Hello everyone,
I just wanted to share a recent modification done to my Nexus 4. Like many people my rear glass basically spontaneously cracked in a spiderweb pattern across the entire surface of the rear glass. Frustrated I looked and looked for a replacement back possibly made of plastic or some other material...anything but glass!
Unfortunately I could not find what I was after, so I ordered a Nexus 4 rear housing with glass. Once it arrived and installed everything was great except I was constantly worried about the glass shattering again. Now that I had the original back off I could experiment a bit. It took me quite a while to chip all the glass shards away. Using a heat gun softened the adhesive and made it a lot easier. Also the wireless charging coil gave extra frustration to the glass removal, as its flexible and quite fragile.
Eventually all the glass was removed. At first I was thinking of going with wood, but after working with a veneer of Brazilian rosewood I realized that the wood was so thin that it was going to be a real pain to work with to get a precision form.
I really like the look of carbon fiber so I searched and found a piece of carbon fiber laminate 1/32" thick (.030" when measured). It came 3" wide and 12" long. I rough cut the basic shape with a band saw and then sanded the edge down to a 2.445" width. I then used a fine hand file to create the arched corners and ends. Eventually I got the perfect shape and then used a carbide end mill to create the holes for camera, flash and speaker holes. I also used a bit larger end-mill to make an inset on the rear side of the camera hole to drop in a new lens protector so that it would end up flush and not interfere with the camera once I installed it.
Finally I used some really nice double sided 3M 468 MP adhesive to bond the new back to the housing.
I was curious about heat dispersion, so I ran the phone through a few stress tests with both the glass and the laminate and the laminate actually came back with a slightly cooler result. So basically without strict data collecting I'd say my concern about heat is null.
I was really pleased with the results and wanted to share. Photo's don't quite do it justice like seeing in person. As you shift the phone in light there is a very dynamic weaved pattern reflecting similar but more intensely that the original glass. It's not as scratch resistant as the original glass but that was not exactly impervious to scratches either. I'm happy knowing there is basically zero chance of shattering. believe me I tried on a scrap piece.
That looks really nice! Be aware that carbon fiber will block/attenuate some signals like WiFi.
gdekatt said:
That looks really nice! Be aware that carbon fiber will block/attenuate some signals like WiFi.
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Thanks!
Hmm, I'll do a comparison next to my coworkers Nexus and find out if there's a difference.
Edit: I was not able to notice any discernable difference in signal strength on WiFi or the cell radio in comparison. Basically identical to the non-modded Nexus in signal strength and speed tests. Bluetooth works as it should. I have not tested NFC yet but I will when I get the opportunity.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
Really like what you've done with your nexus 4. Only thing is, when it broke in the first place, why didn't you just put a dbrand vinyl on the back? They look amazing, fit perfectly and it's not too expensive.
22sl22 said:
Really like what you've done with your nexus 4. Only thing is, when it broke in the first place, why didn't you just put a dbrand vinyl on the back? They look amazing, fit perfectly and it's not too expensive.
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Thanks. I did put something similar over it but unfortunately there was a crack in the glass right above the camera lens and light would refract through causing photos to come out terrible. Having kids and a new baby just arriving, I can't live without those spontaneous photos when needed on the spot. Otherwise I would have left it with the skin.
Oh and the carbon fiber laminate was only $10.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
Very cool!!! I like it a lot It would be even better to write "nexus" on the rear in the carbon, but i think it could cost a lot.
Where did you get the carbon fiber laminate?
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JoshP84 said:
Where did you get the carbon fiber laminate?
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http://www.mcmaster.com/#8194k52/=oaipze
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perfoliate said:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#8194k52/=oaipze
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If you plan to keep the phone a while, or resell it, keep the carbon fiber out of the sunlight. Unless they put some sort of UV protection on it? It will fade otherwise.
Looks great though. I have always been a fan of CF. I def give you a +10 for the project.
Covart said:
If you plan to keep the phone a while, or resell it, keep the carbon fiber out of the sunlight. Unless they put some sort of UV protection on it? It will fade otherwise.
Looks great though. I have always been a fan of CF. I def give you a +10 for the project.
