modu hands-on with the set, jackets, and some far out visions
By Sean Cooper 
posted Feb 16th 2009 10:02PM
posted Feb 16th 2009 10:02PM
True to our word, we popped in to visit modu day one to get some one on one time with some of the recently announced kit. So we checked out the jackets, the new reworked set, and like last year, we're happy with the whole ecosystem. Sure, you have to approach this with the understanding that for now, modu is aiming at the middle of the road -- and price point -- and not to take on the iPhone, Palm Pre, and others. But what they have done and done quite well is offer up a really small set, a pile of fun jackets that actually change the phone's functions and kick in a wee bit of color and style. The biggest standout in the collection was a bike snap on with a thumb controller that connects wirelessly -- or dangerously, your call -- to the handset for "while cycling" control of your calls. Lots new is going on with the Israeli startup, a pilot project with Telefonica in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, plus it has secured a $38 million first offer with Lynk Communication in the Philippines, here's hoping 3G is just around the bend. Take a peek at the gallery for more of the madness and nice video guided by Dov Moran himself.
Other than it being a lot smaller than an iPhone... what other means of comparison does that little thing offer against other smaller basic function phones?
He's holding the iPhone upside-down in the picture.
That wouldn't be a first. Google "holding iphone upsidedown"
For some reason many actors and actresses have a tendency to hold iphones upside-down. Are they trying to hide the Apple logo?
aint nobody gonna buy this shit
I probably will. A modular phone would kick serious ass. Boom, your statement is now wrong, but I don't think it could even be called a sentence. Go back to elementary school please.
pwnd.
i doubt too, there should a very good reason for people to buy this phone after the initial craze for a modular phone dies out, imagine how many "jackets" you would have to carry for this to become useful in terms of what an average phone can do today!
I think this is such a good idea. I love the idea of being able to choice what I need from a handset, day by day. I've actually thought of this type of thing, many times. If they actually pull threw with this. I would be in love.
"... pull through" or even the short form now commonly accepted "pull thru", but "pull threw", who is 'pull' and what did he 'threw'?! these wannabe techies are killing the english language and people are concerned with 'phones'?!, let's get back to basics first.
To Valter: Not everyone is a native english speaker. How many languages do YOU speak?. Do us all two favors: 1. show some respect. 2. S.T.F.U.
Alex probably is a native English speaker. Most people I know who are ESL actually try to learn the language, and put work into it. As opposed to just going "whatever" and pissing all over everything.
I am reminded of a reply to one such remark on TIPB, "I love how the Internet is full of English teachers and yet society is full of idiots"!
Okay, the enlarged screen jacket definitely impressed me. This thing seems expandable as hell, which I love.
Are third party jackets possible?
I think this is an absolutely fantastic concept. As someone who is frequently switching phones out of boredom (its a vice, I know), I would LOVE something like this, where you just pop out the phone for a new jacket. Truely an innovative idea and I really really hope they bring it stateside.
If this thing is cheap and unlocked for GSM bands, I might buy one just for the heck of it. Just wondering what modules come with it though.
the only difference i see between this and just swapping out SIM cards from different phones is that the "sim card" in this case is an actual device that you can use as a phone
I WANT IT!
lol A sim card seems like an improvement over this crap.
What's the point of this? A cell phone is already like a "jacket" for the sim card. Why do you need this module again?
it could be for cdma users.. like meee
I really don't like the idea of a modular phone... seems, like they're playing god. as in frankenstein, or something.
then again, looking at the comments seems like I'm the only one.
Why the hell haven't they shown a QWERTY jacket? The most obvious demand for this I would think would be people who need QWERTY for work, but don't want a huge phone to take our running, clubbing, socializing, whatever.
And remind me why again this will work when W-SIM and similar concepts have been around for much longer? Might have something to do with the marketing dollars you can blow when you get $79M (or whatever) of VC money based on vaporware.
My head hurts.
Not sure if I love it or hate it altoghether... I'll reserve my opinion on this until I'm able to check it out in person. Interesting concept and all, with the jackets providing different UI's, but.... I just dunno, seems kinda childish, there I said it.
The whole idea of walking around with a phone lighting in the dark, makes it the KITT of the celphones and that's not a compliment.
Gotta love that israeli accent
The modular idea is good. One issue is if the modules only work within the same product line /brand i.e. not interchangeable with other phones. There will always be someone with a better screen, newer keyboard, newer applications, beter UI, software, nicer looks...it is hard to be the best at everything.
My favorite concept:
- 4" ~ 5" touchscreen and
- separate smaller detachable keyboard that holds the phone internal parts and doubles as a handset (connect via bluetooth and possibly even has detachable seperate earpiece).
Gradually it seems some start coming up with detachable keyboards.
I think this is great. just give me an iphone jacket, or a pre jacket, or maybe just a can of blue paint, so i can dip it in and throw it out to sea.
Terrific! Points to them for making something genuinely different!
Does it 'disco disco' ?