Microsoft's one big opportunity in mobile

The interesting thing is that former CEO Bill Gates (right) saw this opportunity coming over a decade ago. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he often talked about how the future of the PC could be the phone — especially in the developing world — and that a user would place the phone on a desk and it would wirelessly connect to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and work like a standard computer.

Microsoft could still be the company that brings this innovation to market on a mass scale. In fact, Microsoft leaders should look at what Motorola is doing with its Webtop software running on Android phones like the Motorola Atrix and say to themselves, “This is our territory. We need to own this.”

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/microsofts-one-big-opportunity-in-mobile/8893?tag=mantle_skin;landing

guide to tablets

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-manager/an-executives-guide-to-tablets/6023?tag=nl.e106

The iPad is the 10,000 kg gorilla in the tablet space, despite Microsoft’s half-hearted attempts over the better part of a decade. The device has been hailed as “magical and revolutionary” by its creators and as ”just a big iPhone” by detractors, and like most debates, the truth is somewhere in between. The “big iPhone” jibe actually rings quite true, and for this type of device, it is largely an advantage. If you’ve used an iPhone, you’ll feel right at home, and if you haven’t, the learning curve is more of a speed bump than a mountain.

Frankly, I found the actual operating system underwhelming. Messages to alert you to a new email or other messages are just as bad as the iPhone (an annoying pop-up window, slated to be fixed in the next version of Apple’s iOS operating system), and two minutes after you pick up an iPad for the first time you may find yourself asking, “This is it???”

The Transformer, in particular, has a compelling price and an available keyboard that seems like an exec’s match made in heaven: take the tablet for your basic email, web browsing, etc., then pop on the keyboard when there’s real writing to be done. The unit also had a superior screen to the iPad, and I preferred it for reading books in the Amazon Kindle app,  even with its distended screen, which is narrower and longer than the iPad.

1979 Apple Graphics Tablet vs. 2010 Apple iPad

http://www.cio.com/article/603427/Face_off_1979_Apple_Graphics_Tablet_vs._2010_Apple_iPad
30-year-old technology struts its stuff beside today's state-of-the-art tablet computer.

Meet the tablets
The Apple Graphics Tablet (left) was released in 1979 and cost $650. It connects to any Apple II and can be used to draw images at a resolution of 280 by 192 pixels. The tablet draws power directly from the Apple II and cannot be used when disconnected.
The Apple II was originally designed to be used with televisions rather than computer monitors, but the Apple Graphics Tablet produced interference that could disrupt reception of television signals. A later model was identical to its predecessor except for one notable new feature: FCC compliance.


The Apple iPad (right) was released in 2010 in six models ranging from $499 to $829. Equipped with a 1-GHz A4 system-on-a-chip and a 16GB, 32GB or 64GB flash drive, it syncs with any Macintosh or Windows machine capable of running iTunes and can run thousands of iOS applications. Its resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels on a 9.7-in. LED-backlit glossy widescreen display.

Controlling the tablets

KansasFest attendee Loren Damewooddemonstrates each device's touch interface. The graphics tablet uses a stylus tethered to the interface card. A plastic overlay segments the tablet, much like graph paper does, to assist in drawing and to label specific functions. (There are more details about the interface card and overlay on subsequent pages.)
The iPad's capacitive touch screen neither requires nor supports peripherals, but it responds to multiple points of contact through the use of multifinger gestures.

Menus and icons
The overlay for the Apple Graphics Tablet provides a top row of function buttons that you can press with the stylus to issue software commands while drawing. Switching from straight lines to empty frames to solid boxes, changing colors and saving your work can be done with a simple tap.

On the iPad's home screen, a user-configurable row of application icons stays in the Dock at the bottom of the screen, offering a similar consistency for commands. Once a specific app is launched, these icons disappear, reappearing only when the hardware Home key is pressed.