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Thanks. It won't be spending much time in direct sunlight, but I think I'll do a test with a scrap piece and leave it outside and see how it holds up.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
I think you should make more and sell just the carbon fiber part.
SENT FROM MY RAGING NEXUS⁴ ?
rebj2007 said:
I think you should make more and sell just the carbon fiber part.
SENT FROM MY RAGING NEXUS⁴ ?
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If I had access to a water jet cutter I would definitely do that. Doing it manually by hand takes a lot of time and would drive the cost up more than I think people would be willing to spend.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
perfoliate said:
If I had access to a water jet cutter I would definitely do that. Doing it manually by hand takes a lot of time and would drive the cost up more than I think people would be willing to spend.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
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I get a hard on every time I see carbon fiber Is there a glossy coat over it or is it just the CF so that you can feel the texture? I am quite curious to see the radio reception test results. If they turn out to be minor, please let me know how much you would charge to make one for me. If only I had such skills
22sl22 said:
Really like what you've done with your nexus 4. Only thing is, when it broke in the first place, why didn't you just put a dbrand vinyl on the back? They look amazing, fit perfectly and it's not too expensive.
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No, just no! Real CF shall not be replaced with vinyls. NEVER!!!
anirudh412 said:
I get a hard on every time I see carbon fiber Is there a glossy coat over it or is it just the CF so that you can feel the texture? I am quite curious to see the radio reception test results. If they turn out to be minor, please let me know how much you would charge to make one for me. If only I had such skills
No, just no! Real CF shall not be replaced with vinyls. NEVER!!!
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Haha, I just said vinyl because it would be cheaper and less time consuming than doing the whole replacement thing, but the real CF does look really nice
anirudh412 said:
Is there a glossy coat over it or is it just the CF so that you can feel the texture? I am quite curious to see the radio reception test results.
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Generally in a carbon fiber laminate the weave is sandwiched between layers of epoxy to hold its form. This provides a smooth semi-glossy surface which also adds to the optical effect of the light bending as your viewing angle changes. There is a very, very subtle texture to it but its mostly smooth in characteristic.
So far I have not noticed a difference in radio reception, I will continue testing. If I had a second nexus with me it would be easy. There are so many environmental factors that make it nearly impossible to compare any current results with the previous glass back.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
perfoliate said:
Generally in a carbon fiber laminate the weave is sandwiched between layers of epoxy to hold its form. This provides a smooth semi-glossy surface which also adds to the optical effect of the light bending as your viewing angle changes. There is a very, very subtle texture to it but its mostly smooth in characteristic.
So far I have not noticed a difference in radio reception, I will continue testing. If I had a second nexus with me it would be easy. There are so many environmental factors that make it nearly impossible to compare any current results with the previous glass back.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
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Yeah I know about the epoxy. I have had car parts molded out of CF. However, some case manufacturers provide an extra glossy layer over the finished product (which I am not a big fan of). But it seems its not the case here.
I am wondering what would happen if the laminate were to be glued to the glass directly. Any ideas?
anirudh412 said:
Yeah I know about the epoxy. I have had car parts molded out of CF. However, some case manufacturers provide an extra glossy layer over the finished product (which I am not a big fan of). But it seems its not the case here.
I am wondering what would happen if the laminate were to be glued to the glass directly. Any ideas?
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Definitely possible. It would just thicken the phone by about 1/32" which would probably make it a little less than even with the official bumper edge. I would bevel the outer edge in that case so it smooths out with the edge of the phone. I used a rubber based back like this at first with a nice grip to it. It worked great. The only issue i had was was a crack over my camera lens so the glass ultimately needed to be removed.
They make a special epoxy glue specifically for this but the double sided adhesive I used works great. Its more of a gummy adhesive than a tape so it conforms a bit and has great yield strength.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
I'm impressed, looks very clean. Makes more sense than spending money on another glass back.
Related
Well, I received my XO skin screen protector today that I bought with my 55% off coupon code. But it turns out, they actually sent me the screen protector AND back protector, for the same price of $6. This happen to anyone else? But yeah. Loving it so far. Haven't turned on my phone yet, I did cringe a bit at the amount of application fluid entering the speakers. Hope everything is okay So far, I haven't noticed any orange peel texture on the protectors. They don't have too much friction, so it's not like you're sliding your finger across a piece of rubber. It does repel fingerprints like they claim they do. I think the screen protector IS worth the normal price of $12. So yeah, I give it a big thumbs up.
