$31 million worth of lost valuables on the TSA's watch
March 16, 2008
Laser-Firing Physicists Take High-Speed Photography to the Attosecond Range
March 16, 2008
Mnemonic for the 8 planets and 3 dwarfs
March 16, 2008
"Disc" vs "Disk"
December 30, 2007
Boycott Yahoo
December 26, 2007
Merry Christmas from the Family
December 24, 2007
Top 10 Do-Not-Call lists and Opt-outs
November 03, 2007
Review of Maha MH-C9000 Wizard NiMH Battery charger
September 15, 2007
iPhone works with camera removed
July 16, 2007
I can't carry a cellphone with camera at work. I
removed the camera from my RAZR and it worked just
fine, I figured if the RAZR can do it, the iPhone can,
so I studied the various takeapart images around the
web, and dove in.
I did end up ordering the ipod tools from iFixit.com and they did the job well, but the sharp edges of the case completely ate them by the time the job was done.
So, some advice from someone else who's done the takeapart:
It's hard. It's harder than an ipod or a powerbook, and I've done lots of those. The back case is soft aluminum. I did it with very, very little damage, but it was tough. I can see the damage, and I'm not sure mine would pass a warranty inspection, and I sure don't want to do it again.
I got my tools, ipod disassembly tools, from iFixit
.
I'd recommend the ipod tools but I'd note that they are going to be trashed. Maybe even 2 sets of the ipod tools would be good, or more. Metal tools would work better, but that aluminum back is so soft that I think you would absolutely mar the case.
I gouged mine just getting the screws out of it with a phillips that was just slightly too large and it milled the edge of the metal.
The only time I needed a metal tool was to get the edge of the metal cover up enough to get the plastic tool in. I used the end of a rounded, blunt set of tweezers. It still left a mark. A hard nubby plastic tool/lever would have been nice. Maybe a cut down ipod tool.
Once I had the edge up, I just chased the crack with the plastic tool and opened it up. I went up one side and around the top. By then I had the case levered open so much that the other long side was locked on tight and I had to bend it to get an edge of it open enough. I'm not sure how I would do it next time. I hope I never do. I would probably try something I have used in the past: you know the hard clear plastic they use for packaging of small items like headphones and cables? the tough stuff you can barely cut and can't tear, the stuff that prevents shoplifting? that stuff makes great disposable tools and shims you can force in to keep a crack open. I'd probably try that down both sides.
I'd also caution people to be careful around the buttons. The aluminum case is thinner there and I bent mine in that area. It was pretty easy to bend back, though, pushing with both ipod tools from both sides.
Recommend that people do a fit-check and check for bends before putting the case back on. A good way to check that the end of the metal case is good is to hold the plastic case up to it.
The plastic panel is tricky to get back on, it's not just a snap-on as it first appears. There is a tab that slides in under the connector, and the screens over the speaker & mike can ride up toward the edge and keep the panel from mounting as flush as it should.
Finally, putting the phone back in a silicon skin covers a multitude of sins.
Anyway, I got the camera out. It works just fine without the camera, it just shows a blank black screen (my razr is a bit smarter and times out and says "no camera"). Good to be able to carry it at work now.
so bottom line, I'd recommend metal tools to the hacker that doesn't mind damage, but recommend several sets of the ipod tools as disposable items to the perfectionist that wants the job done perfectly... but maybe a metal tool as well in case frustration sets in.
I did end up ordering the ipod tools from iFixit.com and they did the job well, but the sharp edges of the case completely ate them by the time the job was done.
So, some advice from someone else who's done the takeapart:
It's hard. It's harder than an ipod or a powerbook, and I've done lots of those. The back case is soft aluminum. I did it with very, very little damage, but it was tough. I can see the damage, and I'm not sure mine would pass a warranty inspection, and I sure don't want to do it again.
I got my tools, ipod disassembly tools, from iFixit
.
I'd recommend the ipod tools but I'd note that they are going to be trashed. Maybe even 2 sets of the ipod tools would be good, or more. Metal tools would work better, but that aluminum back is so soft that I think you would absolutely mar the case.
