Database Develop

Flimsy back cover

i just bought the diamond 2 today.. i must say, the out-of-the-box speeed is fantastic! but has anyone encountered the same problem as me : i feel that the back cover is a tad bit 'loose'. you can move it from left to right when u place 2 fingers at the sides of the back cover.
is it me or is it the phone?

Mine's tight, doesn't move at all.

ah crap, so i guess its just me? the movement is just a little though.. towards the end of the back cover.

No, i agree, my back cover it slightly loose, it moves slightly, but just enough to be noticeable...

hmm i wonder if it might be because the backcover is too light?

My cover is on quite tightly. No movement at all.. May be I am one of the lucky one this time. Try puting a small piece of paper to see if it stops the movement. If it does, then yours is loose alright. I had to do that for my xperia ...

will they do a replacement for a flimsy back cover? the movement is very slight though.

mine is tight. I expect back covers will be the first things that become available from the like of cnn.cn, mobilefunshop.co.uk, etc.
I noticed that the locking mechanism is at the bottom. Maybe a sharp of paper will make it tight ??

i had the same problem as here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxubUhlpJxw , but i used paper scotch tape for house painters and now it is perfect

Mine is tight as hell, too: I even have great difficulty removing it: the shiny finish makes it quite slippy and a lot of force has to be exerted to disengage the locking mechanism. I even installed a software reset, to much hassle to acces the little red button ;-)
Maybe the build tolerance is a little bit variable and you were unlucky? where was your D2 build? Taiwan, or China?

how do i check where was it build at?

it's on mine as well. on the lower left side :/

geez so i guess majority of the people are experiencing it? whats up with htc!!! other than that i love the phone

Damn... My back cover is loose too! When did you get your device? I was one of the first (got it on the 17th of April). Maybe the first devices were not build that good... I'm going to put paper inside.

The back cover is very bad for everyone!
I hope that will be available soon to buy an alternative cover!
It would be nice to have it in metal or black leather.
I have no problem now with it but open the phone often for the SD card and soft reset I expect widening!

Mine was made in Taiwan and one of first in the Czech republic

d3sm0nd said:
Damn... My back cover is loose too! When did you get your device? I was one of the first (got it on the 17th of April). Maybe the first devices were not build that good... I'm going to put paper inside.
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Click to collapse
just got it like 3 days ago! im just worried that the problem might worsen over time?

I put a folded strip of paper between the battery and the backcover and it feels much sturdier now. Nevertheless the back cover is really ****ty, I swear I never seen such soft, thin and ugly piece of plastic before. Fortunately I like everything else on my D2.

My cover is completely firm, and my screen has no light leaks or gaps. I hope these are isolated issues being reported here. If your battery back is really nasty, then just swap it for another one, as it will reduce your enjoyment. Another advantage of this is that HTC monitors returns and will make changes to the manufacturing process based on issues. If there are no returns it will think everything is perfect!
In the UK we all get 14 days for returns.
I think the TD2 is the best non-keyboard phone at the moment, hopefully these are isolated incidents and will disappear over time!

I'm not sure what everyone is talking about and hope it's just a little movement you all are speaking of. Because if it is movemen like mine it is nothing really to complain about. The back to me feels solid and strong. The plastic is not flimsy. At the bottom the back moves a very little if you try to move it side to side. Mine moves less than, 1/4cm, a hair, an ants leg..... uhhh yeah. Pretty much nothing and you have to try to move it. Durring normal usage it is not noticable at all for me and doesn't move. The phone itself still feels solid despite having dust under the screen . I kinda wish it had a little bit more weight to it.

Skinomi Skin

Anyone ever used their products before? I haven't, but right now they are the only ones that are making a skin for the slide. I ordered one, guess we'll see.
Check it out: http://www.skinomi.com/mytouch-3g-slide-skin-protector.html

Please let me know. Ill likely wait for zagg unless these seem better.
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Mine should be here any day now. I'll take some pics and maybe do a half ass review or something. I'm not going to promise some badass review but i'll do what I can

Has anyone received their skin? It's been over two weeks since I ordered mine and I haven't heard anything. I'm guessing that they were preselling them. I'm on my way to email customer service after this to see.

sandpaperback said:
Has anyone received their skin? It's been over two weeks since I ordered mine and I haven't heard anything. I'm guessing that they were preselling them. I'm on my way to email customer service after this to see.
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Click to collapse
Same here. I called customer service and they told me that due to the enormous demand for the skins from the start they ran out and did not have enough. This was last friday I called. They told me that within 48 hrs mine would be shipped. It's the end of tuesday and no package. I'm calling them again tomorrow after work to see what's going on. I'll post more then.
In the meantime, phantomskinz has one for mt3gs now! Might be getting myself a refund and a phantom skinz. It's nice on my n1.

