HTC Teardown on Fixit - EVO 4G General

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/HTC-Evo-4G-Teardown/2979/1

Very cool. iFixIt was very quick to get a teardown going.
I hope some aftermarket company makes a black rear casing for the phone. I still do not understand the point of all that red.

liquidkernel said:
Very cool. iFixIt was very quick to get a teardown going.
I hope some aftermarket company makes a black rear casing for the phone. I still do not understand the point of all that red.
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Click to collapse
It's different, and it's not like you see it with the battery cover on anyways.

mrono said:
It's different, and it's not like you see it with the battery cover on anyways.
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Click to collapse
It still peeks through around the kick stand. Oh well, still an amazing phone and how often will I be looking at the back anyway. Plus, it's not as horrendous as the Droid Incredible's rear.

Related

clean the trackball

has anybody had to clean their trackball yet? i don't need to but im sure one day i will. anybody attempted to take it apart and do it at all?
These things have a trackball?
Not to change the subject, but folks find using trackball more convenient than swiping the screen? I guess if you're used to a Blackberry Curve or something it's an old habit.
daveydave said:
Not to change the subject, but folks find using trackball more convenient than swiping the screen? I guess if you're used to a Blackberry Curve or something it's an old habit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't really use it or see why htc put it there but like the BB we will eventually have to clean it.
I've taken mine apart to blow the dust out from under the screen a couple of times. It's not that difficult actually. There's a great tutorial at Android Central in the Sprint Hero forum.
http://androidforums.com/sprint-htc-hero/22036-sprint-htc-hero-disassembly-diy.html
The trackball is stuck in a housing so you can't actually take it out, but you can roll it around and wipe what you can.
Tikerz said:
I've taken mine apart to blow the dust out from under the screen a couple of times. It's not that difficult actually. There's a great tutorial at Android Central in the Sprint Hero forum.
http://androidforums.com/sprint-htc-hero/22036-sprint-htc-hero-disassembly-diy.html
The trackball is stuck in a housing so you can't actually take it out, but you can roll it around and wipe what you can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if they make a 2nd gen hero i want no trackball.
I just use a little rubbing alcohol. Although I've heard that it hurts to put alcohol on your balls.
It seems difficult to completely get rid of it. We need some form of hardware navigation for utilities like recovery.
fixxxer2008 said:
if they make a 2nd gen hero i want no trackball.
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Click to collapse
Your wish has (pretty much) been granted haha. The Legend has been rumored to be Sprint's Hero 2 (still very much a rumor) but it makes sense. Optical trackpad included.
But on a more related note, I too have had my phone apart to dye the housing black and to clean the dust out, and the trackball is indeed in its own little housing as was mentioned above, and it can be cleaned pretty easily with some rubbing alcohol
Leukay said:
Your wish has (pretty much) been granted haha. The Legend has been rumored to be Sprint's Hero 2 (still very much a rumor) but it makes sense. Optical trackpad included.
But on a more related note, I too have had my phone apart to dye the housing black and to clean the dust out, and the trackball is indeed in its own little housing as was mentioned above, and it can be cleaned pretty easily with some rubbing alcohol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm planning on cleaning the dust out of my Hero this weekend. How fragile are the connectors when you disconnect them etc.? Because I REALLY cannot end up damaging my phone
Leukay said:
Your wish has (pretty much) been granted haha. The Legend has been rumored to be Sprint's Hero 2 (still very much a rumor) but it makes sense. Optical trackpad included.
But on a more related note, I too have had my phone apart to dye the housing black and to clean the dust out, and the trackball is indeed in its own little housing as was mentioned above, and it can be cleaned pretty easily with some rubbing alcohol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just looked the legend up, looks like the gsm hero?
http://android.1800pocketpc.com/2009/12/07/htc-legend-features-specs-and-images.html
the htc legend. i like the design but not the white color.
fixxxer2008 said:
http://android.1800pocketpc.com/2009/12/07/htc-legend-features-specs-and-images.html
the htc legend. i like the design but not the white color.
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Click to collapse
It isn't actually white, its made out of a single piece of aluminum (thats the color too lol).
Aluminum design. Yep. I've never had my hero apart because I'm too scared to take apart my phone... I don't know what I would do if I bricked it I just complain to Sprint so they do it.
Leukay said:
...But on a more related note, I too have had my phone apart to dye the housing black and to clean the dust out, and the trackball is indeed in its own little housing as was mentioned above, and it can be cleaned pretty easily with some rubbing alcohol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dyed your Hero black? Any pics?
crunchybutternut said:
You dyed your Hero black? Any pics?
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Click to collapse
Here's some pic's for ya!
fixxxer2008 said:
http://android.1800pocketpc.com/2009/12/07/htc-legend-features-specs-and-images.html
the htc legend. i like the design but not the white color.
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Click to collapse
The only problem with the design is that you're probably stuck with the stock battery size. And although they may make a somewhat higher capacity in the stock size, you're not going to be able to upgrade to a Seidio 3500 mAh battery or some other behemoth sized battery.
Leukay said:
Here's some pic's for ya!
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Click to collapse
That's the way it should've came!
Leukay said:
Here's some pic's for ya!
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Click to collapse
Excellent! What did you use to dye it?
atoz350 said:
That's the way it should've came!
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Click to collapse
Isn't it?! I mean, the tan/beige color is nice for a corporate kinda person, but I like my phones lookin slick
crunchybutternut said:
Excellent! What did you use to dye it?
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I just used some black RIT dye. I think it looks purrdy
You can use RIT powdered dye, I used to sell Touch Pro backs in about a dozen colors. very easy to do, but make sure you don't overheat the housing or it'll curl up on you.

