Database Users

Gutted, goodbye Streak. Enforced seperation.

Today is the last day with my Dell Streak. I got my foot caught in the charger cable & have wrecked the pins in the charger port on the phone so it won't take charge. I'm managing by charging my spare battery in my freeloader camcaddy but it's just not practical. I'm on O2 and have insurance (i'm on my 5th streak since last June). O2insure say they have no more streaks and they offered me either the HTC HD7 or some Blackberry model I can't remember. I argued that niether of these can be considered an equivalent replacement spec-wise, also I've spent over a year buying a nice collection of Android software. They have logged my complaint and apparently are getting back to me with a possible alternative.
I've been looking on the O2 website & just can't find anything i'd be happy with other than a couple of new dual core phones that i'm sure will not be an option as far as O2insure are concerned.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a temporary replacement until my renewal date next June?
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App

Possible Solution
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-New-1530mAh-Battery-Charger-Dell-Mini-5-Streak-/250905703669?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item3a6b2534f5
This is what I am using specifically to AVOID screwing up that port.
You can still sync by wifi.
If you buy this and keep a battery in the charger at all times, you'll be good.
I keep a spare battery in the car, one in my laptop case and one in my coat. Yes 4 batteries total. Works great.
Good luck.

That is essentially what he is using now, and he finds it inconvenient. I don't blame him either. I think I'd be annoyed if I had to take my Otterbox off repeatedly in order to open up the back panel, pull the battery, put it in the charger, and wait until the battery is charged to reverse the process.

Thanks for the replies, as stated that's pretty much what I'm doing but however desperate I am to keep Streaking, it's too much of a pain in the ass to keep charging the spare batteries. I get about half a day's usage from one battery & need the ability to top up at work with the cable - my shifts are 25 hours long. I think i'm almost prepared to do this but I've started the ball rolling with O2insure & don't think they'd take kindly to me saying everything was ok now.
I can't believe this form of phone is so unpopular, the samsung note is 5.3", how come the dell streak pro is 4.3"? I'm dreading having to squint at a sub-5" display!
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App

Have you considered repair? I drove off with my streak on the roof of my car and it bounced down the road. I thought for sure it was not repairable. I sent it off for repair and got it back like new. New screen, end caps, and battery cover for much less than a replacement. Tell them what you need and they will give a quote
http://www.dellstreakrepairs.co.uk/repairs.html

Guess it's time to disassemble and solder a microusb host port in place of the cursed PDMI connector. Gosh I always wanted to do that!

Well, they offered me galaxy s2 so I took it. It obviously beats the Streak hands down on performance and the colours and brightness of the screen . . . but it's too small! Browsing is awful again, having to zoom in & out to read anything & move about the page. I have big hands and even the minimal difference in the size of the keyboard is very frustrating. Oh well, at least I still get to upgrade next June, I'll be hoping there's a 5" Android or two on the market by then.
I'm a keen photographer and the camera really is stunning for a mobile.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

[Q] Cracked screen! :( Fix or write off?

Hey peeps,
Took my tablet out of its case the other day and saw a huge black splotch created by a crack in the screen! Dunno how, let's blame the dogs for now...
Question is: Should I replace the screen? ($90 without digitizer on ebay)
OR put that money towards a better tablet\one with a collaborative developer non-hostile environment (like my galaxy gio)

Fix it then sell it if you want a different tablet.

Seems like too much effort to wait for shipping then replace the screen only to make back a little cash. Looking at prices for parts I would be better off tearing it up and selling it in pieces.
After looking around there is the Acer 510 and the Asus Transformer 300 that are both quad core tegra 3 with ICS selling for $400 but I could just grab a Galaxy Note for $500 and replace my phone AND tablet in one hit! *ponders*

Galaxy note is a bit to big to be using as a cell phone. Its so funny watching someone with that thing up to there ear. It might be worse then the first ever motorolla brick 5 lb phones that hooked to a antana in a external case . Talk about frying your brain .

