The latest Apple news from the experts in Mac, iPhone, iPod, and iPad Repair. This blog covers everything from new repair guide releases to tips and tricks to the latest take aparts on the newest gadgets.
June 2nd, 2011
In our previous post, we talked about the number of screws and various locations of screws in the upper EMI shield on the iPhone 4. This is probably the most popular of the iPhones that Apple has released to date. A large part of this is likely due to Verizon finally adding the iPhone 4 to it’s arsenal of mobile devices. As we mentioned in the previous article, there are a variety of repairs that a user can complete on the iPhone, of which the most popular would likely be the Glass and LCD replacement. This is likely due to the solid glass front and back design. When you dig into the iPhone 4, one thing that stands out is how tiny everything is inside, and how well designed the phone is. Below, we have placed some images depicting screw locations, and comparative images of the various screws in the iPhone 4, which you can use along side the Take Apart guides to complete a variety of repairs on the iPhone 4.
This is an image of the upper EMI shield and the screws which accompany this particular part. You can see the specific screw locations by reading the previous post on this topic.
This is the dock connector cable and accompanying EMI shield which is held in place by two small screws. Notice the orientation of the EMI shield, and how the shield has a small notch which is seated on the left hand side.
This is the EMI shield and the screws removed, oriented in the appropriate manner. When disassembling the iPhone 4, you should be very careful to keep track of the various screws, and their location. You can use simple tricks such as making a loop out of masking tape, so that the sticky side is facing out. Then you can adhere the tape to your work area, and place the screws on the tape so that they do not roll away.
Once you have removed the Dock Connector Cable EMI Shield, you can peel the cable back, and expose the screws that are numbered here. 1 holds the lower portion of the Logic Board. 2 holds the battery connector, and a small EMI shield, and 3 holds the speaker assembly in place.
As you can see, these are the three screws, labeled to coordinate with the image above.
We will complete the listing of the screw locations in the next post, however, as always, if the repairs look to be more than you feel comfortable completing, you can always send a repair into us by scheduling one on our site. If you would like more information about our repair services, you can follow this link.
Tags: apple, battery, glass, iphone, LCD, logic, mac, repair, Repairs
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
June 2nd, 2011
For those of us who flocked to Apple’s flag-ship phone this past summer, and have had reason to open it up, or for those of us who FINALLY saw our carrier pick up one of the most versatile phones on the market, we have decided to make a simple guide to show you the correct placement for the myriad of screws in this tiny miracle of technology. There are a variety of repairs that can be completed on these phones, and while most of the repairs simply require a Phillips #00 screwdriver, on some newer models you will need a specialized screwdriver, which you can find here:
iPhone 4 Pentalobe Screwdriver
The first area we will cover is the upper EMI shield, where there are 7 screws of varying lengths and sizes. The pictures below will assist in determining which screws go where in reassembly.
As you can see in the pictures, these screws are all different sizes and can quite easily get confused. When approaching repairs in the iPhone 4, you can end up with far more issues than when you initially started, if you are not careful. The upper EMI shield protects the camera, and various other elements from kicking out interference causing issues with the reception of the phone.
This shield would be removed in order to complete repairs such as replacing the front display, the headphone board, and the induction flex cable. These are all complex repairs, and should not be taken lightly. If you decide to take them on, you can use the instructional guides on our website to complete the repair, however, if you feel this is out of the realm of your comfort zone, we also offer send in repair services. Below are links to various parts and tools that you can get from our site to complete the repair, along with a link to our take apart guide.
Tools:
Phillips #00
Flat Pry Tool
Parts:
iPhone 4 Digitizer and LCD Panel
iPhone 4 Earpiece Speaker
iPhone 4 Headphone Board
iPhone 4 Induction Flex Cable
Take Apart Guide
iPhone 4 Take Apart Guide
Of course, if you feel any of these repairs are beyond your capabilities, you can always send your phone in here: http://www.powerbookmedic.com/xcart1/schedule.php
Tags: apple, digitizer, display, ipad, iphone, LCD, parts, repair, Repairs
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
May 13th, 2011
When it comes to enjoying your gadgets, battery life is something that most of us should take into consideration. Many of us don’t realize how simple it is to prolong the performance and lifespan of our devices, but should take a little time to learn more about them. Whether it is an iPhone, a MacBook, an iPad, or an iPod, the battery life will affect how we use them, and here are a few tips to help:
1. Most of these devices use a Lithium-Polymer Battery, which are commonly found in most electronics these days. In previous generation batteries, they were primarily composed of Nickel-Cadmium combination, and would perform best if the battery was completely discharged before recharging. If the battery was recharged repeatedly without fully discharging, an effect commonly referred to as battery memory would occur. This means that the battery would “remember” having a smaller capacity, due to only having part of the capacity recharged. Lithium-Polymer batteries are extremely versatile, and one of the major advantages of these, is that they do not have a “memory” of charging, and therefore, can be charged safely without completely discharging the battery, without any ill effect, or lost capacity. According to Apple these batteries work best when charged and then used and then charged again.
