How to check for water damage before purchasing a used iPhone 4

Posted By Ray Nicolini

Via iMore.com

“Checking for water damage is pretty simple and something everyone should do before forking over your hard earned cash for a second-hand iPhone 4.”

If you’re trying to save some money and are in the market to purchase a used iPhone 4 from either Craigslist, eBay, or some other local or online seller, one of the first things you’ll want to do is check for any signs of water damage. I see several people in my office each week that purchased used iPhones that mysteriously quit working after a few days. As much as we’d like to believe there aren’t people out there who would sell us broken or water damaged devices, it happens every day.

While online-only iPhone purchases are convenient, I highly recommend meeting up with someone locally, for example, someone off of Craiglist, before turning to eBay or any other online broker. This allows you inspect the iPhone device before you actually commit to purchasing it, and gives you a chance test it out and check for water damage yourself.

If you can’t meet someone locally and need to buy online, request that the seller inspect for water damage and send you images that allow you to see that the water sensors are still intact and that the internals have not suffered any damage or corrosion.

Apple has placed 4 sensors inside the iPhone 4 that make it pretty easy to tell if any part of the device has come in contact with liquid. These sensors are placed exactly the same in the GSM iPhone 4 and CDMA iPhone 4. You want to make sure the sensors are white as opposed to red. If you see a sensor that has turned red, that’s a sign it’s come into contact with liquid or heavy humidity.

How to check external iPhone water sensors

The easiest thing to check are the two sensors you can see without removing the back of the iPhone 4. I recommend bringing a small pocket or keychain flashlight with you in order to get a good look at the sensors.

Headphone jack sensor

The easiest sensor to check in an iPhone 4 for water damage is the one at the bottom of the headphone jack

Your first sensor is located inside the headphone jack at the bottom. It’s the easiest sensor to find and inspect. Shine a flashlight into it and make sure you don’t see anything but white. (Red is bad.)

As a side note, this sensor can come out or become dislodged occasionally. If you don’t see one, just move on and check the next sensor. I wouldn’t take it as a sign that the seller is trying to be dishonest (yet).

Dock connector sensor

The white part I've emphasized in the image is where you'll want to look for the water sensor in the dock connector

The next sensor is a square sensor in the dock connector. To see it, hold the phone screen down in your hand and look inside the dock connector towards the middle. On the upper side you will see a tiny white square (or red square if the device has come into contact with liquid). Make sure this one is white.

If both sensors are white, it may not be necessary to proceed any further. The device most likely has never been subjected to water damage. If the headphone jack sensor was missing or you couldn’t find one of the sensors, you may want to continue to the next section.

How to checking internal iPhone water sensors

It may seem silly to bring a screwdriver with you to check out an iPhone but it’ll seem a lot less silly when it saves the lost money and headache you’d get for buying a water damaged iPhone 4.

There are two sensors on the inside of the iPhone 4 that are easily visible once the back is removed. You can pick up a security screw driver online and a #00 Phillips screwdriver from your local hardware store for a few bucks. You’ll need one of the two in order to remove the back.

If you’re buying a CDMA iPhone 4 off of someone, you’ll most certainly need the security screwdriver. Older GSM models still have standard #00 screws while newer ones have security screws. Remove the 2 screws holding the back plate on and gently push the back up and pull it off. This will give you a clear view of the last 2 sensors and a lot of the internals of the device.

While you’re checking the last 2 sensors it’s always a good idea to look closely at the internals and make sure everything looks ok. You’ll want to avoid any devices that show signs of the following:

• Obvious corrosion
• Torn cables
• Missing screws
• The battery tab is torn off
• A large amount of debris or dust inside the device

If all those seem good, you’ll just need to make sure the water sensors check out okay.

Battery sensor

Check the sensor directly above the battery to make sure it hasn't turned red

The first sensor is placed directly over the clip that holds the battery down. Again, just make sure it’s white and move on the to next and final sensor. If it isn’t white but all the rest are, I’d probably still advise against buying the device as the battery or other internal parts could have come into contact with liquid at some point.

Logic board sensor

Never purchase a used iPhone 4 if the sensor over the screw holding down the logic board has turned red

The final sensor is located on a screw holding the logic board in place. If this sensor is white, you’re in the clear. If it’s not, you’ll definitely want to stay away from purchasing the device. This sensor is the closest one to the logic board. If it’s red, odds are the logic board has liquid damage and will eventually go out.

Wrap up

Checking for water damage is pretty simple and something everyone should do before forking over your hard earned cash for a second-hand iPhone 4. I would personally consider buying an iPhone 4 if only the headphone jack or dock connector sensor was triggered. If the rest of the device is in perfect condition and the inside has no sensors triggered, I’d say you’re okay. A lot of things including living in a humid climate can cause external sensors to be triggered. Apple will actually honor a warranty swap if only one external sensor is triggered due to these factors.

