Develop Bugs

[Q] Advice on unlock/digitiser issue

Hi
I upgraded to my new DHD less than 3 weeks ago. It is not rooted and I did the recent OTA update over Christmas.
Over the last couple of days I have started to experience difficulty unlocking the device on the slide-to-unlock screen. The problem seems intermittent - somethimes it will unlock fine, and other times the slider just seems to "get stuck" at the bottom of the screen.
At first I thought this a bug or something, but after some investigation I am concerned there is a problem with the digitiser. I opened a picture and zoomed in to fill the screen and tested the touchscreen in different places by sliding the picture around. What I found was that the bottom 1cm of the screen above the keys does not respond properly to Up and Down swipes. It is fine however with side-to-side and also individual taps. This is obviously a problem when trying to move the unlock slider!
I've had a screen protector on for about a week - I don't imagine this has caused the issue but haven't removed it to test as yet as I don't have a spare. Aside from this, the device has been very well looked after, definitely no bumps etc and kept in an HTC leather pouch.
Any ideas? Should I return it to CW?
Thanks

OK, I seem to have resolved this for the time being but expect the problem to return.
I downloaded a screen test app that allows you to draw on the screen and got some very strange results. A 1cm band of screen about 1cm up from the bottom was completely unresponsive. Trying to draw a horizontal line within this band would result in lines being drawn either above or below it, or strange vertical lines "jumping" around. The rest of the screen was fine. I realised this is why I have been struggling to close the keyboard - the button is placed within this band and trying to press it would result in on of the buttons above or below being pressed. Also have had problems with the sapce bar.
I did a restart (not fast) and this has resolved the issue, however I expect it may return as I did a restart only yesterday.
At least it is obviously software and not the digitiser....

Hi again. As expected, the issue returned after a couple of hours. This time however, restarting is not making a difference.
I resorted to a hard rest, which has not changed anything either.
Any help/ideas would really be appreciated...

Best to return it for repairs or exchange. Seems like the digitiser is faulty.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

olivierlee said:
Best to return it for repairs or exchange. Seems like the digitiser is faulty.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, this definitely sounds like a hardware problem.

Touchscreen Digitizer Issues?

So lately I've been having problems with my DI2. Occasionally, when I unlock, it appears to receive what it thinks is a touch at a lower portion, usually around the middle of the lower portion, of the screen, and this results in things like Home being activated, or the app drawer. This will happen even if no part of my hand is near the bottom of the phone (front, back, and sides).
More recently, it has become and indication of random touching on lower parts of the screen. I've had it completely freak out and type random stuff in input fields. When it gets really bad, the touchscreen stops responding, but I can lock and unlock to get it back, usually.
This has made typing in portrait mode quite difficult, and it's becoming very annoying.
Is my touchscreen digitizer failing, or is it possible there's some sensitivity adjustment I can make? Is it possible it's related to static or something and I can use a cleaning solution or something to correct it?
I really want to avoid paying a lot to fix this issue. I've already seen places where I can buy a replacement digitizer if that is needed, but it's not cheap. I'm really hoping this phone will hold out a lot longer than it is right now as it's been an otherwise good phone.

You may want to try recalibrating your screen.
Go to Settings > Language & keyboard > Touch Input > Text input > Calibration tool.

klabit87 said:
You may want to try recalibrating your screen.
Go to Settings > Language & keyboard > Touch Input > Text input > Calibration tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think this only calibrates the keyboard. there is an .apk around somewhere that will calibrate the touch screen, some roms have it built into the settings.

andybones said:
i think this only calibrates the keyboard. there is an .apk around somewhere that will calibrate the touch screen, some roms have it built into the settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh ok. gotcha. Makes sense

I'll see what I can find.

nimdae said:
I'll see what I can find.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If not just unroot and send it to vzw
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda premium

Well, I'm not having much hope with calibration apps. This looks like a very device specific thing, which is understandable. Besides, it doesn't really feel like a calibration issue. When it's not going haywire, touch accuracy seems fine.
I'm not really keen on going for a replacement. Besides, my physical modifications (antenna improvement, improved access to power button, etc) may prevent that
If I can't find a cheap/free solution, I'll just jump on replacing the digitizer. This is not a task that bothers me, was just hoping someone came across this issue and found a better solution.

