Broken iPod Touch: Repair or replace?
(Credit:CBS Interactive)
Is there a worse feeling than seeing youriPod Touch smack the ground and hearing the unmistakable crack of glass?
Just one: picking up the iPod and realizing the screen is shattered top-to-bottom. that was one expensive attack of gravity.
This happened to my daughter not long ago, resulting in a fourth-gen iPod Touch that, remarkably, still worked, but really wasn’t usable anymore owing to the spider web of cracked glass.
As the household cheapskate, I figured it would be cheaper to repair the unit than buy a new one. after all, a current 32GB iPod Touch sells new for $299 and refurbished one for $249.
Sure enough, a quick check of eBay revealed “4th-gen iPod Touch glass digitizer touchscreens” for as little as $12 — repair tools included. Sold!
Heh, heh, too bad for the suckers paying $70, $80, even $100 to have their iPods fixed by professionals. I can operate a screwdriver; how hard could the job be?
Before I could find out, I discovered that I’d wasted $12. although only the Touch’s glass was broken, the 4th-gen model is designed in such a way that it’s permanently adhered to the LCD beneath it. even though the latter was still functioning, some online research revealed that it’s close to impossible to replace just the glass. Crud.
(As I understand it, and as detailed in Donald Bell’s story on fixing a cracked iPod Touch screen, earlier-generation models weren’t like this. You could replace just the glass.)
So then I went shopping for a replacement “LCD screen digitizer assembly” (i.e. the whole kit and kaboodle) — and found one (again on Ebay) for around $26 shipped. Still a bargain compared with hiring a pro and paying a huge markup for the parts.
When that kit arrived, I watched a couple YouTube videos demonstrating the screen-replacement process. they made it look fairly easy, but it’s not — especially if the screen is really busted up, which mine was. I ended up removing a lot of individual shards of glass before finally getting the main assembly pried loose.
From there I discovered that a lighted, freestanding magnifying glass is a must. The iPod Touch, a miracle of modern engineering, is packed with tiny components, including screws that are downright molecular.
It took me nearly 2 hours of careful, painstaking work to disassemble the unit, connect the new screen, and put it together again — only to discover that something didn’t work right. The screen lit up, but with only a blank white image.
Was it defective? had I shorted something out? Torn one of the paper-thin ribbon cables? There was no way to know. All I had to show for my work was a lot of frustration and a disappointed daughter.
Moral of the story: unless you’re really adept with tiny electronics, it probably makes sense to pay a pro to handle the repair. that said, I found a couple shops in my area that were willing to do the labor for $20-30 if I supplied the part. given what I paid on Ebay for the replacement LCD, that would get me out the door for around $55 — maybe less.
Of course, even if you pay a service like DigiExpress or Rapid Repair upwards of $100 for the parts and service, it’s still quite a bit less than the price of a new iPod.
Have you ever attempted an iPod oriPhone screen repair on your own? if so, how did it go?
Broken iPod Touch: Repair or replace?
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Categories: iPod, iPhone, Xbox 360 Tags: 4th gen ipod, cbs, crack, household, ipods, touchscreens
Jim Parsons is eligible for big bangs
Is it me or is may 2012 turning out to be the gayest month in history?
Between John Travolta‘s troubles, the possible outings of Queen Latifah and Raven Symone, President Obama and VP Biden expressing their support for marriage equality, the death of a gay icon (rest always, Ms. Summer), the birth of a gay marriage via comics and Adam Lambert becoming the first openly gay man to have a number one album on the Billboard 200 (this week with his second release “Trespassing” — which you ALL need to hear), it’s starting to feel like we’re getting gay pride month somewhat early.
Of course as a gay boy myself, I express no complaints, but it is a little crazy… and now, we get to add a little “Bang” for your buck.
Jim Parsons, who portrays the geeky, awkward and yet somewhat lovable Sheldon Cooper on CBS’ hit comedy, “the Big Bang Theory” (see what I did there) has admitted in a profile for the NY Times that he has not only come out of his “glass closet” (it’s been open knowledge for years), but has also been in a relationship with a man for the past 10 years.
