Related
Well, after being infected with this uncurable decease called "Polish-o-mania" a while back, I just decided that the matte finish of my S100 cover wasn't just enough for me.
Also, the fact that my friend recently polished his SE T610 cover probably didn't make me NOT want to polish it...
Now, since I'm quite new into this polishing-thingy, I don't have the stuff at home to make it really, really nice, but I'm gonna go shopping tomorrow for some better polishing fluids.
Now, this is my equipment:
-A plastic bucket with water.
-An eraser
-Some sheets of grinding paper (P320, P800, P1200, P2000, waterproof)
-A tube with metalpolish (this is now what is limiting my finish...) and a piece of cloth.
And for the procedure: (remeber to use a lot of water and clean the cover during!)
-Take some 320 grain paper, wrap it around the eraser, and start grinding away. Go in one direction (ex. up and down along the back cover) until you've grinded away all of the matte surface.
-Then you go up a little (i did go to 800 grain) in grinding paper, and start to grind some more, but in a 90 degree angle to what you just grinded. And when you've grinded off all of the scratches from the previous sanding, go up in paper and rotate 90 degrees again.
-When I had grinded it down with 2000 paper, I took the metalpolish, and started rubbing away. And after rubbing a little, I took a clean cloth, and wiped it off.
Voila! A nice, shiny, reflective batterycover!
Now, the problem is that I want the fron cover as shiny, but since I don't want to do it while mounted to the phone, I wonder if anyone could advise to how to remove the front cover?
I unscrewed the torx-screws (4) which held the phone together, but as I started to pull things apart, it seemed to me as if all the inner workings of the phone are attached to the front cover.
But if someone knows (I've tried googling and searching through forums about this...) IF you can separate the front cover from the rest of the phone, and HOW to do it, I would appreciate it greatly!
I will attach some pics, but they are of Nokia 7610 quality, and not at such a high finish as I want it. As I said earlier, I now need finer polishing-liquids... But I hope you get the idea!
(It is at least shiny enough to read a magazine in it's reflection...)
Cheers, and I hope someone can help me with dis-assemblying!
Cool to finally see some casemods being done. I've been thinking about painting mine somehow. I have a pretty nasty scratch in the original paint I'd like to cover.
Check this.
http://www.ppcsg.com/index.php?showtopic=47359&view=findpost&p=299925
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mrbjtan/detail?.dir=2b3c&.dnm=8207.jpg&.src=ph
http://www.skinit.com/
Nice, but quite ugly designs
very nice... i think i will polish mine as well..... lots of scratchs
Wow.. Looks realy nice.. plz post more pictures when U polish it more..
Help on open the case ..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=18384&highlight=
Would love to se the SE t610 to .. plz mail me a picture of it..
palm_m505(at)hotmail.com
Thx ..
It looks like you have ground off the two little nubs on the bottom of the case that protect the case from scratches when it is laid down on the back cover. Did yours have these nubs to begin with?
What about the part above the battery hatch? It is made out of plastic, and presumably cannot be polished!
Does anyone know if that Vinyl Skin Wrap thing is available in the Uk or do any companies provide a mail order service for the XDA 2i?
Carlis said:
Wow.. Looks realy nice.. plz post more pictures when U polish it more..
Help on open the case ..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=18384&highlight=
Would love to se the SE t610 to .. plz mail me a picture of it..
palm_m505(at)hotmail.com
Thx ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but of course! Will try to find some better polisher today...
And about the T610, I will post pics of it as soon as I can. (Will try to get hold of a better camera too...)
And thanks alot on the document, will read it later on...
Matterhorn said:
It looks like you have ground off the two little nubs on the bottom of the case that protect the case from scratches when it is laid down on the back cover. Did yours have these nubs to begin with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did grind of those nubs. I could've tried to go around them, but it would have taken forever, and I also very rarely lay the phone down anyway.
