Database Users

Is this really true?

Someone is selling me his 2nd hand HTC Universal.
He told me it has minor scratches and a small crack just below the front vga camera which, he told me, is "normal" to all units.
Is it true? Is that spot under the camera really prone to cracks?
Thanks for your replies!

I think it's usual.
My uni is broken on the cameras glass.

None of the 4 universals I've had have got this crack, they were all pretty battered and scratched but no cracks.
My current one is probably the worst with several dents but still no cracks.

Hmm...
That's strange.
Anyway, thanks for your replies.

It is true
almost every JasJar I saw had the crack on exactly the same spot under the VC camera, it goes from the corner of the screen down. Another similar spot it right up from the stylus tip towards the hinge. Somehow Execs are less prone to the same breakage. Usually happens when the screen is replaced or someone attempts to open the screen without proper tools or knowledge. Wizard has a weak spot like that next to stylus as well, I guess each device has its very own weak spot.

Thanks for the heads up. I guess I'm buying the unit afterall.
I'm choosing between the Universal and the Asus P526 and I'm really confused.

maxmiller said:
Thanks for the heads up. I guess I'm buying the unit afterall.
I'm choosing between the Universal and the Asus P526 and I'm really confused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you wants GPS go for ASUS, but without keyboard i will prefer the Uni

Hmm.. I don't know how to use a the GPS feature anyway.

enigma1nz said:
almost every JasJar I saw had the crack on exactly the same spot under the VC camera, it goes from the corner of the screen down. Another similar spot it right up from the stylus tip towards the hinge. Somehow Execs are less prone to the same breakage. Usually happens when the screen is replaced or someone attempts to open the screen without proper tools or knowledge. Wizard has a weak spot like that next to stylus as well, I guess each device has its very own weak spot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah that could be why I've never had it - I've never tried to take the screen off...

just had a look and mine also has a thin hairline crack in the plastic on the videocam corner - never noticed it before!

enigma1nz said:
almost every JasJar I saw had the crack on exactly the same spot under the VC camera, it goes from the corner of the screen down. Another similar spot it right up from the stylus tip towards the hinge. Somehow Execs are less prone to the same breakage. Usually happens when the screen is replaced or someone attempts to open the screen without proper tools or knowledge. Wizard has a weak spot like that next to stylus as well, I guess each device has its very own weak spot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No issues on my second hand one....Sounds like you want to look at a body replacement as well (skin/body cover)

crowdofone said:
just had a look and mine also has a thin hairline crack in the plastic on the videocam corner - never noticed it before!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is exactly the place - have 2 units with that exact location of the hairline crack. Too much of a coincidence I think. Another one, as I mentioned, usually appears just above the stylus handle, extending from the hinge down. Third appears on the keyboard part itself right at the swivel hinge. Might have to do with the usage and practice of opening and closing the screen. Have one unit waiting for a new case because of the cracks. Might go black O2 on JasJar motherboard, O2 screen and O2 blue-lit keypad.

[IDEA] Use thicker/multiple screen protectors to make the screen more flush?

Would having a thicker screen protector allow us to make the screen more flush to the trim? I have read that the screen is only recessed 1mm. It seems that we could easily compensate for that with a protector, essentially making the screen flush already?
Is the screen further recessed than I have read--and has anyone had issues hitting the screen perimeters? Scroll bars, X/OK, start menus, outter letters on on-screen keyboards... et al?
I want this (the x1a) to be my next phone, and I think I can deal with the screen, but I would like to make it as close to my original Touch as possible--which has the best recessed touchscreen I have ever used. I can easily hit all the extremities, and scroll, and when I draw on the screen using the Notes application, I can easily draw to all the borders, using my thumb.
With the speediness of this phones rotation, I worry less about the on-screen keyboard, but I find myself wanting to use it a lot... like, for quick messages, and entering data into programs, like a web browser. I use the hardware keyboard for longer emails, texts, or modifying documents.
How has the recessed screen affected you guys?

makes it more difficult to be a one hand touch phone. you need to use the stylus to make selections more accurate. im always using a stylus anyways but it would be a better phone if the screen wasnt recessed.