Just make sure if one external sensor is triggered or missing that you check the inside ones. As long as those are okay, the decision really lies with how comfortable you feel and how honest you think the seller is. If they seem irritated or worried about you checking out the device, find another one.

Interested in other DIY, repair, and modding info? Check out the resources below or if you ever decide certain repairs are beyond your skill level, contact PXLFIX regarding mail-in repairs and pricing.

How to choose the best quality color mod parts for your iPhone 4 / 4S

Posted By Ray Nicolini

Even though colored iPhone parts aren’t available from Apple doesn’t mean you can’t find good ones if you know what you’re looking for.

If you have an iPhone 4 and you want to swap out the standard Apple black or white backplate for something more colorful — like red or blue — it can be a challenge to find the best, high quality parts. Backplate swaps especially are an easy DIY project, but you want to pay careful attention to the supplier, the materials they’re using, the specific model of iPhone 4 you’re ordering for (Rogers/AT&T/GSM is different than Verizon/Sprint/CDMA), and that you have all the tools you need for the job.

Only order iPhone 4 parts from a reputable supplier

Make sure the back is made of glass, not plastic

As tempting as it can be to order colored parts on eBay or Amazon because of the low price tag, keep in mind that it’ll cost you more to replace your iPhone 4 if faulty parts cause something to go wrong. Spending a couple extra bucks for parts that are high quality and backed with a warranty is always your best bet.

Not to say there aren’t some reputable sellers on both websites. Just make sure you’re reading comments and customer reviews. If you see negative ones that should be a red flag and you should steer away from that seller altogether.

The best place to get colored or replacement parts is from a supplier that specializes in iPhone or iPad repair. I use eTech Parts for almost all my repair needs. They offer a warranty that I can pass down to my clients and are always willing to answer any question I may have regarding the quality of their merchandise.

Some suppliers only sell colored parts to businesses and repair shops. If you plan on ordering colored parts from a repair center or online supplier like PXLFIX in the form of a DIY kit, don’t be afraid to ask them who they get their parts from and if they back them with a warranty. If they are hesitant to give you that information, I’d probably find somewhere else to order them.

What to look for when buying colored parts

Several websites offer a variety of DIY color kits. There are certain things you’re going to want to look for before ordering so you’re sure you get the best parts you can.

Backplate checklist

If you are DIY replacing a back panel, you’ll want to make sure you pay close attention to the following when buying parts.

• Make sure the back is made of glass and not plastic.
• Order the correct back replacement as GSM and CDMA backs are different. The hinges are placed differently and they are not interchangeable. This goes for both a back and a front assembly.

Inspect the screw holes carefully. They should be metal, not plastic.

• Check the screw holes on back replacements and make sure they are assembled from metal. These should ALWAYS be metal, not plastic as shown in the picture above. It’s much higher quality and decreases the chance that they will strip over time. The back I’ve pictured above with plastic screw holes was stripped after removing the screws only 2-3 times.
• Watch out for aluminum or brushed metal backs. They can mess with your reception.

Front assembly checklist

If you’re swapping out or repairing an iPhone 4 screen, you’ll definitely want to make sure your parts are high quality as you’ll be ordering a whole new digitizer and LCD assembly.

Make sure you inspect the brackets and that they are metal, not plastic

• Just as with the back, the brackets “are” different for CDMA and GSM models. Make sure you’re ordering the correct part.
• There are brackets that run along both sides of the assembly. These should be made of metal, not plastic. You have to screw these down with washers and plastic is brittle and normally too thick. You’ll have issues getting the screen to sit flush.

Inspect all sensors and make sure they are similar to your stock iPhone 4 parts

• Check sensors and make sure they look how they’re supposed to. A good guide is that any colored parts should have visible sensors similar to the stock white iPhone 4. If they look different than that, don’t buy them.

What to look for after you have your parts

Once you receive your colored replacement parts you’ll want to check all of the following before attempting a full color swap or any modification.

Inspect all cables and make sure they are the same as stock iPhone 4 digitizer parts

• Check the sensors and cables on the front digitizer assembly. A good way to gauge the quality of colored parts is to examine the cables and sensors on your stock digitizer assembly to the new parts. Make sure they feel similar in thickness and that the sensors are located in the same spots. It is common that replacement fronts won’t come with the plastic front-facing camera ring or the speaker mesh. That’s okay. You’ll just remove them from your stock assembly and place them on your colored assembly.
• Also check the back panel for blemishes on the lens cover. Run your finger over it and make sure it sits flush with the glass backing. This is a common problem with many knock offs. They are either scratched or don’t sit flush. This will effect image quality greatly. Most quality parts will come with a plastic protector on the inside and outside of the glass panel to protect the lens.