Connecting the devices
The Apple Graphics Tablet requires the included expansion card to be installed in the Apple II. The tablet and the stylus then each connect to the card.
The iPad uses a standard USB cable to connect to a Mac or Windows machine and then syncs with iTunes 9.1 or later. For Internet access, some iPad models can use AT&T's 3G cellular service; all models are equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

2010's Most Popular iPad Apps

http://www.cio.com/article/647063/2010_s_Most_Popular_iPad_Apps

10 apps that rocked iPad users' world in 2010
When the iPad celebrates its first birthday next month, it should raise a glass to Apple's (AAPL) App Store, which has provided users with an array of innovative applications. Late last week, Apple released a list of the 10 most popular iPad applications, with productivity apps making up the bulk.

Pages
Developer: Apple
Price: $9.99
Apple re-jiggered its word processing program for the iPad to optimize it for a large touchscreen. The program lets you create documents from a number of templates and send them to anyone using Pages '09, MS Word or PDF formats.

Keynote
Developer: Apple
Price: $9.99

Keynote rounds out Apple's major trio of in-house productivity apps as the company's answer to PowerPoint. This is the type of app that seems best suited for the iPad since it involves a lot of drag-and-drop formatting and it has relatively little typing compared with the word processing and spreadsheet programs.
GoodReader
Developer: Good.iWare Ltd.
Price: $2.99

Reading and editing PDF files is typically neither colorful nor fun. But GoodReader is aiming to change that (well, the colorful part at least) with this reader that lets you edit PDFs using bright colors and graphics. Among other things, you can create yellow "sticky notes" on the PDF for annotations, draw circles or rectangles around key passages and highlight entire paragraphs with bright colors.

Numbers
Developer: Apple
Price: $9.99

Numbers is Apple's basic spreadsheet application reformatted for iPad. Like other spreadsheet programs, Numbers lets you sort data and present it in several kinds of graph formats. The program's files are also compatible with MS Excel.

Angry Birds HD: Chillingo Ltd.

Price: $4.99 a popular game that lets you control an angry red bird that's trying to get its eggs back from a thieving gang of green pigs. And yes, while this sounds like a metaphor for communism, it's also an addictive and popular game that lets you launch birds from a giant slingshot and fire them kamikaze-style into the pigs' bases. Wait, why do birds need a slingshot to fly? Oh well, the game is fun regardless.

Glee Karaoke
Developer: Smule
Price: $0.99

Based on the hit musical-comedy series, this karaoke app lets you sing along to your favorite tunes on the show. The program anticipates that you won't be very talented, which is why it includes features such as pitch correction and additional harmonies. And if you're feeling really confident, you can even record your karaoke performance and post a video of it on Facebook or Twitter.

WolframAlpha
Developer: Wolfram Alpha LLC
Price: $1.99

The goal of WolframAlpha is to provide you with an insane amount of up-to-date information on just about everything. What encompasses everything? Well for starters, let's go with trigonometry, current weather conditions, historical weather conditions, up-to-date economic statistics, real-time astronomy charts, Olympic trivia& OK, you get the point. WolframAlpha wants to help you become the annoying guy at parties who always fact checks people with his tablet.



Pinball HD
Developer: OOO Gramprom
Price: $0.99

An arcade classic that's been redone for large touchscreens, Pinball HD seems like a perfect game for the iPad: It's large, colorful and doesn't involve any intricate controls. The game includes several pinball templates to choose from so you won't be playing on the same board over and over again.



Friendly Plus for Facebook
Developer: Oecoway
Price: $0.99

Friendly Plus is a platform that optimizes Facebook for the iPad and gives you access to full-screen photos, chat and more.



Starwalk
Developer: Vito Technology
Price: $4.99

And finally here's an educational astronomy app that can teach you about stars, planets and constellations with a gorgeous graphics display. The iPhone version of the program was named one of Apple's "Best Apps of 2009" and it's a safe bet that the iPad's larger graphics display will make it look even better.

