Nokia To Release Lumia Case Design Files For 3D Printers

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."

Comments

Awesome

[backslashdot]

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

Re:Awesome

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:Awesome

[davydagger]

"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.

Re:Desperate

[drinkypoo]

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.

Good thinking!

[Jason Earl]

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

just a few years behind

[ssam]

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