I emailed them this morning and got this reply:
"Somehow your item may have been lost during mailstream but thankfully has
been recovered. It is now currently on its way to you and you should receive
it either tomorrow or early Friday morning."
I was doubtful, but the delivery confirmation number they included seems to indicate it will be delivered tomorrow. Yay!

Got mine today will take pics tomorrow

Received mine yesterday. Tonight I face the semi-daunting task of applying it. I've never used anything like this before, hope it goes well!

sandpaperback said:
Received mine yesterday. Tonight I face the semi-daunting task of applying it. I've never used anything like this before, hope it goes well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how did it go? Any tips on getting it installed smoothly?

I put it off until this morning. It went okay. Like I said, I've never used anything other than a static screen before. I got the full body Skinomi.
The screen looks great and I'm really not worried about that. The rest of it... eh. The back doesn't seem to fit right at all. I can't get the corners to stay down or even shape to the cover properly. The small strips along the top and bottom don't see properly shaped either.
I'll probably tear off the top and bottom strips, maybe the sides too. I'm going to work on the back a little bit and maybe even try to re-apply tomorrow.
Edit: Revisiting after an hour or so, I was able to fit the back quite a bit better. I think it might turn out okay. There's a little bit where the skin is hanging over the edge, so I might still re-apply, but we'll see.

i ordered a skin from them, and haven't heard anything from them. I've been trying to call, but no one answers and i can't leave a message because their voicemail is full. not sure if i should wait or take the issue up with my credit card company seeing as i emailed them a few days ago and have been trying to call for 3 days now.

I received mine after about a month. I also called a few times and they did answer. I went to install it and the only parts i can get to stick are the front pieces. Also the small front pieces are not cut well. I had to choose between letting part of the skin hanging off the edge or partially covering the genius button and home buttons. This skin and company is crap. DO NOT BUY!
Now i do have plenty experience installing phantom skinz, best skins ever, and a few others all with similar applications. Some are harder than others, but none are as ****ty as skinomi. Imma call them "****onmi" instead.
I have also been trying to call them for a week with no answer or means to leave a message. I call about 6 times per day.
My advice.. take it up with ur cc company and buy a phantom skinz. They are out for mts now. Best skin you can get, period. Also they send you 2 of them in case you mess up and have excellent customer service.
If anyone gets ahold of these assholes or finds a different phone number besides what is posted on their site, please update here. Thanx and good luck

Well i called my bank about them and they have a merchant number listed. Here is the number: 562-299-3784.
I called that and couldn't understand the guy at all, but after i got off the phone with that number, i was called by a 1-800 number from a guy from skinomi who said he'd have a CS rep contact me by the end of the day and if they don't they'd ship my purchase out.
This call was right after i disputed the purchase. I really just want a refund right now.

I ordered mine through Amazon and USPS tracking shows that it should arrive today, just over a week after I placed the order...
This is just a day after the original estimated date.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

yeah, i ordered a skin for my HD2 through amazon and everything went fine. This time though, i ordered through their website.
update on what they said though, i just got a call from the same guy and number, but no call from the CS rep. He said i'd have a call from CS within 5 mins, but we'll see how that goes.

Shouldn't the mods move this to http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=662

i got a call from someone at the posted number on skinomi's website. apparently, my order should have already been shipped out. I don't believe this because i would have gotten an update about it.
They said if i didn't get a confirmation/tracking number by a day soon to come (i couldn't tell 1/2 of what he was saying because his voice kept cutting out) that they'd ship me a new one next week free of charge next week if i emailed or called customer service.
I just sent another email asking if i could cancel my order before it's shipped because i'm done dealing with it and i just ordered one of the $2 screen protectors posted in another section.
EDIT: i got an email from the phone convo, i now have a tracking number and now have to contact my bank to cancel the dispute (as they have shipped me the item i ordered).