Microsoft's Courier 'digital journal

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/microsofts-courier-digital-journal-exclusive-pictures-and-de/

15 Tablets That Could Rival Apple's iPad

http://www.cio.com/article/589760/Slate_Wars_15_Tablets_That_Could_Rival_Apple_s_iPad?page=5#slideshow

The iPad has captured many hearts and minds, but a fleet of rival tablets led by a separatist Android army is about to attack, armed with HD Flash video, multitouch screens, front-facing cameras, multitasking...even Windows 7. Let's take a look.


HP Slate
It wasn't the Courier tablet that many attendees hoped Steve Ballmer would pull out of his hat at CES in January, but HP's slate PC (don't call it a tablet!) is shaping up as a strong alternative to the iPad.

Fusion Garage JooJoo
The notorious CrunchPad-turned-JooJoo tablet has just started shipping, and—as you can see—the interface has come a long way from where it was when we tested a preproduction model back in December 2009.


Dell Mini 5 (Streak)
Dell is working on a "family of tablets," the first will be its Android tablet--called Mini 5 or Streak. This unit's 5-inch multitouch display is more pocket-friendly than the ones on most upcoming tablets, but it's also larger than the displays on most smartphones (yes, the Mini 5 can make calls).

Lenovo IdeaPad U1
As a laptop, the IdeaPad U1 runs Windows 7 with a 1.3GHz Core 2 Duo SU4100 chip; but pop the screen off, and the machine instantly becomes a multitouch tablet running its own widget-style Linux interface.

Microsoft (MSFT) Courier
One tablet that might match Apple in user interface innovation is the mysteriousMicrosoft Courier, a folding dual-screen device that's more of a pen and touch-controlled digital journal/eReader than a media tablet along the lines of the iPad.

 

Notion Ink Adam

Everything about this tablet screams innovation. Designed in India, the Adam uses a special multitouch-enabled 10.

Netbook Tablets
If you like the idea of flicking through Web pages or e-books by touch, but you don't want to give up your physical keyboard, a netbook equipped with a swiveling screen could be a good compromise choice.

ExoPC Slate
A Windows 7 device with a custom touch interface, an 8.9-inch multitouch screen, netbook-like specs, and Flash support--okay, you have our attention.


Archos 9 PCtablet
On paper, the Archos 9 looks impressive. Specs include a 60GB hard disk, Windows 7, a front-facing Webcam, Flash support, and a price of $549.

ICD Ultra
Innovative Converged Devices' 7-inch Ultra tablet is yet another upcoming pairing ofTegra 2 and Android, but ICD's offering will emphasize affordability. Its features will include 4GB of internal flash memory, HD video playback, and optional 3G.

Axiotron Modbook Pro
Ask Andreas Haas, the former head of Apple's Newton group, what he thinks of the iPad, and he'll tell you that "it's not a tablet; it's an extension of the iPod Touch." His company, Axiotron, is developing theModbook Pro—a touch-enabled version of the pen-based, professionally finished Mac tablets that the business creates by converting MacBook laptops.  

MSI Tegra 2 Tablet
MSI is best known for netbooks these days, so it's no surprise that the company plans to produce an as-yet-unnamed tablet. The prototype Android "mPad" shown at CES had a 10-inch touchscreen, a Tegra 2 processor, HD Flash support, and an HDMI output. The finished tablet will probably cost around $500 and may arrive later this year.

r
Asus Eee Pad
This Tegra 2 tablet snapped at nVidia's CES booth isn't the sexiest prototype we've ever seen, but Asus has promised to launch a "killer product" in June.

Camangi WebStation
Why would a tablet released relatively recently suddenly become 32 percent cheaper? Bad reviews: Complaints of slow performance, video playback issues, and sluggish single-touch response seem to have tarnished early hopes for the WebStation, a 7-inch Android 1.5 device designed primarily to run Web apps.