Hardware Modifications

Well I finally have everything set up the way I like it internally. But of course I can't stop tinkering just because I'm done with my software. So now I am thinking about doing so external modifications to my device.
I know this will void my warranty. Not concerned about that. It its voided already due to a few unfortunate drops and a lost battle with some moisture.
I saw one modification to the case already. Someone had sanded all of the black paint off of that case to expose the red plastic. Think this might be my first step. Something I was really anxious to try was changing out the leds for the bottom for keys (home/menu/back/search.) Need some feedback on this though. Has anyone tried it yet? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Anything at all.
Sent from my Burnt Droid regaw-rooted EVO.
Yep. this guy did it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=696526
i'd be interested to see how the sanded battery cover would come out. how do you plan on getting it smooth and refined looking? higher-grit paper?
SilverStone641 said:
Yep. this guy did it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=696526
i'd be interested to see how the sanded battery cover would come out. how do you plan on getting it smooth and refined looking? higher-grit paper?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the link. Couldn't seem to find anything on it.
I am not sure if I am going to do that battery cover. Just the part of the case between the main body and the battery cover. That thin flat black strip. I don't know if the battery cover is red underneath.
And you are exactly correct. Knock off the paint with a lower grit. Then polish it up with some 1000 or 2000 grit. Maybe a little bit of wet sanding.
Sent from my Burnt Droid regaw-rooted EVO.
Karadorde said:
I don't know if the battery cover is red underneath.
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Click to collapse
It's not.
My evo has the red trim now (knife to scrape, sandpaper to polish), and induction charging. My warranty was void soon after I got it thanks to taking it apart to solder.
uniquenameevo said:
It's not.
My evo has the red trim now (knife to scrape, sandpaper to polish), and induction charging. My warranty was void soon after I got it thanks to taking it apart to solder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, but induction charging? Similar to the touchstone/palm phones?
Sent from my Burnt Droid regaw-rooted EVO.
Karadorde said:
Sorry, but induction charging? Similar to the touchstone/palm phones?
Sent from my Burnt Droid regaw-rooted EVO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY
There is a thread floating around about it.
The led changes are very easy. Unfortunately my hands have always shaken too much for this type of soldering though. If only i could teach my wife such things....
Good thing you can be a computer engineer without having to solder microleds lol.
Karadorde said:
Sorry, but induction charging? Similar to the touchstone/palm phones?
Sent from my Burnt Droid regaw-rooted EVO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not similar, ripped out of a palm.
http://www.goodandevo.net/2010/06/htc-evo-4g-modded-to-work-with-palm-touchstone.html
uniquenameevo said:
Not similar, ripped out of a palm.
http://www.goodandevo.net/2010/06/htc-evo-4g-modded-to-work-with-palm-touchstone.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That mod with the battery pins and contacts from an old phone instead of wire would give a very OEM look.
not so sure about replacing the leds under the bottons, but i'd like to change the charging/notification light. think i remember seeing it changed to blue/white to good effect.