Well, my skin arrived (a day after their original estimate, but still only 9 days after ordering) and I installed the screen-only protector on my wife's Slide and the full-body protector on mine. Installation wasn't too hard, but it took time to get it right. I'll wait a few days to pass judgment on the appearance since fog of micro-bubbles should disappear in a few days and that's to be expected. Otherwise I must admit I'm slightly disappointed in the fit. The screen piece for example is about 1/16 of an inch too short and too narrow. Not enough to be a big deal, but it's noticeable. This was on both phones/protectors so it's not like one was miscut. The pieces to protect the top and sides of the front part of the phone don't even meet or completely fill the pieces they attach to. Irrelevant from a pure protection point of view, but the edges of the film now give the phone a "sharp-edges" feel where it used to be smooth plastic curves. I was also a little disappointed that the kit did not include a piece to cover the camera lens. If there's one part of the phone that must remain stratch-free to be able to function at it's best, that would be it.
The feel of the skin itself is pretty good. The back piece I suppose is slightly more tacky/softer feeling than bare plastic. The same goes for the screen vs the protector the phone shipped with. The difference is little enough that even now it doesn't bother me, and I imagine that in a matter of days it will smooth out and/or I'll be used to it and not even notice it anymore. It certainly isn't nearly a big enough difference to make me want to take it off.
I'll post again in a few days or a week and let you know how well the skin cleared up and how much I like it after some use.

I'll admit, the fit of the front pieces isn't perfect and the edge pieces are weird enough that I still think about peeling them off every day.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with it though. The screen and back pieces fit nicely (though not perfectly) and everything went on pretty well. For the edges and the corners of the back piece, you definitely need to keep going back to it every 15 minutes or so until they'll stick well.
I do have one corner of the back piece peeling up a little, so I might re-do that this week.
Oh, also regarding their CS: I got a timely response when I sent them an email and received my skin two days later. So email might be a better way to go.

Well, I've lived with it for a little over a week now...
The good:
The feel of the skin is pretty nice on its surface. It softens the feel where it covers the plastic and gives it a slightly grippier feel. On the screen the effect is minimal with the light touches required for normal use. If you tend to have a heavy finger on the touchscreen you might not be as happy with the feel. It seems to do a good job at resisting scratches, but I'm not rough on phones so it might not be showing any anyway.
The bad:
Even though the display looks nice and clear from most angles, at some I can still see a haze of microbubbles under it. The piece below the physical buttons on the front also has some bubbles under it that haven't gone away. Since I bought this so I could just carry it bare in my pocket, I really wish it didn't collect lint so easily under the edges of every piece. Those same edges also still have a kind of sharp feel which makes the phone feel like it has slightly poorly molded plastic in some places. Also, I'm still slightly annoyed by the screen protector piece being about 1/16" too small and leaving a tiny unprotected border.
Overall, I think I'll live with it for another few weeks and then I might give the Zagg Invisible Shield a try...

Dealing with cracks?

Anyone have suggestions for dealing with cracks on an out of warranty TP?
I sent my Touchpad back in February when it was in warranty, and got a new case. Then the girlfriend liked the fit on my TP better and insisted that I trade her for hers which hadn't had any issue and hadn't been back for repair.
Well, it now has cracks. There are two cracks leading from the speaker openings onto the back of the case that I was ignoring. Now there's a crack from one of the speakers to the front, which is more threatening since if the other side of that cracks the thin piece will come off...
It's like the poor TP is falling apart. I've had it in the official HP case the whole time and am extremely careful with it, of course, everyone knows that doesn't really help. It seems some of the cases were just destined to crack!
So is there anything to be done? Does anyone know how much HP charges if you PAY them to fix it? Probably too much.
What about a Skinomi case like this: http://www.skinomi.com/hp-touchpad-carbon-fiber-skin-protector.html - will that help keep piece next to the speaker from cracking the rest of the way, and maybe at least.. *sigh*... hide the other cracks?
I have a feeling that I will eventually have a pile of loose electronics in my hand here....

lotherius said:
Anyone have suggestions for dealing with cracks on an out of warranty TP?
I sent my Touchpad back in February when it was in warranty, and got a new case. Then the girlfriend liked the fit on my TP better and insisted that I trade her for hers which hadn't had any issue and hadn't been back for repair.
Well, it now has cracks. There are two cracks leading from the speaker openings onto the back of the case that I was ignoring. Now there's a crack from one of the speakers to the front, which is more threatening since if the other side of that cracks the thin piece will come off...
It's like the poor TP is falling apart. I've had it in the official HP case the whole time and am extremely careful with it, of course, everyone knows that doesn't really help. It seems some of the cases were just destined to crack!
So is there anything to be done? Does anyone know how much HP charges if you PAY them to fix it? Probably too much.
What about a Skinomi case like this: http://www.skinomi.com/hp-touchpad-carbon-fiber-skin-protector.html - will that help keep piece next to the speaker from cracking the rest of the way, and maybe at least.. *sigh*... hide the other cracks?
I have a feeling that I will eventually have a pile of loose electronics in my hand here....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you mean about the cracking - I think all TP users share our remorse.
I don't know what HP charges, or even if that's an option with them, considering how quickly they dropped any sort of support for us after launch.
What I've done in regards to the cracking is just dab a small amount of super glue on/in the cracked plastic (while paying mind to the speakers!) and hold it there for a hot second. Then, I throw back on the official HP case and pretend the cosmetic issue doesn't exist...... Until I find a new crack..... and then, it's rinse and repeat.
As for the Skinomi protector, I don't have one (although highly contemplating getting one, now) but, you can find it cheaper on Amazon. However, this SKIN got better reviews, plus it's cheaper!
/sigh

