jueves, 27 de diciembre de 2012

iPad By Davis: “iPhone 4S: Ultimate DIY repair guide” plus 3 more

iPad By Davis: “iPhone 4S: Ultimate DIY repair guide” plus 3 more


iPhone 4S: Ultimate DIY repair guide

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 03:00 PM PST

iPhone 4S: Ultimate DIY repair guide

Everything you need to know to do-it-yourself (DIY) repair your iPhone 4S. Whether you're out of warranty or your iPhone 4S has suffered accidental damage, we've got you covered!

If you've got an iPhone 4S that's starting to show its age or you've accidentally damaged it, there's still hope for it. Whether you're not eligible for an upgrade yet or just want to hold out for the next round of Apple's latest and greatest, we can help get every ounce of life you possibly can out of your iPhone 4S. Even after you decide to upgrade your iPhone, your old one always makes a great hand me down for a child or relative that doesn't always need the latest model.

iMore will help you get the longest life possible out of your iPhone 4S, and walk you step by step through all the major repairs, with detailed instructions, photographs, and links to high quality parts from suppliers we trust.

Click on any of the guides below in order to be taken to a description of that guide explaining common symptoms, diagnostics pertaining to each repair, and a link to each full guide. Remember to bookmark this page as we'll be adding more as we add new guides.

How to replace the battery in an iPhone 4S

Now that the iPhone 4S is more than a year old, many users may want to change their battery if their charge cycles aren't what they used to be. A bad battery can also cause your iPhone 4S not to boot at all. So if your iPhone doesn't want to turn on at all, the battery is a good place to start.

How to replace a cracked screen on an iPhone 4S

This one doesn't need any introduction and is one of the most common DIY repairs for any clumsy iPhone user. If you've shattered your screen, you've come to the right place.

This guide will also work to replace the LCD since they're one piece. Whether your touch screen isn't working, you've cracked your glass, or you have a distorted or non-functional LCD, this is the guide you'll want.

How to fix an unresponsive Home button in an iPhone 4S

The Home button is a common problem for all iPhone owners, and the iPhone 4S is no exception. If your iPhone is misreading double, triple, and single taps, the Home button flex cable is probably going bad. In some cases, your Home button can stop responding altogether.

If this sounds like a problem you're experience, we've got you covered from start to finish.

How to replace the dock connector in an iPhone 4S

The dock connector assembly in the iPhone 4S controls quite a few key components in your phone. The most important one being the ability to charge your iPhone. If your iPhone 4S won't register a charge or doesn't show up when plugged into your computer, the dock connector could very likely be the culprit.

There is also a mic located on the dock connector that can affect sound issues. If any of these issues sound like something you're experiencing, make sure you check out our guide to see if it's the right one. If not, keep reading.

How to fix sound issues in an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S

While most sound in the iPhone 4S may be dictated by the loud speaker assembly or earpiece, they're not the only components that have to do with sound. Actually, the dock connector and a few other cables can cause you to have sound issues.

The iPhone 4S is known to have sound issues where system sounds seem to work when you preview them but they don't actually ring or system sounds altogether don't work but music will play. Sound weird? It is. But there's a fix for it.

How to replace the cellular antenna in an iPhone 4S

If you're experiencing issues with cellular reception on your iPhone 4S, the cellular antenna could be defective. Luckily, it's one of the easier DIY repairs when it comes to the iPhone 4S variant. If everything else on your iPhone is working perfectly, a replacement antenna will cost you a lot less than a brand new phone.

How to replace the vibrator assembly in an iPhone 4S

The vibrator assembly is a super essential function and necessary if you want to be notified you have a call or a message coming in when you can't have sound activated. If and when it goes out, it can be terribly inconvenient.

While it isn't the easiest DIY repair when it comes to the iPhone 4S, it's not impossible and it'll cost you tons less than a new iPhone.

How to replace the rear facing camera in an iPhone 4S

While most people use their iPhone to communicate, one of the iPhone 4S' best features is arguably its camera. It makes everything from photographing first steps to family events to sending videos straight to YouTube super simple and crystal clear. So when it goes out, it's a huge problem.

While it isn't common, it can happen from time to time. But never fear, it's actually a very easy repair to perform on your own. Most will be able to do it and everyone will be able to afford it.

