After the Apple iPad announcement, we received a lot of questions about the potential of this device to be repaired. We are not sure how complex this device is, or how modular the replacement parts will be. What we do know is that we will support all models of the Apple iPad for repairs and diagnostics. Judging by the design, we are sure that there will be several replaceable parts such as the iPad LED back-lit screen, iPad mainboard, iPad battery, and more.

iPad repair, iPad screen repair, iPad parts, iPad battery upgrade, iPad memory upgrade, iPad headphone jack replacement.

As you can see, the iPad looks like an iPod touch on steroids.   Just a larger version with the assumption that most parts inside will be serviceable.

Check back for our tear-down guide when the iPad is released, we will have detailed info on how to repair the iPad Wifi + 3G model & the iPad wifi only model.

Please discuss the iPad in our forums: http://www.rapidrepair.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=41

iPad repair parts will be located on our site: http://www.rapidrepair.com/shop/apple-ipad-repair.html

Here’s a list of the iPad’s features:

• Storage: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive
• Size: 9.5 x 7.5 inches; 0.5 inch thick
• Weight: 1.5 pounds Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds Wi-Fi + 3G model
• Battery: Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer 10 hour battery
• Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
• Network: Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
• 3G: UMTS/HSDPA; GSM/EDGE
• External Monitor: Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
• Audio: supported formats include AAC (up 320 Kbps), Protected AAC, MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
• Display: 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
• Input and Output: Dock connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, Built-in speakers, Microphone, SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

The folks at Rapid Repair recently took apart a new PSP Go, and took a look at its insides.  The instructions are on their website complete with a bunch of pictures.  You can click on them and see all the details.  If you are doing a repair on your PSP Go (read this statement:  IF YOU ARE DOING A REPAIR, YOU WILL INVALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY), check there for the step by step on how to crack it open without busting it.

http://www.rapidrepair.com/guides/psp-go/psp-go-repair-guide.html

The original article can be found here.

Rapid Repair is generally in the business of fixing iPods. But when Microsoft released the slick little Zune HD music player on Sept. 16, Rapid Repair promptly tore one apart to take a look at its insides. The Zune HD’s most highly touted features are its touch-screen—which Rapid Repair advises against marring up with fingerprints, once you pull it off its frame—HD Radio, a Web browser with an on-screen QWERTY keyboard, wireless connectivity, a Quickplay feature that offers shortcuts to favorite apps, and support for 720-pixel HD movies, TV and videos. The 32GB model is capable of storing 8,000 songs or 10 hours of HD video from the Zune Marketplace. In all, Rapid Repair found the Zune HD to share a few features with the Apple iPod Touch and Nano, and applauded its very replaceable parts—perfect for butter-fingered users.

Please see link below for full video of teardown.

The original article can be found here.

One user said he was surprised but not overly concerned by his “warm-to-pretty-hot” iPhone, while another said her 3GS got so hot that she was afraid to hold it up against her face. Is a recall in order?The story first cropped over the weekend, with a few owners of the white iPhone 3GS noticing that their handsets were running a bit too hot—so hot, in fact, that brownish patches (scorch marks?) were starting to appear on the glossy white backs of their phones.

Then a few tech editors began feeling the heat. Melissa J. Perenson of PC World wrote that her black iPhone 3GS got “very, very hot” if she used it while it was plugged into its AC charger—indeed, “toasty doesn’t even describe hot surprisingly hot it got … it was too hot to even put the phone against my face.”

Next, cranky PC World columnist David Coursey noticed that his iPhone felt “warm-to-pretty-hot” on “several occasions,” although he doesn’t feel the overheating problems are “terribly serious, just surprising.” Meanwhile, a MacNN writer with a white iPhone 3GS “encountered the [overheating] problem independently,” and confirmed some “discoloration” on the back.

Wired’s Gadget Lab talked to Aaron Vronko of Rapid Repair, who thinks “faulty battery cells” are the problem and that a recall might be necessary. “If you have a problem in the design of a series of batteries, it’s probably going to be spread to tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, and maybe more,” Vronko told Wired.

OK, but how widespread is the problem, really? Hard to say. For its part, Wired pegs the figure at a “small number.” I have the black 32GB iPhone 3GS, and so far I haven’t noticed any overheating problems at all (or at least nothing out of the ordinary). I also did a quick check of the support forums on Apple.com and Macrumors and only found a few sporadic threads—in fact, I’d say people are more upset about the 3GS’s battery life than overheating issues.

Still, you never know, and the problem might blow up in Apple’s face—literally—if someone’s iPhone 3GS battery explodes.

As Coursey writes, “A mass iPhone recall isn’t likely, but it isn’t impossible, either. Just see what happens if an iPhone catches fire.” Well said.

So, any iPhone 3GS owners out there having any overheating problems? Seeing any brown discoloration on the while model? Let us know.

The original article can be found here.

The Technician notes:
There are a several major hardware updates and design changes in the new 4th Generation iPod Nano.  The lens over the LCD is now glass instead of plastic, and instead of being glued in place, it is held by a recess inside the case and pressure from the LCD screen.  The design of the parts inside and how they connect has been changed.  The CW, LCD and hold switch interconnects are easily damaged, especially without experience servicing the unit.  If you plan on working on this unit yourself, make sure you are extra careful during the disassembly process!

The Technician states:
It seems as if Apple cannot decide on a design for the iPod Nano.  They have done away with the shorter, wider 3rd Generation “Nano Fatty” in favor of the 2nd Generation form factor, but with a “fish-shaped” top view.  They have kept the 3rd gen video capability alive with the addition of the tilt feature, so you can turn the unit to its side to watch video.  While the outside may look like a revision of an earlier iPod Nano model, the inside has been completely revamped.  Apple changed the chips used, the features offered, and layout of the parts.  The layout of the hardware seems to be an almost overt attempt to make the 4th Gen Nano nearly impossible to service without the experience of a professional.  Overall, it looks like a cool new unit, that is very different from its predecessors and Apple is showing that it really hasn’t found a design they love enough to stick with.

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Prepare

Tools required:

• Small Phillips Screw Driver
• Small Flathead or exacto razor
• Safe Open Tool
• Repair Toolkit available HERE

Gather all neccesary tools and place your iPod Nano 4G on a clean flat surface, use a soft cloth or towel to place under it.

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