The Project Ara team has refuted claims that its modular smartphone was delayed because it failed a drop test.
Earlier in the week, the team announced that it was delaying the public testing phase of its modular smartphone project until next year.
The pilot scheme, which was to take place this year in Puerto Rico, will now commence in an as yet undecided US location in 2016.
A Project Ara team tweet appeared to explain the reason behind the delay with the phrase “No more electropermanent magnets.” and the hashtag “#FailedTheDropTest,” suggesting that the innovative clip-together design didn’t hold up well when dropped.
Now Google has clarified that it was in fact kidding when said that. Rather, it seems as if the company has simply found a better way of slotting Project Ara’s various components together.
https://twitter.com/statuses/634441734001299456
That’s not all that’s being improved. The Project Ara team also revealed that there would be better camera modules and better battery life in the final test model.
The idea behind Project Ara is to allow users to assemble their own smartphone components according to their preferences.
SEE ALSO: What is Project Ara? The story of Google’s module phones plan
So, for example, avid photographers could spend more on top-line image sensor component, but go easy on the processor speed and RAM.
The scheme could potentially allow users to update their smartphones as improved components become available, rather than buying a new phone every two years.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.