin. The aim is to keep low the price of materials and the basic model around 50-100 dollars.

Vsenn, aspiring competitor Project Ara

The ambitious project of Google for flip phone that can be customized as you want the hardware is certainly the most interesting project we have seen in recent years. Unsurprisingly but once notified the Project Ara will inspire others to try to compete and to copy.
Vsenn, aspiring competitor Project Ara
Vsenn, aspiring competitor Project Ara
The first attempt comes from a new company called Vsenn which has co-founded by former Product Manager of Nokia X. On the official site of Vsenn see that the new project will be more limited than the Project Ara as you can swap the camera, battery and CPU / RAM. Also, to run smoothly and promptly gets updates for the next four years, will run pure Vanilla Android.

As for the security of personal data, the Vsenn promises strict confidentiality with «triple layer encryption» and secure Cloud. Finally, in terms of design will be back cover which will change according to the preferences of each one.

Although not fully customizable like Project Ara that you can change everything from the screen to the camera, it will be interesting to see Vsenn allow changing some basic modules even what he has accomplished in terms of design.

Project Ara app, Build Your Own Modular Smartphone

Project Ara app, Build Your Own Modular Smartphone
Project Ara app, Build Your Own Modular Smartphone
The Project Ara is the most ambitious project on which he worked for a long time Google, today announced the first commercially available modular smartphone called Spiral 2. He also announced that by the end of 2015 will be available approximately 30 modules of which will can you choose what you want and make your own ideal mobile.

Along with the Spiral 2 will release a special application, Project Ara Configurator which will help design the mobile you want, before you buy. You can see that it is the design of before getting your hands on, but it will look like when for example you decide that you want to change a bit as the camera. It is something like MotoMaker app, but only stays in color, design and capacity. You can choose from CPU, camera, speakers and screen up.

The release is expected in 2015 with the modular Spiral 2, and it will definitely be something very interesting.

Project Ara Spiral 2 Prototype

Project Ara Spiral 2 PrototypeGoogle announced that Spiral 2 will be the first commercially available modular smartphone derived from the research and development center of Project Ara aimed at creating a new class of electronic devices with detachable parts that the user chooses what to incorporate (eg another camera).

The main trunk of the Project Ara Spiral 2 consists of screen HD, Marvell PXA1928 processors and NVIDIA Tegra K1, Camera 5 Megapixel, battery and speaker, also light and proximity sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G modem and microUSB port.

With its release, the Spiral 2 will be available 11 individual modules while towards the end of this year will increase to 20 to 30. The next Spiral 3 (shown in the first photo) is 4G and according to Google will not has nothing to envy from a hi-end smartphone.