KonstantinKeller said:
Well, I received my XO skin screen protector today that I bought with my 55% off coupon code. But it turns out, they actually sent me the screen protector AND back protector, for the same price of $6. This happen to anyone else? But yeah. Loving it so far. Haven't turned on my phone yet, I did cringe a bit at the amount of application fluid entering the speakers. Hope everything is okay So far, I haven't noticed any orange peel texture on the protectors. They don't have too much friction, so it's not like you're sliding your finger across a piece of rubber. It does repel fingerprints like they claim they do. I think the screen protector IS worth the normal price of $12. So yeah, I give it a big thumbs up.
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I got mine too. It's VERY good quality to my surprise. I also bought the XtremeGuards ones and XO is much better in quality. It doesn't have the "orange peel" effect and just feels smoother as your swipe across the screen.
Anyways, you'll love it and good luck!
i've used XO before on my OG Evo4G and it was great! no yellowing or nothing however I'm also considering tempered glass screen protectors like SGP'S GLAS.t... so which one would be better? and why?
Sparta507 said:
i've used XO before on my OG Evo4G and it was great! no yellowing or nothing however I'm also considering tempered glass screen protectors like SGP'S GLAS.t... so which one would be better? and why?
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I'd say stick with XO. Tempered Glass seems to peel off over time. Plus it's wayyyyy more expensive. But if you have the spare cash then you can give Tempered Glass a shot.
55% Off Code!
Just got the full body protector using google checkout with code cybermondayftw for about $12 (Originally $22)
whats the difference between case fit and full body? in term of the cuts
Sparta507 said:
whats the difference between case fit and full body? in term of the cuts
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I got the full body one and its..... full body lol... jkjk so for the front it covers 99% the whole front glass, and for the back it have some gaps between the camera and the protector, and the speaker and camera. For the case fit I heard that it's smaller in size to leave space for say like bumpers or cases
Just got a front cover in the mail, waiting to see if I can live with the buzzing before I apply it.
Applied mine in the bathroom last night (heard steam from a shower helps prevent dust?).
How long should I leave it? Been about 12 hours now. As the OP said, the only concern is the amount of fluid you get in the speaker.
The fit was perfect, measured right down to the mm. I might due to human error be a tiny bit off, but it's lined up as well as I'll probably get it without being obsessive.
I ordered the full body one before the Nexus 4 was released.. Love the product except my back piece doesnt have the speaker cut out. Contacted them twice and have been told that there should be 2 on my at no cost but we will see
You really don't have to leave the phone off for long. Just really light use for a day to not let it heat unevenly
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Audioboxer said:
Applied mine in the bathroom last night (heard steam from a shower helps prevent dust?).
How long should I leave it? Been about 12 hours now. As the OP said, the only concern is the amount of fluid you get in the speaker.
The fit was perfect, measured right down to the mm. I might due to human error be a tiny bit off, but it's lined up as well as I'll probably get it without being obsessive.
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I just applied mine and left it for an hour. Then I turned my phone on to check my speaker. They're perfectly fine But yeah, I only left it off for 1 hour, and it was already solid on it. But it was probably still drying a bit more.
Mines has dried with some streaks. Best way to describe are thin say 0.5cm horizontal lines, which reflect colours in certain light. Instructions say streaks should go away in 24-48 hours, its been over 24 and they're not budging yet.
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Audioboxer said:
Mines has dried with some streaks. Best way to describe are thin say 0.5cm horizontal lines, which reflect colours in certain light. Instructions say streaks should go away in 24-48 hours, its been over 24 and they're not budging yet.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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if you let them know, they will replace it for you...
Will they replace it if I got a little piece of hair underneath it? Haha I was trying to be so careful too! The back turned out perfect though
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Ulver said:
Will they replace it if I got a little piece of hair underneath it? Haha I was trying to be so careful too! The back turned out perfect though
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No because that is your fault
Ulver said:
Will they replace it if I got a little piece of hair underneath it? Haha I was trying to be so careful too! The back turned out perfect though
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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Might do tomorrow if they are not away.
