Database Users

Story on Engadget about the screen coming loose

Mine apparently is doing it also I didnt notice it until I looked in the dark. Mines mild right now, but its def coming up...
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/13/htc-evo-suffering-from-glass-separation-issues/

psufan5 said:
Mine apparently is doing it also I didnt notice it until I looked in the dark. Mines mild right now, but its def coming up...
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/13/htc-evo-suffering-from-glass-separation-issues/
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Click to collapse
not a big surprise. probably exactly the same crappy screen adhesion problems that were leading to all the dust under the nexus screens... :/

mine is starting to do it as well, I can feel it slightly raised above the bezel

What problems will manifest due to this problem?
regards
qu1nn

What problems will manifest due to this problem?
regards
qu1nn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dust under the screen. And you can see light leaking out of the bottom of the phone
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Wow this is totally sh*tty
I just placed my order for the Evo and should be receiving it sometime this week.
I am wondering if maybe keeping the phone in a tight-fitting silicone case might help to reduce any possible "DISPLACEMENT" of the screen

glad to see this is getting media attention. i'm sick of htc and their crappy quality control. i went through this whole thing with my hero already...
and yes, my screen is coming apart too. it definitely wasn't like that when i got it last week.

redrazr7791 said:
Wow this is totally sh*tty
I just placed my order for the Evo and should be receiving it sometime this week.
I am wondering if maybe keeping the phone in a tight-fitting silicone case might help to reduce any possible "uprising" of the screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah can't have the screen gathering up and revolting

mrono said:
Yeah can't have the screen gathering up and revolting
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Click to collapse
I couldn't think of another word to use
If HTC continues to mass produce phones that fall apart because of faulty manufacturing...then the customers just might revolt

Dang it!!! mine starting to raise up as well I love this phone and Sprint service but I'm afraid the problem will worsen up as the time passes. I'm not the type to switch devices after every new released and perfer to hang to something until I feel it's not doing what I ask it to (still have HTC Uni, 8525, Treo 750 and Axim x51v).
This and the 30 fps capped is my only main concern about this phone, especially this screen separation (more light leakage or dust problem). The rest of the problem doesn't really bother me much such as the laggy touch input, improperly grounded screen and other problem doesn't apply to my device.
Is it worth the hassel of exchanging it hoping to get one without the screen separation or do they all have this problem? I'm hoping the newer hardware version (version 3) doesn't have this sort of problem, mine is hardware version 2. What you guys think?

I have been noticing more and more light leaking. I thought at first I was maybe just getting paranoid (still possible) but I saw a line about 1.5 cm long along the lower left side last night... That was definitely not there before.
What should I do? Would getting the TEP plan be prudent at this point, to cover this issue if/when it gets worse? Or would be the kind of thing HTC would be more... lenient about replacements?

Think the hairdryer method will work like it did on the Nexus? My nexus had this issue and the hairdryer method fixed it up permanently.

booloobunny said:
Think the hairdryer method will work like it did on the Nexus? My nexus had this issue and the hairdryer method fixed it up permanently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't hurt to try. If it worked on the NX-1, it might work again

redrazr7791 said:
Wow this is totally sh*tty
I just placed my order for the Evo and should be receiving it sometime this week.
I am wondering if maybe keeping the phone in a tight-fitting silicone case might help to reduce any possible "DISPLACEMENT" of the screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this is off topic but...
How are you getting yours that fast? Where did you order from

booloobunny said:
Think the hairdryer method will work like it did on the Nexus? My nexus had this issue and the hairdryer method fixed it up permanently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I actually just tried this and it worked pretty well only a little of leakage left, I figure I'll seal it up some more when I have the time and Im pretty sure I did not hold it down long enough to let it cool effectively. but the parts that are still down work like a charm. way better than having to go back, lose all your apps, headaches of customer service, etc.

BigBallin said:
Dust under the screen. And you can see light leaking out of the bottom of the phone
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
--------------
So this is the reason I see light under the buttons when their off and the screen is off, and its dark in the room? because my screen seems to be holding up well, and I have it in my pocket all day, no case or screen protectors. then again, I haven't been messing with it, trying to apply things or mods to it.

Hair dryer, bubble gum, tape and what else?! These are high-end devices (Evo Nexus One, etc) and they should NOT need a MacGyver handbook to keep them together after days of ownership. HTC needs to do right by us from the design stage period!

