In most games, dying is a bad thing. You have to start all over again, or at least revert to the last save point and lose some progress. Not so in Survival Lab: in this pixelated gem you play as a lone individual pitted against ruthless weapons in a sealed chamber. You have to run, jump and duck, collecting little yellow things (I have no idea what they're called). For each donut-like yellow thing you pick up, you gain a bit of experience. If you manage to collect several in a row without getting hit, this counts as a combo. You can see my mad combo skills in the screenshot, of course. Collecting combos is a good thing, because a ten-point combo gives you for more experience than just collecting ten dounts one by one (getting hit in-between). Having experience is useful, because once you die, you get to a screen where you can upgrade your skills. You can learn to run faster, double-jump (and then double-jump higher), and duck. You can also gain more armour so that getting hit won't kill you so quickly. What makes this simple game so addictive is that when you die, your experience doesn't reset. You just go back to the same level, or another level of your choosing, and keep accumulating more and more experience. Lots of fun, especially if you're into the whole retro-gaming thing.
Details are scarce, but Reuters is reporting that Samsung has, in fact, submitted a complaint against the iPhone 5 and lumped it in with an existing lawsuit in California. Let the games... continue! More »
Tumblr will be covering tomorrow's presidential debate in the best way possible—by live-GIFfing it. And suddenly, the election became almost tolerable. More »
Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 ushers in the post-PenTile era
In the past, most SuperAMOLED smartphone screens have used a "PenTile" matrix pattern for the subpixels that make up each dot on the display. This pattern of tiny LEDs in an RGBG (red, green, blue, green) layout can improve battery life compared to regular RGB, but may also be prone to discolored whites and jagged edges in text and other UI elements. The difference isn't always pronounced -- the Galaxy S3, for example, has one of the better-looking PenTile displays we've tested. However, in the past it's been a compromise you've had to deal with if you want a Samsung phone with a bright, high-contrast SuperAMOLED screen.
The Galaxy Note 2 is a bit different. Samsung's latest 5.5-inch monster phone makes a clean break from the PenTile past, introducing in an HD SuperAMOLED display with a more traditional RGB subpixel arrangement (the kind used in most LCD displays). That results in more subpixels making up each individual pixel, and in a more regular pattern. And that means there's less discoloration and sharper lines on-screen.
Interestingly, the Note 2's RGB subpixel arrangement isn't quite a standard RGB stripe -- it's got a red and green subpixel stacked on top of each other, with a larger (but darker) blue subpixel to the left. There's been some speculation that this setup allows for extra longevity, as blue AMOLEDs tend to burn out more quickly than other colors -- and so a larger, darker blue subpixel would last longer. We've yet to see any official confirmation of this theory, but at the very least, the larger blue subpixel doesn't seem to adversely affect color balance on the Note 2.
We've included an example of two icons above to show some of the differences. On the Galaxy S3 there are noticeably fewer subpixels making up the image, and some noticeable greenish-blue discoloration. The RGB-toting Note 2 produces a much sharper, more natural image. For a more detailed view, click the image above for an expanded view.
Needless to say our time with the Galaxy Note 2 has us excited for the future of AMOLED displays. If you find yourself anywhere near a Note 2 in-store demo unit anytime soon, you'll definitely want to check it out for yourself.
That's right, iMore has teamed up with The Pod Drop to show you how to take apart a brand new iPhone 5, and even replace a cracked or broken screen if you're somehow not covered by AppleCare or warranty, now or in the future.
Sacrificing an iPhone 5 for science
Fortunately, none of us were clumsy enough to break our iPhones by accident (yet!). Unfortunately, that means in order to show you how the DIY repair is done, we had to break one on purpose. We captured the moment. (Purely for science, of course.)
Disclaimer: As with any repair, neither iMore nor The Pod Drop can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It’s also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don’t feel comfortable opening your device, don’t. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.
What you need to DIY replace a cracked screen on an iPhone 5
Razor blade - Buy now (You can also use any straight edge razor blade you pick up at your local hardware store.)