A Helpful Tip. (Camera related.)

If you notice that your pictures aren't turning out very well and that the camera is having a hard time trying to focus -- remove the plastic cover from the lens. It's EXACTLY the same shape and size as the square lens.
Trust me, it makes a world of difference.
I noticed that one there, but it didn't want to come off easily and I didn't want to force it. How did you get it off?
Sent from my Xoom using xda app-developers app
bigworm50 said:
I noticed that one there, but it didn't want to come off easily and I didn't want to force it. How did you get it off?
Sent from my Xoom using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just used my finger on the corner of it. Finally came off. Much more clear now. :good:
Baldilocks said:
If you notice that your pictures aren't turning out very well and that the camera is having a hard time trying to focus -- remove the plastic cover from the lens. It's EXACTLY the same shape and size as the square lens.
Trust me, it makes a world of difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it applies to other phones like HTC ?
Dannyada1988 said:
Does it applies to other phones like HTC ?
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Click to collapse
I doubt it. This is just a plastic protective shipping film that they put over the lens. It's kind of hard to spot and why the did it like this is beyond me.
Are you sure thats supposed to come off? Mine is on real good, but I did notice whoever put it there didnt line it up very well and the hole is off center compared to the lens.
highaltitude said:
Are you sure thats supposed to come off? Mine is on real good, but I did notice whoever put it there didnt line it up very well and the hole is off center compared to the lens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's just a thin piece of film. It actually has a hole in the middle of it.
I wish I hadn't thrown it way or I'd take a picture of it.
Lil plastic cover over lens
here's an image
Thanks for the tip, I was kind of nervous in terms of removing it. Didn't seem to come off as easy as the other plastic.
It is difficult to get off, so beware.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
+1 it was definitely a little hard to get off.
darkodin14 said:
Thanks for the tip, I was kind of nervous in terms of removing it. Didn't seem to come off as easy as the other plastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
phositadc said:
It is difficult to get off, so beware.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bigworm50 said:
+1 it was definitely a little hard to get off.
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Click to collapse
I took the back of the phone off and the plastic cover came off much easier.
- Aaron
so hard to get off lol
Cheap lens cover
Has anyone else noticed that the lense cover (not the film you remove) but the actual lens cover above the sensor is made out of plastic. My last phone, the i717 galaxy note had this and one little dink caused the camera to not be able to focus. So just be very careful and protect it at all costs or you will have a useless camera.
Thanks for this thread! I saw that the camera had a ton of junk on the lens after 2 days. It felt like I could take it off but I was scared. lol
Baldilocks said:
If you notice that your pictures aren't turning out very well and that the camera is having a hard time trying to focus -- remove the plastic cover from the lens. It's EXACTLY the same shape and size as the square lens.
Trust me, it makes a world of difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did you manage to pull it off?
There is no edge
There is an edge on mine...use the light and look very close!
Sent via Tapatalk
I just pressed my thumb down hard and slid at the same time... eventually enough came off the lens that I was able to grab the edge with my fingertips.
I'm going to laugh my head off if this turns out to be the reason why the images from people's GS4 cameras weren't looking as good as expected.
Damn what a pain it ass. lol

The back comes off?