erica_renee said:
Galaxy note is a bit to big to be using as a cell phone. Its so funny watching someone with that thing up to there ear.
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Anyone who doesn't realise that the Note is designed to use with a Bluetooth earpiece for calls... +facepalm+
Sent from my A501 using Tapatalk

Tapek-AU said:
Seems like too much effort to wait for shipping then replace the screen only to make back a little cash. Looking at prices for parts I would be better off tearing it up and selling it in pieces.
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Personally I would recycle it as media center hooked up to the tv with mizuu app and a couple of terabytes of movies Done that to my zenithink zt-180 crap-pad, now it's a jukebox with network shares.

lowsum said:
Personally I would recycle it as media center hooked up to the tv with mizuu app and a couple of terabytes of movies Done that to my zenithink zt-180 crap-pad, now it's a jukebox with network shares.
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not a terrible idea! the device still works..may as well put it to use! Any other suggestions what I could use it for with only 2/3 of the screen visible?
As for the note, it's totally not too big to talk in to even without a bluetooth hands free kit. Tried one out in the store the other day and fell in love...only thing stopping me is the Galaxy SIII rumours (4.8" 1080p screen and a quad core 1.5 OMG) Once that is announced I will make a decision whether to wait or jump in.

Tapek-AU said:
not a terrible idea! the device still works..may as well put it to use! Any other suggestions what I could use it for with only 2/3 of the screen visible?
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If you're into retro gaming, emulators with a usb or bluetooth gamepad...or a linux distro with keyboard & mouse hooked up in hdmi...the camera could be used as a surveillance system, there an app for that!...or a dinning plate!....or a rectangular frisbee could be cool too

To buy or not to buy

Hey people!
I'am new here but i have been looking at the forums for quite a while now and thought i should make an account, so here I am .
Lets get to the point, I would love to buy this phone, it looks awesome, its fast, its all i want BUT i got some serious worries about the glass at the back. or the yellow tinting of the screen. The glass worries me the most. Would a screen protector or Soft, hard case help against cracking?
As i said i would love to buy the phone when it is available agains
What are your opinions? (and the case answers ofc since i have no cllue about what helps against what)
PS: If a post like this exists, please link it to me and i'll remove this post.

Well, obviously the phone has a chance to break. I've been using mine over a week and I don't have an issue. Then again my near one year old gnex is near flawless, so I guess it depends on how you use your devices and how you handle them.
In regards to yellowing screen or other issues, they shouldn't be enough to dissuade you from buying it. All phones have issues, in fact, all electronics have issues. There is no evidence so far that any of these supposed issues are widespread. I think its just more likely to find people complaining on boards like these than those going out of there way to say how great the device is.
I for one have no issues my n4 and I've yet to have an issue my n7 or gnex either (both day one purchases). I'm either really lucky or things aren't as bad as the boards make them seem.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

well you can always use a case, and this is the best android phone out there in my opinion. I have used note, S2, S3 and switched to N4, even though my version has some problem i would say best android phone out there.

derpingtimmy said:
Hey people!
I'am new here but i have been looking at the forums for quite a while now and thought i should make an account, so here I am .
Lets get to the point, I would love to buy this phone, it looks awesome, its fast, its all i want BUT i got some serious worries about the glass at the back. or the yellow tinting of the screen. The glass worries me the most. Would a screen protector or Soft, hard case help against cracking?
As i said i would love to buy the phone when it is available agains
What are your opinions? (and the case answers ofc since i have no cllue about what helps against what)
PS: If a post like this exists, please link it to me and i'll remove this post.
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Click to collapse
I'm exactly in the same boat. I want this N4, but with all those bad things you have mention I am really undecided between the N4 and the Note2.

I have an N4 and don't have any yellow tint. But the glass back is a worry. If you drop this phone then it will break.
But it's so fast! And it's a Nexus. I spent so much time trying different ROMs with my old arc S which I don't need to do now. Games just fly on this phone with 2GB of RAM.
I do think the arc has a better camera than the N4 though.
I miss my arc but it was time to move on and now I have a Nexus I won't ever get anything else.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Thanks alot for the great input I have decided and placed an order at the german store, Since i am from holland. Now its just waiting till they have it. Can probably take a while x)

[Q] Cracked nexus 7 screen, some functionality.