Harbor Freight has the hot air blower for $12.00.

This may be a dumb question but i didn't see you mention it. Did you try a factory reset? Perhaps you have an app or something conflicting with screen response somewhere in there.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk

I seem to have dead spots once in a while on my touchscreen. Doesnt really effect day to day usage but can be annoying when trying to click something. Like a link on a webpage, sometimes I will have to scroll up or down to move the link before Im able to click it.. spot seems to be centrally located but has happened in a few places.

MJL99 said:
This may be a dumb question but i didn't see you mention it. Did you try a factory reset? Perhaps you have an app or something conflicting with screen response somewhere in there.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a dumb question at all. I did not mention it, and it's completely valid. However, I have gone through a couple of full resets since the issue started, and the behavior has persisted.
In fact, I have tried a couple of different firmwares in the time it has started. I had thought maybe a build of CM7 might have caused it, but the ICS builds have the same behavior, as well as a couple other firmwares that I don't remember the name of offhand.

cac2us said:
Harbor Freight has the hot air blower for $12.00.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you elaborate?

mastamoon said:
I seem to have dead spots once in a while on my touchscreen. Doesnt really effect day to day usage but can be annoying when trying to click something. Like a link on a webpage, sometimes I will have to scroll up or down to move the link before Im able to click it.. spot seems to be centrally located but has happened in a few places.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, it's not an issue with dead spots. For one thing, the issue is intermittent and in varying degrees of severity. Usually when it happens it's just something at the bottom activates and I can cancel it out and carry on with my session. Occasionally, though, it just goes haywire, as though a palm is resting on it or something is touching random places rapidly.
So far I've been able to kill the haywire behavior by locking the display, wiping it down a bit, unlocking the display, then continuing on. I haven't had to take any more drastic measures than that. It's still annoying in that it can happen while typing a message and I have to go back and clean up the mess it leaves, or it might monkey around with an app.
It seems as though there might be some static buildup or something because it seems worst shortly after taking it out of my pocket. If that's the case, I wonder if I can ground it out, or do something to dissipate it.

nimdae said:
Not a dumb question at all. I did not mention it, and it's completely valid. However, I have gone through a couple of full resets since the issue started, and the behavior has persisted.
In fact, I have tried a couple of different firmwares in the time it has started. I had thought maybe a build of CM7 might have caused it, but the ICS builds have the same behavior, as well as a couple other firmwares that I don't remember the name of offhand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry i didn't notice you mention it anywhere. Fwiw i get lockscreen issues kinda like you describe. i use the slide lock on cm7 and when i go to slide right to unlock, before it gets to the dot the lock releases without me lifting my finger. I know i don't have a dead spot because it only does it on the lockscreen and relocking and waking the screen fixes it. Only happens on cm7 and why i thought it might be an issue like that.
nimdae said:
Can you elaborate?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you need to replace the screen/digitizer you will need to heat up the glue to remove the screen. Normally a heat gun is recommended
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk

Bro I just went thru the same thing same week. And I've tried all the suggestion here, in the end it was the digitizer. I call Verizon and explain the problem and they are sending me another Dinc2. It sucks cause now you have to unroot and restore (s on) (which for me was a bit of a *****) to send the phone back , but trust me at some point the entire bottom part of your screen will not respond to touch.. You'll only be able the answer calls from the lock screen and to hang up you'll have to do so thru the pulldown bar. And the biggest problem will be you won't be able to access your key pad. Sorry bro but thoses are the facts....I'm waiting for the replacement as I type this.