Dear Babies,
This is a site about hacking phones. Stop *****ing and use your brains for a change. Get some black silicon caulk from Lowes. Rub a small small amount in the crack where the buttons meet the case where the light leaks. Congratulations, your phone can now be left in the desert for 10 years and nothing will get through that seam including light... I swear, you guys can spend all day rooting phones but cant use some damn common sense to fix the hardware itself. I had tons of light leakage when i got the phone. Zero now, and you cant tell i did anything to it.

AshMa said:
HTC needs to do right by us from the design stage period!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is very true, but there seems to be a gray area when it comes to (S*** HAPPENS and a bug that can be fixed)... And it seems to get grayer everyday.....

hair dryer seems to have worked fine on my evo

G2 Loose Hinge Video

Since a lot of you don't understand or have no clue what the loose hinge issue is, I made a video!
I love my phone and don't start the "hitorii is bashing the phone" thread. This is just for informational purposes so we can find if this is in fact a defect and maybe help some people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd6DKd_gMO8

Thanks for the video. I've been wondering if mine had the problem. While mine does open up when held upside down by the keyboard it doesn't ever close unless I close it. That would concern me.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Yea, **** that, that'd be crazy annoying.
Let's hope it's just an assembly line issue, and not the way it's supposed to be.

wow that looks defective, i get mine today, lets see if it has the problem

honestly, I think its just a non-issue and the way it was designed.
How often do you hold the phone, upsidedown, and only grabbing the keyboard side of the phone, if your in bed it doesn't take much to hold the screen and keyboard.

Mine opens up, but not as much as yours.

Like I said before in other threads. We know how a traditional slider should feel. This is a new technology so to speak and the first slider of its kind, so no one really knows exactly how it should feel.

QwertyAccess said:
honestly, I think its just a non-issue and the way it was designed.
How often do you hold the phone, upsidedown, and only grabbing the keyboard side of the phone, if your in bed it doesn't take much to hold the screen and keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about if you want to type something up?
If that's how it was designed, that design team needs to be fired.

“No, you’re holding it wrong”

androidtoy09 said:
“No, you’re holding it wrong”
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TOu-****ing-CHE my good friend. Lmfao

well mine is lose I guess but no way as much as yours so I think it was by design. Up side down mine opens but slightly.

JCopernicus said:
How about if you want to type something up?
If that's how it was designed, that design team needs to be fired.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you want to type something get your lazy ass up and type.

I would call t-mobile and have them send you another phone for replacement and send yours back. I don't have that hinge problem at all. It is worth the ten minute phone call.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

legendary1022 said:
I would call t-mobile and have them send you another phone for replacement and send yours back. I don't have that hinge problem at all. It is worth the ten minute phone call.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will have to send it back for the memory fix anyway. Two birds, one stone I guess.

legendary1022 said:
I would call t-mobile and have them send you another phone for replacement and send yours back. I don't have that hinge problem at all. It is worth the ten minute phone call.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yours doesnt open at all when you hold it upside down like he does? (Holding ONLY in the bottom piece of the phone.

navillos said:
if you want to type something get your lazy ass up and type.
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Click to collapse
Spoken like a true idiot.

Ok, mine isn't that bad. It'll open up slightly when held upside down and will close up when held at about a 45 degree angle upside down.

JCopernicus said:
How about if you want to type something up?
If that's how it was designed, that design team needs to be fired.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you are correct here. If its designed like that, then if its loose in a pocket or bag, it could open up a bit and get all types of junk stuck in between. Not a good design idea, if intentional.

as someone else said, it's part of the design - believe the mechanical z lock is referred in engineering terms as an over-center cam lock
and because of the limitations of the phone's body, it's at it's limit on the lock's travel on the closing side
mine doesn't do it, but it's at the cusp of doing it - ie very little resistance to self opening when held like that, and i suspect with time, as it loosens up, it will do exactly like that
i wouldn't worry about it - if you dwell on it, it's going to ruin the phone for you - i'd ignore it - ie "push away from the trees and see the forest", so to speak
my 02

I really don't think its a flaw at all. Who the hell is hang upside down like a freaking bat to send a text to their mommy? You pretty much need to hold the back side of the phone by your finger tips, than hold it upside down to make this happen. Sorry guys, but you can exchange your phone 50 times and they're all going to do the same thing. Good luck!