This past weekend I had to go through horrifying experience having to deal my nexus 7's screen cracking. Long story short, my girlfriend, younger brother and I were hanging out in my room, I had left my nexus 7 on the left side of my bed and got up to get something in my room, mean while, my obvious younger brother decided it would be a good idea to sit exactly where I had left my nexus 7...if only he had stayed in the chair that was in my room. Well, my nexus 7 happened to be facing front side up and when he sat on my beautiful tablet, the screen cracked... the 50 dollars Gumdrop Drop Tech Series Case I had invested in proved to be no match to his rear end.
I sat there quite silent for a couple minutes, no words to say, it was just as time itself had paused to morn for my loss. Well anyhow, I ordered a brand spanking new 32GB nexus 7 last night and I'm expecting it to arrive tomorrow . I was fiddling around with my nexus 7 and I managed to enable "show touches" in the developer options by attaching a mouse to my device. I noticed that top left corner of the screen gave touch feed back.
My question is why the small portion of the touch screen responds to touch when the majority of the screen doesn't, this anomaly (from reading various forum posts, the nexus 7 screen isn't suppose to respond to touch once the screen is cracked) leaves me pondering if there was something I could do to make the other portion of the screen to work. I was originally looking into screen replacement options, but from what I read and saw first hand, it's better to buy a whole new unit (like I had mentioned I had done in the earlier text) than to purchase a brand new digitizer. The other option would be to find a bricked nexus 7 on the internet and salvage the screen, and trying to find a low priced bricked nexus 7 on the internet is like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.
Now, I'm a college student (majoring in Computer Networking System Administrations ) and blew 3/4 of my savings for a new unit (I'm poor!). If there is no financially feasible method for replacing the screen enabling being able sell the device for higher price, how much do you folks think I could sell it for? Keep in mind, my cracked nexus 7 is 16GB model and is unlocked (rooted) and is in pretty the good shape despite the cracked screen, the actual display has not been damaged, it's just touch digitizer that is not working properly.
Thanks for reading my lengthy post/ramble

So I take it your brother who broke it won't be compensating you for breaking your tablet? I would be pissed, he should at least pay for some of the cost of the replacement.

kmo_9000 said:
So I take it your brother who broke it won't be compensating you for breaking your tablet? I would be pissed, he should at least pay for some of the cost of the replacement.
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Well he's actually going compensate me with 50 bucks so that's nice.

Hi, I have exactly the same problem and had the same idea. If i can calibrate the digitizer to exactly 50% of the original dimensions I could use the working area of the screen to operate the device. Did you find a way to do this?

fletchenator910 said:
Well he's actually going compensate me with 50 bucks so that's nice.
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no offence intended but anyone who breaks my tablet, family or not would be compensating me 100% plus a srry beer thrown in.

S4 amoled screen broken

Hey everyone!
Longtime lurker/first time post here. I have had the very unfortunate experience of pulling my S4 out of my pocket to check the time only to have my heart and jaw drop at the sight of a broken screen. It seems to be the same problem that others have reported where the glass is fine but the touchscreen is cracked, starting on the right side directly at the power button.
I have NEVER dropped this phone. It has been handled with great care at all times. It was always in an Otterbox Defender series case. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened to it while in my pocket (bumping into something, etc) and there was never anything else in the pocket with it. I have really enjoyed this phone and was mindful of it at all times.
So... where do I go from here? I'm looking for some good advice before I take a next step in trying to get a replacement. I do not have insurance on the phone (yeah, I know), but the price each month plus the deductible for a refurbished phone didn't sound like a great deal to me since I'm able to take care of my things for the most part. If it was an accident, I'd bite the bullet and replace the screen myself or get a new phone but this either a design flaw or a manufacturing defect. Has anyone here had success through Sprint or Samsung in getting a replacement or repair? I'm rooted and running The Blu Kuban right now. Do I need to try to ODIN back to stock for warranty purposes before doing anything from here or is there a better option for me? The phone works but I can't see or operate the screen in anyway.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Google... 1st search result.