I've also noticed where my GF used a stylus earlier there are trace marks of it on the skin. She wasn't applying any real hard pressure... I wouldn't expect such indents to be perminent to I'll keep an eye on them.
Ulver said:
Will they replace it if I got a little piece of hair underneath it? Haha I was trying to be so careful too! The back turned out perfect though
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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Yes they will replace it. I've read they've sent people new ones when they've dropped it on the floor before too.
Oooo, thanks for the info
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Has anyone tried the xo skins with the stock bumper? If so, does it fit ok or cause the skin to wrinkle. Thanks
edit: never mind. someone in the other thread said the full skin worked
So I wanted to protect the back glass with a screen protector since I would generally be laying the phone down on it's back. I got one of those "apply when wet" guards and it went on ok. The only problem is, the material is so soft, it basically makes a seal on a flat table which cuts off the speaker completely. I only noticed when I was missing text messages, that the sound was significantly reduced from laying it down.
So I got these rubber feet So far, so good. I was afraid they would come right off, but they are on there pretty good. If they do come off, I still have 92 left! I might remove my back screen protector, if these work out. They aren't too hard to get used to when holding, but they certainly don't look the greatest. I attached some pics.
Nice
munchy_cool said:
Nice
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Really terrible...
OP's idea is amazing! Agreed that the circular ones look ugly, but say something like two thin strips along the length of the phone, or two horizontal ones along the top and bottom curves?
How does one go about getting custom shapes like that?
anirudh412 said:
OP's idea is amazing! Agreed that the circular ones look ugly, but say something like two thin strips along the length of the phone, or two horizontal ones along the top and bottom curves?
How does one go about getting custom shapes like that?
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Little Android robot shapes!!!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
little android hands and feet...
agree, dont really like the idea of those rubber nubs, but I would think something a little less aggressive or strips running down the sides or tops. I like the idea, just not as pronounced.
I thought of this some time ago and actually sourced some 3M manufactured ones in transparent polyurethane with an acrylic adhesive. They make them as small as 6.4mm X 1.9mm. I have not found anywhere that sells them in anything less than bulk so I didn't order any. I am waiting to try a few more cases before I decide whether to do this, but am pretty happy with the diztronic TPU for now. My Poetic hardback is supposed to be here tomorrow. I am guessing that if the Poetic works well, and the phone will fit in it with the 3M pads on, I may go for it.
i bet you could find something at michaels.
It's not something I'd do, because how the device looks is a major selling point for me and this doesn't look great.
Not saying it's bad though, it's actually a very clever idea. I do worry about the back getting scratched and the muffled speaker is annoying, so nice job man :thumbup:
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
I have some extra feet from an old laptop that were supposed to go in the four corners of the screen so the screen wouldn't press against your keyboard. They're maybe 0.5cm wide. Definitely been thinking about doing this myself.
However, I got the bumper instead. Which is now making me think I might plastidip the backside of it so it becomes uber grippy.
negrandr said:
Really terrible...
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Lol, yeah they aren't pretty. It's a work in progress until I can find some that are smaller.
Solutions Etcetera said:
I thought of this some time ago and actually sourced some 3M manufactured ones in transparent polyurethane with an acrylic adhesive. They make them as small as 6.4mm X 1.9mm. I have not found anywhere that sells them in anything less than bulk so I didn't order any. I am waiting to try a few more cases before I decide whether to do this, but am pretty happy with the diztronic TPU for now. My Poetic hardback is supposed to be here tomorrow. I am guessing that if the Poetic works well, and the phone will fit in it with the 3M pads on, I may go for it.
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Do you have a link to a bulk order?
Edit: I found these. Cheapest I can find is $234 for 3000 pieces. They are the same size as what I have, only clear. Would like to find something like a strip along the edge, to make it lower profile.
http://www.idroplets.com/
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
estallings15 said:
http://www.idroplets.com/
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
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Hmmm interesting
HTC Evo V 4G F/S $150 (x2 extended batts,x1 OEM batt,x1 black trident kraken case,Zune headphones,8gb micro ad card)
Xentar712 said:
Do you have a link to a bulk order?