I also had my case replaced due to cracking around the speakers. From the sound of it, it may just always happen. I plan to just put dabs of super glue if it starts again, and not worry about it. I've heard some people saying they think it's from using a case (ie putting too much pressure on it), and others saying it's just a manufacturing defect. Unless it completely falls apart, it shouldn't really cause problems, hopefully. If anything, maybe just put it in some case, even like a TPU wrap.

the cracks on my speakers have gotten way worse
the cracks propagated to the back side, plus, cracks appear on the microusb connector as well
i feel it's cuz of the official case that's causing it
the tablet is always home, does not get that much use, it's mostly just sitting around
anyways, looking at the skinomi link, it looks pretty promising
it will hide the cracks for sure, plus, i have always hated the matte finish on the back because it's a dirt magnet

anonxlg said:
i feel it's cuz of the official case that's causing it
the tablet is always home, does not get that much use, it's mostly just sitting around
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, though I can't see *how* the official case can be causing the problem.
Many people had cracks when their devices were brand new, and didn't have the case because it still cost like fiddy bux at the time. HP even tried sending out cases to people as a preventative.
Also, I "manage" four Touchpads. So far, mine is the only one that has cracked - twice now. The others also use the official case. However, only two of them get used heavily, mine and the girlfriend's. She insists that I must be rough with my Touchpad, but I am definitely not rough with it - I am extremely careful. Her case shows scars from being dropped, chewed on by dogs(!), etc... but no cracks.
I wonder if there's a "usage scenario" that causes something internal to heat causing the cracks. But I've never noticed my TP getting excessively hot. It's just whether or not you got a good backplate or not.
When I had my first Touchpad repaired under warranty, the new backplate it came with had a fit much better than any of the others we'd bought. It fit perfectly flush with the glass and had no uneven spots around the edge. None of the other Touchpads we have matched that level of fit. Unfortunately, my girlfriend took that Touchpad to gift to someone else, and left me with one of the ones that had a less than perfect fit. I think the level of fit of the original backplate has a lot to do with whether or not it cracks.
I did find a place online that sells replacement backplates, but they're like $50 a pop... Not worth it even for those of us that paid $200 for our 32gb touchpads. http://www.portatronics.com/product_info.php?info=p10245_HP-Touchpad-Backplate-Part-Only.html -- I don't know anything about that site or the part. Oddly enough, it also isn't listed if you search by category on their website. I could only find it by google search. It lets me add it to the cart, but who knows if it is actually available.

Shortly after I noticed the cracks I bought a Stealtharmor cover for the back while it was on sale.. Nearly a year later and the cracks haven't gotten any worse.

Already dented my N5

Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.

vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
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Strange. The Cruzerlite (which are thin TPU cases, cheap in my opinion) drop test stood up to NUMEROUS drops & the device survived without any sign of damage. Not a scratch or dent.
Is you device white or black? My old Nexus 10 had a defect in the black soft touch coating that looked like a dent, but it was more likely an issue in the molding or application process.

vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
Click to expand...
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Pics?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

Endoran said:
Pics?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is the white version, but the dent is on the top right above the camera, on the black portion, right where the side casing touches the glass. I would have a very hard time photographing this because of where it is on the phone/lighting etc.. ill try when I get home though.

vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a picture speaks a thousand words

I have about 5 or so nicks on the sides where the glass and plastic edge meet on my naked white N5. I agree that the plastic used is pretty brittle but it's not noticeable unless you really look for it.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Get a sufficient case otherwise you can't really complain...

