Project Ara, Google's modular smartphone, has since been the talks of consumers who longed for customization that goes beyond software. Now, prospects will be glad to hear that the device is closer than ever, thanks to the company's recent announcement.
Apparently, the team working on Project Ara has been moved out of ATAP, The Verge reports. It now operates as its own division within Google, with former Motorola president Rick Osterloh taking helm.
Of course, the most exciting announcement is the release of a "thin, light, beautiful" consumer Ara phone in 2017. Even better, a developer version will be available much earlier, set to arrive later this year. Pricing details are yet to be confirmed.
These are exciting times for Google as such will mark the tech giant's launch of its own smartphone hardware. It is no secret to the tech community that the company's Nexus handsets are built by other manufacturers, so the hype over Project Ara is totally understandable.
Google recently took the wraps off Ara's latest developer version, onstage, which appeared "considerably sleeker" than previous iterations, Engadget reports. The outlet adds that modules are easier to install and use.
Project Ara is originally designed to let prospects build phones by themselves, CNET recalls. While it's still composed of several parts, the new prototype's components are all built-in. Rafa Camargo, Ara's technical project lead, tells, "When we did our user studies, what we found is that most users don't care about modularizing the core functions. They expect them all to be there, to always work, and to be consistent. Our initial prototype was modularizing everything...just to find out users didn't care."
As noted by Engadget, the current model ditches the thick metal grid which once had modules apart. The new frame is said to support a maximum of six modules, forming the "world's first UniPro network." Each modular slot is designed to be generic, so users can stuff any module in any area.
Ara's success in its mission will mean an entirely new direction for mobile manufacturers. While Apple could be investing time and energy in packing new tech for its future iPhones, Google sees value in giving users more freedom to craft their own smartphones.