Edit: I found these. Cheapest I can find is $234 for 3000 pieces. They are the same size as what I have, only clear. Would like to find something like a strip along the edge, to make it lower profile.
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Afraid not, but yeah that's them, and they were about 7 cents a piece by the case.
estallings15 said:
http://www.idroplets.com/
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
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androidfoshizzle said:
Hmmm interesting
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LOL 5 bucks for 28 cents worth of product... that is some margin!
Honestly, if you were gong to do something like this, I would suggest a few things.
Go to a cabinetry or hardware store, to look for the bumpers. You would be surprised at what they have.
A better solution, which I was thinking of is dynamat, the non aluminum version.
Take a sheet of plain paper, use a pencil to make an exact tracing of the back of the phone. Use the rubbing method to make sure you know the exact edges.
Overlay onto the dynamat, and use an exact knife to cut out your new back, and add sound channels. But it seems like a lot of work though.
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I'm thinking a drop of hot glue would do
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that's a really really bad idea.. considering that glass could crack at the instant the heat from hot glue touches the glass surface
I never said put it on the glass. Think outside the box
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estallings15 said:
http://www.idroplets.com/
Ordered my Nexus 4 on the 13th. Still waiting.
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I bought these yesterday and shared the link with some friends now he's out of business. Lol he better send mine I know he refunded some people there money and said they are out of stock. I never received an refund so maybe I'm good
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We're toying with the idea. Would you want this for your device? Price would be firm at $4.
We originally gave the front piece a try for the Nexus 4. The slight curvature on the right and left sides of the face mean that the skin would have to end around 1.5-2mm short on each side. This also means there is no possibility for full bevel. The front skin would be split into individual top and bottom pieces. If we find an overwhelmingly positive response, we'll release this within a week. All of the cutouts, as well as the outer limits of each top and bottom piece would (obviously) be as precise as possible, with as much coverage as is physically possible without any possibility of the skin peeling up over time.
dbrandSkins said:
We're toying with the idea. Would you want this for your device? Price would be firm at $4.
We originally gave the front piece a try for the Nexus 4. The slight curvature on the right and left sides of the face mean that the skin would have to end around 1.5-2mm short on each side. This also means there is no possibility for a bevel piece. The front skin would be split into individual top and bottom pieces. If we find an overwhelmingly positive response, we'll release this within a week.
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I would but personally I would want a screen protector as well. Maybe a hybrid piece with a screen protector option to the front skin? I have the same issue with the Nexus 7, but I cut my own screen protector.
kpjimmy said:
I would but personally I would want a screen protector as well. Maybe a hybrid piece with a screen protector option to the front skin? I have the same issue with the Nexus 7, but I cut my own screen protector.
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No chance for a screen protector. Sorry about that man, it's just that it requires a 100% dust-free facility (something we don't have right now). Even a single speck of dust on a given unit would = defective.
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Yes please. I'd be all over that.
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Yes! Do it! I'd buy 2 right off the bat!
I would give that a try. The front of the nexus 4 has slight curve to it so no clue how the skin would fair on a curved surface, there would be a chance for it to flap off but knowing how strong the back skin sticks, front should be fine. Also one thing to take in consideration, many people use screen protectors for the front. Those who would have those pricy ones would bail on the front skins. Yes you could cut the screen protectors but I don't know if people would want to do that. Another thing, there are various cases for the phone, I'm guessing most people just use a bumper, since the skin would be offsetted on all sides by 1.5-2 mm it should be fine. I'm not saying its not a good idea, just a few things to take in consideration. You guys could give it a whirl and see how it fairs before you keep it on your site officially. Then again, at 4 bucks it is awesome.
I would give it a try
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Do it!!!
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i wish you guys made phone cases with the same patterns/designs
No please don't! Dbrand is known for not only their precision, but how closely it covers the entire surface. Makes the skin blend in with the phone so much that it starts looking like a part of it. The front skin, as it would not go over the curves will look like a patch over the screen. Take a look at how bad the dry application SPs look because they cannot go over the curved edges compared to their wet counterparts. A front skin thus would be completely contrary to what you guys strive for.