Well sometimes it is indeed an annoyance but not really all that great. For multiple reasons though. I'm often having hard time using controls on the borders with my finger, I found out it's better to just kind of push at the border itself and thus let only part of the finger on the screen than trying to push it in the border and selecting something farther from the border. Furthermore it makes the screen harder to clean.
Also I've noticed reduced sensitivity around the borders even using the stylus (in Pocket Artist to be exact), is this normal? I have to push a bit more to draw, etc.
However, I can imagine a flush screen wouldn't really fit the design of the phone

Wow, these comments are very disconcerning to me... If the screen is annoying to use, and they keyboard is not as good as the Pro, then why would anyone pay 3x the price to get this instead? I took my Pro back because the Sprint model overheats--the AT&T model has crappy GPS, that AT&T locked down...
I really like what I see in the X1, but if critical WM functions are hard to use without a stylus then that would be a deal-killer for me

to me, i dont think the phone is worth the 800 i paid because i kind of was expecting more. a phone that is an all in one for me. phone, wifi, browse, tethering..... and compact.
dont get me wrong, it does all that i want so far but i think the screen is a little to small. great resolution but screen could of been a bit bigger. i bought the phone on line and so i never really got to physically see it before i bought it. i just went with what was on the specs alone.
also i was expecting more out of the browser... its okay but i just wished it had a full browser with complete flash and java support.
its my first wm device and so i was also expecting more out of the os.
sliding keyboard was one reason i bought this also and so again i was expecting better.... keyboard is okay but i wish it had more key mapping options and key functions. it seems when using the keyboard, i also have to use the stylus.
i guess i was just expecting better for my 800 bucks but then again i havent really tried customizing it such as trying different third party apps or the other cab files.
i think the htc hd would of been a better phone for me but they dont make it for the u.s high speed band. i got what i got and so ill try and make the best of it and see if i can make the most of it.

Yeah, right now, we don't have that many great options in the U.S.
We have the CDMA Omnia, but it's screen is pathetic compared to the HD. It's also quite unresponsive, and very awful around the edges...
We have the CDMA Diamond, which overheats, and has similar screen issues. No SD slot either.
We have the CDMA Pro, which overheats, has similar screen issues, and more defects than you can shake a stick at.
We have the AT&T Pro, that has crippled GPS...
So what the hell is the best phone out there right now or in the near future? It sounds like the X1 just isn't worth it... Maybe if it was $299 with a contract, like the Pro...

I really don't get your complaints. What's the problem with the screen?
The recessed display is the best idea SE had with this phone. I won't even think about the scratches I had on the screen if it were plain like the TouchHD.
By the way, the Xperia has the same price as the Touch Pro here in Austria and it's far the better choice. For me it's all in one and everything I want from a PPC works fine.

skycamefalling said:
I really don't get your complaints. What's the problem with the screen?
The recessed display is the best idea SE had with this phone. I won't even think about the scratches I had on the screen if it were plain like the TouchHD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does the recessed screen help with scratches

Matmax said:
How does the recessed screen help with scratches
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The frame is protecting the screen. When the unit is faced downwards on a flat surface it won't let the screen touch it directly, that way you save a lot of scratches.
Also I find the recessed screen very handy with sliders, with my thumb nail I can scroll as fast as I want without worrying loosing the slider. The only problem with the screen so far is the "x" button on the right corner, but I am getting used to it.
A minor advantage is that screen protectors can be fitted more easily and accurately. Of course non-recessed screens have other advantages but nonetheless I am very happy X1s screen.

