As the iPhone gets smaller, its more and more apparent that it ALREADY IS a modular part of a larger computing ecosystem.
The Ara project is fundamentally flawed because we don't need to replace parts inside a phone, the phone is a CPU. We need to add parts ON to it. So make the iphone smaller, add a second screen (watch) add some sensors (bluetooth heart rate monitor) and add a few other items which are replaceable and far more useful not hard integrated into the phone anyways.
If you want a better camera, just buy one and 'add' it to your phone via bluetooth. Then you can get a camera that is physically and technologically designed to be the best it can be as an appliance.
All the things I want to add to my phone or replace, I dont need to be on the BUS of the phone itself -- I just need it to be able to communicate.
It's interesting that a lot of the naysayers also seem be iphone lovers. I wonder if there is a degree of 'NIH" going on. Or, more accurately, 'not invented by my beloved company'.
Except that the majority of PC users never upgraded or changed out their hardware.
Its building a device for a market that barely, if ever existed. The replaceable model benefited manufacturers (not customers) by making customizable PCs to sell with price discrimination easier.
You make a good point supporting why Ara is an excellent idea, and why it will be good for consumers if Ara succeeds.
Consumers don't need to upgrade their modules to benefit from the economic dynamics that standardization/modularity brings. Modularity brings better components, a greater diversity of systems, and lower prices - even when the consumer doesn't upgrade and change out their hardware themselves.
The Ara project is fundamentally flawed because we don't need to replace parts inside a phone, the phone is a CPU. We need to add parts ON to it. So make the iphone smaller, add a second screen (watch) add some sensors (bluetooth heart rate monitor) and add a few other items which are replaceable and far more useful not hard integrated into the phone anyways.
If you want a better camera, just buy one and 'add' it to your phone via bluetooth. Then you can get a camera that is physically and technologically designed to be the best it can be as an appliance.
All the things I want to add to my phone or replace, I dont need to be on the BUS of the phone itself -- I just need it to be able to communicate.