So I grab my HTC off the bench today and it looks like this:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5039/dscf2296ls3.th.jpg

For those of you who have not seen a HTC before, this is not normal. The LCD is pretty much f***ed, although the touch screen seems to work ok even along the crack and in the white area.

Its pretty much a given that even though I don't remember throwing it at anyone its not gonna be covered under warranty - cracked screens pretty much scream accidental damage. Sniffing around online the repair bill + postage to Melbourne is probably gonna cost me 200 dorras, and brand new the newer series touch phone is worth about 350-400 tops.

Some research says that the touch screen layer and the LCD are seperate components. That explains why the touch screen works when the screen is fubared.

This ebay guy in Hong Kong reckons he can ship me a new screen for fiddy bucks and the funky mobile phone screw drivers will cost me another ten.

Doesn't look took hard (the replacement screen has a plug looking interface) and sure sounds like a good deal. Worst case outcome if it doesn't work I can just give up and buy a shiny new one. Anyone attempted something like this before?

Also what the hell, imageshack knows what model of camera I used to take the pic even after I cropped it in Photoshop? That's pretty cool, and a bit scary..

can't be any harder then replacing an ipod battery, which is easy. i say go for it!

http://images.projectstripe.com/wtfphone.jpg

what an old phone of mine used to do, it made reading a sms fun.

Ive replaced screens on pda's, similar sort of deal. Hardest thing is going to be getting the case off without breaking things, once you get inside its just one ribbon cable to put in and then you have to get it back together.

If your patient and take your time doing it, it shouldnt be too hard.

I guess you gotta work out if you're willing to shell out for the screen, not be able to replace it, and THEN shell out for a new phone.

Yeh that's pretty much it.

I'm still under contract for the phone (very, very stupid idea) so I'll go the screen replacement thingy. Might do a stinky-esque picture post of my adventures :)

Hogfather, I suspect this is how they figure it out

"dcp#####.jpg" - Kodak, range of 0 to 4000
"dsc#####.jpg" - Nikon, range of 0 to 4000
"dscn####.jpg" - Nikon, range of 0 to 4000
"mvc-###.jpg" - Sony Mavica
"mvc#####.jpg" - Sony Mavica
"P101####.jpg" - Olympus, Using default camera date of 101
"PMDD####.jpg" - Olympus, M is in hex from 1 to c, DD is 01-31
"IMG_###.jpg" - Some other camera
"IMAG####.jpg" - RCA and Samsung
"1##-####.jpg" - Canon 1TH-TH## thousands, hundreds
"1##-####_IMG.jpg" - Alternate Canon name. MUCH thanks to Donald
"IMG_####.jpg" - Canon
"_MG_####.jpg" - Canon raw conversion. Thanks to Ira
"dscf####.jpg" - Fuji Finepix
"pdrm####.jpg" - Toshiba PDR
"IM######.jpg" - HP Photosmart
"EX######.jpg" - HP Photosmart timelapse?
"DC####S.jpg" - Kodak DC-40,50,120 S is (L)arge, (M)eduim, (S)mall. Thanks to Pholph
"pict####.jpg" - Minolta Dimage. Thanks to Bram
"P#######.JPG" - Kodak DC290. Thanks to Peter
"MMDD####.JPG" - Casio QV3000 and QV4000. Thanks to Fabian
"YYMDD###.JPG" - Casio QV7000 - M is hex. Thanks to Kimble
"IMGP####.JPG" - Pentax Optio S. Thanks to Matthew
"PANA####.JPG" - Panasonic video camera stills. Thanks to DeAnne
"Image(##).JPG" - Nokia 3650 camera phone. Thanks to usmanc
"DSCI####.JPG" - Polaroid PDC2070. Thanks to David

it's not just because of metadata inside the file, which photoshop respected?

thermite - yeh I didn't change the file name, but it got the model correct as well.

Probably some meta data-y thing like evil Jim said.

why can't you respect me like that jim?

It's called EXIF dudes

And as a respectable photography application, photoshop preserves it.

paveway failing to leave orifices completely intact isn't a sign of disrespect it's just part of savage sex

And if you're wanting to know the power of EXIF, just read here.

Yeah I replaced the LCD on an old XDAIIs a couple of years back and at the time i though it would be an easy task but soldering that micro ribbon cable onto the main PCB was a nightmare!!! I did eventually have success but here's hoping your's just has a clip connector or something...

Head over to XDA developers and take a look at their wiki..

Haha ohs***, soldering?

Oh well the Hong Kong man is sending it to me we'll have to see what happens!