XavierGr said:
The frame is protecting the screen. When the unit is faced downwards on a flat surface it won't let the screen touch it directly, that way you save a lot of scratches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for explaining, that's exactly what I meant to say
If the screen were plain it would be scratched by the zipper of my pocket all the time. So the zipper just touches the frame and this doesn't matter.

however it protects the screen from scratches...

skycamefalling said:
I really don't get your complaints. What's the problem with the screen?
The recessed display is the best idea SE had with this phone. I won't even think about the scratches I had on the screen if it were plain like the TouchHD.
By the way, the Xperia has the same price as the Touch Pro here in Austria and it's far the better choice. For me it's all in one and everything I want from a PPC works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here in the US, the Pro is $199 or $299 with 2-year, and the X1 will be $799. Also, if you put a screen protector on your device, your screen looks perfect. My Touch has zero scratches on the screen, but has one or two on the screen protector..
May I ask why you would ever want to lay your phone down on it's screen? I have never done that on any phone I've owned, PDA or not.
XavierGr said:
The frame is protecting the screen. When the unit is faced downwards on a flat surface it won't let the screen touch it directly, that way you save a lot of scratches.
Also I find the recessed screen very handy with sliders, with my thumb nail I can scroll as fast as I want without worrying loosing the slider. The only problem with the screen so far is the "x" button on the right corner, but I am getting used to it.
A minor advantage is that screen protectors can be fitted more easily and accurately. Of course non-recessed screens have other advantages but nonetheless I am very happy X1s screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad to hear you are happy with the screen--but you really have to use your fingernail with the scroll bars? That's pretty weak... like we are going back to the days of the Apache...
You guys can verify that the screen is really only recessed about 1mm? If so, wouldn't putting a screen protector on there make the screen flush again?

ScrapMaker said:
You guys can verify that the screen is really only recessed about 1mm? If so, wouldn't putting a screen protector on there make the screen flush again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's really recessed only a little and I guess it does protect it a bit. I actually had both the touch pro and X1 in hand and then actually chose to go with the X1, they are priced the same here too.

MagNetCZ said:
Well it's really recessed only a little and I guess it does protect it a bit. I actually had both the touch pro and X1 in hand and then actually chose to go with the X1, they are priced the same here too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think that if we had a thicker screen protector, could it make the screen flush, and have the same effect as, say, a Touch--with a true flush screen, unlike the Diamond and Pro...

the screen protector would have to be pretty thick to make up the recessed area. not worth the effort.... i think if you buy it, youll just have to try live with it. its really not that bad but would have been more touch screen friendly if it was flush. not a deal breaker for me and the more i use my phone, the more i am getting to like it more... but still not worth the 800 bucks (no phone is worth 800 bucks, i just bought the phone on a whim).

Sorry to say that but the idea is flawed.
Imagine having to handle complex equipment with 3 gloves on your hands... it will be a mess.
Anyway I don't really understand the fuss about flush screens, the only problem I find on XPERIAs recessed screen is the 'x' button on the top right corner and a bit of the 'Start' button. The scrollbars are way too thick to be a problem to operate.
Both problems are solved with time and experience with the device. Imho the protection of the recessed screen outperforms the advantage of easy access on the 'x' button, not to mention that you can just press the ok button to have the same effect.

XavierGr said:
not to mention that you can just press the ok button to have the same effect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. And I can imagine the sensitivity going downhill with protectors that thick anyway.

Oh, it has an OK button?
Iiinnnnttteerrreseting!

touchscreen defect?

hi there!
i got my touch hd last week and i have sth i wonder about if it is right or sth like a defect:
the touchscreen works great and its everything ok with it... but:
it seems to me that the touchscreen is sth like a foil that recognizes the inputs/pressure. fo safety reasons and to keep this foil from being damaged/scratched, there is a thick(er) plastic foil over this first "touch-foil".
on my device, the seems to be some space between these to foils in the middle of the screen. sth like ~0.5mm or so.
the effect is, that (my touch-sensitivity is set to max) touching a control at the SIDE of my screen very softly leads to imminent touch-recognition, while in the center of the screen there is this "gap" between the foils so that one has to push the upper foil down these 0.5mm until the touch is recognized.
acutually i can really FEEL that i have to push down the outer foil until the touchscreen recognizes the input...
i checked another hd-device (the one of a friend) and his device did not have this "gap".
is this a defect so i should return my device to htc for repairs or is this a common thing and nothing to worry about?