Video walkthrough
Our video will walk you through disassembly to reassembly. Even though it's possible to perform this repair using only the video, we highly suggest reading the written walkthrough and viewing the high quality images below. Both guides are meant to compliment each other so we suggest reading and watching both before actually performing the repair.
Power off your iPhone 5
Before performing any repair, you should always turn your iPhone completely off by holding down the Power Button and using the Slide to power off feature. Once the iPhone has completely turned off, you can move on to the next step.
Remove the two security screws in the dock connector
There are two security screws on either side of the Lightning connector port. Use your security screwdriver to remove them.
Remove the damaged display
There are two methods for removing the display. If you've cracked the bottom pretty badly you may find it hard to get a seal with a suction cup. We'll walk you through both ways of removing the display.
Suction cup method
This is the method we recommend and the one you should use if you can get a seal. If not, use the straight edge razor method below.
Position your suction cup firmly above the Home button.
Gently pull upwards while holding the phone down with your other hand.
The display is in there pretty good so you'll have to apply quite a bit of strength to pull it out. Just make sure you keep your hand over the top of the iPhone as you don't want to completely pull the display off. There are still cables attached underneath.
Once the display has dislodged from the device, swing it upwards to expose the cables connecting it underneath.
Move on to the next section.
Straight edge razor blade method
If the bottom of your iPhone 5 screen has shattered badly, it'll be next to impossible to get a good enough seal to pry it up. You'll need a straight edged razor blade for this method. Be careful and work slowly not only so you don't damage the iPhone but more importantly, so you don't cut or hurt yourself.
Start at either side of the Home button and carefully work the razor blade between the frame and the glass.
Slowly pry upwards until you get an edge freed enough that you can slip a pry tool or spudger in between.
Now set the razor blade aside and continue to work around the bottom and bottom edges until you free the display from the frame.
Do not pull it straight upwards but instead, swing it upwards as there are still cables attached at the top we need to remove.
Remove the iPhone 5 display panel
There's a silver shield covering the LCD and digitizer cables. Remove the three screws holding the shield in place with your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone 5.
Now you have a clear view of the cables holding the display assembly to the logic board. Use your spudger or pry tool to carefully pry all three cables from the logic board.
You can now lift the front digitizer and LCD assembly off the device.
Ready the new iPhone 5 display
Odds are your new replacement display will come stripped down to nothing but the display assembly. We'll need to remove some pieces off the old cracked display to place on the new display before laying the new assembly in place.
Remove the display shield, earpiece shield, and earpiece assembly
There are a total of eight screws holding the display and earpiece shield in place. They are outlined in the picture below. Remove all eight screws using your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Now use your pry tool or spudger to carefully lift up the display shield off the back of the display. The best way is to slip your pry tool beneath the shield at the bottom on either side of the Home button. The shield will easily lift off.
Now remove the earpiece shield at the top by lifting it off and setting it aside.
The actual earpiece assembly sits directly below the shield and will easily lift off as well. Set it aside.
Remove the front-facing camera and sensor cable
The front-facing camera and sensor cable sits to the left of where the earpiece assembly was and lines the top of the device. We need to remove it.
Carefully lift it up but notice the kink in the cable underneath the front-facing camera. The noise canceling mic is pushed into the display assembly. Pop it out carefully.
The rest of the cable is only held in with a tiny bit of adhesive. Carefully peel it back to finish removing the cable from the display assembly.
Remove the Home button assembly
Remove the two screws on either side of the Home button assembly using your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Start lifting the Home button shield starting on the left side but don't pull completely up yet.
On the right hand side you'll see a contact that's stuck to the display assembly that runs on the Home button shield. Use your finger or pry tool to carefully break the adhesive.
Set the Home button shield aside.
Now we've just got to remove the actual Home button. Simply push the Home button up from the front of the assembly and use your pry tool or a metal spatula to loosen the gasket on the back side. The Home button should come free pretty easily.
Transfer the removed components to the new iPhone 5 display assembly
Now that we've removed everything from the old assembly, we can transfer it to the new, unbroken assembly. In order to do this, just follow the above directions in reverse order or refer to our video where we'll walk you through readying the new assembly.
