Project Ara from Google is making progress after a Spiral 1 prototype has been revealed running the old Android Jelly Bean. Once made available for commercial use, what advantages will users gain by switching to Phonebloks?

Project Ara: Phonebloks Modular Smartphones

Developers of Phonebloks have made progress on the modular technology applied to an Android smartphone. NK Labs provided a sample of an Ara Spiral 1 prototype smartphone via YouTube with functional user interface and running the older version of Android Jelly Bean.

The prototype uses the vanilla user interface of Android OS with default all apps and services such as music player, browser, messaging and more. Developers noted that 50 per cent of the Spiral 1 module was used for modularity which left no more space for developer functions. But in Spiral 2, majority of the module's area are now available for developer functions after Toshiba made custom chips for the prototype.

Advantages For Users Once Made Available Commercially

Project Ara smartphones offer several beneficial factors to every Android users. Ara devices have modular bodies that allow owners to dictate what features they truly wanted on a specific model. Here are the advantages of using an Ara smartphone:

1. Runs Android operating system.

2. User-friendly sliding slots to remove and add hardware components.

3. Ability to select specific hardware parts to match function and budget.

4. Upgrades can be done on specific hardware parts instead of buying a brand new device.

5. Repairs can be performed on defective parts only instead of sending the whole device to the service centre.

6. Removing certain components such as loudspeaker can be allowed without severing overall usability.

7. Modular devices have removable battery packs.

8. A dedicated store will be launched for module developers and upcoming users.

Project Ara Spiral 2 prototype will have a demonstration at the upcoming Developers Conference in the Americas and Europe on Jan. 15 and in Asia Pacific by Jan. 21 next year. Project Ara modular devices are expected to have the base price of $50 with possible official release some time in 2015.