On Saturday 31 December 2011 13:08:47 Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller wrote: > Am 30.12.2011 um 23:14 schrieb Gerald A: > >>> For me, I don't have time right now to assemble a Freerunner and a > >>> GTA04 to get a working phone "with possibilities". I want the > >>> completed package, then end result. The neo was shipped with the > >>> slogan > > > > This takes approx. 15 minutes. Rarely more. And we have an installation > > service if you don't want to DIY (I would appreciate if there will come > > up local resellers or hacking groups in your area). > > > > Does this 15 minutes require soldering skills? (I think it does). > > No it doesn't. It is just some mechanical adaptations. > > I think Sean some years ago encouraged to open the Freerunner and > take a look inside... > > > I personally am not averse to trying to solder -- it's something I want > > to learn more about. But your "average linux geek" probably doesn't want > > to. But they still might be enamored by the prospect of an open phone. > > The most tricky part is to peel off the LCD module from the PCB without > breaking the glass or disrupting the fine cables. An alternative is to glue > a new to the GTA04 board and just swap the complete GTA02-module > with a GTA04 module. > > A complete description of the steps is in chapter 4 of the GTA04 manual:
I can second the ease with which the boards are changed. To get an idea of the level: I have opened a few telephones before: to swap displays or put photos behind the LCD when the LCDs didn't offer background images yet. I can not say that it is in any respect a dayly routine for me to work on telephone hardware. The manual is quite to the point: the procedure seems quite elaborate, but that is because every step got a photo showing where to put your fingers and other tools. The display is indeed the trickiest part: there are those conductive pads between the display and the motherboard, that do not stick but get in the way anyway while cutting through the double sided tabe that holds the display in place. The wires are fine, but not more so than you'd expect from such a device. I might have taken half an hour, but not much longer. If I did it a second time, it would be much closer to 15 minutes. There is really not so much to it, all parts are made to fit easily and are also taken apart quite easily. Boudewijn
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