Wrap-up

Even though colored iPhone parts aren’t available from Apple doesn’t mean you can’t find good ones if you know what you’re looking for. The ones I order for my clients are just as good as the OEM parts Apple uses in most regards. I just made sure I chose wisely when selecting a supplier.

As long as you do the same, you’ll be sporting a colored iPhone that should serve you well for a long time to come. If you’re considering a color swap and need detailed walkthroughs on how to replace your front assembly, rear panel, and home button – be sure to check out our guides below (CDMA guides coming soon).

And if you decide it’s not a repair you’re comfortable performing on your own, you can always contact PXLFIX, or similar online source, about a mail-in color swap.

Additional resources

• How to replace an iPhone 4 rear casing
• How to DIY replace a GSM iPhone 4 front assembly
• How to DIY replace a GSM iPhone 4 home button
• iMore DIY and mod forums

source iMore.com

Samsung Confirms White Galaxy S II is Coming… And It’s a Beauty

Posted By Ray Nicolini


If you’re a fan of Apple’s white iPhone 4, but you’re not keen on its iOS operating system, then feast your eyes on this beauty. Samsung has just announced that its Galaxy S II is coming to the U.K. on September 1… in white!

Internally, the white device is identical to the existing black Galaxy S II — boasting the same 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, plus an 8-megapixel camera at the back and a 2-megapixel camera at the front.

The device has been so successful since its launch in the U.K. that in just 85 days, Samsung had already shifted a whopping 5 million units — that’s before the Galaxy S II has stepped foot in the U.S. — a new record for the company

If you’re looking at that photo above and you think you’re having a spell of déjà vu, that’s because you may have seen it yesterday. U.K. retailer MobileFun listed the device on its website with a slightly premature August 15 launch date. The price advertised was £410 (approx. $667) for the unlocked, SIM-free model. However, Samsung has confirmed to SlashGear that the device will be available through a number of carriers with subsidized pricing.

If you’re eager to get your hands on this device in the U.S., it’s expected to launch in August with Verizon the first carrier to offer the device, and it may be well worth the wait: One rumor suggests the device will come packing 4G LTE by the time it gets to Verizon. There’s no confirmation, however, that the U.S. will get both colors to begin with.

LTE is just one feature that may give the Galaxy S II an advantage over Apple’s iPhone 5 — which is expected to launch a month later in September. If the iPhone 5′s rumored specs list is anything to go by, it will compete with the Galaxy S II’s high-resolution screen, but it won’t match its processor or its RAM.

What do you think of Samsung’s white Galaxy S II? If I wasn’t already in love with the iPhone, I’d snap this up in a heartbeat.

[via SlashGear]

iOS 4.3.1 jailbreak ready for primetime; no iPad 2 support [video]

By Ray Nicolini

Considering the Dev Team had an iOS 4.3 jailbreak ready and waiting long before Apple pushed out iOS 4.3.1, the 10-day wait for an untethered jailbreak seems like an uncharacteristically long amount of time for our favorite iPhone hackers. Regardless, the day is upon us and PwnageTool for iOS 4.3.1 is now available for download. The new version supports the iPhone 4 (GSM only), iPhone 3GS, first-generation iPad, second-generation Apple TV and the third and fourth-generation iPad touch models. The iPad 2 is not currently supported. The new build also lacks support for Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4 since iOS 4.3.1 is not yet available for the device. The DevTeam notes that those with unlocked devices should wait, as ultrasn0w has not yet been updated.

The iPhone is the worst…

By Ray Nicolini

Source www.boygeniusreport.com

In my line of work, cell phones come and go faster than mixed drinks on MTV’s Jersey Shore. They’re here, they’re gone and most of the time they’re quickly forgotten. I can’t even recall all of the mobile devices I’ve handled in the past month, let alone the past year. And though hundreds of handsets have crossed my path in the 1,211 days since June 29th, 2007, only one phone has managed to stay in my pocket day in and day out: Apple’s iPhone.

Say what you will about the device, the company, me, my mother, or anything else… the iPhone might be my go-to handset but I have no allegiance to any manufacturer or OS. In fact my iPhone 3GS was almost replaced last year by Sprint’s Palm Pre. I still love webOS but I need hardware that matches the fit and finish of Palm’s great operating system before a webOS device can fly solo in my pocket. And no, unfortunately, the Pre 2 likely won’t fit the bill.

