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Nokia To Release Lumia Case Design Files For 3D Printers

Posted by Soulskill on from the making-diy-easier dept.

another random user sends this news from the BBC: "Nokia is releasing design files that will let owners use 3D printers to make their own cases for its Lumia phones. Files containing mechanical drawings, case measurements and recommended materials have already been released by the phone maker. Those using the files will be able to create a custom-designed case for the flagship Lumia 820 handset. The project makes Nokia one of the first big electronics firms to seriously back 3D printing."

12 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Might it have rounded corners? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Apple fanbois not amused.

  2. Awesome by backslashdot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A seriously awesome move by Nokia. True innovators of the smartphone industry.

    1. Re:Awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Cool your jets, buddy. The guy has a point. This case thing is interesting, but it's lipstick on a pig. Why would I want to create a cool new custom 3D printed case for a phone I'd never want to use in the first place?

      Fine, the device doesn't interest you, but the concept still might.

      Complaining that it's not innovation because now they're 'tainted by evil microsoft' is just two-minutes-hate time.

    2. Re:Awesome by davydagger · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Annnnnd this is why I stopped giving a shit about Slashdot right here."

      because your not looking at the bigger picture.

      nokia, as much as 4 years ago, released a wonderful GNU/Linux/X11 phone, the n900, and was hot developing a replacement n950, and n9 phones, which would take linux phones to the next level.

      unlocked bootloader, easy to root as installing an app, debian based maemo OS, that was closed to debian than ubuntu, and ran unmolested debian binaries, and shipped with both Qt and GTK libraries which would run existing Qt and GTK apps. Its desktop was open source, and found its way back into debian and other distro repos.

      anything that ran on your linux desktop could run, although from a UI/UX standpoint, it was better if you "hildonized", or re-wrote the GUI for a small touch screen, for easiest usage.

      Now, after taking microsoftie Steve Elop on board, he shit canned this wonderful project to announce an all windows line up from nokia.

      None of us want to run windows phone. windows phones by mandate are locked down, with encryption, so even if you were a windows fanboi looking to take advantage of using a windows phone, like the linux geeks use linux phones, tought shit.

      So schematics for a phone casing is nice, but its not unlocked electronics. Its not usefull. Its also in the shadow of a company on the rocks from previously poor decision making that took the products we wanted to buy, and wrecked their company.

      On top of this, after a large marketing campaign, much to do, windows phone, along with nokia fails misrably, and they are possibly looking at going out of business. So I don't see many real geeks apt to care.

    3. Re:Awesome by 21mhz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      nokia, as much as 4 years ago, released a wonderful GNU/Linux/X11 phone, the n900, and was hot developing a replacement n950, and n9 phones, which would take linux phones to the next level.

      unlocked bootloader, easy to root as installing an app, debian based maemo OS, that was closed to debian than ubuntu, and ran unmolested debian binaries, and shipped with both Qt and GTK libraries which would run existing Qt and GTK apps. Its desktop was open source, and found its way back into debian and other distro repos.

      anything that ran on your linux desktop could run, although from a UI/UX standpoint, it was better if you "hildonized", or re-wrote the GUI for a small touch screen, for easiest usage.

      Now, after taking microsoftie Steve Elop on board, he shit canned this wonderful project to announce an all windows line up from nokia.

      Except it was more like a death march than a "wonderful project", and it was hopelessly late in what really matters: providing a viable smartphone platform. Running Debian binaries is cool, but it does not by itself bring in revenue.

      --
      My exception safety is -fno-exceptions.
  3. Re:Desperate by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Nokia must be really desperate to try this in order to grow a community for the Lumias. Accessories such as cases are one of the most profitable businesses.

    The phone manufacturers already sell relatively few of the cases for phones and the ones they do sell come at a substantial premium over everyone else's not because they are better (though they are better than most of the knockoffs, some of the knockoffs out there are great) but because they are offered in a shiny package with the manufacturer's name on it. So they get a little goodwill for free (they own the design and they've already paid for it) and they also ensure that more of the knockoff cases for their phone will be decent, which will help improve the perception of their phone in the hands of the masses.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  4. "...for the flagship Lumia 820 handset..." by Elite+Override · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd rather say the 920 is their flagship, having better features and all that.

    1. Re:"...for the flagship Lumia 820 handset..." by Elite+Override · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'll probably get downvoted for this, but the US is not the only country in the world. If its the flagship everywhere else, we should consider it THE flagship. I'm curious, does the carrier exclusivity expire in the US? Or will the 920 only ever be available from one carrier? This kind of practice has always seemed to me like it should be illegal...or severely limited.

  5. Good thinking! by Jason+Earl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nokia has sold so few Lumias that the market size for people with 3D printers seems big.

  6. just a few years behind by ssam · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Openmoko opened the CAD models of their case (ok, not the coolest case in the world :-) ). People have also modified the design for 3d printing http://blog.slyon.de/3d-printed-gta04-case/ . There is also a wooden case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jRI7InTpE

  7. Re:So does this actually benefit anyone, or is it by bazorg · · Score: 3, Informative

    There's a shop I walk past everyday where I could go and print something in 3D , a phone case would be perfectly harmless thing and cheap enough to just to try it out. At some point I imagine there will be more printers, both at home and in shops.

  8. Here's what we need to know about 3D printing by GPS+Pilot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Could somebody who actually knows something about 3D printing comment on the suitability of this material for a phone case? How rigid and/or brittle is the material that comes out of a 3D printer? Is it actually going to offer substantial protection to a phone? Is it durable; will it become scratched, warped, or discolored sooner than more conventional materials?

    --
    That that is is that that that that is not is not.