Freescale Smartbook Tablet Reference Design
Freescale makes the chips that most e-book readers (including the Kindle) use, its upcoming i.MX508 processor could revolutionize eReaders. The company also envisions low-cost $200 tablet PCs, and has created this reference design for PC makers. The outline uses Freescale's ARM-based i.MX51 chip, and includes a 7-inch tablet that can be docked with a keyboard base similar to Lenovo's IdeaPad U1.

Apple iPad
What more is there to say? The iPad is apleasure to use (despite some missing features and other faults), it hit stores on April 3, and Apple's iBooks pricing may match Amazon's.

DIY IPAD3

http://blogs.cio.com/careers/16404/simple-strategy-acing-job-interview

DIY IPAD3

http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-man-makes-ipad-look-scratch-091234153.html
In a 20-minute video posted on Youku -- the Chinese YouTube equivalent -- Liu Xinying demonstrates how to assemble an iPad look-a-like using computer parts, a touch screen and a case with a keypad, to the sound of metal music.


http://www.youku.com
http://www.weibo.com

Tablets, Real and Rumored

http://www.cio.com/article/594842/Tablets_Real_and_Rumored
The iPad is popular, but it's got lots of company
With more than a million units sold in less than a month, it's pretty clear that Apple's iPad touchscreen tablet has been a success so far. But Apple isn't the only company out there to develop a tablet, as there are several iPad alternatives on the market or in the works right now that could give the iPad a run for its money.

The iPad
We might as well start off with the iPad since it's the most popular tablet and it's the standard to which other tablets will be held. The iPad's specs are indeed impressive, as it includes a 1GHz Apple A4 processor, a 9.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and connectivity with both Wi-Fi and GSM-based 3G networks. Combine this with the wide variety of applications available in the iTunes App Store, and you've got a tablet that presents a strong standard for the competition.

Operating system: iPhone OS

The Archos 7 Home Tablet

As an Android based tablet whose price starts at a mere $199, the Archos 7 Home Tablet has significantly less impressive specs than the iPad. The tablet features a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and has flash memory of 2GB to 8GB. Obviously not as strong as the iPad, the Archos 7 does provide a low-budget alternative.
Operating system: Android


Price: Starts at $199.

The Dell (DELL) Mini Streak
The Mini Streak is a much smaller touchscreen tablet than the iPhone, checking in at only 5 inches with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. At the same time, the Streak will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor that will give it equal processing power to the iPad. The device is expected to make its debut on AT&T this summer and it will support both Wi-Fi and 3G GSM connectivity.
Operating system: Android
Price: Unknown


Lenovo IdeaPad U1
What makes the IdeaPad U1 so interesting is that it's really a hybrid tablet that can be plugged into a keyboard terminal and used as a more traditional PC. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor as a tablet and on an Intel (INTC) Core 2 Duo SU4100 processor when attached to its terminal. Like other tablets, it has both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. The IdeaPad U1 is due out this summer.
Operating system: Windows
Price: Suggested at $999.

HP Hurricane
This tablet will be closely watched when it's finally released as it will be the first tablet on the market to feature Palm's webOS operating system. This device will be the first test of HP's acquisition of Palm and will go a long way in telling us whether webOS has a strong future ahead of it.
Operating system: webOS
Price: Unknown


The Verizon-Google (GOOG) (VZ) tablet
Unlike the other tablets mentioned here, we have no real details on this device other than it's a joint project between Google and Verizon and it will feature Android as its operating system. Although there's no firm timetable for when the tablet will be released, Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdamhinted in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that it would be released next year and could feature 4G connectivity with Verizon's LTE network.
Operating system: Android


Price: Unknown

7 Crazy iPad Accessories

http://www.cio.com/article/638613/7_Crazy_iPad_Accessories
How many of these add-ons do you have for Apple's tablet, and what does that say about you?

