Any other cheapos/ DIYers out there? Show us what you modded! - Galaxy Note 10.1 Accessories

So, I always try to tinker with things. So far I am not too versed in tinkering with apps, software, wiring, or other nonphysical or internal electronic things, but I'm a just a novice student of XDA so far
Anyways, I looked at the s-pen holder, and found that I had crapped a brick, at the $30-40 price tag. So... dremel! I cut a few pens apart, and finally came across a large sleeve portion, that I could slide onto the pen, until it is stopped my the raised part at the end. What I found, was that, not only did this quickly removable sleeve not block off the S-pen button, it added a comfortable raised area at the button's border. I used to accidentally press the pen button. Not with my cheapskate sleeve!:good: It feels more comfortable, and has more control over writing (i tested that by drawing freehand geometric shapes, sleeved VS naked stock, BIG IMPROVEMENT!)
I also modified the flip case, my velcro-ing 2 small Moleskine books (that have been modified by using electrical tape, to make surprisingly good pen holsters). I found that try as I might, to completely eliminate paper (when you have OCD, it's more trouble than it's worth), I found that it still has its place. I can write to-do's on index cards, put them in the Moleskine pocket, and I can rearrange them as I please, unlike a paged notebook planner. Obviously I can also write physical notes, and have a functionally relevant place to store business cards, and scraps with phone numbers, and detach the physical notebooks for OTG. An added plus, is that my crappy case only does landscape orientation. In college lectures, It is more comfortable to write in portrait, not to mention, the audio recording mic gets muffled in landscape. By removing one of the notebooks, it puts the tablet at the perfect slight angle for writing comfort.
Will post pics once I can sync them up with dropbox. Was wondering if anyone else was tinkering with physical mods. I'd like this thread to be one where everybody gives tips & shows their DIY work. :highfive:

Related

Xda IIs Stylus holder is LOOSE after USE and ABUSE!