[CLOSED/G2] Teardown

Here we go

Well best of luck and I WILL be keeping up with this !!!

Subscribing lol

holy crap, already? Subscribed...

would love it if you could check to see if you see the nand chip (probably a square flat pc, soldered on one of the boards) and if it sez "SEM04G" or "SEM02G" on it
that would resolve the issue on internal memory
also if you can take a shot of what is serving as a spring on the Z hinge -
tks in advance and definitely subscribed

Wow, OK.
Why?

smasraum said:
Why?
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Click to collapse
Lols are you really asking why ?

larryccf said:
also if you can take a shot of what is serving as a spring on the Z hinge -
tks in advance and definitely subscribed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hard to take a picture of gravity

AZ2ENVY said:
Lols are you really asking why ?
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Click to collapse
In the name of phonecology
Sent from my Nextel™ using the XDA app

He is taking a huge step noone else will take to find the case of the missing 2GB+
of ROM

Ouch! I will definitely be keeping tabs on this.
May I ask why your taking it apart?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

WTF !?!? ^^^^ Does anyone read the replies ???

JCopernicus said:
It's hard to take a picture of gravity
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Click to collapse
not necessarily - in fact I believe there has to be a spring employed - take your phone, hold it so either end is facing straight down (not one of the long edges down) -
then open the screen all the way, start to bring it back like you're closing it, and about 1/3rd of the way from full open, a spring brings it across the center point and nearly to the 1/3rd from fully closed position. No gravity in effect there -
probably isn't much of a spring, but it doesn't need much - a flat strip of plastic that the end of the hinge rubs against and bows out as the screen travels toward the center of it's open/close arc. at the center of that arc would be the max point of bow.
there's another way to do it, but with the limitation in depth, that's how i suspect their doing it - i could be wrong on the 'how' part, but there is a spring capturing energy from the screen as you open it - as the above demo proves

Well, if we can get proof that it's not a 4GB chip like T-Mobile's claiming, they won't be able to refuse returns/exchanges.

Arcadia310 said:
Ouch! I will definitely be keeping tabs on this.
May I ask why your taking it apart?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
facepalm.gif

Damn, this is interesting!

larryccf said:
not necessarily - in fact I believe there has to be a spring employed - take your phone, hold it so either end is facing straight down (not one of the long edges down) -
then open the screen all the way, start to bring it back like you're closing it, and about 1/3rd of the way from full open, a spring brings it across the center point and nearly to the 1/3rd from fully closed position. No gravity in effect there -
probably isn't much of a spring, but it doesn't need much - a flat strip of plastic that the end of the hinge rubs against and bows out as the screen travels toward the center of it's open/close arc. at the center of that arc would be the max point of bow.
there's another way to do it, but with the limitation in depth, that's how i suspect their doing it - i could be wrong on the 'how' part, but there is a spring capturing energy from the screen as you open it - as the above demo proves
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure the design is based on pendulum swing.

Salute for this astonishing attempt

One hinge is easy the other is not. The one up with the copper strip (which must be pealed to reveal another screw) is a *****. The mobo is very thin. Will try again tomorrow after I have fun upgrading vCenter servers at work.

JCopernicus said:
Pretty sure the design is based on pendulum swing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try what i described -

[DISCUSSION] A thought about the "hinge issue": Possible Solution

Hi.
Just a thought here.
What if you would put magnetic tape on the areas on the picture.
That would take away the loose hinge problem, aint im right.
Then a thought about the magnetic, how will that screw up the gps, compass, the lcd screen or something else.
Anyone have any thoughts?

sluden said:
Hi.
Just a thought here.
What if you would put magnetic tape on the areas on the picture.
That would take away the loose hinge problem, aint im right.
Then a thought about the magnetic, how will that screw up the gps, compass, the lcd screen or something else.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would take away the problem. And an accurate compass.
And perhaps the screen.
The only other thing would be velcro. And screw that!

Any other ideas, the compass i can live without...
The screen is just a little harder to live without.

As DanWilson says, maybe very weak velcro will do the trick.

Dont think velcro is a good choice...
very very weak, maybe

I realise that different handsets suffer more or less from the hinge 'problem', mine seems to be fairly average and does open half way if you pick it not touching the bottom half. But for me I have to hold it in such an awkward way that I usually drop it before or when the hinge flops open.
I find that if I hold the phone in a normal grip with thumb on left side and fingers on the right theres no way it can come open no matter what angle you hold it at?