I have one little mark or nick as well where the plastic case meets the glass on that tiny little lip. My 2 year old got a hold of my phone and dropped it on a metal external hard drive case the day I got it and it landed right on 90 degree edge of the case... I went temporarily insane. It is very small but kind of surprised me I guess. I dropped my galaxy S3 many times and never got more than the little hairline scratches you see in glossy plastic. That soft touch coating seems to have some give to it. It was my fault. My parents gave my kids a new ipad mini and I set my phone on top of it. I was in the other room and heard him say "new tablet". I knew at that moment the mistake I had made...
I have one of those really slim cases on the way which would have prevented it. I typically don't use cases and am usually not bothered by the small marks I get on my phones but because some of those ultra thin cases are so slim now days I am going to try one out. Marking up a brand new phone is a little different than one that's a year+ old...

I too, also have a slight dent under the screen bezel part of mine. I have never dropped mine. Noticed it while it was on the table; that the reflection of the curtain was slightly bent at the one area, instead of being completely straight. Looked closely, and sure enough, there was a dent. It's not noticeable during day-to-day use, but you CAN notice it if looking at the reflection it shows.

The chrome bezel on the nexus 4 was susceptible to dents as well.

A few weeks ago the Nexus 5 flew out of my hands and landed on our concrete driveway. I feared the worst, but only a small dent in the upper left corner of the back panel and some scratching is all that happened. Lucky me, but I still hate it. Never had a single blemish on the Nexus 4.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

The sides of this phone are fine, besides the fact that they collect dust like crazy. The screen, however, is not. Another guy posting on Android Central also reported having a dent, similar to mine. I actually think this dent came with my device. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, but disregarded it, as I thought it was the screen protector that came with the phone, but I decided to remove it and check again. It IS a part of the screen

Hobbesfed said:
The sides of this phone are fine, besides the fact that they collect dust like crazy. The screen, however, is not. Another guy posting on Android Central also reported having a dent, similar to mine. I actually think this dent came with my device. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, but disregarded it, as I thought it was the screen protector that came with the phone, but I decided to remove it and check again. It IS a part of the screen
Click to expand...
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Normal. That's why most early glass screen protectors were not sticking properly.

bblzd said:
Normal. That's why most early glass screen protectors were not sticking properly.
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Normal? How is a dent on the screen normal? My Nexus 10 does not have this, my old Samsung Vibrant does not have this. Why would a dent on a Nexus 5 be normal?

Hobbesfed said:
Normal? How is a dent on the screen normal? My Nexus 10 does not have this, my old Samsung Vibrant does not have this. Why would a dent on a Nexus 5 be normal?
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Click to collapse
I would say it's normal because of the following reasons:
1) it doesn't effect the usage of the device in any way
2) it's barely noticeable even in the "perfect" lighting conditions
3) many have reported the exact same thing in the early tempered glass threads; the only time it has ever come up or been noticed.
So why exactly is it a problem for you? Corners were cut to make this phone at a cheap price I would think that's pretty clear. It's also not the screen itself but around it.

Dented
In my N5 have no dent and any scratch..
I love with my N5

bblzd said:
I would say it's normal because of the following reasons:
1) it doesn't effect the usage of the device in any way
2) it's barely noticeable even the "perfect" lighting conditions
3) many have reported the exact same thing in the early tempered glass threads; the only time it has ever come up or been noticed.
So why exactly is it a problem for you? Corners were cut to make this phone at a cheap price I would think that's pretty clear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a difference between "corners being cut" to make the device cheaper and really poor quality control. I understand them using a less camera module and a lower capacity battery, and a screen that washes out when tilted, etc, but the numerous issues with the hardware is ridiculous. Dents in screen, poor GPS connectivity, Wi-Fi problems, dust under screen, loose vibration motor, rattling buttons, and so on.
There is no reason for hardware bugs like this. To lower the price, lesser powerful hardware is used, but the low price is no excuse for poor quality. Like some users said, in terms of hardware, this device is like an alpha, and the only way to receive the "perfect" device is to continuously RMA.
We paid for the device, we should not be getting so many faults and issues.