So, I dropped my phone. Noticed that around the volume button and then on the other side that the back was separated from the front. Thinking, oh crap, the back doesn't come off, I was already having nightmares about going to verizon. I pushed the back, back onto the frame and it snapped into place on both sides. I was too much of a wuss to try to remove it again but, I think the back actually comes off this phone and is just held on like all removable back phones, it just snaps into place. I have the ballistic nylon back.
ANyone know for sure?
xkape said:
So, I dropped my phone. Noticed that around the volume button and then on the other side that the back was separated from the front. Thinking, oh crap, the back doesn't come off, I was already having nightmares about going to verizon. I pushed the back, back onto the frame and it snapped into place on both sides. I was too much of a wuss to try to remove it again but, I think the back actually comes off this phone and is just held on like all removable back phones, it just snaps into place. I have the ballistic nylon back.
ANyone know for sure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I watched the teardown video. The back is held down by clips I think, so you can actually pry it off if you have a shim to get into there.
Well yeah, if it can be put together it can be taken apart. What it comes down to is how easily it can be done without damaging the phone. iDevices have always been made without a removable back, but as far as I know all of them can be taken apart for servicing. I replaced the HDD in my 2nd or 3rd gen iPod like 5 times and the battery once before wising up and ditching that Apple crap (that was my first and last Apple product).
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
A guitar pick has always worked great for me, Razrmaxx, & RazrmaxxHD. I haven't needed to yet on my ballistic 64, but the video shows it working like the past Moto's
Second that. guitar pick worked great!
I see that there are ballistic nylon backs being sold on eBay now. I wonder how long before the metallized Kevlar backs show up. It will be awesome to be able to switch them out.
I put the red volume key in the black plastic so it now it has a red accent. Also the M comes out on the ballistic nylon. I actually plan on removing the M, I'm putting in some sort of metal dish. Then using that does to attach to a magnetic car dock for wireless charging. yeah, I might end up taking this too far lol
zathus said:
I put the red volume key in the black plastic so it now it has a red accent. Also the M comes out on the ballistic nylon. I actually plan on removing the M, I'm putting in some sort of metal dish. Then using that does to attach to a magnetic car dock for wireless charging. yeah, I might end up taking this too far lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you keep us up to date on your progress? I'd really like to make my own magnetic car mount as well. I had one with my Galaxy SIII using a Palm Touchstone. It was amazing.
JTH182 said:
Could you keep us up to date on your progress? I'd really like to make my own magnetic car mount as well. I had one with my Galaxy SIII using a Palm Touchstone. It was amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The camera picked up every flaw the eye cant see lol I took one of the LG car charging pads, a cheap $10 RadioShack car dock. Took the charging pad apart and put four magnets. One in each corner. then I took the cheap Doc I bought and cut the legs off of it and plastic welded them to the LG pad . Then I took the sticky part of the cheap dark and super glued it to the pad. It holds just fine without the little legs. But I like the extra support. Doesn't look too great without a phone on it. But once I put my phone on it all you see is the phone. looks like it's floating.
Edit. the back of the Droid turbo has metal in it. So its magnetic. If you put a magnet on the center and triggers the flip case. But keeping them off the side seems to be just fine
But the real question is... Can you access, remove, and replace the battery?
Sent from my XT1254
ccheww said:
But the real question is... Can you access, remove, and replace the battery?
Sent from my XT1254
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, it doesn't look too difficult. There is a teardown video here: Motorola Droid Turbo XT1254 Disassembly / Tear Do…: http://youtu.be/l_AOQ6U2Zb0
zathus said:
The camera picked up every flaw the eye cant see lol I took one of the LG car charging pads, a cheap $10 RadioShack car dock. Took the charging pad apart and put four magnets. One in each corner. then I took the cheap Doc I bought and cut the legs off of it and plastic welded them to the LG pad . Then I took the sticky part of the cheap dark and super glued it to the pad. It holds just fine without the little legs. But I like the extra support. Doesn't look too great without a phone on it. But once I put my phone on it all you see is the phone. looks like it's floating.
Edit. the back of the Droid turbo has metal in it. So its magnetic. If you put a magnet on the center and triggers the flip case. But keeping them off the side seems to be just fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. That blob in the middle is the sticky part of the cheap dock? Do the magnets hold the phone without that sticky stuff? Is it hard to line up the phone with the charging coil? Does it get a steady current to charge?
Also, would you be able to point me to the exact charging pad you used so I know it would work?
I may have myself a project, lol... I'm wondering if something like this would work with the Turbo:
JTH182 said:
Interesting. That blob in the middle is the sticky part of the cheap dock? Do the magnets hold the phone without that sticky stuff? Is it hard to line up the phone with the charging coil? Does it get a steady current to charge?
Also, would you be able to point me to the exact charging pad you used so I know it would work?
I may have myself a project, lol... I'm wondering if something like this would work with the Turbo:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without the bloob it will hold. But not really strong. I'm going to revisit this project, I just needed the dock backup so I could go to work lol because I tried 2 hours and I like having somewhere to put my phone. Any qi charging pad will work with the Droid turbo. The one I have is the LG puck. Just make sure whatever you get it's designed for a car. 12 volts, not 110.
Probably next weekend or whenever I have the time I'm going to take off the back of the Droid turbo and put some metal in there, like grind down some razor blades to fit. One just below the M & 1 just above the droid logo. That will give it a much stronger hold that I can get rid of the blob and the legs. I just have a very strong fear of the phone falling off while driving and face planting into my shift knob lol.
jal3223 said:
Yep, it doesn't look too difficult. There is a teardown video here: Motorola Droid Turbo XT1254 Disassembly / Tear Do…: http://youtu.be/l_AOQ6U2Zb0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. That was painful to watch. That guy sucks at life.
So, I re did it. Turned out pretty good
jal3223 said:
Yep, it doesn't look too difficult. There is a teardown video here: Motorola Droid Turbo XT1254 Disassembly / Tear Do…: http://youtu.be/l_AOQ6U2Zb0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha. Your version of "not too difficult" definitely differs from mine. I suppose if your battery was absolutely dead and you had no other choice, but when you start talking about adhesive and heat guns thats a little outside of realm of a simple replacement.
timofcourse said:
Ha. Your version of "not too difficult" definitely differs from mine. I suppose if your battery was absolutely dead and you had no other choice, but when you start talking about adhesive and heat guns thats a little outside of realm of a simple replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh then you definitely gotta google how to replace just the glass on The Droid Ultra/Maxx or any other phone for that matter... U'll get a definition of what difficult actually is! I personally did... And after seeing that everything else seems damn easy.... Replacing glass is so difficult that even Manufacturers don't prefer to do it!
zathus said:
So, I re did it. Turned out pretty good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you make that one? Does it really stay on there while you're driving? What magnets did you use? Did you put the metal inside the phone?
I bought some neodymium magnets, but I still don't think it will hold while driving. I haven't finished yet though. I also have a bad feeling it won't actually charge because the magnets are interfering with the charging coil.
JTH182 said:
How did you make that one? Does it really stay on there while you're driving? What magnets did you use? Did you put the metal inside the phone?
I bought some neodymium magnets, but I still don't think it will hold while driving. I haven't finished yet though. I also have a bad feeling it won't actually charge because the magnets are interfering with the charging coil.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tonight or tomorrow I'll make a little video explaining when I did. Easier than trying to type it lol and easier to understand.
zathus said:
Tonight or tomorrow I'll make a little video explaining when I did. Easier than trying to type it lol and easier to understand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! That would be awesome:good:

