Project Ara -- Futuristic Modular Android Phone

(5/23/2016) Do you feel it's pretty wasteful to upgrade electronic gadgets sometimes just for "better battery life," "better camera, higher pixels" while most of its functions are fine? Google's Project Ara will try to change it. It's a concept of modular design and allow consumers to 'upgrade' its mobile phone according their individual preferences. If you want a better camera, you buy an high-end camera module; if you want a better audio output, you buy a stereo speakers module (CNET's report). Project Ara is almost the opposite of iPhone's inflexible all-in-one, no-hassle concept.

I believe Project Ara can be a revolutionary game-changer in the mobile phone (maybe all electronic gadget) market. But I really hope Google's Android can have higher integrity in user platform and enhanced security. Without software's integrity, hardware module is just a fad. The video looks very cool, but do you remember the fad of Google Glass?

Watch out, Apple! (However, I still think design integrity in Apple is executed much better than free-spirited Google)

The upfront cost for consumers to customized a modular Android phone can be more expensive (it's like the bill of a-la-carte sushi restaurant, always surprising). But in the long run, it may lead to a more eco-friendly, less wasteful market for electronic products and save $$$ for consumers. There will be less total revenue (and profit) for smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, LG, HTC, ... etc. in the long run if Project Ara is executed right, and they (Samsung, LG, HTC) may eventually be downgraded to "module provider" if lucky. 

Modular upgrade according to consumer's need