Not only that, but since one of the main features of a nexus is the smooth, buttonless screen that aids swipe gestures, a front screen would hinder the movement. Also, and this might just be me, front skins cheapen the look of the phone and make the screen look smaller.
Again, this is just my .02
I'd be willing to try it :thumbup:
“It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.” ― David Brin >^.^<
What would you do about the LED light? Then there are other cutouts like the sensors and stuff which would make it ugly in my opinion and so its a no from me..
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Would there be static colors available too or only textured?
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It would be a little piece on the top and then a little one on the bottom? I don't think that would look very nice. Any pictures?
I'm going to vote no, I don't think the front pieces would work well with any screen protectors, the back skins are plenty
Sent from my Nexus 4
If you had some sort of mock-up or possibly some real life pics that could make my decision. Without seeing what it could look like, I can't imagine it looking that great.
I voted NO, I've spent too much on finding the right screen protector so that I can keep the screen looking like new. Now if people had one of the glass screen protectors like the fantom4, maru labs or Holy grail then maybe it would be a good idea.
You guys are being irrational. A simple solution to this problem would be to put a screen protector over or under the skin. That's what i do with the rear skin. I just cut off a little piece of the protector so when i need to take it off i can without removing the skin, same idea
Need a picture to imagine how it would look like
d0rkster said:
Need a picture to imagine how it would look like
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dbrand already nixed the idea, saying it wouldn't really look right.
Well, I got my note 3 last night and the back is a small disappointment because almost all reviews mentioned it is like leather , but it only looks 60 % like leather.
I don't have a problem with plastic but this is just a not for future buyers. . Have a look at the device before buying...
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Did you get white?
dscline said:
Did you get white?
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Same question. Black is suppose to feel like leather better than white for some reason. Hold out for someone on Etsy or a company to come out with real leather doors. It'll happen sooner or later.
agbbah said:
Well, I got my note 3 last night and the back is a small disappointment because almost all reviews mentioned it is like leather , but it only looks 60 % like leather.
I don't have a problem with plastic but this is just a not for future buyers. . Have a look at the device before buying...
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
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yes, color is relevant, some users report that black offers the most quality texture.
Hmmm, this post suggests that he got black. That's surprising (and disappointing), most of the reviews I saw were favorable of the feel of the faux leather, at least the black ones.
dscline said:
Hmmm, this post suggests that he got black. That's surprising (and disappointing), most of the reviews I saw were favorable of the feel of the faux leather, at least the black ones.
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Guys, it's still plastic. Many previews mentioned it. Although they said that it's better than previous glossy plastic, but it's still thin plastic with leathered texture and stitching.
So don't get your hope too high or you will be disappointed.
*sigh*......real leather=damaged internals!
chefb said:
*sigh*......real leather=damaged internals!
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Where do you get this idea from? Leather is insanely tough and can take a hit way better than plastic. Are you basing this assumption on experience or was it just a quick thought that ran through your head?
SgtGoldy said:
Where do you get this idea from? Leather is insanely tough and can take a hit way better than plastic. Are you basing this assumption on experience or was it just a quick thought that ran through your head?
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What ever ...good luck with your soft leather backed phone..lol
SgtGoldy said:
Where do you get this idea from? Leather is insanely tough and can take a hit way better than plastic. Are you basing this assumption on experience or was it just a quick thought that ran through your head?
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Maybe its supposed to be leather covered plastic backed battery cover?
chefb said:
What ever ...good luck with your soft leather backed phone..lol
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Who said it had to be soft leather? Look at motorcycle saddle bags made of leather. Thats some tough sh**. I've seen guys go down during rides and have their bags drug across the ground at 50+ mph. Besides scratches from the road rash it didn't even get through. There are different type of leather that range from soft to stiff.
SgtGoldy said:
Who said it had to be soft leather? Look at motorcycle saddle bags made of leather. Thats some tough sh**. I've seen guys go down during rides and have their bags drug across the ground at 50+ mph. Besides scratches from the road rash it didn't even get through. There are different type of leather that range from soft to stiff.
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Put that leather back over a gun metal door....OK!!!! But all alone....no bueno.