2. These batteries perform best when kept in a stable temperature environment, ranging from 50°F-95°F. This means no constant use in the Sahara, or in the Antarctic. If you are storing the battery for an extended period of time, store the battery with a 40% charge, in a cool environment, which will allow for optimum conditions to prevent the battery from deteriorating.
3. Optimal settings: With all your devices, there are settings that can affect overall performance. On your phones, iPods, and laptops, if you are not using the Bluetooth or WiFi, turn those off. The device will continue searching for connections when they are not connected. You can also adjust the brightness settings, to slow the consumption of the battery power. Also, if so equipped, many devices have a built-in energy saver function that will dim, or power off the display after so many minutes of non-use, or put the device to sleep.
4. Consistent use is probably the most important factor in keeping the batteries in these devices healthy. Apple has stated that keeping the electrons circulating in these Lithium-Polymer batteries will help keep the life-span of these devices in good running condition better than any other steps you can take.
If you find that the battery life on your current device is not meeting the standards that you kept when the device was new, it may not hurt to see about having your battery replaced. Below is a link to some of the numerous types of batteries we sell.
Replacement Batteries
Tags: apple, battery, display, ipad, iphone, ipod, mac, Macbook, memory
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
April 29th, 2011
== Update 5/3 4:00 PM CST ==
This will be our last update. Power has been restored to our facility and we are now running normal operations.
Thanks to our customers for their thoughts, prayers, and patience during this difficult time.
A big thanks again to our team who worked tirelessly on generator power for the last few days despite not having any power at their own homes. We’ve got one of the best teams anywhere, and it’s a pleasure to work next to them.
== Update 5/3 9:00AM CST ==
While we remain without power, our phone system is now back online. We will try to run as close to normal operations as possible today on generator power. If you need to call in, please be patient. Our phone systems have been offline for nearly 6 days and we’ll likely experience a very large call volume today.
== Update 5/2 5:00 PM CST ==
While our facilty remains without utility based power, we were able to ship over 300 orders today on generator power and get caught up on order processing. We are hoping power will be restored this evening. However, if it is not, we will still try to bring limited phone support up tomorrow.
I’d like to give a special thanks to our incredible team…many of whom were here from sunup to past closing to try to get as much caught up as possible in the wake of this tornado outbreak. Today was hot, miserable, and the sound of the generators deafening, but we persevered. Thank you team.
To our customers, thank you for your continued patience and understanding. We’re getting as much done as is humanly possible on limited resources. Thanks for hanging in there with us.
To the gang at iFixit, thanks for the offer to buy our team lunch. That simple act personifies the good in this world, and we appreciate the guesture beyond words.
== Update 5/2 9:00 AM CST ==
We do now have limited power at our facility. Phone support is still down, but we are able to process and ship orders now. You can place orders now and not have to worry about any delays. If you need support, we do still have email, so please contact us via email if you have any questions or concerns about your order.
Also, thank you for all of the emails and comments with your support for our situation in the aftermath of these tornados. We do cherish all of our customers.
== Update 4/30 11:00 AM CST ==
Power is scheduled to be restored to our facility on Monday afternoon based on today’s assessment. As soon as power is restored, we will be working around the clock to fill orders and answer support requests.
== Update 4/29 10:00 AM CST ==
We attempted to run on generators today, only to find that our internet service provider is still non-functional. Our employees have been dispersed to areas with power and will be attempting to answer support tickets and emails.
We are being told that power should be restored by Monday afternoon. We will try to continue to post updates to the blog and facebook.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
======================
The Alabama Tornado outbreak has temporarily severely disrupted our operation abilities. Our facily which is located in Huntsville, Alabama remains without power at this time. We have been given a 5-7 day time frame for power to be restored. We will try to run a skeleton crew with generators on Friday for critical operations.
All of our staff is ok, however many of our neighbors were not so lucky. The devastation left is widespread and heartwrenching.
We strive for excellent customer service, however, during this time it will be difficult to provide the level of support that you have grown to expect from our company. Please know we ate doing our best, but simple things like getting fuel or even cell phone reception are extremely difficult.
We will try to post updates and photos to the blog and facebook when possible.
Again, thank you for your patience and prayers.
Tags: fix, service
Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments »
April 22nd, 2011
Today we introduced a new feature to the site called the Daily Deal. Every day from 12:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST we’ll have a product available on our site at a significant discount. Snap them up quick, because when the product is sold out, that deal is over.