Signs you love your iPad too much

How much do you love your iPad? Perhaps too much, if the accessories shown here cause your eyes to light up and your credit card to whip out. The good news: Outside a bunch of fake accessories like the iCade and iDrift lurking on Web humor pages, there are not as many crazy iPad accessories as you might expect, so there's still opportunity for any mad-scientist readers out there to fill the gap!

But as the next slides show, in rough order from least to most crazy, there are still some nutty things you get for an iPad.


Apple (AAPL) iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter and Apple Component AV Cable
It doesn't sound crazy to want to display video or presentations -- or simply the screen so that you can use a wireless keyboard and a monitor with your iPad as you would with a laptop. What's crazy is that Apple has blocked most apps from sending out video. It makes sense for some content, given that Steve Jobs is also the largest shareholder of Disney (DIS) stock: The iPad won't play movies and TV shows downloaded from iTunes because it's licensed only for device-screen display. But the fact that Apple's Keynote can show slideshows but competing apps like Quickoffice and Documents to Go can't -- that's crazy control freakishness. Until any app except those showing rights-managed content are allowed to output their screens via these two video connectors ($29 and $49, respectively), save your money.


Foldable Solar Charger

Custom iPad suit

Elite Home Theater Seating iPad Chair

Hollandia i-Con bed

Volkswagen 2010 Polo

Wannabe iPad killers

Wake Up Microsoft: Tablet Users Like You, They Really Do

Forrester reports that iPad competitors are in trouble, but that users are surprisingly in favor of a Windows tablet.

POSTED BY: Shane ONeill in News TOPIC: Infrastructure BLOG: Eye on Microsoft CURRENT RATING:  COMMENTS: 0

It's too bad Microsoft is developing Windows for tablets at a turtle's pace because, believe it or not, the masses are practically begging for one!

Just when you thought the public had written off any Windows device except a PC (sorry Windows Phone 7, keep trying), a survey by research firm Forrester this week reports that of 3,800 people polled, the numero uno OS people want on a tablet is not Apple iOS, and it's not Google Android. It's Windows.

Unfortunately, Microsoft does not share their enthusiasm, repeating the tired company line that Windows 7 is fine for tablets, when we all know that Windows 7 was not designed for the tablet form factor or multi-touch functionality.

Windows 7 is a great PC operating system and is helping to keep Microsoft the king of laptops and desktops, the devices that most people use at work and home. Windows is the user interface they see every day and they are comfortable with it. When and if they make that big scary leap to a tablet, it might make the transition smoother if they are going to Windows again. Most people are not obsessive tech enthusiasts exploring different operating systems. They just want to feel comfortable navigating their device.

It's a shame Microsoft is not being accommodating to this sudden fervor for Windows tablets. As it stands now, users will have to wait for the next version of Windows (being called Windows 8) to get a true tablet-ready version of Windows that works on the ARM-based chips used in smartphones and tablets like the iPad and those running Android. This will likely happen in a year and a half from now, if Microsoft sticks to its usual three-year Windows cycle.

By that time, those who want a Windows tablet now will have moved on to an Apple iPad, an Android-based tablet from Samsung, Motorola or others, or the soon-to-be-released RIM BlackBerry Playbook.

You know, I'm getting déjà vu just writing this. Didn't we just go through the "too late to the party" stuff with Windows Phone 7? Microsoft has learned the hard way how difficult it is to show up late to a crowded market with passionate and loyal users. We'll be singing the same tune when those first real Windows tablets release in the fall of 2012 as lines form around the block for the iPad 4.

But just remember Microsoft: For one shining moment in March 2011 the crowd was clamoring for Windows tablets.

Other key points from the Forrester report: iPad competitors like the Android-based Motorola Xoom or Samsung Galaxy will struggle to make headway because they are too expensive and they rely on wireless carriers as a primary retail channel.

The report also points out that Amazon, that's right Amazon, could be Apple's biggest competitor in the tablet space. Amazon does not have a tablet nor has it announced plans to develop one (The Amazon Kindle e-reader is not a tablet).