Hi guys, just wondering if any users out there are having the same problems as me. ive had my Blue Angel now for a good 6 months and im very happy with it appart from it doesnt ring which is very very annoying :twisted: anyone know a fix for this?
But main reason for this post is; has anyone got the same problem that the holder for the stylus has become used and now doesnt hold the stylus in place anymore? i remember there being a click when pushing the stylus in. but now it just falls out when i tip the PDA upside down.
Anyone whos opened up a BA can you give any details on how the holder works? can it be modded so that it grips the stylus again? im one for opening up electrinics and playing with them but since i use this for alot of my work i cant risk it.
many thanks for any replies.
DJUPLIFT
I have the same issues. I tried to take mine apart but could not seem to separate the back side of the case. I removed 3 screws from behind the battery, and one from either side of the device. I too would like any input.
It totally blows... cos i always end up taking the phone out of my pocket and sometimes i dont hear the stylus drop. ive already lost two like this... it might end up being more expensive to just keep buying stylus than to open the BA and screw it up... All in all my ones been opened already :shock:
i dropped it on concrete and somehow the touchscreen stopped working although the screen was intact. O2 replaced it with a brand new one for diddly sqwat!! FANTASTIC!!!
i might just take it appart next weekend and have a little look inside see if there is a way to access this comparment and maybe doing a little DIY style modding!
if i come up with any conclusions ill post them with some pics of course!
DJUPLIFT
a friend of mine took his apart and there does not appear to be a way to tighten the stylus. He said it was just a small plastic protusion that held it in place. Once it wears, you are out of luck. Have not seen this myself, but thats what he tells me..
Regards
chris
that's correct, it's just a plastic clip protruding to grab the gap on the stylus. if it's broken, you may just have to put a tape or sticker around the stylus to make it tighter.
there are 4 screws (one under the void sticker) where the battery goes. i just took mine apart to tighten slider. it's back to sliding smoothly & tight, however, there's still a noticeable gap (between the screen plate & keyboard plate).
anyone knows how to eliminate this gap (about 2mm)?
Try this solution: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=15120&highlight=loose+stylus
Cheers
Frankman
I use 1 layer of tape around the stylus. spanning the groove in the stylus. This seems to make it a good bit tighter, but does not fix the problem entirely. Hope that helps..
Regards
Chris
i dont like the idea of having tape on my stylus... looks well tacky going into a metting with clients!!
so i took some black insulation tape and made small squares with an art blade and stuck them to the inner edge of the holder... now it sits there nice and tight like a school girl
S O R T E D!!!!
cheers for the help guys/gals.... if any....
An idiot friend of mine put a blade of grass in the stylus holder and now it wont come out. How do I fish it out? The good thing is, my stylus doesn't slide out so easily anymore.
I have also encountered this problem(i got my BA 6 months till now), however it is not that loose as what ur described. at lease it never drop out when i was outside. (after reading this i become worry about it)
I used to own a IPAQ 5550, when i got my BA, i thought the quality of the stylus is better than ipaq's plastic stylus(should have some heavy stuff insde..), i like the BA's metalic stylus.
Now i found that the IPAQ plastic stylus + the spring-like system inside the whole is much better...i want to have one BA + the metalic stylus + the spring-like system to hold the stylus....
if some day i am that unlucky to lost my BA's stylus i will try to use the 3-in-one PDA pen... once it lost one, i may lost another... i wont use normal stylus if it happened.
DJUPLIFT wrote[/quote]
i dont like the idea of having tape on my stylus... looks well tacky going into a metting with clients!!
You have to use that "invisable" tape and only the keyboard and buttons if its a Director or above! :lol:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Loose stylus - Stylus falls out
This has worked for me. It's been 5 months, and it still works.
-Back up your data.
-Remove the cover you will find a small tab in the stylus channel intended to engage the notch cut into the stylus. Gently push the tab back into the stylus channel so that it will engage the stylus notch once again. Be careful if you push it too far it will break.
-Slide the stylus into the channel to verify that the tab again engages the stylus notch.
-Remove the stylus again.
-Apply a small dab silicone sealant (available at any hardware store) behind the stylus retention tab. This is the "V" shaped area between the tab and the case. Be sure to fill this entire area. When the silicone has cured it will become a spring with much better position memory then the original plastic tab had on its own.
-Reassemble your BA.
-Allow 24 hours for the silicone to cure before inserting the stylus into the channel.
I believe this is more then a repair, it is an upgrade.
Good Luck,
N2O2
Yet again we're having to come up with dodgy (although well thought out) solutions to HTC's shoddy design flaws. My BA is about 3 - 4 months old and its up to this already. I keep finding my stylus on the floor.
Thing is, all these solutions void the warranty and I have to take mine back soon (See the Xray thread ) and am hoping for a replacement on insurance.
The P800 and XDA2 had this problem as well, but surprisingly I have NEVER lost a single stylus in my life! I always just happen to find them again. One time I found my P800 stylus 2 days later in the street between my college and my flat :S
Re: Loose stylus - Stylus falls out
N2O2 said:
This has worked for me. It's been 5 months, and it still works.
-Back up your data.
-Remove the cover you will find a small tab in the stylus channel intended to engage the notch cut into the stylus. Gently push the tab back into the stylus channel so that it will engage the stylus notch once again. Be careful if you push it too far it will break.
-Slide the stylus into the channel to verify that the tab again engages the stylus notch.
-Remove the stylus again.
-Apply a small dab silicone sealant (available at any hardware store) behind the stylus retention tab. This is the "V" shaped area between the tab and the case. Be sure to fill this entire area. When the silicone has cured it will become a spring with much better position memory then the original plastic tab had on its own.
-Reassemble your BA.
-Allow 24 hours for the silicone to cure before inserting the stylus into the channel.
I believe this is more then a repair, it is an upgrade.
Good Luck,
N2O2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea! It's perfect!
THANK YOU N2O2
N2O2
You just made the wiki hall of fame
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=BA_Sty_stopper
Any Kentucky Fried Chícken fans out there?
After losing 5 styli - not only because they were loose in the holder (one went on the motorcycle after I missed the holder hole and then let it go) I came up with this junky solution.
The KFC corn cob holders are a good diameter (had to add a thin layer of tape) and just long enough to be modifiable to add a knureld part at upper end. At at least one of their restaurants I found them outside of the front counter and was able to obtain a few cheap spare emergency styli
Oh well.
:lol: :lol: HAHAHAHAHA You are grade man .....
Lost another one from the new phone in the few hours since I posted the KFC thing.
Uuuups - time to go out for a buckt of the Colonels finest.
Lost another one from the new phone in the few hours since I posted the KFC thing.
Uuuups - time to go out for a buckt of the Colonels finest.
Lost another one from the new phone in the few hours since I posted the KFC thing.
Uuuups - time to go out for a buckt of the Colonels finest.

Accessorize!

Ok, so my accessories came today so I'd thought I'd write a little review about them.
First off, the official Flip cover. I have the ceramic white one, to go with my white phone.
Now I read a few threads and started getting worried about the possibility of a magnet. I checked with my powerful magnet there is not even a tiny one. How it 'sticks' to the screen is static attraction. Same way a balloon can make your hair stick up, bits of paper/fluff stick to a comb after you've used it. Another worry I had was the back looked tacky, poor quality, in pictures I've seen. It is exactly like the original back except it feels a bit more solid, rather than pliable. The front has a matted feel to it which I think might be the same look/feel as the pebble blue's back (but in white). Another thing I wanted to know how much it would look like if I decided to get the blue one, top look similar to the blue pebble theme. I think it will work well for those of us who decided to get a white due to stock delays.
Now, about the CPen. There was complaints that some people thought this would be similar to the SPen. It is just a capacative stylus with a nice 3mm tip.
My last stylus was a cheap £1 one that had more like a 1cm tip to it, which worked fine as a replacement for a finger, but for writing/drawing it really doesn't cut it. This solves that problem, in the SMemo app you get a canvas with some small square grids you can safely put in 10 dots into those squares if your hand is stable enough (mine isn't ). Its not too bulky a pen, its about the size of a Parker pen and has the metal clip you usually have on them. Overall I think you could probably find another 3mm stylus cheaper elsewhere, but this is Samsung branded and looks nice.
Now for the dock. Its a nice little weighty block and the only thing that came with instructions! You just plug your/any micro-usb cable into the back of it and away you go (has a headphone jack too). It has a new screen when its docked called Desk Home and looks like https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByJ-I1CDRqiicUlDSFYwNjJ3ZTQ which is pretty cool. Not sure if other docks will enable this screen so I doubt you could get a cheaper one to do the same. Also, it works with the flip cover either flipped to the front or flipped around to the back.
To sum up I hope somebody finds this useful and if you have any questions about them feel free to ask or post below.
I'd like to add, that after a short time on the dock, the icons disappear, so does the top bar. And all you are left with is the time, date and weather. Also this randomly moves like every 30 seconds or something.