I gouged mine just getting the screws out of it with a phillips that was just slightly too large and it milled the edge of the metal.
The only time I needed a metal tool was to get the edge of the metal cover up enough to get the plastic tool in. I used the end of a rounded, blunt set of tweezers. It still left a mark. A hard nubby plastic tool/lever would have been nice. Maybe a cut down ipod tool.
Once I had the edge up, I just chased the crack with the plastic tool and opened it up. I went up one side and around the top. By then I had the case levered open so much that the other long side was locked on tight and I had to bend it to get an edge of it open enough. I'm not sure how I would do it next time. I hope I never do. I would probably try something I have used in the past: you know the hard clear plastic they use for packaging of small items like headphones and cables? the tough stuff you can barely cut and can't tear, the stuff that prevents shoplifting? that stuff makes great disposable tools and shims you can force in to keep a crack open. I'd probably try that down both sides.
I'd also caution people to be careful around the buttons. The aluminum case is thinner there and I bent mine in that area. It was pretty easy to bend back, though, pushing with both ipod tools from both sides.
Recommend that people do a fit-check and check for bends before putting the case back on. A good way to check that the end of the metal case is good is to hold the plastic case up to it.
The plastic panel is tricky to get back on, it's not just a snap-on as it first appears. There is a tab that slides in under the connector, and the screens over the speaker & mike can ride up toward the edge and keep the panel from mounting as flush as it should.
Finally, putting the phone back in a silicon skin covers a multitude of sins.
Anyway, I got the camera out. It works just fine without the camera, it just shows a blank black screen (my razr is a bit smarter and times out and says "no camera"). Good to be able to carry it at work now.
so bottom line, I'd recommend metal tools to the hacker that doesn't mind damage, but recommend several sets of the ipod tools as disposable items to the perfectionist that wants the job done perfectly... but maybe a metal tool as well in case frustration sets in.
More Gallery updates, 2007 up to date
July 05, 2007
My 2007 Gallery is finally up to date. I've got all the
taxonomy keywords set up for any significant subject,
and I really like the way it works. It should be a lot
of fun once I get more posted, but it means re-doing a
lot of old work. Not that it was going that quickly,
anyway, but I do like the results.
http://www.rogercarlsonphotography.com/gallery2/v/2007SoCal/
http://www.rogercarlsonphotography.com/gallery2/v/2007SoCal/
Gallery Updates
May 30, 2007
Added a few albums to the gallery, a couple of local
dive trips:
http://www.rogercarlsonphotography.com/gallery2/v/2007SoCal/
and a few to the equipment section: a comparison of the Olympus E330 and E410 housings (PT-E02 and PT-E03), a do-it-yourself cold shoe mount, and a way to force the E330 to fire its pop-up strobe in the housing when the strobe is mostly closed.
http://www.rogercarlsonphotography.com/gallery2/v/equipment/
http://www.rogercarlsonphotography.com/gallery2/v/2007SoCal/
and a few to the equipment section: a comparison of the Olympus E330 and E410 housings (PT-E02 and PT-E03), a do-it-yourself cold shoe mount, and a way to force the E330 to fire its pop-up strobe in the housing when the strobe is mostly closed.
http://www.rogercarlsonphotography.com/gallery2/v/equipment/
Airlines, the IRS, and Customer Satisfaction
May 30, 2007
Airlines rate lower than the IRS:
Airlines score lower than IRS in customer satisfaction - USATODAY.com
Airlines score lower than IRS in customer satisfaction - USATODAY.com
Crane Building Itself
May 22, 2007
YouTube video of a high-rise crane building itself,
outside of my friend Brian's offices. You need time
lapse photography over a much longer period to detect
progress in my office.
YouTube - Crane Building Itself
YouTube - Crane Building Itself
Off to Rochester again
May 13, 2007
Off to Rochestey NY again. Weather in SoCal is hot asd
sunny. In NY: tonight a frost advisory, the rest of the
week, thunderstorms.