Hobbesfed said:
There's a difference between "corners being cut" to make the device cheaper and really poor quality control. I understand them using a less camera module and a lower capacity battery, and a screen that washes out when tilted, etc, but the numerous issues with the hardware is ridiculous. Dents in screen, poor GPS connectivity, Wi-Fi problems, dust under screen, loose vibration motor, rattling buttons, and so on.
There is no reason for hardware bugs like this. To lower the price, lesser powerful hardware is used, but the low price is no excuse for poor quality. Like some users said, in terms of hardware, this device is like an alpha, and the only way to receive the "perfect" device is to continuously RMA.
We paid for the device, we should not be getting so many faults and issues.
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Click to collapse
How is it even a defect? It's not even noticeable. No one would consider it a hardware bug except apparently you. Please explain how this effects the usage of your device in any way.
Poor quality control is EXACTLY how corners are cut. Manufacturing anything has margin of errors and the less margin of error you're willing to release the more phones are "thrown away" and the more money a released device will cost. I'd explain more but I'm sure Wikipedia or a Google search can better explain the finer points of manufacturing and quality control then I can.
You read the specs of the phone and it has everything a $700 phone has but it costs $400. How did you think that was accomplished?

bblzd said:
.
You read the specs of the phone and it has everything a $700 phone has but it costs $400. How did you think that was accomplished?
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There is a lot of discussion about that price... but Google routinely undercuts the competition when it comes to the nexus line (looking at you, 7)
Looking at the specs of the 5, then looking at comparable phones out ing the market, the only conclusion I can come to is that Google is letting these things go at either zero margin, or (my thought) at a fairly beefy loss.... kicking back cash to LG to cover their losses.
All you need to do is look at the other phones available at the same full retail price... does the 5 seem anywhere close to those? Nope, it blows them all out of the water... laughable in most cases. Now, you can cut corners to lower prices, but you can't cut THAT much.

LeoRex said:
There is a lot of discussion about that price... but Google routinely undercuts the competition when it comes to the nexus line (looking at you, 7)
Looking at the specs of the 5, then looking at comparable phones out ing the market, the only conclusion I can come to is that Google is letting these things go at either zero margin, or (my thought) at a fairly beefy loss.... kicking back cash to LG to cover their losses.
All you need to do is look at the other phones available at the same full retail price... does the 5 seem anywhere close to those? Nope, it blows them all out of the water... laughable in most cases. Now, you can cut corners to lower prices, but you can't cut THAT much.
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Click to collapse
The actual cost break down might never be known. One thing is for sure though, LG is not willing to take any loss and whatever Google may have paid them "extra" they will still try and build the phone as cheap as they possibly can.
LG does not consider the Nexus as their flagship phone and will never treat it as such. It's a phone they were contracted to build and they will cut every corner they can. It's just business.

An Ongoing Chronical Of The Whitestone Dome

I have read many mixed reviews of this glass screen protector here, on other forums, and on Amazon.
Amazon's the best, IMO, because you're reading product reviews from real everyday normal folks from all different walks, so the compilation of reviews includes the whole range of skill level.
Inarguably, the Whitestone Dome Glass protector is probably THE MOST difficult to install, save the fact that the kit includes an allignment jig that helps installation inmeasurably. I recently did this (this evening) and can't imagine attempting this without such a jig, though I understand similar UV activated glue is available to use with separately sold glass protectors.
So I'll start with some background info to set the scene for accuracy...
I'm a landscaper by day, but a jeweler part time. That means I chunk heavy crap around all day long like a farmer, but on the weekends I show off my dexterity like a watchmaker.
That's important, because this installation requires steady, confident hands, much forethought, patience, and it ain't cheap!
Sooooo...
Let me say that I was really nervous. I already accepted the idea that I might have to decide whether to purchase another one or go a different route and just choke on losing 45 dollars.
I watched 8 YouTube videos on installation, including one completely failed installation, and a demonstration on the removal of one.
The package arrived today but was outside the house in the cold. Of course I wanted to pop it on immediately, but figured that it should warm up to temperature first.
During that time I prepped my table. I used a marble to see if it was level. During preparation, i also prepared myself for the possibility of failure. LOL!
I layed out all of the items like I was about to perform surgery.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!
Use those dust removal stickers! Even after you let the glue fall and remove the "bridge", check again for dust.
Don't flail about to much. That simply stirs up dust.
"Relax", is the best advice I can give. Peeling the backing off the glass from underneath it so dust that's in the air doesn't land on the inside surface sounds like a logical idea, and you should, but static from peeling it can become a pain.
If you're calm enough, you can do this just like the videos.
I wiped the edges after the first and second curing with the UV light. I did end up with excess flow out one side, and on the other side during the second wipe down, I had an ever so tiny bubble (if you'd even call it that) on the edge. The bubble was from wiping away the partially curred glue, which pulled a tiny, TINY bit out. (Literally one third the size of the exposed part of the SPen tip.)
I remedied this OCD-killer by using a toothpick dabbed in what remained at the top of the glue tube and simply touched it to the edge, which sucked it right in to fill the tiny void.
I used the UV light several times with the idea that it simply couldn't hurt to do it as often as I could.
My screen literally looks like a perfect install. Absolutely fantastic, as Sakitech would say!
I would say the skill level required for this is about average, but you really have only one chance to get it right, and there are a few steps that need to be followed perfectly or else they can trip you up.
Watch those videos. Many show people doing an imperfect installation with decent or good results, but after watching several you'll see just how to avoid mishaps.
On a different note, I did notice something very strange while utilizing the UV light; there is a weird shape in the center of the screen that shows up under the light. I have no idea what it is, but it shows as a slightly different color in the center third of the screen, nearly full length with rounded corners and perfectly symmetrical. I'm assuming it's an adhesive beneath the screen for the interactive SPen screen? I dunno. Kinda neat.
Anyway, after reading reviews stating problems with lifting of the edges of the Whitestone Dome, I figured I would contribute here by checking in and giving updates as to the longevity of this very beautiful, but slightly expensive and fiddly (to say the least) installing screen protector.
Feel free to ask any questions.

