Google Project Ara was one of the most talked about years ago. But what happened to the modeling smartphone that promised to improve smartphones and save our planet?
Project Ara grew out of an idea of Dave Hakkens, a user concerned about the amount of junk that was being lumped together as smartphone popularity grew.
According to Dave it all started 5 years ago when he had the idea of creating Phone Blocks. A modular smartphone that could replace certain parts instead of the entire device.
Google Project Ara faded after the company decided to invest in software
That is, imagine that you bought a Phone Blocks and after a few months a new processor comes out. At this moment if you want a new chip you have to buy new equipment. With Phone Block or Project Ara, simply change the smartphone module. In fact, Motorola is still one of the few that bet on modular smartphones with its Moto Mods (or Moto Snaps). Although very limited, it always gives to add something.
According to Dave, Google bought the idea and wanted to make the modular smartphone a reality in two years. The deadline Dave had given to his project was 15 years.
Project Ara even had a functional prototype and Google regularly advertised the work done for the investment.
However, Google decided to invest in software rather than hardware and abandoned Project Ara. Soon after we saw the first Google Pixel appear in stores with an ideology that is nothing related to the modular smartphone.
Video of Project Ara, Google’s alleged modular smartphone
According to the video that Dave posted about Phone Blocks and Project Ara, the lesson is that you should not give big companies your idea. That is, a small change in strategy and everything goes downhill. Just like your idea of an eco-friendly smartphone.
