Google has “ suspend ” Project Ara , its modular earphone initiative , concord to aReuters report .
Project Ara was one of the flagship programs at Google ’s Advanced Technology and Projects ( ATAP ) group , its skunkworks team created by a former DARPA director Regina Dugan . The goal of the project was to build a phone with standardised parts , so constituent like cameras and batteries could be updated or shift by swap out a little electronic roofing tile . The project also aimed to reduce electronic waste , draw out the lifespan of phones , and make it easygoing for people to custom-make their smartphones .
In May atGoogle I / O , the society laid out a timeline for opening up sale of modular smartphones to the worldwide world in 2017 . Developer units were schedule toopen up this fall . Now , to the discouragement of geeks everwhere , Project Ara will probably never see the light of day .
The only way Project Ara ’s engineering could wind up in the manus of customer is if Google license the technologies to a third company . It ’s not completely out of the question , but the fact that Ara ’s tile be so much to produce earn it appear very improbable .
Founder of Project Ara and former foreland of blueprint at Google ATAP Dan Makoski was heartbroken when he hear the news . In an interview with9to5Google , he suppose , “ It ’s disappointing to the team who have make for so hard to make it real , disheartening to the developer hoping to wreak their innovations to spirit , and frustrative to the fan across the humankind who were so eager to have Ara in their hands . ”
Makoski also articulate he thinks the construct will still be pursue by other party . “ Modularity is not a fad , ” he read . “ It will stomach as long as human beings value their creativity over their role of being passive consumers . ”
The Google warhorse make a good point . This twelvemonth , we ’ve seen a greater influx of modular smartphones than ever before . For example , theLG G5shipped with something anticipate a “ magic slot ” that allow the sound to accept camera mental faculty , utterer module , and other accessory attachment . Motorola is also play around with a like idea . On its newMoto ezed sound , it include a 16 - flag metal strip on the back that allows the phone to magnetically attach to accoutrement such as aHasselblad optical soar cameraandJBL speaker .
The death of Project Ara is a huge loss for geeks everywhere . It ’s an innovative enterprise that we ’ve beentracking for geezerhood , and something every contrivance freak want to get their hands on . The idea of altogether customizing a phone is awesome . Want your charger in a different place ? Want a gigantic barrage fire ? A powerful camera ? Project Ara was conjecture to open those possibility , and even thoughit was delayeda duo of times , we still had hope . But alas , the ambition is dead .
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