Is the hinge open itself? U cannot write sms/email in bed or it's just a little loose. I do not see how hinge can prevent normal usage of phone.
BTW. It's not a issue it's by design!

I have been saying magnetic tape is the solution for weeks now!
My Z's hinge is fine at the moment so I am not best to try it out but if anyone does please report back, although I cannot see how it won't work.

D3LTA9 said:
I realise that different handsets suffer more or less from the hinge 'problem', mine seems to be fairly average and does open half way if you pick it not touching the bottom half. But for me I have to hold it in such an awkward way that I usually drop it before or when the hinge flops open.
I find that if I hold the phone in a normal grip with thumb on left side and fingers on the right theres no way it can come open no matter what angle you hold it at?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree totally with u
Well written!

This has to be the biggest non-issue I've ever seen when it comes to cell phone design. I have seen the videos online and I have reproduced the "issue" on my DZ, but as D3LTA9 said earlier, I have to hold it so awkwardly and gingerly that I end up dropping it before the hinge opens.
If your fingers are more than 1/8" wide, you will not hold your phone like this in any real-life, practical operation of the phone.

mymanchris said:
This has to be the biggest non-issue I've ever seen when it comes to cell phone design. I have seen the videos online and I have reproduced the "issue" on my DZ, but as D3LTA9 said earlier, I have to hold it so awkwardly and gingerly that I end up dropping it before the hinge opens.
If your fingers are more than 1/8" wide, you will not hold your phone like this in any real-life, practical operation of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was just about the wrte the same.. i have a loose "hinge" but no problem..
so i ask "What Hinge Issue ???"

This was born out of people expecting something from the phone that it was not designed to do, with the way the hinge is designed it is always going to fall back on itself in certain situations, it doesn't lock into place and is not meant to.
Sure some are looser than others but its still not an issue, if you don't like it don't moan and try a replacement you need a different phone, get a milestone 2 or something.

Well, got my Z. Yes, it's loose, but I don't care, because opening and closing is very good and I don't use my phone like that, that keyboard would drop...

I'm sure mine is faulty, it just doesn't stay open when I'm trying to txt whilst doing a headstand!!
No,... seriously, mine is loose, doesn't take much effort to open or close, and it does shut itself if I open it and try to hold it face down horizontal... but I never need to use it in that position. Even in bed, if I'm lying on my back, there is always at least a 90 degree angle, maybe upto 140 degrees as the viewing angles are so nice.
My personal preference,... I would like it slight little bit tighter,... but saying that, then I wouldn't be able to open it with one finger???.... so actually,.... as it is is fine.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Has anyone here done the "magnetic tape" trick to fix their loose hinge? Mine is starting to get loose, but I don't think it's much of a problem even though I keep opening/closing it to see how loose it might be.

This was actually discussed and attempted sometime ago. The guy who did it said it worked great and he didn't have any issues with the compass/GPS. As far as I know, he was the only one who tried though (before the thread got locked due to immature and off-topic posts). Some pics of his mod are on this page:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=802202&page=3
There is a video demonstrating its effectiveness on the page after.
Another solution is actually taking the hinge apart and messing with the spring inside. This has been successful for a lot of people (myself included).
Post here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863919
Videos of mod here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=884455 (look through entire thread for more videos)

[Q] Typing on the keyboard while laying on my bed with the DZ in front/above my head?

Hey
Im wondering if, because of the hinge, can I put the HTC Desire Z in front of me, while I look upwards at the ceiling with me seeing what on the screen...
A (bad ) drawing example is included.
Some sites say that it cant be done but they havent tried it as I havent read anything with personal expirence with this issue and this is pretty important to me. Thanks.

I guess i don't understand. Are you saying that some are saying you shouldn't do this for some reason?