O.K., so not a month, but 3 weeks later:
Bear in mind that I do NOT abuse my phones. I do tend to coddle a nearly $1000 phone.
So far the screen saver has been great. No lifting at the corners like others have experienced.
I have my Note 8 in an Amovo wallet case- Good stuff; check it out on Amazon.
I remain thrilled with my Whitestone screen protector.
I certainly cannot say that I don't notice that it's on there, but it's only the edges that I can see. While I'm immersed in actually using the phone, I notice nothing at all.
I'm now considering getting one for my S8+, which currently sports a cheap edge adhesive glass screen saver that feels like there's room to slide a business card under.

AddictedToGlass said:
O.K., so not a month, but 3 weeks later:
Bear in mind that I do NOT abuse my phones. I do tend to coddle a nearly $1000 phone.
So far the screen saver has been great. No lifting at the corners like others have experienced.
I have my Note 8 in an Amovo wallet case- Good stuff; check it out on Amazon.
I remain thrilled with my Whitestone screen protector.
I certainly cannot say that I don't notice that it's on there, but it's only the edges that I can see. While I'm immersed in actually using the phone, I notice nothing at all.
I'm now considering getting one for my S8+, which currently sports a cheap edge adhesive glass screen saver that feels like there's room to slide a business card under.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here with mine. Very satisfied. Nearly 3 months now and it's been rock solid for me.

Same here, great bit of kit.

Agreed - I love my Whitestone. It picked up a scratch, and I used the new warranty facility to replace it. It's not exactly cheap (around £20) to get the replacement, but it's better than having to buy one at full price.
This one ended up being a little more fiddly to install, but that was my fault - I allowed the LOCA to flow too far towards the bottom of the device before dropping the glass. I had tiny cluster of bubbles near the power switch which I worked out with some patience, and I also ended up sticking the jig together because I cured it for too long before removing the phone. However, the overall result is better than my original install, and I haven't had the touch up the edges of this one at all.

As much as I want to use the whitestone, I have some pretty big issues with it right now. For one, the glass is unnecessarily big. If the flaps that went up around the top were just a little smaller, it'd be compatible with so many more cases. The other issue is the type of glass their using. I don't know what it is, but it collects oil and gunk REALLY well on the surface of the glass (not the edges). I especially notice it on colder days (which we have plenty of in minnesota), but it's like the oil builds up into a thick layer that I have to wipe off with a cloth. All my whitestones have been like this. I ended up ordering a cheap full adhesive protector from amazon, and even though it has that STUPID black border and doesn't stick at the edges properly, it's sized way better than the whitestone and the glass feels of a much higher quality.

jooniloh said:
As much as I want to use the whitestone, I have some pretty big issues with it right now. For one, the glass is unnecessarily big. If the flaps that went up around the top were just a little smaller, it'd be compatible with so many more cases. The other issue is the type of glass their using. I don't know what it is, but it collects oil and gunk REALLY well on the surface of the glass (not the edges). I especially notice it on colder days (which we have plenty of in minnesota), but it's like the oil builds up into a thick layer that I have to wipe off with a cloth. All my whitestones have been like this. I ended up ordering a cheap full adhesive protector from amazon, and even though it has that STUPID black border and doesn't stick at the edges properly, it's sized way better than the whitestone and the glass feels of a much higher quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, no oil/grease issues like that with mine and it's plenty cold here too (unfortunately!). I haven't even had to wipe often for fingerprints and stuff. Not sure what would be causing that type of problem.

sefrcoko said:
Strange, no oil/grease issues like that with mine and it's plenty cold here too (unfortunately!). I haven't even had to wipe often for fingerprints and stuff. Not sure what would be causing that type of problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed - I would say it has one of the better oleophobic coatings.

