Google's Project ARA: a History and Updates.

Google is creating a modular phone. Don't know what that is? Think of your smartphone but with little detachable parts (like a camera, battery, processor, memory) that you can swap out for upgrades, bigger batteries, or a better camera. So you will never have to buy a new smartphone, just the parts.

This whole thing started with a concept called PhoneBloks:

Dave Hakkens (creator of Phone Bloks) held a meeting of peers from all over the tech industry. That's when Motorola (a Google company) came over and said, "Hey that's a great idea and we want to make it a reality." Motorola had already been working on something like this called 'Project Ara.' 

With Ara and Phonebloks working together they have developed and exciting new Smartphone concept. Everything they are doing is open to the public. As they advance the technology and get it ready for deployment we will all be able to see just how they created this.

Recent reports state that Ara may be available Q1 of 2015. 

Dave Hakkens did a follow up video about who is developing Project Ara at Google:

This concept is becoming a reality. It may revolutionize smartphones as we know them and save a little bit of the earth by decreasing electronic waste. If you are interested in learning more, visit the main site here. 

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UPDATE: New video from PhoneBloks. Dave Hakkens visits the team that is building Ara at NK Labs! Also: Google announced the 2nd Ara Development conference . The development team will organize two identical events. The first will be on January 14, 2015 and then repeated in Asia on January 21, 2015.

VIDEO HERE:

He also mentions (but no guarantee's ) that the cost of the entry level components will be around $50-$100. This is an amazing deal if they can get the components to work as similar to a Samsung or Apple smartphone. Not to mention the upgrades will be much cheaper over the years.


UPDATE Final Update?

Google's holding company Alphabet has officially suspended the project to concentrate on Hardware like Chromebooks and Nexus phones. However, if you are still interested in Modular Smartphone substitutes you can see:

Fairphone 2

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

New Social network Tsu is just like Facebook but pays you for your Posts

There is a new Social Networking site out there called #Tsu. There mantra is that you should reap the benefits of the material you create, advertise and share. Therefore, they pay you a percentage of what your posts generate. 

Unlike Facebook which keeps all the money you help them generate, they give you 45% of the ad revenue your posts create. They keep 10% and the remainder gets divided up among the users that you invited and vice versa.

So far, it's an 'Invite only' network. Each user gets a unique code that allows them to invite others (mine is in the image above- or http://tsu.co/Martigan110 ). You can use my invitation to sign up.

Yes you make money, but don't look at it like a way to earn hundreds quickly by following everyone and posting everywhere. You only get money from engagement. So treat it like you are a savvy social media marketer. Post interesting things, ask questions, honestly comment on others posts (if you find them interesting) and most of all....be an original version of yourself. People don't like SPAM they like originality and true character.

So if you would like to join a new network that pays for originality and good social etiquette...click this link here and type in  Martigan110 to sign up.

They still have some things to work out but once they do this will be a great network that gives you incentive to be REAL. In my opinion you should think of this like #Instagram

Thanks!