A new type of phone: User upgradable Phonebloks.

Ever have a phone that one part break on it (say the SD card slot) and ended up replacing the whole thing because it's not possible to replace the broken part?

Ever have a phone that you like but need to upgrade a part of it for better uses (say the CPU/ GPU/ RAM) but have to replace the whole thing because it's not possible?

Enter Phonebloks. This project hopes to make it possible to have your phone like a PC where you can replace and upgrade individual components with what you need. It even allows for customization based on your needs. You can even design your own blocks for whatever purposes you need.

http://www.phonebloks.com/



EDIT: I looked at the HackaDay coverage of this and they seem to think while the concept is a good idea, the way it's being executed is still a problem. We'd still have a problem with waste from busted or outdated parts used on the Phonebloks design being the biggest issue.

Thoughts on how to improve on this design idea for a good modular phone platform that reduces waste?

 

Interesting idea, but I have a feeling you will be pumping more money into the phone parts than what it would be to just upgrade entirely. If you're not getting a new phone every 1 or 2 years, then they need some other way to nickle and dime you during that contract time.

 

Intel tried to do this with modularized notebooks. They couldn't get ODM support of it so it failed. Its a novel idea but I think the other manufacturers are just too greedy to get on board with something like this.

 

Sounds like an idea made by a designer, not an engineer. The bottom will qucikly fall out of this me thinks.

Excellent idea but it sounds a lot like the people who pay money to upgrade a POS computer from 2004.

You can add a bit more ram, faster hard drive etc but ultimately it's just an expensive computer that quickly goes obsolete

 

To me this is a great idea, i would be supporting this. But I expect its not going to catch on, simply because of how the world is and how people are.

 

The kind of person who upgrades hardware is not the kind of person that uses a smartphone.

 

False.

 

I have 2 Android smartphones, an Android laptop PC, and I upgrade hardware all the time.

Your statement is false. Your argument is irrelevant.

 

paul.strickler1's statement has some truth to it actually.

Smartphones are now mainstream and popular, to the point of being a fashion item. This is in general incompatible with the concept of sustaining hardware through upgrades and maintenance.

 

At least I'll always have ice cream on hand!

I use a Nokia 1112 from 2006. Last upgrade I attempted was an iPhone 3G. Passed it onto a friend and went back to the Nokia 1112.
People need to stand up for candy bar shaped phones and fight the touch screen revolution...
Haha, maybe I'm just old fashioned and stubborn! :encouragement:

Then again, maybe we need an apocalypse of some sort to remind people that candy bar phones aren't that bad.
Hell, they do what they are supposed to and more! Make phone calls, receive phone calls with SMS capabilities! Can store up to 10 reminders as well!

Hmmm I guess I could add a battery, another battery, throw out all those wireless things, add another battery and I guess I'll need a screen of some sort. Tactile buttons are a must as well!Anyone know if it will have an option to have a really, really low power screen like the Nokia 1112 I have now? Get me all that and I'll throw out my current phone for sure! :loyal:

Edit: Does this mean I am most like the grandmother example in the video? ... :suspicion:

 

My mother was using her Nokia 5110 in 2010. Only reason why she has my old HTC HD2 is because the battery was dying in the Nokia 5300. She hates the touchscreen though, after so many years of the physical keypad it will take her a while to get used to it.
Ahh the 5300 brings back so much highschool memories, the good ones at least

 

Hahaha, forced hardware upgrade! Get her a new battery you meanie! :wink-new:

 

I second this. I've built and upgraded many of my own computers. I've upgraded my current computer several times - to the point that it's now a completely different machine. And I also have an iPhone 5. So, of course this is only circumstantial evidence, but I think if you did a poll, you'd find similar results.

 

Interesting idea but the guy behind it has absolutely no idea that he knows less about electronics than these guys:

 

Ah man don't be so mean to the skaters with their low pants. Just because they aren't a Harry Highpants like you or I isn't a reason to be mean! :wink-new:
They other videos look a bit too hippie-ish. I'll stick with my Nokia 1112.

 

im lovin' it~

 

LOL. If only I could get a genuine one I would.

 

I wish they'd at least make it easy to replace the battery and storage on smartphones. Those no reason those shouldn't be interchangeable.

 

My smart phone's storage is upgradeable, and battery is swappable

 

this is all very irrelevant!