*SORRY FOR THE ENORMOUS PICS*
I saw a thread last week about camera restrictions for some workplaces. Someone in this thread suggested destroying it with a screwdriver.. So I decided to look into the broken evo I have and see just how hard it would be to remove it, hopefully without damaging anything. Turns out it's actually VERY easy and seems unlikely to cause any damage. I suspect if you remove the rear camera then put it back later it would work just fine, but I can not confirm with this device (it's in pretty rough shape).
Below are some pics of what you can expect. This guide will help you remove the back of your EVO. That page also shows how to remove the front camera. If you choose to go beyond removing the back of your phone and attempt to disassemble the front half (glossy bezel and LCD panel) BE VERY CAREFUL! iFixit's tutorial is good up to that point. Their guide indicates (to me) that disassembling the "screen" was a cinch.. I unwittingly destroyed my digitizer
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The camera is surrounded by a thin metal bracket. You can remove it by prying up 2 corners of it, then just pull it off.
Now you can simply pinch the camera and pull it out of its seat.
Reassemble your phone and you're ready to go back to work in your favorite secret government facility
ps. All photographs shot, uploaded to photo bucket, and posted here from my EVO
Cool, it would be interesting to find out if it powers up fine without the camera. Nice work.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Not just some workplaces, but courtrooms. Granted as a professional photojournalist, the only time I'm ever in a courtroom is after I file for access to use a camera. But you aren't suppose to take any kind of camera in the courtrooms without a judge signing papers. This goes for cell phones with cameras. And if you have a cell phone it has a camera. What about the front camera? Did you remove it?
nice job could come in handy some day
Just wondering, if you need a phone without a camera that you must have on you at work that cannot have a camera, why not buy some cheap p.o.s. pre-paid instead of sacrificing such a beautiful device?
Sent From My HTC Evo 4G Using Tapa Talk Pro!
Just for clarity..
I do not have a need for this and have not done this to the phone I use.
I would definitely buy a cheap phone if I had a need for a camera-free phone.
Although I really don't see this as being detrimental to the device. As long as it boots ok without the camera you can do this without physically damaging any part of the device.
The phone in the pictures has a damaged LCD, I just wanted to show how easy this was.
I have removed the front camera, it was just as easy
I think I'll uncover the shielded parts (the processors, radios, etc.) and get a closer look
Thanks! my camera completely stopped working after I dropped the phone... it shows the white camera icon over black screen, then it fades and the screen stays black. No menu or anything; Something I read said the shutter may have stuck. I've as of yet been unable to get even the front-facing camera working. I may try replacing this and seeing how it works =]
Also a great tip if your camera stops working...
Thanks for the photos illustrating how easy this process is. Recently my wife's camera starting displaying tons of pink static (like an old TV set) both in camera mode and on the final photos taken.
I figured that static would be something originating on the camera chip rather than the motherboard or from the software and since we're over a half year before our contract renews I picked up a replacement camera online (http://www.repairsuniverse.com/htc-evo-4g-camera-replacement.html).
With the right tools (you need a few mini torx wrenches as iFixit details) the entire shut down/disassembly/swap/re-assembly must have only taken 10 minutes.
Best thing is the camera works like new for less than $30 and I didn't have to reinstall any software (which is presumed if you send it into sprint for wiping/repairing).
Cheers.