MJL99 said:
If you need to replace the screen/digitizer you will need to heat up the glue to remove the screen. Normally a heat gun is recommended
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not held in with a normal ribbon cable lock? It would be strange if they used a glue. I've been inside many of these devices in the past going back some 10 years (including at a repair center) and didn't face glued ribbon cables (either solder or ribbon cable lock).

nimdae said:
It's not held in with a normal ribbon cable lock? It would be strange if they used a glue. I've been inside many of these devices in the past going back some 10 years (including at a repair center) and didn't face glued ribbon cables (either solder or ribbon cable lock).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are held in with a ribbon cable lock but the screen and digitizer are glued onto the phone itself, like the metal part that holds all the parts

So I wasn't able to find a software solution. Not sure what's causing it, but it's causing some unwanted issues (hang up call and it immediately calls someone else based on a false touch). I ordered the parts I need and will report if this fixes my problems.

nimdae said:
So I wasn't able to find a software solution. Not sure what's causing it, but it's causing some unwanted issues (hang up call and it immediately calls someone else based on a false touch). I ordered the parts I need and will report if this fixes my problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you order from, how much did you pay?
Be sure to watch both of those vids on utube.
I live where the relative humidity is around 15% most of the time.
Still I notice that when I pull my phone out of my pocket, it has moisture all over the back where it was pressing against my leg.
I found putting it in a soft cover pouch keeps most of that under control.
Just for the heck of it , try putting the phone in a jar of un cooked rice for a few hrs.
Battery and cards removed, jar sealed tight.
If you have another phone to transfer your calls to that would be better.
If you are like me and your skin oil transfers to your phone allot, use a fine tooth brush around the area where the screen meets the housing.
Avoid pushing any debris further into the unit. Use brisk outward strokes.
If none of that produces any favorable results, look for a hot air gun or a blow dryer.
Keep us updated...

cac2us said:
Where did you order from, how much did you pay?
Be sure to watch both of those vids on utube.
I live where the relative humidity is around 15% most of the time.
Still I notice that when I pull my phone out of my pocket, it has moisture all over the back where it was pressing against my leg.
I found putting it in a soft cover pouch keeps most of that under control.
Just for the heck of it , try putting the phone in a jar of un cooked rice for a few hrs.
Battery and cards removed, jar sealed tight.
If you have another phone to transfer your calls to that would be better.
If you are like me and your skin oil transfers to your phone allot, use a fine tooth brush around the area where the screen meets the housing.
Avoid pushing any debris further into the unit. Use brisk outward strokes.
If none of that produces any favorable results, look for a hot air gun or a blow dryer.
Keep us updated...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've worked in microelectronics in the past and know quite a bit about moisture control, static control, etc. I had to help manage a sizable clean room at one point.
Unfortunately it's possible that my digitizer is just flawed and the flaws are just now coming out. I don't think it's moisture, but rather most likely electrostatic. I live in a rather dry place.
I normally would not use a screen protector, but I might consider it now as it might add an extra layer of insulation from static in my pocket.
The digitizer I found was from a seller on Amazon. For all of the parts needed (I don't have the tools for properly working on this device), including the small double sided tape, I spent around $32.
The double sided tape comes in a big roll so if anyone else needs to do this kind of repair, I will ship the remaining tape for the cost of shipping (this should save you about $5).

[Q] Extremely weird screen behaviour.

Hello all! Ive just recently got my Xperia arc, and flashed a nightly build of CM7 on it, number 20. Everything seemed to run smoothly, but just now screen started to behave very weird, it almost seem to have osme kind of "ghostly" second touch.
The upper part of the screen is almost impossible to use, when I try select an app to move it on the screen, by holding finger down, it just flickers for a second and gets deselected. If I manage to select it and drag+hold, it starts spazing out all over the screen, with screens switching between eachother by it self.
The problem is especially noticeable in games, where you usually have a joystick controller in bottom left corner. When using it, I usually trigger the buttons above it in the upper left corner which I am no where near at with my finger.
Is this a ROM issue, or hardware issue? Ive been using the rom for couple of days with no strange to it, and now this happens. Any ideas what the source can be?

ROM failure.

Sorry for bump, but apparently the problem remained. I changed to XDA rom, which too is based on CM7 thou and after a day I stumbled upon same problem of ghotsly second touch on screen.
I cant hold to move apps, cant precisely press a button in game on left side of screen, it then triggers some other button nearby. I do get haptic feedback from long press on a homescreen, but the "add new" menu popups only every few tries Any ideas of what may be causing this? I would really like to avoid the hassle of resetting the phone and sending it back for repairs :/

try stock one or miui.