Hello,
I have the same "gap problem" but I think it is supposed to be like that.

even this phone from this friend mentined does not have this spacing? i'm anxious that this is sth thats not right...
anyone else here with the same sort of problem?

I have the same problem with the screen

HD has resistive touchscreen which has very thin layer before glass. In bigger screens, like HDs it has small gap in it.
Some older devices had way worse problems with this, like my wizard it felt like 1mm gap sometimes.
Try to live with it, its more like feature in resistive screens
Go for iphone if you dont want it.

lefteyeclosed said:
i checked another hd-device (the one of a friend) and his device did not have this "gap".
is this a defect so i should return my device to htc for repairs or is this a common thing and nothing to worry about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The pressure in the touch screen should be uniform, but in some units it's not.
If you can, you should replace (not repair) it with a new one.
In my unit it's harder to press the uppper corners with the pen, but its a small diference, I have to make a bit more pressure (less than double pressure).

Mr.Wolf said:
The pressure in the touch screen should be uniform, but in some units it's not.
If you can, you should replace (not repair) it with a new one.
In my unit it's harder to press the uppper corners with the pen, but its a small diference, I have to make a bit more pressure (less than double pressure).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thats exactly the problem I have on mine (specifically the upper right where the Close button is)!! Mine is only 5 days old from Orange. Do you think I should get it replaced? When typing texts etc the 'keyboard' feels spongy - I am guessing this is the gap people talk about?
Thanks for any advice.
Rich

This is not a defect...it is just the glass screen is installed on different ways...my has some 0.1mm gap in the middle..but almost nil at the side..
But if your gap is around 0.5mm, I understand it is quite annoying...go and replace it but test the new ones first...
It is luck dependent..
you might get bad pixel(s)
Duffy buttons
peeling paint
flickering display
Mine is quite perfect... since I bought it to Fortress store in HK..and opened up at least 5 units and chose the perfect ones..
BUT I stayed there for almost an hour ..checking..

Thanks for your reply. I have just received a replacement from Orange today and the screen seems a bit more responsive however it rattles when its in vibrate mode so I am getting another one tomorrow evening. Orange have been very good about this I have to say.
Thx again
Rich

Well how the hell did i do that? (screen damage)

I'm afraid pictures are out of the question, firstly because it didn't seem to come out to well when I tried, and secondly because I've mostly fixed it, but I'll do my best my best to describe the damage.
Basically in the centre of my screen I've got a patch where the front digitiser appears to have been pressed against the touch sensitive layer at the back and is stuck against it. You can quite clearly see the little dots for the touch screen sensitivity and there are rainbow coloured rings around the outside (newton rings I believe). Basically visually this means I have 1cm by 0.5cm dark patch filled with little dots and surrounded by rainbow coloured rings in the middle of my screen. The screen still works fine, but visually it's really annoying.
Now I believe this has got to be the result of pressure (don't know how, I don't tend to lean on my phones much), and I've somehow managed to apply concentrated pressure to the middle of the screen and dent inwards only the middle of the screen, but what I want to know is how the hell did I do that? It's a glass screen surely it should have cracked rather then dent, I didn't even think you could dent glass, especially not in such a small area without breaking it!
Well if you've somehow managed the what shouldn't be possible yourself as well, then you'll be pleased to hear that you can dramatically improve it by sticking a suction cup on the screen and pulling. I used a sat nav windscreen mount, which did the trick nicely. Now all thats left is a little bit of a rainbow patch in the middle thats a lot less visible.
Hope that made sense.
Hope it helps.
Hope someone can tell me how the hell I dented tempered glass!

apoc286 said:
... I didn't even think you could dent glass, especially not in such a small area without breaking it!
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost everything will bend before cracking/breaking. To what extent is obviously dependant on the material and its treatment.
I live 13 floors up and you should see our 8 foot tall balcony door windows bend in the wind!