Parsons, 39 (yes, that’s his real age) is currently preparing to star in a Broadway revival of the play “Harvey” while on hiatus from “Big Bang”; the series that has given him two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe for best Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy.
Who runs the world? GAYS!PR Photos 
Jim Parsons is eligible for big bangs
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Categories: New York City Jobs Tags: biden, billboard 200, cbs, john travolta, marriage equality, queen latifah
Bret Michaels Settles Lawsuit After Injury at Tony Awards
Sarah Conard/Associated Press Bret Michaels
The curtain has come down on a lawsuit filed against the organizers of the Tony Awards and CBS by Bret Michaels, who said he had been injured by a piece of scenery in the awards show but has reached a settlement in the case, The associated Press reported.
Mr. Michaels, the frontman of the rock group Poison, was performing in the opening number of the 2009 Tony Awards show at Radio City Music Hall when a descending backdrop hit him on the head as he was leaving the stage. Mr. Michaels, who broke his nose and received three stitches in his lip, filed suit against the producers of the Tonys show, saying he was not warned about the set change in the opening number and that his injury contributed to a brain hemorrhage he was treated for in 2010. his lawsuit also named CBS, which shows the Tonys ceremony, saying the network did not have to broadcast his accident, which became a widely circulated video clip on the Internet.
A lawyer for Mr. Michaels told The a.P. that terms of the settlement would not be disclosed, adding in a statement, “Mr. Michaels would like to thank his fans for their continued support.” a joint statement from the Tonys producers and CBS said that “an amicable resolution” had been reached.
Bret Michaels Settles Lawsuit After Injury at Tony Awards
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Categories: News and Events Tags: associated press, cbs, producers, video clip
PA Governer Tom Corbett Is Rooting For The Penguins Over The Flyers In The NHL Playoffs
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Did you vote for Tom Corbett? are you a Flyers fan? if you answered yes to those questions, get ready to possibly regret that vote.
In an interview with the Bubba Show on 100.7 Star in Pittsburgh, Corbett said he’s pulling for the Penguins on their opening round NHL playoff series against the Flyers. ““When I moved to Pittsburgh as a little boy, 6 years old, I started rooting for the Pittsburgh Hornets, before the Penguins were in existence and I’ve been rooting for the Penguins ever since and you don’t change your decisions,” he said.
Then, when asked if that means he’s pulling for Pittsburgh, Corbett said “absolutely.”
The Flyers lead the series three games to one. Game five is tonight, and can be heard on 94WIP and 610WIP.
You can listen to the entire interview with Corbett at this link.
PA Governer Tom Corbett Is Rooting For The Penguins Over The Flyers In The NHL Playoffs
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Categories: New York City Jobs Tags: cbs, existence, game, governer, hornets, tom corbett
Excitement Builds Up For Mega Millions Drawing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Pennsylvania Lottery could award the largest prize in the state’s history if a single jackpot-winning ticket, worth an estimated annuity value of $290 million, is purchased for Friday night’s drawing.
Tonight’s drawing will be the eighth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.
“Large jackpots always generate a lot of excitement as people take advantage of the opportunity to ‘dream Mega’ and have fun anticipating the potential impact of a multi-million-dollar jackpot,” Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci said. “We advise players to buy their Mega Millions tickets early to avoid the last-minute rush.”
Tickets for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing will be available until 9:59 p.m. at more than 9,000 Lottery retailers statewide.
“What’s most exciting to us is that $24.8 million in sales for this Mega Millions run have generated more than $7.4 million in funding for programs benefiting Pennsylvania’s older residents,” Rucci said.
The current Mega Millions jackpot run began Friday, Jan. 27. there hasn’t been a jackpot winner in all of the 16 draws, and tonight’s drawing is the 17th in the current run.
The largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery is a $115.5 million Super 7 jackpot from the April 26, 1989, drawing that was shared among 14 winning tickets. The largest Pennsylvania Lottery prize awarded to a single winning ticket was the $110.3 million Powerball jackpot from may 8, 2004, claimed by a new Jersey couple.
Excitement Builds Up For Mega Millions Drawing
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Categories: News and Events Tags: 5 million, cbs, draws, pennsylvania lottery, Philadelphia, super 7