LeSkip said:
What about the part above the battery hatch? It is made out of plastic, and presumably cannot be polished!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, as you said, it is made out of plastic, so it can't be polished. But sending it to a chromer to have it chromed out shouldn't cost much since it is so small...
Where is the *.PDF file? to dissasembling the device.... And what is the situation right now?
sipdawg said:
Where is the *.PDF file? to dissasembling the device....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check this post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=18384&highlight=sound
don't like it awful! :?
Underworld said:
don't like it awful! :?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it's a bit of a love/hate-thing...
But my cover looked like s**t before (scratches!) and this is ALOT better...
And always nice if a girl needs a make-up mirror, "Wow! Always someone there when I'm in need!"
I like it verry much... But when is the front side polished?
After that i think i will do the same! It looks damn good!
im so damn wondering how that looks like with the front polished
how is it going maytey
Well, I'm a little lazy, and I don't have as much time on my hands as I would like to (work and other hobbies).
Maybe sometime this weekend, it all depends on how easily I can rip the front part off of the phone...
Will keep you posted.
well how is it pall?
Now, I feel like it is time for a small, small update...
Update!
Now, after going to a couple of stores that I thought would have some better polisher, I still havent found any. So, no better polish yet.
And since I haven't had the time I would like on my hands, I haven't polished the front yet either.
"So, what exactly can he be updating?" you might ask yourselves?
Well, I now have better pictures of it, taken with a REAL camera! (Wow!)
Here you are, might give a better look at things...
(Will try to snap some of my friends T610 tonight too... Will see if I have the time to polish the front this weekend...)
Cheers!
I'm not sure about your EVOs, but if I press in on my lens, slowly and evenly, I can feel it flex in and out, which leads me to believe it's made of plexi-glass. Thus, making the lens weak, and easier to scratch and crack. Seems like HTC went ****ty on this part too.
I love Android, and I don't really know why. I almost want an iPhone 4, but I enjoy my 23% Sprint discount.
Mine isn't scratched or cracked, yet, and I don't use any sort of case, but the photos and video quality still stucks ass. This is just my observation. I have H0003, btw.
Do what I did, just cut a perfectly round piece of clear scotch tape and put over it. Instant and free lens protector. Took me a couple of tries to get it perfectly round, but you can't even tell it's there. Problem solved
Android has nothing to do with the camera lens.
Similarly, hardware issues with one phone have nothing to do with switching OSes entirely.
It's like non sequitur-ville around here. Just teasing, but yes, I suspected the same, especially if you look at how easily it picks up small scratches. It's not glass, I'd guess it's the same plastic that old phones used to have as their screens. But at least the whole back panel can be replaced fairly easily if needed (if you can find a replacement).
zeuzinn said:
Do what I did, just cut a perfectly round piece of clear scotch tape and put over it. Instant and free lens protector. Took me a couple of tries to get it perfectly round, but you can't even tell it's there. Problem solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy for you to say, Giotto.
Yep...it's plastic. No case on my phone and no screen protector. Looks just like it did when I bought in Jun 4th. YMMV
I haven't had any issues with pics looking bad, i think it does amazing actually. I don't use a case either and I haven't noticed any marks on mine. That piece of plastic you are talking about is not the lens though, it is a lens protector. The lens is the small bluish/black part inside. It is pretty common for those to be plastic. I break them all the time at work (people aren't allowed to bring in cameras, even on a phone, so they break them) and I think all the phone cameras i have seen were plastic protectors.
Edit: I just found this in another thread: http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2008.10.30/front-element-scratches
SilverZero said:
Easy for you to say, Giotto.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm surprised no one has gotten this reference, or made a mention of it.
I'm guessing you're thinking of the Giotto that drew a perfect circle for the Pope when the Pope asked him, "now what can you do to show me your badass artistic skills?"
Only reason I know him? That was referenced on my application to Rice a while back (it's been 4.5 years since I graduated).
What's the problem? You question HTC's build quality?