StevePritchard said:
Agreed - I would say it has one of the better oleophobic coatings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I've just been getting bad batches? idk.

I've had no problems with mine. Looks and works great! My wife's has started to come up on a corner. It's because she was mishandling it and not realizing what she was doing. All the warnings that we are aware of she is basically unaware of because... I don't know. It's still working for her and doesn't bother her. I don't plan on using another brand when I have to replace hers.

After 3 months the glue went bad on mine and started peeling on a top corner, then it went down both sides over night. Frankly at £40, it needs to last a lot longer for that money.

So;
It's mid August, 6½ months after the installation and it still looks great.
To be fair I have to mention that I do have two phones I use on a daily basis, but the Note is used for many more hours a week as a tablet as compared to my naked S8+, which I really only use to make and take calls.
In other words, the Note sees a lot of touch screen activity.
The Whitestone is holding up much better than I expected, given all the problems I've read about it. I do have a very subtle problem spot on the right side edge right in the middle where it has started to bubble. Though it's really only visible at certain angles, and quite small, my OCD magnifies this visual defect a great deal for me! When I hand over my phone to someone (always reluctantly...LOL) to view a picture or an app, I still get compliments on the screen protector, and no one has ever pointed it out to me. (It is very small.)
IT HAS DONE IT'S JOB...
-At least once, because there's a small scratch in the surface of the glass. Again, another thing hardly noticable, but if it were in the screen itself of my Note, I would be very upset. (Give me 6 more months to get to the point where it's perfectly acceptable for this handheld device to show signs of use.)
A CORNER DID START TO LIFT...
Last month, the upper right hand corner developed a very small bubble. I knew right away from what I've read that this might be the start of the end of this screen's life. But I continually massaged the screen down many times, and it actually worked and resealed.
My take on this is that firstly, it's been ridiculously hot in my region. That might've helped with resealing. But secondly and most importantly, I never allow dust to get near my phone.
Dust is the enemy. A single microfiber particle between the screen and glass cover might've made resealing impossible. People pop their phones in their pocket all the time, and because the phones are dust proof now, it's even easier to take for granted what they are exposed to. As soft and protective as pockets are, they expose phones to a lot of dust. (Look at the lint trap in a clothes dryer!)
IN CONCLUSION...
I'll keep monitoring this thread to answer any questions, but I'll probably only post an update of when the Whitestone finally needs to be replaced. At that point I'll probably throw some photos up before I remove the old one.
As far as I'm concerned it has already exceeded my expectations of longevity, and I'll gladly be getting a replacement when the time comes. But I will continue to try to get the most life out of this one despite the small lift on the edge.
BTW...
The "problem" side of my screen is where it had less of the LOCA bleeding out of the edge during installation. Even though the puddle of adhesive was dead center when I dropped the glass on, when I wiped the excess from the edges, the right side had less run-off. Right now I'm wondering if I wiped the excess off of the edges too soon. During the next installation, I'll be sure to give more time for the glue to stay where it needs to.
COMPARED TO NO SCREEN PROTECTOR...
Well, I never, ever, ever have used any of my smart phones without a screen protector. But I finally grew weary of the cheap crappy edge-adhesive glass protector I had on my S8+, and threw it out! The screen would often not register touches, etc, and was an under-screen dust catcher. I havn't bought a Whitestone for it yet because I spend so little time using it that I keep forgetting. So for about 4 months, I've been using my S8+ with no protection save a case that does have a screen flap (like a wallet).
I have a small rub mark on the screen, hardly noticable, but it's there.
If and when I purchase a Whitestone for that phone, I'll post here as to whether or not the LOCA actually hides that mark, as I've read in other threads that it can hide existing scratches presumably because it fills them in (makes sense).
A FINAL PLUG FOR THE NOTE 8...
I doubt the NOTE 10/X will wow me enough to drop my 8 like a wet sock and bolt to the store. I do figure that it'll be feature-packed since the advances of the 9 weren't anything crazy special. But I'm far from tired of this phone and given what I paid for it, I expect I'll have it long enough to have to perform the inevitable battery replacement surgery before I finally upgrade.
I believe the Whitestone protection will help me stay that course. :good: