Phoneblocks - let's make this happen

[Vrach]

Ok, it's been a while posting here... so long in fact that I had to look for where the "New topic" button is. I have a tendency for making long, or maybe just bad/boring posts, so I'll try to keep it as short as possible. If someone wants to rewrite this better, go for it, I don't mind, I'd just like it to be seen. This goes for the News section too, let's get it up there please guys, it's definitely newsworthy

Right - the idea is simple and detailed in the following video:

I'm not going to explain the video as I can't do it justice. The base idea however is simple, making a phone out of parts so that when one stops working, you can replace the part and not the whole phone. Also, customization, but really, just give the video the 3 minutes of your time, it's well worth it.

Now, I realise the point of these forums is discussion and that's fine. We should discuss it. However, what I'd like to ask you is the following - if you think it's a good idea, try and make it happen. Don't go "Oh this'll never work, I'm not going to waste time on it". If you don't like it for whatever reason, that's perfectly fine. But if you do, don't let cynicism get in the way of it. It's a share or two and a small price to pay to just try and make something like this happen, give it a decent chance.

If you like the idea, you can help here:
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/2931-phonebloks

Thank you if you took the time to read, share or comment on this

TLDR: If however you need a short version of it, just watch the video above.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Too bad there's not a way to support it without social media. I like the idea, but I'm not signing up for Facespace, Twitter, or Tumblr for it.

 

[Griffolion]

It's a nice idea, it's just too bad this is going to be held back by companies interested in keeping the status quo, and the technical infeasability of a modular phone like that. Unless you want to be paying in the thousands for it.

I want this to happen, but sadly know that it won't.

 

[Ken Sapp]

Considering the number of devices I see receive shock/impact damage I don't think this would work as well as they hope it would. The modularity introduces a number of weakpoints which increases the likelihood of failure when impacted. I am all for a better system to reduce the amount of electronic waste but I don't think this device fits the bill. Now if they put it all in a hardshell to prevent the whole thing from coming apart when dropped and protect from water damage (another major source of device damage) it would make more sense. Secure the case with standard jeweler's screws instead of some proprietary head screws and you've got a working start.

 

[lacktheknack]

Want. So much want.

Alright, I'm gonna spread the word around. If this actually happened, I'd be on it in a second.

 

[Hagi]

Do you have any information about the technicalities behind this?

There doesn't seem anything on the website on how this'll actually work hardware-wise or software-wise. I mean the pins serve as buses, but there don't seem to be any real details or specs on them anywhere. If they have a technology that can make four of those pins serve as a bus for any type of component then that's quite amazing and I'd love to read more about it. Or how they're planning to deal with all the different drivers that will get involved with these components, do they have a standard they're looking to enforce? Other ideas, again I'd love to hear more about it.

Otherwise this seems to be just an idea without any real knowledge behind it. And quite frankly, ideas without knowledge are a dime a dozen and utterly and completely worthless.

 

[Something Amyss]

When I first saw this, I thought "LEGO phone!"

My reaction hasn't changed.

 

[Norithics]

This is one of those things that would benefit the consumer greatly, but suppliers have little to no short-term impetus to embrace it in any way, unfortunately.

 

[nuttshell]

There doesn't seem anything on the website on how this'll actually work hardware-wise or software-wise. I mean the pins serve as buses, but there don't seem to be any real details or specs on them anywhere. If they have a technology that can make four of those pins serve as a bus for any type of component then that's quite amazing and I'd love to read more about it. Or how they're planning to deal with all the different drivers that will get involved with these components, do they have a standard they're looking to enforce? Other ideas, again I'd love to hear more about it.

Otherwise this seems to be just an idea without any real knowledge behind it. And quite frankly, ideas without knowledge are a dime a dozen and utterly and completely worthless.

To me it seems, like it's just one guy with an idea. The building and research of technology like this would take a few decades before it can be massively manufactured. This would be a huuuuge investment for any company.

 

[Esotera]

I've already seen this and think it's awesome, I really hope that the publicity pushes manufacturers in this sort of direction. I'm not entirely convinced that it could happen with several companies, more likely you'd get locked into a certain product range and be offered upgrades every now and then. Which I guess would be ok for most people.

The whole point of the thing is to demonstrate that there is a massive demand for a phone like this, if it's done right. A few people in this thread seem to be missing the point.

 

[Something Amyss]

The whole point of the thing is to demonstrate that there is a massive demand for a phone like this, if it's done right.

"If it's done right" is one of the most worthless qualifiers someone could add. Of course people would be interested if it's done right, but we're talking about tech promoted sight unseen with no actual or apparent thought behind it.

And so that's what they get: support with no apparent thought behind it.

It's not proving people have a massive demand, it's proving people will "like" any nifty idea.

 

[Olas]

I've always pushed the idea for making phone parts more interchangeable, and customizable wherever possible. Even if only something vaguely like this is possible I think it's a good idea worth supporting.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Of course the big probably with this is the big phone manufacturers won't want to follow through on this. Don't get me wrong, this is a great idea. Phones are basically PCs at this point anyway, why not take that final leap and make parts of the phone interchangeable. I just don't see phone manufacturers seeing "what's in it for them" to go through with this kind of thing.

 

[carnex]

I will tell you this much. Unless you can decidedly prove to companies that they will earn more money this way, you will not get them to do this. And this concept is designed to eat into their profit morgins. So, good luch. You are going to need a LOT of it.

 

[CriticalMiss]

I like the idea, I really have no interest in a phone that has a camera on it so I usually buy cheapo brand phones and use them until the crap out. Saying that, they have lasted longer than my friends smartphones so I'm saving even more money. I know the video isn't a finalised product but it looks a bit chunky and you have the problem of having to figure out how to configure the blocks in to a complete rectangle. I'm not sure phones need a puzzle game element

I also have my doubts as to whether the big manufacturers would ever get behind this, they have already invested huge amounts in competition with the other big dogs and if they did this they would potentially be giving up some of their profits. But it would be good if you got the manufacturers of the components on board rather than say Samsung and Nokia, but if it was starting to look successful then the big companies would throw some money at engineers and get them to copy it for their own phones.

But... Lego phone

 

[not_you]

I would definitely like to see something like this happen...

I probably wouldn't be first in line, but I'd certainly be towards the front...
I'm in... spreading the idea around too... Who knows, maybe something like this could happen... The premise is good, and it'd be nice to have a phone with a decent battery and only does what I need it to... so, yeah... count me in...

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

A smart person could do that, then take said idea and find a way to make hardware that fits said phone that avoids phone restrictions set up by the carrier, essentially hacking their way around security through hardware changes.
But underlying the paranoid thought the reality is that making parts small and interchangeable is NOT cheap. Its not even cheap to make the phones as one solid unit right now. Its just cheaper.
Like how laptops aren't very upgrade friendly, nor can you really build one yourself (I don't see casings for sale outside of branded cases), phones are self-contained and branded for probably the same reason. Also why you don't see desktop performance hardware in a laptop case, they don't make it small enough and heat resistant enough because the smaller it is, the tougher it is to make said product therefore costs more to make.

 

[piinyouri]

Very very cool idea, and I love the thought of taking PC interchangeability and upgrade ability and applying it to a phone.

Buuuuuuuut..for me personally, I would never ever, ever use this.
I drop my phone far too much as is, and dropping that thing looks like it would send parts in every direction. (as is I already have the backing plate, my battery and my SD card go flying off in whichever directions)

Plus this is far to consumer friendly for it to ever get approval from on high.