Related
So, I just traded my Galaxy SII for a One X on Craigslist. He told me of this problem before, but hey, I didn't care. The phone functions perfectly fine. The one issue that I'm just annoyed at is the bottom button alignment. I don't know if this is common or not (I tried finding other posts but I didn't find any), but the lights behind the buttons are a bit to the bottom left. But when I press the buttons, they respond, the lights just... aren't behind it? Sorry, I don't have a great camera (used my Captivate) but I tried my best. It doesn't seem prominent, but it really is in the dark. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Or can I possibly send this to HTC (if I just tell them I bought it from AT&T, I don't know how they would figure out I didn't. I have the original box too)
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Panduh said:
So, I just traded my Galaxy SII for a One X on Craigslist. He told me of this problem before, but hey, I didn't care. The phone functions perfectly fine. The one issue that I'm just annoyed at is the bottom button alignment. I don't know if this is common or not (I tried finding other posts but I didn't find any), but the lights behind the buttons are a bit to the bottom left. But when I press the buttons, they respond, the lights just... aren't behind it? Sorry, I don't have a great camera (used my Captivate) but I tried my best. It doesn't seem prominent, but it really is in the dark. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Or can I possibly send this to HTC (if I just tell them I bought it from AT&T, I don't know how they would figure out I didn't. I have the original box too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in my phone, lights are perfectly matched to buttons
well try factory reset once and if the issue is still there then you can talk to htc customer care and send it to them {if the phone is not rooted}
vivek_bhoj said:
in my phone, lights are perfectly matched to buttons
well try factory reset once and if the issue is still there then you can talk to htc customer care and send it to them {if the phone is not rooted}
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is my issue. I already called them and they told me that they could diagnose it and possibly fix it. If I don't want to have it fixed (due to a high price for the services) I am required to pay the $40. So basically, I'm screwed.
Looks to me like the LEDs behind those buttons somehow got shifted. Can’t imagine something like that passing quality control at HTC, perhaps the screen was replaced by the previous owner and whoever responsible did a shoddy job.
Look very closely at the very edge of the screen and the thin black strip surrounding the screen for tool marks. This is how you take off the screen of the One X, the process is likely to leave some marks at the pry points (especially if it was done poorly). If you can see marks, that is a very good indication that the screen was replaced. IMO there is nothing much you can do without taking it apart and re-aligning /replacing the LEDs.
PhoenixFx said:
Looks to me like the LEDs behind those buttons somehow got shifted. Can’t imagine something like that passing quality control at HTC, perhaps the screen was replaced by the previous owner and whoever responsible did a shoddy job.
Look very closely at the very edge of the screen and the thin black strip surrounding the screen for tool marks. This is how you take off the screen of the One X, the process is likely to leave some marks at the pry points (especially if it was done poorly). If you can see marks, that is a very good indication that the screen was replaced. IMO there is nothing much you can do without taking it apart and re-aligning /replacing the LEDs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I just looked and talked to the guy and he said he did open it once. I think I'm just going to leave it as is because the phone functions perfectly fine and I don't even use those buttons that much (I'll just stop them from lighting up with an App). I was also expecting a problem here and there seeing as the phone essentially cost me 160 off contract. Thanks for the help.
Hello guys. I'm currently trying to fix a friends HOX that fell and now the screen doesn't always display image although we can see it always lighting up (it turns on but stays black) .
If I press hardly the HOX's area in red while turning it ON, it works fine. I'm assuming this could be some broken welding points but would like your opinion.
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I'm thinking of heating the area with a heat gun, but I'm afraid I'll kill the rest of the phone... what do you think?
Also, after disassembling the phone, the vibration stopped working and I've checked every flat cable and every connector I could find...no ideas to fix this one since it was working before I cracked the phone open.
Any comments are greatly appreciated.
Tks
Hi
casca said:
Hello guys. I'm currently trying to fix a friends HOX that fell and now the screen doesn't always display image although we can see it always lighting up (it turns on but stays black) .
If I press hardly the HOX's area in red while turning it ON, it works fine. I'm assuming this could be some broken welding points but would like your opinion.
I'm thinking of heating the area with a heat gun, but I'm afraid I'll kill the rest of the phone... what do you think?
Also, after disassembling the phone, the vibration stopped working and I've checked every flat cable and every connector I could find...no ideas to fix this one since it was working before I cracked the phone open.
Any comments are greatly appreciated.
Tks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly a chip has become partly detached from the solder ball grid array due to the shock of the fall. You will not be able to repair this by heating, even if you could reach the melting point of the solder.