Are you a homeowner? Try your homeowner insurance. I added coverage for my phones, tablets, and laptops that cover all loses. I think it only added $15 a year to my cost and the deductible is only $25.00 on a replacement. Maybe your insurance may cover the cost of a replacement phone.
Sent from my icrap 2 using Tapatalk HD

Thanks for the useful reply Joe! How did I possibly forget to search for information on the subject before going through the trouble of making my first post on XDA despite being here for awhile?
Seriously... Read the thread. Its filled with disagreements as to what has been successful and turns into accusations of being too rough on the phone. I was asking if anyone here has successfully gotten their phone replaced and what to best method of going back to stock would be without being able to use the screen at all.
Cruise350 - Thanks alot for the suggestion man, but I'm not a homeowner.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

I know when I got my replacement for my evo 3d it wasnt refurbished it wasn brandnew still in the box and seals were not touch.Im hoping that the flaws in the screens are just because it was early in production.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

SierraGT said:
Cruise350 - Thanks alot for the suggestion man, but I'm not a homeowner.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
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More and more insurance companies are offering tech insurance and it is very affordable. I don't carry Sprint's insurance either (bad experience many years ago) I generally just keep my newest 'old' phone as a replacement in the event my new phone gets broke or dies.
It pays to shop around (or google) in trying to find good ways to insure devices. I realize this doesn't help you in your current predicament but perhaps for future reference.
You might search youtube for similar experiences which might tell you how they were fixed or offer affordable solutions for replacement.
Good luck.

Search YouTube for complete galaxy s4 teardown. A replacement screen and digitizer and frame is about $241. I've watched the 37 minute process on the video and feel it is way beyond my skill and patience. I don't know what else to tell you other than insurance might have made this easier and more affordable. Depending on where you go, who you deal with, who you talk to, this process can be expensive and full of hassle. Might I suggest, when you do get a replacement, that you invest in a tempered glass screen protector. There are topics in the accessory section on this topic. It will help protect your device better than simple screen film.
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The one common theme in all these broken amoled screens under the glass are pocket users. Not one of these posts have come from someone that uses a case with holster. The gorilla glass on these phones is very strong, but the screen underneath can flex while in your pocket. I know everyone says they don't abuse their phone, haven't bumped it in their pocket, don't carry anything else in their pocket, but something that is happening is flex. With the plastic back of these phones they will definitely flex while you sit, bend, walk, or whatever during your normal routine. The amoled screen probably has a limit to the amount of flex it can handle before it fails. I know, you didn't abuse your phone but calling it a manufacturers defect is just ridiculous. Suck it up, fix or replace your phone, and next time don't put it in your pocket.

