Project Ara, a modular phone technology where users can swap out broken parts or splice in upgrades, is scheduled to ship out later this year to developers, and then next year to consumers.

The device is designed to solve longevity problems related to single-block devices, containing six modules (including the camera lens) that can be traded out or up on demand. Some of the similarly-sized modules are also interchangeable, letting you decide where, for instance, you want your camera to sit on the back. Developers can also build further hardware modules, creating open-source possibilities much like the Google Play app store has enabled for software development.

Other functions, however, are built into a single core, including the CPU, antenna, battery and screen display. This part of the announcement came as a bit of a disappointment to some fans and followers hoping to see a more fully modularized system. Google, however, has implied that such modularity is yet to come.

From Google: “Project Ara is a new modular computing platform, allowing devices to be customized for style and function. Choose your high-res camera, add a louder speaker, swap in a better battery. Imagine the possibilities. And we’re releasing a developer kit with device later this year. We are looking to module makers to create technology never before seen on smartphones. We’re hard at work on an open marketplace to connect the next generation of ideas with the broader Ara community. Google is looking for beloved brands and forward-thinking developers to join us.”

The post Ara Ready? Modular Part-Swappable Phone is Google to Go first appeared on Gajitz.

A win for drivers and DIY mechanics alike, this stainless steel oil filter lets you drive twice as far without an oil change, improves your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by a few percent and, best of all, will not need to be swapped out ever again.

The Hubb Lifetime Oil Filter from Whipsaw eliminates a key piece of toxic waste: used oil filters, of which hundreds of millions are thrown out in the United States alone each year.

Oil filters were not an original feature of cars, but came along to help reduce bad buildups in engines early in modern automotive history – but these have changed too little since being introduced, including inefficient bypass filters and messy paper pulp.

This new version is made of stainless steel wire mesh, helping reduce impurities and clogs as well as the engine power required to push oil through the filter in the first place. It also looks rather awesome, but its designers concede that is simply a byproduct of being built to function well. At under $100, it is considerably more expensive than a standard filter, but, then again, it will last forever, so consider it an investment in your car’s future.

“HUBB is an oil filter for use on any car or truck. This all stainless steel filter captures five times more contaminants and drastically reduces oil flow back pressure, which increases fuel efficiency and reduces carbon emissions. Conventional oil filters use paper pulp filters that clog quickly, becoming useless and putting a drag on the engine. he filters are a unique micro-woven 316L surgical stainless steel mesh. The mesh porosity is sized perfectly to capture debris in the oil but allow for easy flow, unlike paper pulp which has uncontrolled porosity.”

The post Endless Oil Filter: Double Capacity, Never Needs Replacing first appeared on Gajitz.