The manufacturer would repair by replacing the circuit board and the existing one would be considered unserviceable.
Regards
Phil
So in resume, my friend has a HOX for spare parts... damn...
Couldn't you pack the inside of the housing at the point where you need to apply pressure? Using a piece of card or something. Hardly ideal but would make it functional again
That has been my first attempt, and it's better but still, not enough.
I'm going to disassemble it for the tenth time in a final effort...
tks for the tip though!
So, I've just realized the back metal plate comes out nicely and I think I've found the problem for the GPU issue... that small component on the red area has a broken piece lol (WTF!)
I have applied pressure directly on top of it and I think it will be usable like this, but it now needs a bit of daily use to check if I'm right or wrong.
Can anyone identify what component type is that?
Also, unfortunately (and I don't have a clue how this has happened), the vibration stopped working after opening the phone on the first time, any one has any ideas of what to look for? I don't see any flex cable cut or any other damaged parts...
Tks guys.
Problem solved, some back pressure on the broken piece and the hox is good to go.
The only thing still not working is the vibration...
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
My month-old GS2 suddenly developed a spot on all my camera photos. T-Mobile offered to replace it under warranty, but then I have to go through all the hassle of unrooting, exchanging, re-rooting, etc. And they said I'd probably get a refurb phone. I hate to play the refurb lottery with my nearly new, nearly perfect GS2.
Anyway, here's a sample pic:
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Now that I've seen the spot, I can't unsee it on every one of my photos.
I've tried cleaning the lens cover, I even removed the 6 screws under the back cover and took the back of the phone in an attempt to further clean the lens, blow on it, wipe it, etc. I've tried bumping and shaking the phone to try to get the dust piece loose. Nothing I've tried made a difference.
So, any suggestions?
hfuizo said:
My month-old GS2 suddenly developed a spot on all my camera photos. T-Mobile offered to replace it under warranty, but then I have to go through all the hassle of unrooting, exchanging, re-rooting, etc. And they said I'd probably get a refurb phone. I hate to play the refurb lottery with my nearly new, nearly perfect GS2.
Anyway, here's a sample pic:
Now that I've seen the spot, I can't unsee it on every one of my photos.
I've tried cleaning the lens cover, I even removed the 6 screws under the back cover and took the back of the phone in an attempt to further clean the lens, blow on it, wipe it, etc. I've tried bumping and shaking the phone to try to get the dust piece loose. Nothing I've tried made a difference.
So, any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can request the warranty to Samsung. Dont play with Tmobile. Tmobile will charge you 20$, and replace your phone with a refurb, and im a victim of that :banghead:
I advise you to contact Samsung, they wil fix ur phone free of charge.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
** UPDATE **
Just thought I'd update in case somebody else ever comes across this. I disassembled the phone again by removing the battery cover, removing the 6 little screws, and removing the interior back cover. I used a can of compressed air to blow on/around the camera assembly and....voila...no more black spot on my photos. All is well with the world.
U should get a show on a&e and say there orbs. People gobble what they see in those shows like candy..
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
This is the instruction to disassemble the phone - http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Disassembling+Samsung+Galaxy+s+2+(T-mobile)(T989)+Phone/8179/1
When I got the phone I new it had mixed reviews on the camera. I was experiancing the same, focus was horrible ( about every 4th pic would turn out ), had strange coloring and just crap pictures all around Was hesitant about OTA mandatory update because was not rooted, but found others saying did'nt affect ability to root so I took the update. After I was playing with the camera again and found it to be taking great photos (inside in a very dark room with a desk light ). Can't wait till tomorrow when I can test outdoors...Has anyone else had the same experiance? The update discriptiion didn't say anything about fixing camera issues but it sure seems to have for me...time will tell :fingers-crossed:
Just got Camera Zoom FX after reading somewhere that it improves the quality. It's night as I type this so I can't really test it until tomorrow. Long ago, I completely gave up taking pictures at night with a phone camera because it's a waste of my time. Even a flash I don't bother. Regardless, the G's photos aren't incredible, they aren't horrible, they're exactly what I expect from a lens the size of a couscous pellet.