The product deal can be seen on our homepage every day at www.powerbookmedic.com . We’ll also be posting the daily deal to Facebook and Twitter, so become our fan to get the daily deal on your wall or twitter feed!
The deals will vary from iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories to laptop memory and hard drives, so check back often!
Below is an image of what the Daily Deal looks like on the homepage with the daily deal for today (4/22/2011)
Tags: 3g, 3gs, iphone
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 15th, 2011
============
The accessory giveaway is now over!
Here are the winning comments picked at random. Emails to the winners are going out as we speak.
69 cara Says:
April 16th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
TuneJuice 3, Back-up Battery for iPod & iPhone
78 Lucas Says:
April 21st, 2011 at 7:22 pm
adidas miCoach Armband for iPhone 4 Black for my newly purchase iPhone 4.
23 Andrew Says:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Always a very usefull site thanks.
Adidas miCoach armband for iphone 4 Black.
75 Reid Walker Says:
April 18th, 2011 at 8:03 am
the TuneJuice 3 looks might it might be useful . . .
20Wayne Spitzer Says:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I have always valued your tech support and repair options.
I would welcome the keyboard protector.
============
We’ve been hard at work for the last few weeks adding over 1000 accessories to the site for the Macbook, iPad, iPhone, and iPod. We’re by no means close to being finished with the process, but wanted to give a sneak peek and also give a few of them away.
So, we’re going to give away 5 accessories valued at $30 or less. Which ones? You pick.
Entering is simple:
1.) Find an accessory you want for under $30 from our accessories category at the link below:
Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Accessories
2.) Post a comment to this blog with the name of the accessory you want. Only post once. Multiple entries will not be accepted.
Winners will be picked at random on Friday April 22nd at 12:00 CST. Winners will be notified via email and via our blog.
Here are just a few of the products that we would pick….
TuneJuice 3, Back-up Battery for iPod & iPhone – $25.49
Keyboard Protector for Apple Alum. Unibody Notebook, Black – $25.49
adidas miCoach Armband for iPhone 4 Black – $23.99
Tags: ipad, iphone, ipod
Posted in Uncategorized | 86 Comments »
April 15th, 2011
At Powerbook Medic, we will frequently get calls that cover a wide variety of concerns, however, the most prevalent of these calls are made to help determine what sort of machine a customer may have, or how to choose the appropriate parts that are compatible with their machine. Below are several questions that we hear frequently, and wanted to answer for all of those who were wondering how to determine what machine they may have.
The absolute easiest way to determine what machine you have is to use our ID Your Mac feature at the link below:
ID Your Mac
Below is some other helpful info in determining what machine you have:
With Powerbooks, iBooks, and MacBook Pros, there are a variety of different sizes, in reference to the screen size. Frequently, we talk to customers who believe that their 15″ machine is indeed a 17″ machine. The proper way to measure your screen size, is to measure diagonally, from the upper edge of the viewable display to the opposite lower edge. The different screen sizes are listed below:
- Powerbook G4 12″ – 12.1″
- Powerbook G4 15″ – 15.2″
- Powebook G4 17″ – 17″
- iBook 12″ – 12.1″
- iBook 14″ – 14.1″
- MacBook – 13.3″
- MacBook Pro 13″ – 13.3″
- MacBook Pro 15″ – 15.4″
- MacBook Pro 17″ – 17″
Another question we frequently see is, “How do I know if my iMac G5 has an Ambient Light sensor?” Well, the easiest way to check is to physically look for the sensor. If your iMac is equipped with one, it will be located under the frame of the display, near the RAM bay. For more detailed information, see this article.
Another popular question is, “Where do I find my serial number?” If your machine is running, the easiest way to determine this would be to click on the Apple menu (the small Apple Logo on the upper left-hand corner of the screen, and choose the option that reads, About This Mac. Once that window appears, click the button that reads More Information. In the window that opens, you will be able to see the amount of RAM installed, the serial number and numerous other tidbits of useful information. If your machine does not boot, you may find the serial number is located under the battery on older model MacBook Pros, and it will be engraved on the bottom pan on newer models. On iBooks, it will be located under the keyboard, and on iMacs, it should be on a stick on the base of the machine.
If you do not need to find the serial number, but would like to find your model number, you can simply look on the base of your machine, where it should read in small writing, “Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in… Model A_____…” You can use either the model number or the serial number on this page to load a cookie in your browser to choose the correct parts for your machine. Once you register your device, when you come to a page with multiple options for different model numbers, it will highlight the options that are compatible with your machine, to simplify the ordering process.
