A New Era of Smartphone: Google ARA

Guys this article is really interesting and it's all about Google's mighty smart phone project "Project ARA". I think this phone is the beginning of a new era of Smartphones. So let's see what is it.

Agenda

• Getting a Theme
• Brief Introduction | ARA
• Overview | ARA
• Design
• Look & Feel
• Technology
  
  • Hardware
  • Software
• Modules
  
  • Shared Modules
  • Rear Module
• 3D Textures
• Release Date
• Price
• Summary

Getting a Theme

A quote states:

“A friend is known by the company he keeps.”
                                                                  - Anonymous

But I think that based on the changes in technology, hangouts with smart devices like phones, tabs, phablets, watches, televisions and so on, that quote needs some modification. So I first tried to modify it to:

“A man is known by the smart devices he keeps.”
                                                               - Abhishek (Google)

Up to some level it is true and that says it all. Now let's keep it simple and head towards the main theme of this article.

Brief Introduction | ARA

People are different these days and so are their thinking and demand for technology. Some want a better camera in their phone, some want a long-lasting battery life, some want a better screen and some others want better memory.

These demands vary by the person. So in the modern tech era we need a phone that can easily fulfil every individual's needs (related to tech, features in their phones). Suppose I am a gamer, then I can demand a phone having better internal application space storage, better processor and graphics. Now depending on my needs I'll buy a smartphone having better graphics, internal app storage and graphics and all ends here. But does it really end here?

Where to go from here

Now I am taking another situation. Suppose after a while I fall in love with photography. That's good. Photography is as much fun as coding. So what am I supposed to do for that? I have 2 solutions for this situation in my pocket.

• Either I'll go for a new phone with better camera and resolution.
  
• Or, buy a camera.
  
  (But neither do I want to buy a new phone nor do I have a strong budget to buy a camera. Then in that situation what am I supposed to do?)

I think usually people will say go buy a new phone. Okay I agree, I am also among them and will buy a new phone with good camera quality. But

What will happen if ... if my needs change again?

Again buy a new phone.

No, this is not a true solution. The one and only solution to all the problems related to these type of situations and many other situations is the following.

ARA (A Smartphone by Google)


[Google ARA | Module Blocks]

So let's talk about it and explore it.

Overview | ARA

Project ARA is the code name for an initiative intended to develop an open hardware platform for creating highly modular smart phones. The platform will include a structural frame (endoskeleton that holds smart phone modules of the owner's choice), such as:

• Display
• Camera
• Extra battery
• Memory
• And others

It would allow users to swap out malfunctioning modules or upgrade individual modules as innovations emerge, providing longer lifetime cycles for the handset, and potentially reducing electronic waste.



Design

Before going any further I want you guys to first go through this image and try to create it in your mind to get a better feel of the design.

(Go through the axis and try to play it with like a CUBIX)


[Design]

If we talk about the design of ARA, it seems close to a CUBIX, since it's based on modules and open hardware. You can always rotate its module or replace it with another depending on your needs.

For getting a feel of ARA, just go through this video.

Looks and Feel

Here are the design (looks) of the Google Era.


[Close view to the "Looks"]

On the basis of looks and design Google categorized it into the 2 major categories and on the basis of these categories you can further sub-divide into:

• Generator
  
  This design will have 3D printing on all of its modules. All modules of this design will be the combination of unique textures and designs.
  
  
• Freestyle
  
  The name says it all. It will be entirely used defined with no ID constraints in it. This design will be close to a 3D printing effect.
  
• Pop
  
  This design will be close to nature (use of Green and Yellow colour shades). According to the source we can say "Energetic pop colour combined with neutral".
  
  
• Monochrome
  
  It will be vary in its colour combinations. There will be various shades in a single phone. Hopefully every module will be of a different colour.
  
  Or we can say Gray Phone Style.
  
  
• Solid
  
  This will be in some dark colours and maybe all the modules of this type will be of the same colour.
  
• Luxe
  
  Mostly this design will be of a sleek in view and light coloured but having a concealed 3D printing. There will be use of a high-end premium material.
  
  Here's the categorical division of this range.
  
  
  [Design and Pattern]

Technology

Software Technology / Platform

If I talk about software technology then it's none other than "Android". But Google still didn't specify the version of Android they will provide in this mighty Smartphone. I personally don't think I need to explain to you guys about Android since the current survey reveals it all.

It says "Around 52.8% Smartphone users are using Android as their technology."

So it will be a classy move by Google.

Hardware

This is something new and I'll be discussing further about this in details. For hardware I must say- “A brand new approach for the Hardware integration”.

This Smartphone will be a set of small modules and you can integrate them depending on you and depending on your use. You can personalise your phone hardware unlike your software modules.

Here's a preview of what the hardware design looks like:


[Hardware Design Preview]

Let's go through the modules and their design.

Modules


[Module (Blocks)]

Physically and on the basis of the hardware design there will be two types of modules in this smartphone.



Shared Modules

There will be three modules available for this project, ARA. You can also say sizes. These modules are the following:

• Large
  
  The specifications are:
  
  
  • 2*2 in Size
  • Compatible with large and medium
    
    
• Medium
  
  The specifications are:
  
  
  • 1*2 in Size
  • Compatible with any phone
    
    
• Small
  
  The specifications are:
  
  
  • 1*1 in Size
  • Compatible with small and medium

Here's the design of all those 3 modules.

[Shared Modules]

Rear Modules

Rear modules are of the view basis. I included a snap of the rear module as well so that you can get a feel of it.


[Rear Module]

3D Textures

Since I already gave a brief introduction on 3D print calibrations earlier in this article, I won't include that here. I'll just talk about 3D textures briefly.

The 2 important 3D texture features are:

• User created in ARA configuration
• Can only be placed on modules top
• A unique 3D print (Look wise)

Release Date

According to some resources, Google will be launching this phone worldwide at the end of 2015 or the starting of 2016, but they will release it initially this year in Puerto Rico in the first quarter.

So, keep your laces tight.

Price

Now, let's explain the price. You won't find it too much I can bet.

The initial price of all the base modules (basic features) will be US $50, but depending on your requirements you will need to invest more for the various modules. You can change those modules anytime, anywhere.

Preview


[Preview | Front Look]


[Preview | Back]

Summary

So, guys; get ready because it can be yours too (as exclusively designed for 6 billion people). I hope from this article you guys have a theme and imagination of this phone and now you will all agree with me why I called it "A new era of SmartPhone."

That's all from this article.

Keep sharing.