It sounds a bit like your screen had a bad encounter with water...
Could this be the case?
iR¡[email protected]!* via Tapatalk

iridaki said:
It sounds a bit like your screen had a bad encounter with water...
Could this be the case?
iR¡[email protected]!* via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this phone is only few days old.
I think I am noticing a pattern.. screen behaves this way only late evenings, till next morning. I never noticed the issue during the day, but then it was there again for no reason after I left phone for couple of hours (it's past midnight here at the moment). Now when I think back, same was previous two evening, issue only noticeable during late evenings. Could my phone be possessed lol?
It's quite weird issue too. Upper half of the screen seems to have a ghost touch as I said. When trying to add a widget to upper screen, I only get a haptic feedback from long press. When playing games, all buttons on left side (landscape mode) get activated as soon I press one of them. Most weird of all, is that screens works perfectly in app drawer and settings, but not in app/homescreen. I will test how it is again tomorrow and report. If it works just fine again as if nothing happened I will be really puzzled.
Currently on CM7 Xda version, same was for official version. I am considering updating to MIUI, just gotta figure this radio difference stuff, but am becoming sceptic to whether this issue really lies with ROM and not app/settings.

Yep, issue is gone like nothing happened at the morning, this is is haunted ._.

I've figured the cause, it only happens when the phone is plugged in and charging. Beats me why thou, what remains to see now is if it is tied to the kernel or not. Posting it here in case others with similar problem stumble upon the thread.

Are you using the stock charger, i used to face bit similar problem when i used to connect my old HTC USB charger... later i discover the HTC charger was giving only 500mA , where as sony one is rated at 700mA.

mangemayur said:
Are you using the stock charger, i used to face bit similar problem when i used to connect my old HTC USB charger... later i discover the HTC charger was giving only 500mA , where as sony one is rated at 700mA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip! Turns out it didn't like my 1000mA charger I am using for all my usb stuff, but the stock on works perfect (it's 850mA).

Problem with touch screen

Does anybody else have a problem with their Play's touch screen?
It is when my hands are warm or clammy or in a hot environment, or if my hands are sweating a little.. then when typing the touch screen just goes crazy. By crazy, I mean it keeps making random taps everywhere, and with Swype keyboard, gets really annoying!!!
Any tips? I have tried cooling down my hands under cold tap, using paper towels to dry them, drying the screen. I think maybe it is because the phone gets warm because overclocking to 1.5GHz...

Yeah, I had the same "problem". The touchscreen is thermal-based so it will act accordingly to any thermal temperature imput. For example, try blowing hot air to your screen for a short period of time; you'll notice it will go as crazy as you described it. To me, it happened when I was speaking to someone for a long time, my ear heated the screen and after the call ended, the phone was acting on his own.
Cleaning the screen will solve this funny problem.

Not too hot in the UK so not really faced this problem. What is annoying is when I'm in the middle of swyping and the phone just stops my Swype and doesn't work temporarily when I Swype over certain letters
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

Well, my touch screen basically quit on me... sometimes there is massive touch screen lag, and after awhile it just quits...
Sent from my R800x using xda premium

Hmm, I am in the UK.. it isn't that hot, I am even in an air-conditioned office but as soon as my hands get a bit clammy (always!) then it just goes crazy on me. I thought it might be the screen protector, so I took it off, but still having problems. It is getting to the point where I am considering a new phone.

Try punching it
Disclaimer: not guaranteed to work (although I have tried it before)
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

Yes punching is a resourceful method of permanently ending all of these problems. But if you're looking for something a bit more temporary in it's resolution, use some rubbing alcohol, and clean the screen with it. Also your flex cable could be on the way out... when it starts wearing out it does this. Open the gamepad the next time it starts going mad and you will see it stops

I'm not having any probs. Normally when its hot, my stock ROM get into 42celsius .. With overclocking it would be 50+..
Sent from my r800i

KindaUndisputed said:
Not too hot in the UK so not really faced this problem. What is annoying is when I'm in the middle of swyping and the phone just stops my Swype and doesn't work temporarily when I Swype over certain letters
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the UK and I have this problem every day, I've had to start using a stylus to type, it's so slow, I posted about it in the Q&A section and someone said to get a screen protector.

