While Google is working on Project Ara modular phone, Nexpaq had the idea to leverage the existing user base and create a phone case accepting up to 6 modules and compatible with iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S5, S6, S6 Edge, Note4, and Note4 Edge as well as Oneplus One. If you don’t happen to own any of those models, the company also designed Batpaq modular power bank communicating with the phone via USB or Lightning cables, or Bluetooth.
Each Nexpad case includes a 1000 mAh battery, slots for 6 modules out of a selection of 12:
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The company also claims that 300 idea of modules thanks to the community gathered with the Kickstarter campaign earlier this year, including make-up modules, barometer, altimeter, and so on, that may come to life via third parties once the company releases their $295 developer kit.
The Batpaq power bank includes a 2,600 mAh, and support for the same modules used on Nexpaq. Contrary the case, it does not require a specific smartphone model, and should work with any mobile device running iOS and Android.
Charbax filmed the company recently, and you can see the prototype in action, and see the project’s progress.
Beside the devlopment kit, Batpaq and Nexpaq are up for pre-order for $65, as well as the module for $19 to $29 on Nexpaq e-Store. You can find out more on Nexpaq website, and the forum.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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So, it’s nice that independent vendors jump where big players are slow. But we know why Project Ara is slow – doing hardware may be easy, but to make software which allows to use it well, reliable, and well integrated with the rest of user experience is kinda harder. Nexpaq’s site is pretty silent about software support. At least in video we see that it exists, but little can be said about it. If it’s typical “chinese app” (no matter if done by western vendor), then umm, well…
Also, looking to buy an empty case, I don’t see if I get it really bare with those ugly connectors sticking out, or it will include placeholder modules. Again, they list “dummy module” among available, it’s just unclear what I get if I give it a try, so I’ll skip it for now. (Well, the main reason is of course that I don’t own any of few phone models they support; the pricing otherwise looks pretty reasonable.)