Same problem here, i actually did not put presure on the screen.. but one evening, an ugly black spot with oily rings around it appeared on my screen, blamed the wife first haha but she didn't touch my phone..
I got a sort of solution though:
Use a small plastic suction thingy, like you use to stick things on windows or in the shower, then stick it on the center of the screen above the oily spot. then move and softly pull the suction thingy.
Worked for me.. the black spot is gone but i am left with slight rainbow rings.. seems a bug of that too huge screen...
Anyone else a better solution? replacing the touchscreen is a last resort..

Lol exactly what I did to improve mine.

LMAO .. but a shame that those screens are so dodgy..

Could you please add a picture up here, as i want to see this strange thing?
Thanks in advance.

nitrate said:
Could you please add a picture up here, as i want to see this strange thing?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can see it here mate...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=613631

Defective Bezel Seal And Defective Digitizer Seal.

My MyTouch 3G Slide has a couple defects. The bezel or plastic housing that surrounds the upper portion of the device surrounding the screen has gaps in it around the seam that allows dust or any small particulate to enter under the screen. I have looked at several of the devices and they all have it to one degree or another. For instance, on my Slide I have 3 of these holes one of which has allowed a grain of sand under my screen. My wife's Slide has 4 of these holes or gaps and they are substantial on her phone. One XDA member has had this happen in the same spot that both my wife and my Slides are collecting dust.
While the light leaks or gaps in the bezel are a problem (for me) I think the real problem lies in the adhesive strip that connects the digitizer to the LCD screen. The way the digitizer is adhered to the LCD there shouldn't be any way for dust to have gotten in between the two pieces of hardware. I'd like to believe that it was just my particular phone but my wife's phone is having the exact same issue.
The phone really is phenomenal and I'm sure it was just a fluke that I've had issues (hoping so). Just keep an eye out for any issues similar to what I've mentioned above. I have really gone back and forth with this and I am definitely disappointed with having an issue(s) right out of the gate. My wife really likes the phone and after giving it some thought I like it as well ... a lot. I will return and reorder another couple Slides because this device is that awesome. Thanks for your thoughts/contributions to the thread.

I've tried to get some photos of the gaps but they are small and hard to photograph. To inspect your device: Go into a dark area and pull up your contacts, messaging app or a white web page in the browser with full screen brightness and inspect the seam of the plastic housing surrounding the touch screen on the top half of the slide. The gaps are almost like rectangular notches just below/above the corners of the screen in the seam. My theory is that these are artifacts from the plastic molding process that were exacerbated by poor/hasty assembly. I am definitely returning my Slides.

Its all true. After reading, and seeing the image posted by another member here, I checked my phone. I went into a dark room, opened up a site that has pretty much a white page, and I too noticed a gap at the bottom right hand corner of my screen. As of right now no dust/dirt has shown up under my screen, but what's to say that it won't later on. Heck, screw dirt. What if moisture finds its way in, and starts to fog up the screen from within? This could be a major problem later on down the road.

whew... just checked mine, noticed nothing like that, thank goodness.

[email protected] said:
whew... just checked mine, noticed nothing like that, thank goodness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, I've confirmed with everyone I know with a Slide (only black and white thus far) and everyone is seeing the same thing. What color Slide did you get? I wonder if the red Slide is manufactured differently? Anyway, that is awesome because I think the phone is GREAT other than the small gaps in the bezel.
I will say I took some compressed air and attempted to move the artifact under my screen just to see if air was moving through those gaps. The grain of sand or whatever it is did not budge. I'm just not sure what to think. I hate the idea of returning this phone ...

Mine is like that. Not that i care much as im returning it soon. But it does have gaps and light leakage all over the bottom of the screen, near the buttons.

i just check my and maybe i cant see it but i havent found anything... i have a red one

Re: My MT3G Slides (and others) Have A Defective Touch Screen Bezel
Initialy checked mine as well, black. I don't appear to have this problem either.
I will inspect further to verify.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using Tapatalk

The only one I have is at the very bottom of the buttons, which might even just be the light hitting the glass at a specific angle. Other than that, no light leaks/cracks/blocks/whatever you call them on my screen area. Red Espresso.