So I continue to carry and use the iPhone because it just so happens to be the device that comes closest to suiting my needs. I almost always have a second phone on me — an Android phone, the Palm Pre or maybe a BlackBerry — but each is just a companion device that rarely gets any face time. Most common tasks are so much smoother on the iPhone than the competition, it just doesn’t make sense to bother with another device.

The iPhone is not a perfect device by any stretch of the imagination, but for me, right now, its the best we’ve got. It has the best build quality and is comprised of the best materials. It has the best display and the most responsive touchscreen. It has the best oil-resistant glass and countless amazing apps. It has the most fluid interface and the best customer service supporting it.

But for every best, there is also a worst. And because the iPhone’s bests are so great, expectations are high and the worsts become much more pronounced. Here, I go through my compilation of the iPhone’s worstworsts.

First and foremost, the iPhone is the worst smartphone I’ve ever seen when it comes to watching YouTube videos. Forgetting the fact that half the videos I try to watch aren’t compatible with iOS, videos that should work with the iPhone are terrible. Over 3G, the quality is horrendous. I get up to 6Mbps with AT&T, Apple — there’s no need to reduce the quality of the videos I’m trying to stream. Then, over Wi-Fi, the quality is spectacular but videos won’t play. Ever. If there ever comes a time when my iPhone can stream a YouTube video over Wi-Fi without choking every 2 seconds, I might pass out. It’s funny how critical Steve Jobs is of Adobe’s Flash when he’s perfectly content shipping this steaming pile of a YouTube experience.

The iPhone also has the worst auto-correct system ever devised by man. It doesn’t learn from habits, which means I have to reject the same changes repeatedly, forever. I also can’t add words, so the only way to get iOS to remember an unknown word is to add it to the address book. And speaking of the address book, I better not have any contacts prefaced with “Mr.”, such as one of my favorite little Chinese restaurants, Mr. Wok. If I do, I need to be prepared to constantly reject an unwanted change every time I type the word “me”.

It seems crazy that iOS still doesn’t support widgets. Widgets are great for grabbing information at a glance, and Apple’s competitors all make wonderful use of widget systems. But not Apple. I want to see the current weather in an instant. I want to see if I have any upcoming calendar appointments without a single tap. I want to see a small collection of items from my to do list. And so on. It’s a little scary that Apple realized how nifty it would be to show the current date on the Calendar icon but it hasn’t yet extended that functionality elsewhere.

And why doesn’t iOS include an easy way to perform simple functions such as enabling or disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi? If I want to save some precious battery life and disable Bluetooth when I’m not using it, it takes five taps. Compare that to Android, where disabling Bluetooth takes a single tap on a widget.

On we go, to one of the more popular gripes in recent months — multitasking. Apple is right that there are downsides to a completely open multitasking policy, but there are better solutions than the currently available workaround. State saving is great but Apple is holding developers back by limiting the number of available background APIs to just a handful. Then, it’s ridiculous that there is no way to close an app without saving its state. The iPhone is easily the worst when it comes to clutter in the app manager, and the solution would be all too simple. How about a long-tap on the home button to close an app, fellas?

While on the topic of easy fixes, I should certainly call out the Mail app. The iPhone’s email client is actually pretty fantastic, especially with the new features introduced in iOS 4. In several ways, however, it really is the worst mobile email client on the planet. It’s 2010 and I still can’t set a custom ringtone for new emails. I still can’t view only unread emails. I still can’t flag emails. I still can’t configure a unique email signature for each different email account. And, at least in my case, I still can’t send emails generated in third-party apps because they just sit in my outbox until I open each one and manually resend it.

Finally, my biggest complaint: Apple’s iPhone has the worst notification system known to man. It is, without question, abysmal.

iOS notifications are as disruptive as notifications on a mobile device can possibly be. A box pops up in the middle of the display, interrupts whatever might be taking place at the time, and prevents the user from doing anything else with the device until one of two things happens — the user must either interact with the notification (dismiss it or open the related app) or turn the display off and back on.

Then, when the stars are perfectly aligned, something special happens. The iPhone begins regurgitating an unstoppable stream of successive notifications that render the device inoperable. Calendar alarms, SMS notifications, WhatsApp alerts, banking notifications, new mentions and direct messages from Twitter, missed call alerts, Growl notifications, clock alarms, Words With Friends notifications, to do app alerts, sports scores… all popping, dinging and dancing at once.

I’m sure many users know this scenario all too well — I call it iPuke.

Apple is a company that puts a tremendous amount of time and effort into its user experiences and the results are typically astounding. In the case of iOS notifications, however, the results are downright embarrassing. We know Apple hired the engineer responsible for the webOS notification system away from Palm this past summer, so a complete revamp of the system is expected at some point. But the fact that Apple would release the iOS notification system in its current state is just plain sad.