cruise350 said:
The one common theme in all these broken amoled screens under the glass are pocket users. Not one of these posts have come from someone that uses a case with holster. The gorilla glass on these phones is very strong, but the screen underneath can flex while in your pocket. I know everyone says they don't abuse their phone, haven't bumped it in their pocket, don't carry anything else in their pocket, but something that is happening is flex. With the plastic back of these phones they will definitely flex while you sit, bend, walk, or whatever during your normal routine. The amoled screen probably has a limit to the amount of flex it can handle before it fails. I know, you didn't abuse your phone but calling it a manufacturers defect is just ridiculous. Suck it up, fix or replace your phone, and next time don't put it in your pocket.
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Just to clear this up... I did say design flaw or manufacturers defect. I've had many phones over the last 15 years. I have never had one break in anyway except for my Samsung Epic 4g, which took a 2 story fall (while in my pocket lol) onto a very hard surface. All it did was crack the screen a bit but was still functional for the next year until my contract was renewed.
To say that I should expect a $650 dollar phone in an Otterbox case to completely break to the point of not being able to use it just by being in my pocket in normal everyday situations is RIDICULOUS.
Should consumers really expect this level of quality? Imagine if a salesperson told you this as you were thinking of buying a phone... "Now just to let you know, never keep this phone in your pocket and then sit or walk because it'll break."
If this phone breaks in peoples pockets and isn't intended to be there, then Samsung would've/should've provided holsters with the phone.
Straight from Samsung - "Offering a highly crafted design with a larger screen and improved battery life, the sleek and innovative Galaxy S4 is slimmer yet stronger, with less to hold yet more to see." Sounds like we should expect a strong, well made phone. Not a something that will break this easily. My phone looks exactly like 4 other pictures I have found of other user's broken screens... all at the exact same spot. I maintain that this is either a design flaw or manufacturer's defect. Yes, as you said - the gorilla glass is strong. I just wish they would of made the frame stronger. Then I'd still have a working phone.
Btw, I am an unabashed Samsung fanboy. TVs, last 3 phones, monitors, etc. I talked 4 different people into getting this phone after I had it. I think normally Samsung makes great products with a high level of quality but they made a mistake on this one. I'm no longer looking forward to the S5 that comes with the required fanny pack... well, not until they make this situation right.
Now... does anyone have any info on my question on returning to stock? Thanks!

This is a tough one. I'd suggest at least attempting to contact Samsungs warranty dept. Perhaps they can offer a better solution than sprint.
Back in the Treo days I actually sent in a phone or two to palm, and got refurbished replacements.
The tough part is your defect.
I provide warranty work for appliances, manufacturers know or believe they know how and why something has failed. Glass stove tops are a prime example. Whirlpool will only cover heat fractures. I have to submit pictures of the top and, 99% of the time, the claim is rejected. Mostly because these tops break from impact or improper installation.
Point being, if you send your phone to Samsung, they may not cover it. But if you're optimistic and patient a few minutes on the phone may yield positive results.
http://m.samsung.com/us/support/service/warranty/SGH-T959HABTMB
Definitely unroot and return to stock.

SierraGT said:
Just to clear this up... I did say design flaw or manufacturers defect. I've had many phones over the last 15 years. I have never had one break in anyway except for my Samsung Epic 4g, which took a 2 story fall (while in my pocket lol) onto a very hard surface. All it did was crack the screen a bit but was still functional for the next year until my contract was renewed.
To say that I should expect a $650 dollar phone in an Otterbox case to completely break to the point of not being able to use it just by being in my pocket in normal everyday situations is RIDICULOUS.
Should consumers really expect this level of quality? Imagine if a salesperson told you this as you were thinking of buying a phone... "Now just to let you know, never keep this phone in your pocket and then sit or walk because it'll break."
If this phone breaks in peoples pockets and isn't intended to be there, then Samsung would've/should've provided holsters with the phone.
Straight from Samsung - "Offering a highly crafted design with a larger screen and improved battery life, the sleek and innovative Galaxy S4 is slimmer yet stronger, with less to hold yet more to see." Sounds like we should expect a strong, well made phone. Not a something that will break this easily. My phone looks exactly like 4 other pictures I have found of other user's broken screens... all at the exact same spot. I maintain that this is either a design flaw or manufacturer's defect. Yes, as you said - the gorilla glass is strong. I just wish they would of made the frame stronger. Then I'd still have a working phone.
Btw, I am an unabashed Samsung fanboy. TVs, last 3 phones, monitors, etc. I talked 4 different people into getting this phone after I had it. I think normally Samsung makes great products with a high level of quality but they made a mistake on this one. I'm no longer looking forward to the S5 that comes with the required fanny pack... well, not until they make this situation right.
Now... does anyone have any info on my question on returning to stock? Thanks!
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***must bite tongue***

Thanks Biff. I think that's what I'm going to do.
Dave, remember to at least nibble your fingers as well next time buddy!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

SierraGT said:
Thanks Biff. I think that's what I'm going to do.
Dave, remember to at least nibble your fingers as well next time buddy!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
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LOL ok, ok, nibbling fingers