An Amazon tablet is pure conjecture by Forrester, but Amazon is being threatened by Apple's content consumption business model. If Amazon does develop an iPad competitor it could win on price. Consumers also trust the Amazon brand — they certainly purchase goods and consume Amazon content (music, e-books, streaming video) in droves. It's an interesting idea, at the very least.

Shane O'Neill covers Microsoft, Windows, Operating Systems, Productivity Apps and Online Services for CIO.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @smoneill. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Email Shane at soneill@cio.com

Cracking Open the Apple iPhone 4

Apple iPhone 4 in pieces

After waiting for 13.5 hours in line at the Louisville, KY Apple store, I was finally able to purchased an iPhone 4--only to bring it back to the office an begin cracking it open.

Unlike the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3G S, the Apple iPhone 4 was remarkable easy to disassemble. Follow along as I reveal the impressing hardware that runs Apple's fourth generation smartphone.

iPhone 4 - Back

We purchased the 16GB, black iPhone 4. It measures 4.5 inches tall, 2.31 inches wide, and 0.37 inches deep. It weights 4.8 ounces.

iPhone 4 running iOS 4

The iPhone 4 comes with Apple's iOS 4 installed, which offers several benefits over previous versions.

For a complete review of the iPhone 4, check out Jason Hiner's article, "Apple iPhone 4 review: Everything you need to know."

Removing the iPhone 4 microSIM

Before we crack the iPhone 4 open, we need to remove the microSIM card. This is easily done with the help of a trusty paperclip.

iPhone 4 AT&T microSIM

Like the Apple iPad 3G, the iPhone 4 uses an AT&T microSIM.

iPhone 4 external screws

Our first step in cracking open the iPhone 4, is to remove the two Phillips #00 screws on the bottom of the device.

Removing the iPhone 4's external case screws

These are the first of many screws I removed while cracking open the iPhone 4.

iPhone 4 external screws removed

The iPhone 4 is filled with Phillips screws of varying length. During the tear down, you'll want to store them in a safe place and mark their location.

Sliding off the iPhone 4's back cover

With the two external screws removed, you can easily slide up and remove the iPhone 4's back glass cover.

iPhone 4 with back cover removed

With the back cover removed, with get our first look inside the iPhone 4. The phone's 3.7V 1420 mAh Li-Polymer battery takes up most of the space inside the case. According to Apple, the battery will give you up to 7 hours of talk time on 3G and up to 14 hours on 2G.

iPhone 4 back cover

The internal side of the iPhone 4's back cover.

iPhone 4 back cover screw tabs

At the bottom of the iPhone 4's back cover are two tabs which secure the cover to the metal case when the external screws are in place.

iPhone 4 metal case with back cover removed

Even with just the back cover removed, we can see much of the iPhone 4's impressive hardware. In the top-right corner is the vibration motor, in the top-left corner is the rear-facing camera, to the left of the battery is the part of the logic board, and at the bottom is the lower antenna/speaker assembly.

iPhone 4 top-half internal hardware

At the top of the iPhone 4, we can see the rear-facing camera. Below the camera is a black EMI shield that covers several connectors on the main logic board. In the top right corner is the small, silver vibration motor.

iPhone 4 lower antenna/speaker assembly

Just below the iPhone 4 battery, is the lower antenna/speaker assembly.

Removing the iPhone 4 battery connector

Before we can remove the battery, we need to remove this Phillips screw holding the battery connector in place.

iPhone 4 battery connector

The iPhone 4's battery connector is different than the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S. The connector's screw also hold a tiny pressure contact in place.

iPhone 4 back cover antenna pressure contact

This connect touches the iPhone's back cover when it is closed. This appears to be the contact for an antenna that is attached to the back cover.