Once you've finished readying the new assembly, continue on.
Replace the iPhone 5 display assembly
Start by securing the three cables back to the logic board.
Replace the logic board shield cover over the cables and secure it with the three screws we originally removed using your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
There are plastic clips that run along the top of the display assembly like you can see below. These need to sit underneath the inside of the frame.
Starting from the top make sure you slide the clips in place and carefully work your way around the edges of the display applying even pressure to snap the display into place.
Replace the dock connector screws
Use your security screwdriver to replace the two screws on either side of the Lightning connector port.
And ...done!
Now that you've finished reassembling your iPhone 5 you can go ahead and turn it back on by pressing and holding down the power button until you see the Apple logo.
If all went well, your iPhone should boot up just fine. Make sure to test the new replacement for dead spots and check the display quality to make sure there are no dead pixels or discoloration. Since you did have to transfer components that control brightness, sound, and the proximity sensor - it's always a good idea to test those functions too so you know you transferred all the components over correctly.
Thanks again to The Pod Drop for all their help. If you don't feel comfortable repairing your own iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, check them out. There are many reputable repair shops that can do it for you, and many times, even offer you a warranty on the repair for far cheaper than what a replacement iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch would cost.
Want to know how to perform another type of iPhone repair or modification? Send me suggestions to ally@imore.com.
Moments ago, Mozilla stripped the release candidate moniker from Firefox 4 Mobile and pronounced it fit for public release. If you have a Nokia N900 phone, or a fairly-modern Android 2.0-or-later device, go ahead and install it from the Market, by using scanning the QR code after the break, or by visiting Firefox.com/m. Accompanying the release is the launch of Spark, a cute social game that's designed to fuel the adoption of Firefox 4 Mobile, much like last week's use of Glow and Twitter Party during Firefox 4 PC's release. While the browser still feels a little rough around the edges, it's definitely worth trying out if you're still using Android's stock browser. Its JavaScript performance is significantly better than any other Android browser, and if you use Firefox on your PC, its built-in Sync functionality is awesome. Over the next few days we'll have plenty of tips and tricks for Firefox 4 Mobile, and a list of the best add-ons available for the new browser.
One of the most requested features for Netflix for iPhone and iPad is the "Just for Kids" section that's available on most other platforms -- and now it's finally here on the iPad! Even better, you don't have to do anything to get it. Netflix pushed a backend update and now you should see a "Just for Kids" button at the top left of the screen next to the Browse button. Unfortunately, Just for Kids is only available on the new iPad and the iPad 2, although Netflix has promised that the first generation iPad should receive support soon. No word yet on Netflix for iPhone.
The Just for Kids section of Netflix is filled with movies and TV shows suitable for children ages 12 and under. It's great for parents because it gives the peace of mind that your child won't accidentally stumble across something inappropriate, and it's great for kids because it's easy for them to find something they like. Keep in mind, however, that there isn't a way to lock your kids into Just for Kids, so adult supervision may still be required.
How many parents out there are excited about Just for Kids for Netflix on the iPad?
Version 5.3 of Skype for Windows has just been released, with the main emphasis of the new release being improved call quality, and the quality of video received by mobile Skype users. Presumably one party of the video call must be using Skype for Windows 5.3, though. Beyond improved call quality, not much has changed. You can now see your friends' presence icons when contact cards are collapsed, and the topic editing button is now always visible on the conversation header. For a complete list of changes, hit up the Skype Garage blog. Download Skype 5.3 for Windows
If you've been itching to get your hands on the new Motorola RAZR i, then from today you can pick it up at Phones 4U both in-store and online. And as an added bonus, Phones 4U will also give you a pair of MOTOROKR S305 headphones free of charge, which is rather nice of them.
We recently reviewed the Motorola RAZR i and found it to be a good, fast, solid handset. But after today's HTC news it would appear the RAZR i is now left a little behind in the specs race. That said, it does have a lot going for it, including a dcent 8MP camera, 2GHz Intel Atom CPU with Hyperthreading technology, and my favorite part -- a 2000mAh battery. Currently running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich you could do a lot worse than Motorola's latest offering.