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Discussion on: What great software invention or idea never gained adoption?

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steelwolf180 profile image
Max Ong Zong Bao

The Motorola Modular Phone which Google killed it.

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janmpeterka profile image
Jan Peterka

Yeah, still sad about that.

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maxart2501 profile image
Massimo Artizzu • Edited

It was actually one of the few projects that Google kept and continued developing inside the ATAP group, even after Motorola was sold off to Lenovo. Project Ara was near to launch in Puerto Rico, but it was ultimately cancelled due to unsurmountable problems with interconnections, signal speed, power consumption and overall device robustness.

It was indeed a revolutionary idea.

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steelwolf180 profile image
Max Ong Zong Bao • Edited

It's really a shame but the nearest that came to its the current representation of FairPhone

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janmpeterka profile image
Jan Peterka

Well, not really. Fairphone is a great product, but it's not a modular phone, it is just simple to repair (replace broken parts with the same working). It doesn't enable upgrading the phone in any way.
I would say the closest thing is Moto Z with its mods.

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steelwolf180 profile image
Max Ong Zong Bao

Yeah but if your context in having a long term repairable phone it looks like something like that. Moto Z is good with it mods is really something one of the best from the big brand.

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Jan Peterka

For me, Project Ara was about making the phone not only repairable, but also upgradable long term and also more usable in different use-cases by switching modules (eg. adding more battery for a hiking trip).
The last case is partly solved by Moto, the first one is addressed by FairPhone. Sadly, no one seems to have a solution for the upgradeability.