I am able to, but I know others who aren't.
it helps that when I hold my phone to type on the physical keyboard, my index fingers naturally wrap around the screen, which holds it in place... but even if I intentionally move my index fingers so that there is nothing hindering the screen from moving by itself, it does stay up. if I give the phone a slight wiggle, it will pop down though.
again, I believe with these phones it just varies from device to device... the hinge threads I've read have been all over the place.

pmcqueen said:
I am able to, but I know others who aren't.
it helps that when I hold my phone to type on the physical keyboard, my index fingers naturally wrap around the screen, which holds it in place... but even if I intentionally move my index fingers so that there is nothing hindering the screen from moving by itself, it does stay up. if I give the phone a slight wiggle, it will pop down though.
again, I believe with these phones it just varies from device to device... the hinge threads I've read have been all over the place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto for me too.
It fine the week I got it but after a month of use it's loose and I also jsut hold it inplace

trsanning said:
I guess i don't understand. Are you saying that some are saying you shouldn't do this for some reason?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I ment some are saying you cant, some are saying you can, some dont say anything at all....
Thanks for the replies. I thought of 2 fixes/mods:
1: A thing magent
2: Tighten screws (if there are)
Feedback? I mean lying on my bed typing is problably something Im going to do alot.

In Bed
riahc3 said:
Hey
Im wondering if, because of the hinge, can I put the HTC Desire Z in front of me, while I look upwards at the ceiling with me seeing what on the screen...
A (bad ) drawing example is included.
Some sites say that it cant be done but they havent tried it as I havent read anything with personal expirence with this issue and this is pretty important to me. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, man! One of the funniest posts I have ever seen. Even with that drawing.
To answer, though, I hardly manage to type like this, because the device tends to close. You can hold it with your thumbs, though.
I love your drawing, buddy

riahc3 said:
No, I ment some are saying you cant, some are saying you can, some dont say anything at all....
Thanks for the replies. I thought of 2 fixes/mods:
1: A thing magent
2: Tighten screws (if there are)
Feedback? I mean lying on my bed typing is problably something Im going to do alot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the accepted fix involves modifying the spring that opens/closes the hinge. there are several threads floating around with the process... note that it does void your warranty, however (you have to partially disassemble the phone). for me, the hinge hasn't been a huge nuisance anyway. yeah, it's loose... so what? you learn and adapt your "methods" to work around it as you use the phone. it has never caused a serious problem for me.
I would like to add that over time I have noticed it does loosen (noticably, but not so much that it has been a problem for me) more and more.. which makes sense because the spring is being compressed and relieved repeatedly.

trsanning said:
I guess i don't understand. Are you saying that some are saying you shouldn't do this for some reason?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pmcqueen said:
the accepted fix involves modifying the spring that opens/closes the hinge. there are several threads floating around with the process... note that it does void your warranty, however (you have to partially disassemble the phone). for me, the hinge hasn't been a huge nuisance anyway. yeah, it's loose... so what? you learn and adapt your "methods" to work around it as you use the phone. it has never caused a serious problem for me.
I would like to add that over time I have noticed it does loosen (noticably, but not so much that it has been a problem for me) more and more.. which makes sense because the spring is being compressed and relieved repeatedly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously, your needs arent the same as mine. You say "so what?" if the screen closes and Id like it to stay open.
Could you please post some links to those threads? Id like to see if the process is difficult.
Thanks

I rarely use the phone laying on my back, but when I do I move my hands a little bit higher on the keyboard and push my index fingers inwards toward each other slightly so that they are touching the device where the screen meets the keyboard. Holds it in place just fine, no need to modify the springs.

riahc3 said:
Obviously, your needs arent the same as mine. You say "so what?" if the screen closes and Id like it to stay open.
Could you please post some links to those threads? Id like to see if the process is difficult.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you misunderstood (I didn't word that very well - apologies). I'm not saying it's not an issue, it is an issue.
but, as I and a couple others have posted here, there is a remedy: positioning your index fingers such that they hold the screen if you are one of the unlucky ones who gets a hinge that is so sloppy that it falls at whim. on my G2, I don't even have to do this, but I do it naturally so it's added security that the screen isn't going to slam shut.
there's no such thing as a perfect phone. but as far as android phones with keyboards go, you're not going to do much better than the DZ/G2 at this point.. that is a fact.
here's a link to the best hinge fix thread I've gone through:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863919
if you search "hinge" in the main G2/DZ subforum, you'll get a plethora of thread matches.

pmcqueen said:
here's a link to the best hinge fix thread I've gone through:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863919
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant "Thanks" you as it says more than 5 per day arent allowed so....
Intresting. Looks a bit complicated though but I guess Ill have to do it if I want to use the phone correctly the way I wanted.
Thank you

Just as a update: I can use my phone perfectly without applying any fix about using it for about 3-4 months. There is no issue at all.

That bed is too small. Your legs are hanging off that would drive me crazy.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App