The Phonebloks Upgradeable Modular Smartphone Concept Is As Awesome As It Is Unlikely

[mgsstar]

 

Your phone is old and you need a new one. You'd be happy as a clam if you could upgrade only one part, but to get the RAM/storage/processor you want, you have to pay for everything. This is why people still build desktop PCs. A concept called Phonebloks takes that modular PC goodness and applies it to smartphones. It's an interesting idea that will probably never, ever come to fruition.

Here's the gist: you buy a phone base that includes the motherboard and enough connective hardware to string all the parts together on one side and mount the screen on the other. The back is full of holes with electrical contacts, sort of like that big green LEGO baseboard you played with before the company turned into an alternate action figure line for superheroes and Harry Potter. Plug in the components you want on the back, grab a screen for the front, and turn it on. Wam bam, you've got a complete and working smartphone with components that can be upgraded by end users at any time.

 

Images:

 

 

Source: http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/09/10/the-phonebloks-upgradeable-modular-smartphone-concept-is-as-awesome-as-it-is-unlikely/

 

Video: 

 

This is a pretty cool concept. If this becomes a reality, it would be pretty cool to remove some of the items that you don't need in order to make the phone lighter. But the first screen design looks really close to the iPhone so hope that they will change it to avoid getting sued for copying their design like Samsung.

[qwertywarrior]

will never happen

[LonliestofAll]

Can I flash windows phone 8 and android kit kat to it

[sysloc]

Note that the concept photo has a few different faceplates and screens, so this appears to have options to not only be a full touchscreen device. If it did actually happen, I see this becoming more of an educational tool rather than a daily use device. It certainly is an interesting concept, but as of now, has little real world purpose or use.

[onionring]

what exactly is the "speed" cube? lol

[TedofGarlic]

I think it seems like a really cool idea.

But maybe if some of the modularity was removed it would become more viable, kind of like a pc. Dedicated spots for certain components on a mainboard.

[LonliestofAll]

I think it seems like a really cool idea.

But maybe if some of the modularity was removed it would become more viable, kind of like a pc. Dedicated spots for certain components on a mainboard.

What I could see happening is you buy a base with a certain CPU, RAM, and GPU in it (non-modular componets)and then you would be given at the store certain blocks as you build the rest of your phone.

[DSCinema]

Want to see what Linus will say about this!

[Beskamir]

awesome! we need some industry standards on phones. I mean it's been like that for years in the pc market so why not phones?

[KingLuvely]

Pretty much a phone that is upgradeable like a computer!  I find it interesting. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oDAw7vW7H0c#t=116

 

PHONEBLOKS.COM IS CURRENTLY OFFLINE, PLEASE VISIThttps://www.thunderclap.it/projects/2... TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
(or come back tomorrow

A phone only lasts a couple of years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. Although it's often just one part which killed it we throw everything away since it's almost impossible to repair or upgrade. visit www.phonebloks.com to show your support and raise your voice.



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[crazystorm13]

all ready posted http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/55201-the-phonebloks-upgradeable-modular-smartphone-concept-is-as-awesome-as-it-is-unlikely/?hl=phonebloks

[helping]

There's not much profit in something that isn't disposable, why would any corporation back this?

[CoolBeans]

This is such a great idea, I wish my iPhone 4 had something like this. I just hope it a. Doesn't have square corners and b. isn't very thick

[Jogi6]

A cool idea a phone made of blocks, an you can upgrade each block as u want or make your phone as u want. Look at the video

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDAw7vW7H0c

[Qpm5]

looks cool like the idea

[Hans Christian | Teri]

Haha, that is so cool. I wouldn't buy one, but it's cool.

[coen113]

first, i though watercooled phones. but then i watched the video

[NinjaStyle013]

I really really really really really really like this idea so much I will totally buy one.

 

Only thing I dont like about this is the name. @LinusTech get behind this please.

[Anult]

Will there be an OS block?

 

Also, I approve of this idea. It's a smart way of helping the environment.

[Ssoele]

DO WANT!!

[Spannerhands]

This is the future!

[Mac]

It's a cool idea, I would only get one if it was Android however.

[iAsuno]

very cool. i want this to be a thing. a real thing

[Damikiller37]

If this concept makes it then I can see it being a lot like custom PC where you can customize absolutely everything and cover it with an outer shell. It would be a better investment than most of the phones allowing you to upgrade a given part of the phone as soon as you thing that you need an upgrade for it instead of spending money every year on the new phone since the one you have now will not be supported soon and become slow compared to the new version. I'm really looking forward to this!

[wkronbaek]

If this could work, It's amazing. Yes please.