Decent S-Pen Replacement (but not really an S-Pen)

I saw these both on Amazon and Ebay and decided to take a risk. It showed up today and I wanted to report my findings in case others are interested...
This is NOT a true S-Pen as it has no button and does not interact with the Wacom device at all (near as I can tell). It is just a basic capacitive stylus. But:
1. It is far less expensive at about $4 (true S-Pens are at least $15 from Korea on EBay and typically more).
2. It fits the silo well.
3. A side-by-side comparison shows it to be about .5 inch shorter than a true S-Pen.
4. It even will activate the capacitive touch buttons below the screen which the S-Pen will not. You do need to press harder/longer than you would think to get this to work.
5. Compared to the very rigid, pencil-like nib of the S-Pen, the tip of this feels pretty soft and flexible. It certainly feels different when doing some tasks - such as writing Graffiti input characters (which I do all the time). Not sure it is less accurate or bad in any way. Just feels quite different as the tip is soft and squishy and so there is a give in the setup that is not present at all in the S-Pen.
In some ways, this works better for me than the true S-Pen as its button gets pressed by accident some times. And the only thing I have ever used the button for was to trigger a screen shot capture and don't do that very often. The ability to trigger the touch buttons without having to switch from S-Pen to finger seems like an advantage but maybe not so much now that I have trained myself with the S-Pen.
Cheers!
Edit...
I need to add this. After only a couple day's use, this capacitive stylus has simply stopped working. No idea why. Have tried cleaning both screen and stylus tip. But the only response I get is after pressing way too hard and even then it is intermittent. So avoid these despite my original comments.
Another Edit...
I need to add this. This stylus is once again working just fine. I am not sure why. I did clean the screen this morning and perhaps that changed something. But as stated earlier I did that before without results. So the jury is still out on this one. I did, however, contact the seller on EBay and they are sending another unit free of charge.

Techmatte amPen

I just received a new stylus from Techmatte, called the amStylus and would like to give a few remarks.
http://www.amazon.com/amPen-Hybrid-...e=UTF8&qid=1383685041&sr=8-15&keywords=stylus
It is very similar to all the rubber tipped generic stylus available everywhere. Where this one separates itself is in the material it uses in addition to the rubber tip. The biggest problem with the generic stylus is that the rubber flexes and squishes way to easy and makes for very imprecise actions. The material used here is much more solid, with very little flex and squish, resulting in much more precise actions. It also flows quite smoothly over my devices screen, with no drag that the typical stylus has.
I have used it for everyday actions and a couple of drawing apps with great success.

[MOD] very simple S Line cover mod

Hello! I just wanted to share this very easy modification I've made today to my S Line cover.
I like this model of cover because I think is has the best quality-price ratio.
However, since I've started using PIE controls I noticed that the borders of the cover made the swype from the edge of the screen a little less comfortable.
Also, I think the Gnex is a very comfortable phone despite is big screen size (nowadays even not that big...), but the cover adds a little bulk that make reaching some part of the screen a little hard compared to using the phone "naked".
Since I've wrongly ordered two identical S Line covers, and I don't think I will ever broke one, I decided to try this simple mod.
Using a pair of electrician scissorsi like those:
I've simply cutted off the side part of the cover (the one with the grippy texture), starting from the power button side and simply following the groove of this part of the cover:
Then, with 3 small pieces of biadhesive tape, I placed the cutted part on the other side of the cover, so I could use it as a template for cutting ( because this side of the cover doesn't have a groove around the grippy part):
Well, the cut on this side came out less accurate.
Before doing this, I was almost sure that removing the sides of the cover would have made it too loose on the phone, but after putting it on, it seems to be as stable as the normal cover.
The upper and lower front borders keep to prevent scratches on the screen when putting the phone on surfaces facing down.
Volume buttons are easier to reach and push ( and, if you want to consider the other side, to get accidentaly pushed).
The bulk on the hand is reduced, and swypes are now very very comfortable
Here's some photos:
Hope you'll like it and find it useful! I know that probably already exists cover that are made like that, but I wanted to try
In the next days I'll see how it will react to normal usage (in/out the pocket...)

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