Modular Jolla Phones: A New Age In Mobile ?
Wow, I’ve been so busy going slightly insane fielding ‘dual sim’ questions and answers that we’re completely late to the show with a couple of really really interesting snippets (and videos) which are all extremely mouth watering to say the least!
First up via Jolla FR, is the teaser video for Jolla Love Day which is set for 20.05.13.
The ‘I am the other half’ slogan is one I’m particularly excited about and will be discussing this after the videos:
Ok, so now you’ve had a chance to watch the teaser video, lets get down to the post-match analysis…
This first teaser video is highly suggestive to my overactive imagination at least… what I’m thinking is ‘modular’ (two modular parts connecting = the other half). Wait wait does that mean ? Could it ? I may be dreaming now, but my hopes way back in July last year: /2012/07/19/my-dream-jolla-mobile-with-detachable-modular-slide-out-qwerty/ could they be coming true!?
But seriously, could this dream really be coming true: a modular device that can adapt to your physical needs – ‘your other half’ ? Maybe Jolla have gone further so not only can you add a keyboard, but you could add a gamepad or even an extra screen or additional battery or even yes yes even an extra sim slot….errrr.
So you buy the basic phone which is a straightforward touchscreen variant running Sailfish and then you choose ‘your other half’ to connect in a modular fashion or maybe you are polygamous and choose many different modular extras…. just think you could have a QWERTY keyboard add-on for work, a gamepad for play, an extra screen for bigger double-screen media etc etc – the sky’s the limit!!
Adding to the theory, Jolla have already confirmed that the pre-order itself will allow various ‘options’.
OK OK back down to earth, sorry…..
The second really interesting video published by JollaUsers is just as exciting and has Marc Dillon discussing QWERTY based handsets:
So this second video with Marc Dillon (former CEO), only goes to further my theory (in my one track mind lol) as he doesn’t cast off the notion of a QWERTY phone but on the contrary actually adds to the argument for having a QWERTY based phone, arguing many first time smartphone users haven’t even had the benefit of physical QWERTY so why would they know any different stating that the manufacturers dictate what we as consumers end up with and not necessarily pure market demand which I also believe is true. He also stresses the importance for business users and generally seems to be quite into the idea of a physical keyboard.
Anyway, apologies for the slightly eccentric rant, but I’m really feeling waves of euphoria right now (no I haven’t been smoking any illegal substance – Jolla just does this to me!) and just want to explode with excitement… ok bad choice of words, but yeah you get the picture!
So what do you think – is my analogy sane/insane… I’d do another poll to ask you but TBH I’d rather not know the result!
Sail On….
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What about: First half is what we know already (SailfishOS) and second half – the device itself – is shown at Jolla love day. That was what I was thinking about it. Next idea was QWERTY :)
You’re most probably right and that was what the sensible part of my brain told me too. ;-)
The biggest issue with making something modular; it takes space. In order to snap something on, it needs connectors. It also creates too many layers; external layer to external layer; adding more bulk. Sure a keyboard could use Bluetooth, but then you start eating into the battery life. Motorola and Qualcomm (Kyocera) had phones that you could attach an additional battery onto. This was also when you had a docking station for a charger.
It would be very hard to add a SIM module to the phone. The OS would need to support it and then you would need external connectors for it to work with the phone. Could they use something like USB? Sure, but then the add-on modules need to have USB in them as well adding more chip; more chips more weight, more power draw more bulk.
The other issue with making something modular; backwards compatibility. At some point the phone they release will be replaced with an updated model. For the “accessories” to work the form factor needs to remain the same. They can’t make the phone bigger (i.e. a bigger screen) and to a certain extent, they really can’t make it smaller either. The other issue is how the device attached; if it uses clips, which could dictate thickness as well.
Making a modular phone would be a big undertaking and one that no one else has done before. I’m sure this was thought of before and never got off the drawing board. Take Apple; they thought they were doing something revolutionary by making the bezel the antennae. I remember hearing about a Nokia prototype that had something similar; that phone was never produced and that “feature” was not placed in another phone. Apple didn’t do something revolutionary, they did something that was tried and failed it. The difference between the two; the first company that tried it saw the issues early on whereas Apple didn’t see them until after the phone was released. To a certain extent, SE had a few “modular” phones. The T68i had the camera add-on and the P series had the “keypad” add-on. In this day and age, the majority is not looking for a modular phone.
Points noted Anon and just to point out the sim module mention was a running joke… sorry you took that one literally. I still think a modular system is feasible given the right engineers thinking through the idea from start to finish to make it future proof but appreciate it adds to the complexity and development time of the device.
Hello,
I read an article about 2 companies that actually implemented something “similar”; one is Modu http://www.modumobile.com (who failed, and which is rather different) and the other was Palm with expansion packs. But this approach is neater, more uniform and really really, I know we haven’t seen/thought of the half of the potential of this and whatever else they’re up to. After getting my N9 one month ago, I lament of what it could have been if it hadn’t been aborted so early. I trust this team, and what they’ve done in one year only drives me more to trust in what they’ll be doing in less than 4months. Sail on…;and you can keep the secrets….we don’t want no iThings stealing your innovation.
Nyonglem
So what happend to Marc. Why is no more the CEO?
Actually I would like my phone without keyboard
As far as I know, it was planned that he is just CEO as long as the system development is most important. Now sales and distribution is at focus, so Jolla switched to a CEO with knowledge in these area. Marc is now leading developer.
Maybe the Jolla device is your other half,that completes you and give services,features and integrates with you in all moment.
_YOU_ are the other half of this story.
https://twitter.com/zzste/status/334008811297857536
ehi jolla an important think must not be avoid, the battery of my N9 is too poor!!!
i can take video for only 10minutes with a 100% battery; this make me angry!
so could you put a battery unless 1850mAh and in Li-PO ???
could be a good improvement for many things!!!!!!
Modular is OK. If we are to be the half of the story then I don’t get what about is this clip – at all. just don’t get it. Whatever, my first and the biggest need is the DUAL SIM in Jolla, because I want to buy it. It can modular half of story – but must be DUAL SIM, period. Howgh.
I share your thoughts. The other half might be accessories but also community, partners and consumers. About accessories, a single piece can be a keyboard, a gamepad, an extra screen and additional battery. For example enlightened keys could replace printed keys to get modifiable characters (letters, numbers, symbols and gamepad).
The keyboard could also pack a second battery and be a screen. This teaser is great!
If they do a external keyboard i would prefer it to be NFC enabled so it is easily paired and have a nice case where the phone and keyboard can reside together like some 3rd party keyboard makers for the iPhone. I would physical keyboard attached but I don’t think it will happen.
That’s idea! Keyboard paired like Nokia speakers by touching in appropriate way. I like it.
They could have some integration to peripherals. At least their design partner have done something earlier:
http://infinity.fi/?portfolio=tablets-need-clever-handsfree-solutions
I am wishing and attachable qwerty cover a ala Lumia 925 covers with wireless charging. From production logistics point of view a separate keyboard would be a lot better choise than managing the installation of different keyboard language variants.
Nice find jiippee and this is more fuel for my fire. Peripherals (hardware add-ons) are as important as software upgrades – they make your device feel alive and adaptable to circumstance, not static but transformable = Unlike. ;-)
Could nokia be the other half? Would be amazing me thinks. Born to be together……