Tags: apple, battery, display, imac, key, mac, Macbook, Macbook Pro, parts, powerbook g4, screen, serial number
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 1st, 2011
We have, over the last few years, had numerous requests for a more detailed instructions on how to separate the glass and digitizer from the iPhone 3G and 3G(S), from the midboard. This is a relatively simple process, however, we have seen numerous instances where customers have damaged their LCDs, the ear speaker, or torn cables in the process of trying to complete this repair. We would encourage you, the reader, to check out the instructional video with this blog, before attempting the repair, and then deciding if this is something you would like to attempt. If it appears to be too daunting, we offer a send-in repair service, which you can take advantage of by scheduling a repair here. If you would like to proceed, the first thing will be to proceed with gathering your tools and replacement parts. For this repair, we would recommend the following:
Replacement Glass
3G Glass and Digitizer
3G(S) Glass and Digitizer
Tools
Philips #00
iPad Takeapart Tool
iPhone Double-sided Adhesive
Once you have gathered the appropriate tools and parts, we can proceed with disassembling the phone. You can follow the first step on this video , and then proceed to follow the steps below. You will remove the six screws that surround the LCD frame, holding the LCD in the frame. These are held in place with small Philips head screws. Once you have removed them, you can then use a flat pry tool such as the iPad Takeapart tool, to separate the LCD from the Glass and Midboard. You want to take extra precaution on this step, so as not to damage the LCD in the removal. Set the LCD gently to the side, and then firmly grasp the frame of the midboard as detailed in the video, and put firm pressure on the glass to create a little separation between the midboard and glass.You can then work the iPad Takeapart tool between the plastic and the Glass to gently separate the two. Once you have some separation, you should be able to gently peal the glass away from the midboard. You will want to take caution in working around the home button and the cable coming from the earpiece and the ambient light sensor, so as not to damage those parts. Once you have separated the Glass and midboard, you will want to clear the midboard of any residual adhesive and shattered glass, so that you have a clean base to work on. You can then either use the Double sided adhesive or a couple of small dots of superglue to hold the new Glass and Digitizer in place. You will also want to take precautions to thread the cable on the new glass in the center of the midboard, where the LCD will sit. This will insure that the cables will seat properly, once the display assembly is reinstalled. From here, you would reseat the LCD in the midboard frame, replace the six screws you removed, and reassemble the iPhone. Now you have completed the replacement of the Glass and Digitizer on your iPhone.
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Tags: 3g, 3gs, digitizer, display, glass, ipad, iphone, iphone 3g, LCD, parts, repair, screen
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
March 25th, 2011
It seems like no matter how many times we encourage people to use a password or passcode that is easy to remember, people tend to still forget what they had set. There are a few methods that can be used to rectify this problem, and we will address a couple of them here:
1. Sync the device to the computer you most recently synced it with. If you forget your passcode, you will be prompted to try again in a minute, and then again in longer intervals until you will have no other option but to sync it with the computer on which it was last synced.
2. When in doubt, restore. In the event that you do not have access to the machine which your iDevice was last synced, you can place your device into what is called restore mode. This can be accomplished by following these steps. First, hold the sleep button and home button until the device powers off. Once the Apple appears on the boot screen, you can release the sleep button, but you would need to continue to hold the home button down while the device continues to boot. Once the device has finished booting, you should see a dock connector cable and an iTunes logo on the screen. At this point, you can connect the device to the computer, and iTunes will detect the device, and let you know that you will need to restore it. Once you have completed the restore in iTunes, you will have the opportunity to either restore your files from a backup, or to set the device up as a new device. With any apps you have previously purchased, you will be able to re-download them without being charged for them a second time.
3. If the previous process does not work, you can also attempt to try the following: Hold down the sleep button until the “Slide to Power Off” message appears on the display. Power off the device by sliding the bar to the right. Once your device is off, you can hold the home button, and connect the device to the computer using the USB dock connector cable. This should prompt the device to power back on. Continue to hold the home button while the device continues to power on. Once it powers on, you should have the iTunes logo, with a dock connector cable on the display, indicating that you should connect the device to your iTunes. You can now proceed to restore your device as described above.
If these steps are not successful in helping you to get your iDevice back to working, feel free to contact our Repairs Department to see how they may be able to assist you in getting your gadget back to working. If you would like to learn more about our repair offerings, you can check out some of our services here.
Tags: apple, display, ipad, iphone, ipod, mac, repair, Repairs, screen
Posted in iPad Repair, iPhone Parts Discussions | 1 Comment »
March 23rd, 2011
Today we released our Sony PSP 1000 repair guide video. This video covers the entire disassembly of the PSP 1000. It will show you how to completely disassemble the PSP 1000 to replace components such as the LCD, UMD Drive, etc…
We also began selling PSP 1000 and 2000 Parts at the link below:
Sony PSP Parts
To view the video on our Repair Guide site, click on the link below:
Sony PSP 1000 Repair Guide
The video is also embedded below:
This text will be replaced
Tags: display, LCD, mac, parts, repair, screen
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