Enjoy the EVO for 2 years or 1 and then get an EVO 2.
MMMMMM EVO 2 WILL have gingerbread!!!!!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
pekosROB said:
I'm surprised no one has gotten this reference, or made a mention of it.
I'm guessing you're thinking of the Giotto that drew a perfect circle for the Pope when the Pope asked him, "now what can you do to show me your badass artistic skills?"
Only reason I know him? That was referenced on my application to Rice a while back (it's been 4.5 years since I graduated).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You get the cookie!
novanosis85 said:
What's the problem? You question HTC's build quality?
Enjoy the EVO for 2 years or 1 and then get an EVO 2.
MMMMMM EVO 2 WILL have gingerbread!!!!!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wasn't this whole Evo 2 / Sabor thing pretty much accepted as a fabrication?
Way back when I owned an AT&T tilt, we had to remove the plastic camera cover to improve quality. It appears the same is true of the incredible.
My cover is not very scarred. I would consider my phone in great shape overall. Still, I decided to pop off the lens cover that projects out the backside of the phone. In so doing, there is a very appreciable improvement in contrast and sharpness of my photos. Attached are some samples. Now, if only we can figure out how to remove or replace the lens cover without jeopardizing the camera itself. As of now, it's the only barrier of protection, so removing it permanantly is not really an option.
Note, the video also shows great improvement, as should be expected.
Epicardium said:
Way back when I owned an AT&T tilt, we had to remove the plastic camera cover to improve quality. It appears the same is true of the incredible.
My cover is not very scarred. I would consider my phone in great shape overall. Still, I decided to pop off the lens cover that projects out the backside of the phone. In so doing, there is a very appreciable improvement in contrast and sharpness of my photos. Attached are some samples. Now, if only we can figure out how to remove or replace the lens cover without jeopardizing the camera itself. As of now, it's the only barrier of protection, so removing it permanantly is not really an option.
Note, the video also shows great improvement, as should be expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats pretty odd, none of my photos look washed out like that with the camera lense still intact
magneticzero said:
thats pretty odd, none of my photos look washed out like that with the camera lense still intact
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THanks. So, based on your feedback I decided to go ahead and clean both sides of the lens cover and also the inner lens cover with some alcohol. Definitely improved things for me. Check out the attached. It's weird because I could not appreciate any smudges of cloudiness by visual inspection. Looks no different to me after I've cleaned it, but the picture can't lie. There may still be a difference with the cover removed.
Epicardium said:
THanks. So, based on your feedback I decided to go ahead and clean both sides of the lens cover and also the inner lens cover with some alcohol. Definitely improved things for me. Check out the attached. It's weird because I could not appreciate any smudges of cloudiness by visual inspection. Looks no different to me after I've cleaned it, but the picture can't lie. There may still be a difference with the cover removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that looks wayyy better.
Isn't the lens somewhat glued onto the phone. Mine needs cleaning but I was afraid of hurting my phone.
Sent from my MIUI Incredible.
camera lens glare
Having a clean lens will help all photography. I think much of the difference in the first two photo examples is due to glare from sun position and or cloud cover. Notice the difference in the shadow from the pickup. Very pronounced with bright sun in washed out photo, and almost invisible in the 'clear' shot.
When shooting outside with SLR's I always try to use a glare shield, and when I have time to compose a shot with my phone, I do the same by just shadowing the lens with my hand. Sometimes awkward, but it does improve outdoor shots in the sun.
Ken
- also, glare is greatly amplified by a dirty lens...
could you list steps on how to remove the lens cover? I dont really wanna break anything with my camera. Thanks
Careful with the alcohol it mucks up plastik & rubber
had the same problem. resolved
whewstoosae said:
Isn't the lens somewhat glued onto the phone. Mine needs cleaning but I was afraid of hurting my phone.
Sent from my MIUI Incredible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same concerns. In fact, returned my first two Incs because of dust buildup under the camera glass. (edit-didn't mean to offend. I know everyone is busy/has a life/doesn't check messages all of the time) I wondered if it was latched somehow, or maybe screwed on. One day, out of frustration, I took off the battery cover and just tried to take it off. Turned out it was just stuck on with some kind of soft adhesive; just two short horizontal lines of it, at the top and bottom, behind the red part. I just gently pulled, and it did unstick from the top. I left the bottom connected, but folded the cover/bezel down and cleaned the inside with a little alcohol on a q-tip. Good as new. I wish I had done this on my very first Inc. I would probably still have it, and it had the best display.
I_ronnik said:
I had the same concerns. In fact, returned my first two Incs because of dust buildup under the camera glass. I sent a PM to another member who said he simply 'popped the cover off' to clean it, to ask how. I never got an answer. I wondered if it was latched somehow, or maybe screwed on. One day, out of frustration, I took off the battery cover and just tried to take it off. Turned out it was just stuck on with some kind of soft adhesive; just two short horizontal lines of it, at the top and bottom, behind the red part. I just gently pulled, and it did unstick from the top. I left the bottom connected, but folded the cover/bezel down and cleaned the inside with a little alcohol on a q-tip. Good as new. I wish I had done this on my very first Inc. I would probably still have it, and it had the best display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, I was too afraid to touch it without knowing if it was going to damage it or not.
Sent from my MIUI Incredible.
I_ronnik said:
One day, out of frustration, I took off the battery cover and just tried to take it off. Turned out it was just stuck on with some kind of soft adhesive; just two short horizontal lines of it, at the top and bottom, behind the red part. I just gently pulled, and it did unstick from the top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's actually a little disturbing. By no means do I think the Incredible is somehow the industry standard of build quality, but the lens cover itself looks like it's made by NASA. Disappointing (but useful!).
nordr said:
That's actually a little disturbing. By no means do I think the Incredible is somehow the industry standard of build quality, but the lens cover itself looks like it's made by NASA. Disappointing (but useful!).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. This seems like a very preventable issue, from a manufacturing standpoint. The only good thing is that there is another piece of glass (square) that is over the actual camera lens, and seems to be well sealed to the camera module itself. I haven't seen any dust under there. I agree with the 'disappointing' aspect. The 8Mp camera w/flash was a big factor in deciding to buy this phone.
just did this, my pictures are coming out much better now also. Thanks for the tip, never thought of this...
Does it work the same way with Incredible S(vivo), i too have some dust under the glass.
makos101 said:
could you list steps on how to remove the lens cover? I dont really wanna break anything with my camera. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just remove your battey cover and then you should be able to pop the cover and lense off
moondev said:
just remove your battey cover and then you should be able to pop the cover and lense off
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. I was going to ask the same question.
Beware: the camera lens on the back of our SGS II is made of cheap plastic. I learned the hard way.
Yesterday I was using the camera and all was really good. Today all photos were blurred. I checked and noticed a small bend, yes a bend, right in the middle of the camera lens. It is not a scratch, which has been my concern since buying the SGS2, it was a bend. I may be wrong, but glass should not bend, it scratches. Now I don't have a lens anymore, I have a prism.
The phone did not fall, or was treated badly. Most probably, I put it in my pants' front pockets, as I have done for years with my HTC phones (horrible cameras btw, compared to the sgs2), there may have been a contact with a harder surface (a key, maybe, but I don't suppose so), and the lens bended. It's a real pity. I'm considering now removing the "lens" as it is not the actual lens, just a cover I guess, and see if this works.
This may be the best and most expensive cell phone right now, why couldn't Samsung put a real glass (like apple does, btw) to protect the camera?
I hope this warning helps others not to get into the same problem. Maybe using a leather pouch can prevent this from happening (I was using the mesh cover case).
A previously super happy owner, now a very desolate one...
what did you do to your phone? Don't blame samsung for something you physically you did.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
thats strange? a bit of plastic with those dimensions shouldn't bend at all, unless put under direct heat and pressure? :S
can you post pictures taken and a picture of the lens?
I don't have another camera with me to photograph the lens. Besides, it is hard to see the bend, you need the correct angle for the light to hit it and be able to see. But attached is a picture I took with the cell. Kind of artsy...
I would have thought that if it did actually have a bend in it (which seems like an awfully difficult thing to have done), that it would cause a distortion and not just producing a blurry pic like that.
Looks more like something has been smeared across the lens cover.
It's not the lens that bended, it's the protective screen on top of the lense. Looks like glass to me, but it's possible to be plastic. Any way, i doubt it could bend unless you put a lot of pressure on it.
As I said, it was in the front pocket of a not so tight pants, so there might be little pressure, normal pressure as every cell phone suffers in this situation, but nothing exceptional, not much. Nobody sat on my lap as well... That would be a worthy reason at least.
I've had smartphones for the last 6 years, done the same thing since. I'm not asking for a replacement or whatever, so I have no reason to minimize my responsibility.
My point in posting is that it happened. Just trying let others know to not make the same mistake. It is not as solid a construction as, say, the HTC HD2. It needs more care.
Just beware, hope it does not happen to others.
PS: And no heat also, not a teenager anymore to have so much heat near the crotch area...
PPS: Yes, it is the protective screen. My hope is I can get rid of it, and have my camera back. Unprotected, but taking photos, with lots of care from now on...
OP, stupid question: that lens glass out of the box was protected with a transparent plastic film I think, just like the screen. Did you remove it?
Can you make a shot of the lens using a bathroom mirror perhaps, in macro mode?
mbernstein said:
I've had smartphones for the last 6 years, done the same thing since. I'm not asking for a replacement or whatever, so I have no reason to minimize my responsibility.
My point in posting is that it happened. Just trying let others know to not make the same mistake. It is not as solid a construction as, say, the HTC HD2. It needs more care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with your here. The way Samsung designed the back of the phone makes it very easy to scratch/ even bend (like it happened to you) the protective screen. I had a HTC Touch HD before and the back of the camera could never touch the surface where the phone was put. With Samsung if you put your phone on a rugged area you might end up damaging the protective screen easily.
Have you been using the LED as a torch or anything like that? Perhaps the heat could have warped the plastic?
kreoXDA said:
OP, stupid question: that lens glass out of the box was protected with a transparent plastic film I think, just like the screen. Did you remove it?
Can you make a shot of the lens using a bathroom mirror perhaps, in macro mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, I took the plastic out. I saw no point in having a very good phone camera weakened by the plastic.
I tried to take the photo you asked, but was not successful. But as I said it was a very small bend, which makes the light enter the lens like a prism. Very difficult to photograph with a normal camera.
Actually, there was a power outage in the area I'm in now, but I don't recollect to use torch that much... I remember I used it for a while, the used some screen light, then on to Kindle. Id on't suppose it was torch, but could it really be so silly like this?!
mbernstein said:
Sure, I took the plastic out. I saw no point in having a very good phone camera weakened by the plastic.
I tried to take the photo you asked, but was not successful. But as I said it was a very small bend, which makes the light enter the lens like a prism. Very difficult to photograph with a normal camera.
Actually, there was a power outage in the area I'm in now, but I don't recollect to use torch that much... I remember I used it for a while, the used some screen light, then on to Kindle. Id on't suppose it was torch, but could it really be so silly like this?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I just tried pushing on mine with my nail, it moves a teeny tiny bit, but it springs right back up Maybe something in your pocket just happened to touch the middle of that little piece of plastic, and just managed to apply enough force to bend it beyond the recovery point, so your plastic piece did not spring back up.
I fully understand what you mean now. But not sure what your options are. It is clearly a physical damage. I would not advise trying to take that piece out and bend it straight, you will mess up the actual lens.
mbernstein said:
A previously super happy owner, now a very desolate one...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash back stock firmware, reset custom download counter with jig, return under warranty saying the camera takes blurry pictures
godutch said:
flash back stock firmware, reset custom download counter with jig, return under warranty saying the camera takes blurry pictures
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe warranty doesn't cover physical damage though.
Ingvarr said:
I believe warranty doesn't cover physical damage though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they wont know if you dont tell them plus they wont inspect the phone in that detail closely at the camera, worth a try. IF you bough it from a store, bring it back there and get a replacement.
Hi,
I have the same issue as yours.
Where is your SGS2 made in when you take out the battery and look at the back sticker?
Mine says "Made in China"
Wonder if yours is made in Korea or China.
Please share~
I would send it in too, your chances are good to get it repaired!
Mine is made in: Korea
I would try to replace it if I had bought it in my country. I bought it through a friend from Xpansys US (a UK phone), and I'm now in Brazil. I guess I would have so many troubles with customs here to send it out and back with no guarantee to have it replaced...
My idea is not to take the plastic out, and try to fix it. It is to just take out. I will have a hole there, but there will be nothing distorting light that comes into the lens. I will have to be extra careful, but considering how easy the plastic which was supposed to protect the camera was damaged, extra care is the name of this phone for me.
And I'm not complaining about SGS2's plastic finish as opposed to the metal/glass ones of iPhone or HTC. I actually like this, including the back cover. After you get used to it, it is kind of cool. And it is light. I just wished there was a cover or that Samsung used a hard glass on the camera, or perhaps that the plastic was so tiny and receeded that nothing could reach it. I always like the way Sony and Nokia used to put a sliding cover over the camera lens in their phones. With such a thin phone as ours, I wouldn't mind the extra thickness. Or like my HTC Kaiser, where the plastic was actually on the cover. If it was scratched or broken you could replace the back cover... Sorry, just venting my frustration.
Don't leave that hole uncovered. Your lens will get dirty in no time. Pocket lint , dust and dirt will accumulate in there and break the lens autofocus mechanism. Just don't even think about leaving that hole uncovered.
Hello all,
I was wondering if its safe to use the phone without a case. I kind of like its design but i am rather afraid that the camera will break because it stands out way too much.
I already have a case,temp glass for screen and camera applied but i have started disliking my cases so far.
My question to you all is, do you really use a cover case to protect the camera or is it safe to take it off?
With cover is the best way, my phone have a scratch on top of the edge just hitting a furniture with a case on it
It's way too slippery to use without a case. I use it without a case a lot and have already dented the corner from a drop.
Sent from my LEX727 using Tapatalk
I like the design and feel of the phone too, but I use a case just to protect the camera. Even with the case that came with the phone, the camera was scratched up because the case is too thin. I now use a different case that's slightly thicker.
Sadly same thoughts, its too much of a risk. I had it one day without a case and its too risky, if only camera didnt stand out that much.
Back to flip case.
I work in construction and never use cases with any of my phones. I just hate the looks and added bulk. I already dropped mine quite a few times, even from head height, still working fine lol. Its just the same as with any other phone. Its neither more nor less slippery, and since its made from metal you wont get breaks in the body, worst case scenario a dent. I dont see this phone having any resell value after few years, and since it cost so little, i prefer enjoying how good it feels in hand and how slim it is rather than making it ugly and fat like oukitel or some other ****ty cheap chinese phone. Last time i used a case it actually made damage instead of protecting the phone. Small particles of dust got inside case and scratched whole backside of my nexus 6p, never again. And whats with the camera lens concerns? it has a small lip, so it should be enough to protect against flat surfaces, and no case gonna protect against other damage, like keys or stuff.
I would not but depends on your use
I somehow have a scratch on my fingerprint sensor. It works fine but...
evan220 said:
I somehow have a scratch on my fingerprint sensor. It works fine but...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does someone even manage that?
jts2111 said:
How does someone even manage that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a mechanic. Might be part of it.