How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in an iPhone 4S

While the rear facing camera is great for capturing the memories around you, the front facing camera is a great way to communicate with relatives via FaceTime and capture self portraits. If you frequently use your front facing camera and it has decided to stop working on you, we can get it up and running again.

Symptoms of a bad front facing camera typically amount to the shutter never opening no matter how many times you restore the phone or reboot it. In rare instances you can also see lots of distortion or lines through the screen only when the front facing camera is open.

How to fix a blown or distorted earpiece in an iPhone 4S

The earpiece is another common repair we get a lot of questions about. A bad earpiece can present itself in multiple ways. The most common being garbled, echoing, or unpleasant audio. In some instances you may not even hear any audio unless you've got the caller on speakerphone.

Luckily, an earpiece replacement is on the cheap side and isn't terribly hard to perform on your own. If you aren't ready to upgrade just yet, a DIY repair for an earpiece is a realistic option for many users.

How to replace the volume buttons in an iPhone 4S

If you've dropped your iPhone 4S, you may have noticed that the steel frame around edges can become quite sharp. If one of the volume buttons has become ridged or jagged, it could potentially be a safety issue.

Replacing them will require some patience but we're pretty sure your fingers will thank you.

How to replace the loud speaker assembly in an iPhone 4S

A bad loud speaker can cause all kinds of issues with the iPhone 4S. Music, ringtones, and text tones will most likely not play unless you have headphones plugged in.

While it's unusual for the actual loud speaker assembly to go bad, it isn't unheard of. In our experience it's normally the dock connector or earpiece that are the culprit but that doesn't mean the loud speaker never decides to be unruly. If you have absolutely no sounds through the loud speaker portion of your iPhone 4S but everything works completely normal through headphones, then odds are your loud speaker assembly has in fact went out.

If a combination of sounds work through the loud speaker, we'd suggest looking at our other guides concerning sound instead of assuming it's the loud speaker.

More DIY guides and help

While this guide covers the iPhone 4S specifically, we've got tons more DIY repair guides to cover everything from older iPhones to iPod touches and iPads. If these aren't the guides you're looking for, fret not! You can find more at the links below.

If you've run into issues performing a repair on your own or have questions in general, our mod and DIY forums are a great place to start. If you still can't find answers to your questions, you can also email us and we'll try and answer whatever questions you may have.

Additional resources:



How to exchange an unwanted Android or Windows gift for the iPhone or iPad of your dreams

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 09:46 AM PST

How to exchange your Android or Windows device for an iPhone or iPad

Did Santa somehow leave you a lump of Android or Windows in your stocking instead of the bright, shiny, iPhone or iPad you really wanted? Did your Apple hopes get dashed by the cold, hard realities of a Galaxy, Nexus, Droid, Lumia, Kindle, or Surface? If think you mistakenly got put on the naughty list instead of the nice, don't cry and certainly don't pout. Here's why -- you can exchange it and still get the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or iPad mini of your dreams!

How to return your Windows or Android device

This is the most obvious solution, and the route you should take if you're within the return period, is taking your Android or Windows gift back to the store. Regardless of whether the phone or tablet was purchased from a carrier or electronics store, they all have return policies.

If you have the receipt (or can get it from the person who gifted the device to you), and haven't opened the box, it should be as easy as walking in with your Android or Windows device, making the exchange, paying any difference in price, and walking back out with your iPad or iPhone. Worst case, you might have to pay a small restocking fee depending on the retailer and the reasons you give them. (Hint: shop at friendly retailers and give them good reasons for exchange.)

How to sell your Android or Windows device

If all else fails, you can't exchange your Windows or Android device, and you still desperately want an iPhone or iPad instead, you can still sell it.

We've taken a look at tons of these services and many of them take Android and Windows devices in exchange for credit or cash.

Amazon Trade-In Store

Amazon will take almost any device you can think of for a trade-in. It's an extremely simple process and you'll know exactly how much you're getting for the device before you even send it in.

The only hitch here is that you'll be given payment in the form of an Amazon gift card. If you're looking for cash to put towards a new iPhone right now and don't want to wait for Amazon to have it in stock or if the model you want isn't available, it's not the best option.

If you don't mind waiting or Amazon already carries the iPhone or iPad you want to get, Amazon is a great option.