Removing the iPhone 4 battery

Luckily, Apple used a minimal amount of adhesive to hold the battery to the iPhone 4's metal case.

iPhone 4 with battery removed

Gently lifting up on the iPhone 4's battery should separate it from the case.

iPhone 4 battery - Front

iPhone 4 battery - Back

iPhone 4 case without battery

Removing the iPhone 4's upper shield

Moving to the top of the iPhone 4, we removed the black shield that cover part of the main logic board and several connectors. There are five screws holding the shield in place.

iPhone 4 with upper shield removed

Under the upper shield, there are several connectors on the main logic board.

iPhone 4 upper shield

Removing another iPhone 4 shield

There is a second, smaller shield on the left side of the iPhone 4.

iPhone 4 Phillips #00 screws

The black shield is held in place with two Phillips #00 screws.

iPhone 4 small shield removed

Removing the second shield reveals another connector on the logic board.

iPhone 4 large connector

This large connector links components at the bottom of the iPhone 4 to the main logic board.

Removing the iPhone 4 lower antenna/speaker assembly

The iPhone 4's lower antenna/speaker assembly is held in place by two screws. the right-side screws is easily accessible.

Disconnect the antenna connector

You should be able to disconnect the lower antenna connector by gently prying it upward.

Second screw for the lower antenna/speaker assembly

The second screw on the lower antenna/speaker assembly is partially covered by this thin ribbon cable.

Lifting away the lower antenna/speaker assembly

With the two screws removed and the antenna wire disconnected, we can lift the lower antenna/speaker assembly away from the iPhone 4 case.

iPhone lower antenna/speaker assembly removed

iPhone 4 lower antenna/speaker assembly

iPhone 4 without lower antenna/speaker assembly

After removing the lower speaker assembly, it's time to move back to the top of the iPhone 4 case and remove the rear-facing camera.

Disconnecting the iPhone 4 rear-facing camera

The iPhone 4's rear-facing camera is connected to the main logic board by a single connector, which should pop free with little force.

iPhone 4 rear-facing camera

The iPhone 4's rear-facing 5 MP camera allows you to shoot 720p video at 30 FPS. It also features an LED flash.

iPhone 4 with rear-facing camera removed

Removing the iPhone 4 vibration motor

iPhone 4 with vibration motor removed

The iPhone 4's vibration motor is attached with two Phillips #00 screws.

iPhone 4 vibration motor

Disconnect the top logic board connectors

There are multiple connectors attached to the top of the iPhone 4's logic board. These should all pop loose with a little effort.

Removing the logic board screw

You must remove this large screw at the top of the logic board before removing the board. Unlike all the other iPhone 4 screws, this one is not a Phillips #00. I used a small standard bit to remove it. 

Large iPhone 4 logic board screw

This screw is probably the largest inside the iPhone 4.

White sticker hides iPhone 4 logic board screw

There's one more screw we must remove before the iPhone 4's logic board will come away from the case. It is hidden under that small white, circular sticker below the black metal shield.

Hidden iPhone 4 logic board screw

With the sticker removed, the last logic board screws is visible.

Removing the last logic board screw

Using a Phillips #00 screwdriver, we can remove the final screw holding the iPhone 4 logic board in place.

Removing the iPhone 4 logic board

With all the necessary screws removed, we can gently lift the iPhone 4's logic board away from the metal case.

iPhone 4 logic board - Back

On the back of the iPhone 4's logic board (the side that faces the back of the phone), we find two large shields (one black and one silver) and at least 10 connectors.

iPhone 4 logic board - Front

On the front of the iPhone 4's logic board, we again find two shields covering all the chips. We'll need to remove those to see the processor and other chips. The iPhone 4's microSIM card slot is also located in the center of the logic board's front side.

iPhone 4 with the logic board removed

With the battery, logic board, lower antenna/speaker, rear-facing camera, and vibration motor removed, there's not much left on the back side of the iPhone 4's metal case.

iPhone 4 logic board rubber bumper

There is a small rubber bumper affixed to the top of the iPhone 4's logic board. You'll want to make you don't lose this when you're taking the iPhone 4 apart.

