http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/ Engadget Comments for Hands-on with modu: it's real and plenty fantastic http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
I give it two thumbs up.]]>Feb 12th 2008 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
... Lame.]]>Feb 12th 2008 12:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 12th 2008 12:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 12th 2008 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 12th 2008 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
This would be like carting around the sim card, your micro / mini sd (all your tracks). All your preferences (silent on at 8am off at 5pm), all your network settings, and and any other OS specific information (themes, etc.) and from phone to phone.

If you stick to one smartphone OS (winmo, s60, etc.) you can just backup this info and then go through reinstalling all of that when you get a new device. But, there are some OSes that don't offer everything you want (no sliding qwerty for S60, no small bar for UIQ) so this offers you a chance to find a shell that works for you at that moment but then easily swap it out for something that works later without setting it ALL back up.

If the manufacturing of shells is cheap (as stated), and 3rd party companies can keep costs down (HTC looking at you) this is an easy way to have a smartphone during the day and slim phone at night with comparable capabilities without dropping over 700 on both!

]]>Feb 12th 2008 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
It does face the challenge of reducing profits - shells are probably less profitable than phones. It'll need industry support.]]>Feb 12th 2008 12:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
People may flock to it now, but when they are tired of their current shell they will move on to a standard whatever is popular at the time handset, not a new shell as planned.

Part of this industry is the excitement of change. Keeping one piece of hardware for 4 years (sign up and upgrade w/ 2yr conract, typical of large carriers) will not be an attractive option down the road.

In my opinion, it is the answer to a question very few people asked.

But I like the theory behind the idea, and wish modu the best of luck proving me wrong. The game is afoot.]]>Feb 12th 2008 1:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
It's also a bit cheaper, especially if you just need to change aesthetics. People do talk about switching phones to match your suit.

It'll also keep more media and personal information. The SIM card is used far less for contacts in the smartphone world.]]>Feb 12th 2008 1:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
I'm sorry Modu, that was uncalled for. Please forgive my ignorant and rude outburst...

Now piss off!]]>Feb 12th 2008 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 12th 2008 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
"Look, I know it sounds ridiculous, Jenni, but my dog swallowed the phone. Honest!"]]>Feb 12th 2008 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
What if the core module itself undergoes an upgrade?]]>Feb 12th 2008 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 12th 2008 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 25th 2008 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
I can see two issues straight away.

Phones get scratched and damaged in daily use.

People want new and better things.]]>Feb 12th 2008 6:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
Sadly, I would never buy it. The only cellphones I'll be buying are slim WinMo phones.]]>Feb 12th 2008 6:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
I can see two issues straight away.

Phones get scratched and damaged in daily use.

People want new and better things.]]>Feb 12th 2008 6:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
Okay, so how about this one: Is it likely that a car radio maker could add Modu support and get Internet radio support that way?

This sounds awesome to me. Oh, idea: expose full network support through the dock connector of the iPhone! That'd at least give me Soma FM in my car, which is all I'm asking for ;)]]>Feb 13th 2008 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/No more waiting 2 years from significant improvements to be available.

Secondly buying new capabilities will be much less expensive than it is today.
modu is offering something no other mobile company offered at mobile world congress!]]>Feb 18th 2008 12:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/
Ok, what I'm saying here is I'm rough on phones. I have gone through TWELVE PHONES since may of 2006, and only one was because I wanted a hardware upgrade. I would KILL to have this. Also, I am so fed up with having to upgrade my media every time I upgrade my computer/stereo... c'mon, from tapes, to CD, to CF, to MD, to flash drives, to SD, mini SD, MICRO SD.... I want a little frickin bar that I can put in device du jour and carry with me regularly. If I want to listen to music in the bedroom, I pop it in the stereo. Want to listen to the same music on the way to work, pop it in the head unit in my Jeep. At work? MP3 player. Straightforward! No more losing frigging flash drives every two weeks! GOOD IDEA! THANK YOU MODU FOR REDUCING MY STRESS.]]>Feb 15th 2008 4:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hands-on-with-modu-its-real-and-plenty-fantastic/Feb 25th 2008 10:57AM