I have the same issues, too.. it sucks, it's making it very hard to swype.
I have noticed if I swype in landscape the problem doesn't exist, only in portrait.
And, I've flashed a new rom and it still happens, so not a software issue.
---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------
Hard to replace cable? I was thinking about ordering a new touch screen digitizer but when watching the tear down didn't wanna take apart the entire phone.

Yes this does happen. This also happens when the charger is plugged in.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

I had a screen protector and still had the issue, in fact it seemed worse with that, so I ripped it off out of frustration.
I will try some rubbing alcohol (may get some alcohol wipes or something) as I know that dries things out, and it seems to be moisture and heat that makes it bad.
I guess my next question is, why does it only happen in portrait mode? (if it is the ribbon cable thing, that sucks).
And also, is this an issue for other phones? I am guessing not

I've found that if my screen starts going "click crazy". I just turn off the screen and turn it back on and it solves it.
Why it happens? You got me.

danieljamie said:
I had a screen protector and still had the issue, in fact it seemed worse with that, so I ripped it off out of frustration.
I will try some rubbing alcohol (may get some alcohol wipes or something) as I know that dries things out, and it seems to be moisture and heat that makes it bad.
I guess my next question is, why does it only happen in portrait mode? (if it is the ribbon cable thing, that sucks).
And also, is this an issue for other phones? I am guessing not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happens to me in Landscape too

....so no-one has a fix for it?

No idea.. sucks because looks like a bunch of us have this issue, too.

Same prob here!
It starts a few months after I buy the phone, and I take it to the warranty.
They changed not only the screen, but the whole front part, and it seem that was ok. But some months ago I noticed that it was back.
I already try using stock GB, other GB roms, ICS roms, and the problem continues.
But for me it happens only in landscape mode. In portrait mode I rarely have problems.

had this problem before I bought a decent quality screen protector.
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk 2

UndisputedGuy said:
Try punching it
Disclaimer: not guaranteed to work (although I have tried it before)
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do you mean by punching?
I am desperate in trying to fix my Play. I want to try everything first before I buy a digitizer.

Also happens to me, when it does i lock the screen, wipe it with my shirt and i turn it back on and it's fine.

[Q] touchscreen problem

hey
my touchscreen is gone crazy..
i am on SPEEDroid rom ..
n the lower section of touchscreen stimulates TWO touches by it self..
n then i went to settings and developers options then i ticked the SHOW VISUAL TOUCH FEEDBACKS and POINTER LOCATION.. n on the bottom of my screnn i can see two DOTS (touches which inturn is genereating the pointer location and the visual touch feed back)
any sugesstions??
is it hardware problem or software problem
??

Had a similar problem with my old HTC Hero back in the day, the difference though was the the bottom of the digitizer (the part that registers the touch) didn't work at all, it happened slowly but in the end it was like that, it began by simulating touches and at last stopped working all together.
I fixed it by replacing the digitizer that I bought off ebay for a few dollars, I have no idea if that is possible on your device, but it sure sounds like it is a hardware problem.
Best of luck
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

There is wfs digitizer on eBay for 25 €
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using xda app-developers app

Questions in the q&a section please
Sent from my bowl of jelly!

Im having a similar problem, whenever I put pressure on the bottom right side of the phone (opposite of charger slot) it make my screen do the same thing, except it always happens at the very bottom right of the screen and it messes everything up, and it also messes up the soft keys, like I try an load an app an it starts spamming the back/search button and trolls me everytime its EXTREMELY annoying to do anything, thank god mx player has a screen lock otherwise streaming videos would be near impossible, I tried putting tape in the same spot it happens under the hard case and it's actually pretty effective it only ever happens now unless I really grip the thing.

I have similar problem....sometimes phone generates random touches even if I am not holding it...but fortunately only sometimes