Regarding the update, I didn't try the camera before that so I can't say. But I'm happy with the results, it's somewhat better than the POS camera in my old phone. Not a amazingly better but better enough. You get a decent selection of settings for a phone here - exposure, ISO, white balance - they can make a big difference in the end result.
If you have Photoshop you can improve camera photos somewhat. Been using PS since it came out, and I know that's expensive. Elements isn't, it can maximize your camera's potential. Depends on how serious you are with this stuff. I'm just some dope who loves to take photos with big cameras, small cameras, phone cameras and as long as I know what to expect with each, I'm OK with it.
Here's what I expierianced...
Before Update with Flash
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After Update with Flash
After without Flash
Also the focusing on low light situations seems to be much better.
Very interesting difference between the photos of the PC, stealth. Looks like a window in the background? The flash is obviously bouncing off it or something reflective near it in the first photo and screwing everything up, but you cannot detect it in the second (except in the monitor but it doesn't throw it off anywhere near like the first example).
Colonel Travis said:
Very interesting difference between the photos of the PC, stealth. Looks like a window in the background? The flash is obviously bouncing off it or something reflective near it in the first photo and screwing everything up, but you cannot detect it in the second (except in the monitor but it doesn't throw it off anywhere near like the first example).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and also I was in my bedroom that is blacked out and was even focusing and taking great pictures as to where before it would not even focus in a dimmly lit room.
Camera Focus
None of my pictures come out with good focus unless I'm taking a picture of something immediately in front of me. I just got my phone so it did the jelly bean update before I could even use it. I don't want to buy a separate camera app unless I know it's going to work. Ideas?
I have noticed improvements with the camera with every update that comes. Originaly, like u, i was very disapointed with the 13mp. My htc evo 4g took better pictures. Now Much improved, i may still try the nexus 4 camera improvement hack. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2065799
My note 3 smn900t has a blur on the frobt facing camera ive always had a case on and there are no scratch or cosmetic damage marks on the camera i removed the case and it stilk occured i thought it might be a software issue so i wiped and reibstalled the rom i use....its stilk there...anyone know what this could be?
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[/IMG]
The blackened area is the "blur" i am reffering to .
That's a design feature. Just like if you open the built in browser, and close all tabs, you will see the same thing. There's nothing wrong with it.
bobbyphoenix said:
That's a design feature. Just like if you open the built in browser, and close all tabs, you will see the same thing. There's nothing wrong with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any way to remove it? ...it shows up on all pictures taken with the front facing camera and its kind of annoying.
I may of misunderstood you. I thought you only saw it when the camera was open, and not in an actual picture. Can you post an actual picture to see exactly what it looks like? Maybe your lens is dirty. Like something is smudged on it?
I double checked the lens is clean and there are no scratch marks or cosmetic damage anywhere on my phone...the picture above is what it looks like
Actually I have seen some people complain about piece of plastic inside a phone moves out of position and partially covers the lens, which does look like what you have. Look close under good light, maybe you can see it? If this is the case, either watch youtube video how to open the phone and DIY, or send it to Samsung for fix. If that's not it, then maybe some internal fault with camera, so again Samsung warranty repair or you could buy replacement camera for something like $10-$15 and replace yourself if warranty is not an option.
pete4k said:
Actually I have seen some people complain about piece of plastic inside a phone moves out of position and partially covers the lens, which does look like what you have. Look close under good light, maybe you can see it? If this is the case, either watch youtube video how to open the phone and DIY, or send it to Samsung for fix. If that's not it, then maybe some internal fault with camera, so again Samsung warranty repair or you could buy replacement camera for something like $10-$15 and replace yourself if warranty is not an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ended up being covered by samsung warranty. Took my n3 into the t mobile store and they replaced it. Got a new n3 now. Thanks for the help.