SSD_ DAVE :
I wonder why we can customize our hardware in our phones like we do in out PCs?
I think it a interesting topic, I discussed this with an other enthusiast and he had basically told me ''It may be more environmentally friendly, but phone companies want to keep it a money wasting pace because parts would cost less overall.'' to me this seem similar to the Console lineup we've had for ages.
So why don't we have customizable hardware?? It'd be fun to customize and more eco friendly I'd think.
Fun, yes...for those that like to tinker with technology. Eco friendly? I don't think it would provide any particular improvement -- the "fiddly bits" inside would still require special recycling, just like regular smartphone/computer components (to avoid heavy metal contamination, etc.).
The problem, though is twofold. First, you have the size factor. Unlike with desktop PCs, where you can have cases (specialty or otherwise) that provide plenty of room for components (as well as airflow & cooling), smartphones are like laptops: limited space to fit all of the equipment, including heat sinks & (mostly) passive cooling solutions. Adding modularity to the systems takes up more space (either taking away space for additional components or taking away space for the battery/cooling, & other fixed functions), because now you have to allocate space for the larger mounting systems needed, which either leads to a) less space for actual components (i.e. smaller screen, smaller battery, smaller/less powerful CPU, etc.), or b) a larger form factor for the smartphone than a comparably non-modular version.
Second, you have the consumer factor. The vast majority of consumers out there
aren't interested in customization on that kind of scale. You see that in the entire consumer electronics market (TVs, VCRs, DVD/Blu-Ray players, etc.) -- which also includes "gamer-oriented" items like game consoles, & non-electronics like automobiles -- where probably 90%-95% (at a minimum, IMHO) of the consumers aren't thinking about customizing the product after they buy it. They want it to a) work out of the box, b) be fairly easy to use, & c) work for a set amount of time before it can't be repaired anymore (assuming they even bother to repair it, as for some devices it's much cheaper to just buy a replacement than to actually attempt to repair it, i.e. DVD/Blu-Ray players). When it comes to smartphones, they want it to make phone calls, send/receive text messages, use the apps they already have picked out (or future apps they hear about), & take pictures & videos that they can share with their friends & family. They don't want to have to deal with multiple camera modules, reconfiguring the phone to add a backup battery, trying to figure out if they want the 1W or 5W speaker for the phone, etc. They just want it to work "out of the box".
Project Ara is interesting, although apparently it's been shelved for now. To be honest, though, Google's claim that it would have "6 billion customers"...well, let's just say that "optimistic", "starry-eyed dream", & "rose-colored vision" don't begin to come close to describing it...