Finally stripped my back coloring..

I'd have to say I'm very pleased with the results!
http://imgur.com/DRcT1Iw
Velrix said:
I'd have to say I'm very pleased with the results!
http://imgur.com/DRcT1Iw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What colour was it before?
Stevles said:
What colour was it before?
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Click to collapse
The ugly T-Mobile orange. I may drop another coat of mink oil on it to darken it just a bit more.
Edit... Its darker than the image let's on already though because of the flash. Once stripper it was a very natural untanned leather.
Velrix said:
The ugly T-Mobile orange. I may drop another coat of mink oil on it to darken it just a bit more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yeah, seen some bright orange leather G4 photos in the past.. I honestly just thought it was over-saturation and lighting while they were taking the photo. I had no idea it was a legitimate colour, well done getting rid of it! Brown leather is heaps better than that abomination
Stevles said:
Ah yeah, seen some bright orange leather G4 photos in the past.. I honestly just thought it was over-saturation and lighting while they were taking the photo. I had no idea it was a legitimate colour, well done getting rid of it! Brown leather is heaps better than that abomination
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's some acrylic type sealant over natural leather not sure why they did that either. I had to use 100% acetone to strip it.
90% of the appeal of the leather backing is the feel and look of having natural leather on a phone.. Putting some horrible crap on it negates that entirely.
Are T-Mobile terrible or is it just their design decisions?
Not sure, id guess LG made that choice.
Slightly off topic, but has anybody tried painting the back cover with leather paint? Mine is pretty worn out, so I'm thinking about bringing it back to life.
Koostis said:
Slightly off topic, but has anybody tried painting the back cover with leather paint? Mine is pretty worn out, so I'm thinking about bringing it back to life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That I am also very much curios of. I am planning to do it as soon as they release separately sold back covers to the market, considering I might end up needing a new one.
_delice_doluca_ said:
That I am also very much curios of. I am planning to do it as soon as they release separately sold back covers to the market, considering I might end up needing a new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haven't they yet?
http://m.ebay.com/itm/100-Original-...r-For-LG-G4-H815-Red-/151810549218?nav=SEARCH

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