Gazelle

Gazelle offers a service that lets you easily turn most electronic devices into cash. Simply send in your Windows or Android device and Gazelle will send you money after confirming the item condition. The first thing you'll need to do is tell Gazelle what you're selling and what condition the item is in. You can choose from poor, fair, good or excellent condition, and it's important to be honest when rating the condition so there's no hiccups or snags along the way.

It also helps if you have the box and original documentation and cables with your item. Considering you've just recently received the device, this probably isn't an issue for most.

eBay

Selling your unwanted device on eBay is a pretty simple process. If you've ever used eBay for selling things in the past then you know the selling process isn't all that tricky, however there are still some things to keep in mind when using eBay to sell things. For instance, eBay charges fees for each auction based on the item you're selling and how much it sells for, among other things, so here are five quick tips to help you get the most out of your auction:

  1. Only ship to the buyer's confirmed Paypal address if using Paypal.
  2. Price competitively, especially if you're using Buy It Now as an option.
  3. Make sure the pictures you use follow your description and are good quality - post pictures of any physical blemishes and be up-front in your description.
  4. Use a fast shipping service and make sure you include that in your item description. People are impatient by nature so sellers that offer fast shipping tend to sell items quicker.
  5. Use keywords in your title and in your item description to attract more potential buyers.
  6. You may also want to consider insuring your item in case anything goes wrong during shipping. Watch out for low-feedback buyers and also keep in mind that Paypal charges processing fees as well.

Craigslist

Craigslist allows you to list items for sale in your area so you can perform the transaction locally and face-to-face. This is a quick way to get some cash to put towards your new iPhone or iPad on the spot and also an easy way to let the buyer check out the merchandise in person before committing to the purchase. As long as you were honest about the condition and specifications, you should have no issue in completing a painless transaction with a buyer.

  1. Don't ever put your personal or home address in an ad. Ever!
  2. Price your devices competitively. A good way to do this is to find existing ads on Craigslist in your area for the same model device and price accordingly. If your ad shows up next to someone else's and yours is grossly overpriced, it won't sell.
  3. Some buyers prefer being able to text or call you immediately about an item and it may increase the likelihood of a quick sale. Having a phone number that they can reach you at is ideal. Only do this if you're comfortable with putting your phone number on the internet. This is a good time to use a Google Voice number or other forwarding number if you have one.
  4. Meet in a public place, preferably in the daytime. A coffee place like Starbucks is a good idea. It's also never a bad idea to bring a friend or relative with you. While most buyers are perfectly friendly, there are shady people out there. If the person doesn't want to meet in a public place, pass on them and wait for someone who doesn't have an issue with that.
  5. Watch out for email scams, something Craigslist is notorious for. Anyone offering to pay you a great deal more than the list price or who asks you to ship the item to a foreign country is a scammer. Delete their e-mails and correspondence immediately and wait for a legitimate buyer to come along.

Sell to a family member or friend

Okay, so maybe you aren't an Android or Windows fan, but there are lots of people out there that are. Selling to a family member or a friend is an easy way to get cash and you already know you won't get scammed. If you really think about it, you can probably find someone in your circle of friends and family that's in desperate need of a phone or tablet upgrade.

Perhaps your uncle is still using a flip phone and has been talking about upgrading to a smartphone for years. Here's your chance to finally talk him into it. Just keep in mind that selling to family or friends that may not be in dire need of the device may lower the selling price so we'd only suggest this route if you're after a quick sale and don't mind covering any potential differences.

More help selling Android and Windows devices

Still need help offing some Windows and Android devices? Our sister sites, Windows Phone Central and Android Central both have marketplace forums that can be a great resource for finding buyers. You already know the viewers are fans of that platform so it may be a great place to find a buyer.



iPad at Work: As the Indianapolis Colts’ Playbook

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 09:07 AM PST

It looks like the iPad has gained quite a bit of momentum in the NFL this year. There are now more than a dozen NFL teams using the iPad – and many of them are using it to replace traditional playbooks. As Biztech Magazine reports, one of the teams that has adopted the iPad this [...]

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An iPad Chistmas

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 08:06 AM PST

A pretty informal survey via @waxpancake on Twitter – but even so, those numbers are quite striking – especially for Microsoft. Did any of you send a first tweet from a new tablet over the last 36 hours? If so, which tablet and which Twitter app did you use? © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. [...]

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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