Unfortunately, Modu founder Dov Moran appears to be backtracking mightily from remarks he made when we first learned about Modu more than a year ago.

If you’ll remember, Modu was once billed as a modular phone with dozens of “jackets” that could do everything from GPS to play MP3s. Additional hyperbole included the promise that the phone would be an experience that could turn the “one-size-fits-all” smartphone market “on its ear.”

Now, however, Moran is talking only about the low cost, simplistic nature of the modu.

“Don’t forget that billions of people are still using 2nd-gen devices and a lot of them don’t need much more. People just want a small, light device that’s easy to dial and send text messages. If you want an Iphone with a camera that makes coffee and can transform into a kite, and you’re ready to pay thousands of Shekels for it – well, you have a big choice to pick from.”

Yeah, but wasn’t this thing advertised as the phone that could quickly and easily transform into whatever you desired? I kind of got the impression, ironically, that a phone turning into a kite was a Modu trick, not the iPhone. Guess that changed during focus group testing. [Calcalist via Mobo]

Word came to us today via a tipster, via Israel, via Google Translate, so proceed with much scepticism. That said, we do have an article citing Modu CEO Dov Moran, who says the modular handset is scheduled for launch in Southeast Asia in Q2 (as we reported in February). The report adds that the 200 Modu employees, in addition to churning out new phones, have been asked to swap their Nokia handsets for Modu ones.

As a refresher, the Modu concept is pretty simple: Take one tiny, tiny mobile phone and build a number of “jackets” around it that do a variety of different tasks. One may be an “mp3 jacket,” for example, while another could simply be a colour palette swap for a night on the town. If you’re still confused, think of the Wiimote and its many worthless white plastic sports-related accessories, except in this case the add-ons do something, like GPS.

Moran explains in a video from earlier this year:

Sadly, if this strikes your fancy and you live in the U.S. you’re out of luck (for now). In the article, Moran only mentions Southeast Asia, Russia and other scattered territories outside the Americas. Personally, as I sit here today with my multitasking iPhone 3G laying lovingly at my side, I’m having a hard time getting worked up over the snub. [Calcalist (translated) via Talking Mobile]

This designer-friendly shower kit is for people who really like squares. The simple, elegant 5×5 modules can be arranged freely and serve several functions, including thermostat, speaker, volume and diverter controls, showerhead, lighting and shelving.

No word on whether each block can be removed from and reapplied to the wall for even more bath time fun. However, the large “ShowerHeaven” overhead component this thing comes with does rain water down on you like a luxurious waterfall. [core77]

At the heart of the modu ecosystem is a tiny, modular and sleek mobile phone. In addition to complete mobile functionality, the modu phone is a music player and a mass storage device containing 2 GB of internal memory. The innovative modu phone presents a bold graphical user interface and a unique seven-key keypad to perform basic functions even without a modu jacket. For added functionality and style, users can easily slip the modu phone into a range of modu jackets. This modu ecosystem offers boundless – and affordable – possibilities.

The new modu jacket lineup includes:

• modu™ night jacket: inspired by the nightlife scene, this jacket includes futuristic styling with an edgy keypad, flashing lights, night mode imaging and a unique graphical user interface
• modu™ street-art jacket: capturing the expressive and vibrant street art scene, this jacket fea-tures stereo speakers and dedicated music keys for a powerful music experience
• modu™ classic jacket: designed to fit the everyday needs of a modern lifestyle, this jacket carries all essential mobile communication features with an air of elegance and fine taste
• modu™ express jacket: this jacket transforms the modu phone and user interface with a rain-bow of fun, playful flavors 
 
“modu is turning the notion of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ mobile phone experience on its ear,” said Dov Moran, founder and chief executive officer of modu. “Consumers want a mobile phone that can keep up with their dynamic lifestyles. The combination of the eye-catching modu phone with the new modu jackets offers not only personalised style but affordable updates without the costly expense of buying a new phone.”

At its heart, the Modu phone is a simple mobile phone (the lightest on the planet according to Guinness), but adding these jackets can completely change the functionality and aesthetic of the device—allowing the user to customise the device to his/her tastes. Modu expects to have these jackets on the market by Q2 of 2009, with several other jackets to roll out by the end of the year. If the previous info holds up, the phone plus two jackets will be available for only $US200, with additional jackets running from $US20 to $US60—an agressive low price that could be key to its success. What do you think? Does Modu have a chance? [Modu via TechCrunch]

Broken down into a few categories of changeable parts, main body included, the Zoybar itself is best described a series of standardised connectors. It’ll be interesting to see what existing instruments can be created with the kit, but the weird, as of yet unrealised contraptions that artists create with the bevy of components have the potential to be amazing, or more realistically completely hilarious. The Zoybar should go on sale in January. [Zoybar via Crunchgear]

The core of the new line is made up of the new ‘Mysterium’ brains, pictured in the gallery above and detailed in the gallery below. These boxy sensors can be built up into 5D-esque DSLRs, compact prosumer camcoders, full-fledged professional video cameras or even a 3D unit with a new line of lenses, flash storage, frames, mounts and other add-ons, outlined with the new sensors below. In addition to their own lenses, the new cameras mercifully support gear built for Nikon and Canon standards with mount adapters, so you don’t have to re-buy all of your optics. In spring, when the first of the new units are intended to ship, RED One users won’t be left out in the cold — they’ll get purchase credit towards new cameras, or if they’d just like to throw one of the new sensors into their existing rig, credit towards that. I guess this is what Jannard meant when he said RED had a ‘new vision’.

For the full release, click here. Warning — comically giant JPEG. [RED]

[Product Design Forums via Born Rich via Apartment Therapy]