Google's modular phone concept is one step closer to reality. With today's announcement of the latest updates to Project Ara and an upcoming pilot program in Puerto Rico, Google has made serious strides in bringing the unique swappable-module phone idea to market. Today, we had a chance to take a look at the latest version of the concept -- code-named Spiral 2 -- and it's certainly a much more polished version of the device than we've seen previously. Indeed, Paul Eremenko, Project Ara's lead, says that the look of the hardware here is "final," or at least very close to what we'll see come final release.
As we mentioned in the announcement earlier, Project Ara's latest prototype includes a slew of improvements and changes over Spiral 1, the previous iteration. For one, the electro-permanent magnets that once held the modules in place are now on the endoskeleton itself - the core piece of metal that is at heart of the Ara. This, Eremenko says, leaves more room for additional modules. Google also announced that it has added 3G modem functionality and an analog RF bus to the endo that'll let the company attach antennas from multiple modules to the same modem. There's a new pollution sensor too.
One of the biggest changes is its aesthetics. Google once wanted folks to customize the Ara via 3D printing, but decided that was a bit too risky. Instead, you can now customize the look of the Ara by printing your own high-resolution full color images on polycarbonate injection-molded shells via a technique called dye sublimation.
The result is the unique modular phone you see in the image above. Out of the eleven different prototype modules that Google has developed, the one that we got to see here has eight modules on the back and a two modules on the front. There's a receiver module that combines the earpiece audio plus proximity sensor, the display module that also includes the integrated volume and power buttons, a camera module on the back, a WiFi and Bluetooth module, a USB charger one, a 3G cellular modem, an application processor module from Marvell, a speaker module, and of course the battery.
All of the different pieces swapped in and out relatively easy -- I managed to move several different modules with a simple slide and push. But they didn't feel particularly flimsy either; I didn't think they were liable to fall out or anything like that. Each module was also extremely lightweight, and I could see myself carrying extra battery modules around without it taking up too much space in my bag. Eremenko tells us that Google worked to make each module more robust too, to handle everyday juggling and jostling. That said, the overall device did strike me as a little thick - certainly quite a bit thicker than most flagship smartphones.
Additionally, Eremenko tells us that right now you'll need to do that whole battery hot swapping thing in under 30 seconds, or else the phone will power down. He hopes to extend that time to one to two minutes by the time the Ara finally ships. Perhaps more worrying is that apparently maintaining the connectivity between modules alone takes up 20 percent of the phone's battery.
Google has told us it's working to iron those kinks out, and perhaps those worries will be long gone by the time Spiral 3 rolls around. Indeed, Google is already planning on a few improvements like 4G LTE, high-end camera support and all-day battery life for the third version of its modular phone. We're still not sure just how long it'll take for Ara to come to market, but it certainly seems like it'll be a while yet. Maybe we should move to Puerto Rico in the meantime.
Filed under: Google
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