I just swapped my white MTS for a Black one with no signs of cracks or light showing threw. TMO rep did not know of this problem and said he would send out an e-mail to other reps to let them know.

My day is now ruined
Yep, both bottom sides, right at the corners, above the buttons. I will not return it though, think instead a lil duct tape and some JB weld will do (seriously, a little touch of black silicon for a good seal, still sucks though). Screen cover seems to be blocking any dirt at the moment.

woow good looking out.. i was wondering how a spec of dust got to my screen. im planning on putting a piece of scotch tape over those regions (i have a red slide btw).

I have a red one and didn't see any leaks bottom or top. Thank goodness!

mtjnkee said:
seriously, a little touch of black silicon for a good seal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear you; I've been trying to find a way to keep the bezel sealed until I can get a case/cover for the phone. I literally have one tiny grain of sand at the bottom left hand corner of my screen. I so don't want to return the phone; I'm in love with the thing.
Glad to hear some of you have a better seal on the bezel.

I have some small light leak on the bottom, not an issue yet and I'm still within my 14 days so I might stop by the t mobile store tomorrow and try to get a replacement.

1. slight curved gaps at the corner edge where the top of the plastic curves down to turn into the sides. check
2. vertical rectangular light leak above home and genius keys. check
3. these lights only light up when hard keys are lit..when screen first lights up...light leaks are not there...once keys light up, light in the gaps light up. doesnt this mean the screen is sealed and there is no leak from the screen itself?
4. however, if you have a creaky top plastic housing, the seam running along the edge of the white plastic and grey plastic is not flush...on my 1st slide, i could see the screen light up in these 'cracks' of the seam...could debris get into screen this way then?
5. for those with debris already at lower left part of screen: pls do me a favor:
hold phone (sideways with back cover facing the ground) at just below eye level and try to see that left corner that is underneath the painted black surround of the screen..do you see white light when the screen is lit? if you look along the 'inside' edges along the rest of the phone, you will see that there should not be white light emitting out and should have a 'clean' look...there should basically be a solid black border...perhaps, if you guys have this white lighting show through, that could mean a separation of the screen somehow? btw, you do not have to be in a dark room to see this light along the inside edge....it is very noticable as the light comes thru where i think there should be no light. ps: when looking at the phone screen normally (ie from top down), screen looks perfect and this issue doesnt affect actual picture on screen.
my first slide had the light leaks but i didnt think anything of them as i thought they were related to the buttons only...but the issue i had spoke of in #5 above, i had this light coming thru along the whole edge of the bottom of the screen plus creaky top plastic housing.

I have dust under the entire screen of 2 Slides (Espresso), I couldn't notice it indoors but it is glaringly apparent when in the sun. The phones go back tomorrow. I've had my G1 for a year and a half with not a single spec of dust under the screen. I've had 2 MT3G Slides (Espresso) for 6 days and dust is under both screens; these devices are very cheaply made. Phone is lightning fast, screen size is great, physical keyboard is great, UI has some excellent features you can find nowhere else ... too bad I won't be keeping them. Been nice knowing you guys.

Seriously everyone be lucky that this is the only problem that people are having with this phone. You want to talk about shoddy build quality on first run devices, lets not even mention what the original PSP was like. If all that's wrong is that a few people have a bad bezel, then I'd say you made out well with the phone. NJAZ, just exchange them and have the employee test them at the store before you walk out with it, problem solved.

xenoletum said:
NJAZ, just exchange them and have the employee test them at the store before you walk out with it, problem solved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I have to send them back as I ordered them online. 2 phones plus about 5 other people I know with these phones have dust blowing in under the defective bezel. It's unacceptable. Like I care about a PSP. What the hell does a PSP have to do with this? You didn't even comment on your phone having the light leaks/gaps or not. What is your point? You think folks should settle for inferior builds of an expensive phone? You can ignore whatever you'd like. I will wait for a better phone.

Wanted to add to my previous post about mine not having the leak... I have the red one.