iPhone 4 logic board with shields removed

With the two metal shields removed from the top of the iPhone 4 logic board, we get our first look at the main iPhone 4 chips. Two molded rubber cushions cover the chips on the left of logic board.

iPhone 4 logic board rubber cushions

With the cushions removed, we can see the chips underneath.

iPhone 4 logic board - Front side chips

iPhone 4 logic board - Back side chips

Beneath the large black shield, you'll find the Samsung flash memory module, Cirrus Logic audio codec, AKM8975 magnetic sensor, and Texas Instruments touch screen Controller. As this shield is soldered to the logic board at several points, I'm going to leave it in place. I want this phone to work when I put it back together.

iPhone 4 Apple A4 Processor

Like the iPad and iPad 3G, the iPhone 4 uses the Apple A4 processor, manufactured by Samsung.

The markings on the chip are:
A4
APL0398 33950108
YKC588P4 1019
N2B0BMOO2 1022
K4X4G643G8 1GC8

To the left of the A4 is a chip labeled AGD1. This chip is believed to be a 3-axis digital gyroscope manufactured for Apple by STMicroelectronics.

To the right of the A4 chips, under a small EMI shield are the Broadcom 802.11n with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and FM receiver and the Broadcom GPS receiver. This shield appeared to be soldered to the logic board, and I want to put the iPhone 4 back together in working order, I left the shield in place.

iPhone 4 cellular chips and accelerometer

On the left of the iPhone 4's logic boad (under the two molded rubber cushions), we find several chips with the following markings:
Skyworks SKY77542
Skyworks SKY77541

TriQuint TQM666092 1019 CHIN AR4381
STMicroelectronics STM33DH 3-axis accelerometer
Unknown 338S0626

iPhone 4 logic board - Infineon chip

Beneath the silver-colored shield on the back of the iPhone 4 logic board, we find the the Infineon 36MY1EE and an unknown chip to its right.

iPhone 4 front panel screws

With the logic board removed, it's now time to remove the front panel assembly, which contains the display, home button, and digitizer. To remove the front panel, you must remove 10 screws.

iPhone 4 main front panel screws

The front panel assembly is held to the iPhone 4's metal case with these six, large screws. There are three on each side.

iPhone 4 front panel corner screws

In addition to the six large screws, there are four smaller screws in each corner.

iPhone 4 front panel connectors

When you pull the front panel assembly away from the iPhone 4's metal case, make sure you do so slowly. You must thread these two connectors through the case in the process.

Pry the iPhone 4 front panel away from the metal case

With the screws removed, you can gently begin to pry the front panel assembly away from the iPhone 4's metal case. The front panel will be held on with some adhesive, but should give way without much effort.

Work your way around the iPhone 4's case

Using a thin metal spludger, work your way around the iPhone 4's front panel, being careful not to crack the glass.

iPhone 4 front panel assembly - Front

The iPhone 4 front panel assembly contains the digitizer, display, and LED backlight.

iPhone 4 front panel

The iPhone 4's display is firmly glued to the digitizer and glass. It's likely that you would replace any of these pieces by replacing the entire front panel assembly.

iPhone 4 stainless steel metal case

The iPhone 4's stainless steel metal case contains the Home button, front-facing camera, top speaker, and dual microphones. 

iPhone 4 Home button

The home button can be removed as a single unit from the iPhone 4's metal case. I choose to leave it connected.

iPhone 4 front-facing camera and top speaker

At the top of the iPhone 4's stainless steel metal case are the front-facing camera and top speaker.

iPhone 4 stainless steel metal case - Side

From the side, you can see just how thin the iPhone 4's stainless steel metal case is.

iPhone 4 completely disassembled

It took about and hour to crack open the iPhone 4. And unlike previous versions, the iPhone was remarkably simple to disassemble. This iPhone was made to be serviced, and with a steady stream of spare parts, could see service for several years.