Who cares..... I have seen multiple reviews that talk about the back and all I them mention the back is a textured plastic so why the surprise? I mean if it bothers you that much return the phone!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I played with an in store demo yesterday and the black back wasn't fooling me. It's ever so slightly softer than my Note 1 back but I was disappointed it wasn't less obvious it was plastic.
Still the design looks better than the Note 1 and 2 and the screen is decent, you have to be really picky to see the difference between that and the HTC One screen (I have great eyes too)
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I have the black note 3. I can tell you for a fact the back cover is not leather. It's feels like plastic if you tap your fingernails on it. However it is a big improvement im both looks and feel over the glossy back covers.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
Gotta love these super useful threads, where OP starts the crap, then disappears, but tons of others, keep giving attention to it...... :laugh:
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Samsung is bragging about the leather like back .. so i just wanted to point out what i thought about it. this a big reason for people to support their decision on buying the phone.
I checked out a demo..its like a plastic back.just looks different...and from a distance you woullnt even realise its supposed to look like leather
Leather is an insulator. Think about the adverse effects of what too much heat would do to the phone. First, the warmer the battery, the shorter it's life. Then, after a while of extreme heat build up you're inevitably going to start seeing hardware failures. Thus real leather snuggled up to the internals is probably not the best idea.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
Xerrus said:
Leather is an insulator. Think about the adverse effects of what too much heat would do to the phone. First, the warmer the battery, the shorter it's life. Then, after a while of extreme heat build up you're inevitably going to start seeing hardware failures. Thus real leather snuggled up to the internals is probably not the best idea.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
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This ^^^^^^_^:good:
Hi All ... I thought I would do a little observation / synopsis of the Glass back on the Note 5.
1st Thing I want to Thank Cory Thackery who posted the fix of the phone stylus here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmo...how-to-simply-remove-stuck-s-pen-fix-t3188506
It was on another video that Cory was showing how to remove the back and he cracked this one ..... So I asked him to possibly send me the damaged one to make a replacement
He agreed and sent me this So I could Mic. it and make a cast in order to possibly fab a metal or Carbon back...... Thanks for the generosity !
Ok ... I up loaded 10 pictures showing various points of view and showing the mic'ed thickness or actual size...
1. I noticed the actual thickness of the glass back is .5 mm +/- Just 1/10 of a mm thicker than the average glass screen protector
2. There no electronics or antennas or anything on the back cover.... this is good ......otherwise making a new cover would be harder.
3. In actuality, this Glass back is quite fragile being coated with an oleophobic resin coating on the inside and out. The same as a glass screen protector. I added a crack to it by barely flexing it when I was measuring. My guess is when installed on the phone, they engineered this to has collective increased strength once attached to the phone.
4. Basic Measurements are the Following:
• The wall thickness is .53 mm ...
• The Length is roughly just shy of 150 mm
• The width is just shy of 74 mm
• The Camera opening is about 15 mm
• The flash/light is about 12.5 mm
• The Tangent radius 2.85 mm which makes it just shy of a true 90 degree radius ......
• The variances are probably a result of the cleaning/deburring process after casting.
The Double stick tape this used is nothing really special I did not show it but, the adhesive is basically the same as other high grade double stick tape.. The one thing about it is they used a type strong plastic as the body medium.
Looking forward to making a custom back poses a couple of issues ........ If made with Carbon Fiber........ not sure I can really get it that thin so that would mean the back would be slightly thicker somewhere between .75-1mm
If made with Metal I would think the Aluminum 7000 alloy would do it and this could be milled to the tolerances pretty close to the original spec. So, That may be the way to go. The issues with metal the shape can deform over time with abuse so, Need to make sure the metal chosen has excellent shape memory properties
Either way, as I get further into this project I will update as I go. Bear in mind this will be a bit of a slow process, remember most of us are not rich , therefore, we have day jobs, family ......... you know A Life
Thanks for reading, ~~~ oka1
Pretty awesome! Looking forward to following the process of this modification! :good: :highfive:
oka1 said:
Hi All ... I thought I would do a little observation / synopsis of the Glass back on the Note 5.
1st Thing I want to Thank Cory Thackery who posted the fix of the phone stylus here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmo...how-to-simply-remove-stuck-s-pen-fix-t3188506
It was on another video that Cory was showing how to remove the back and he cracked this one ..... So I asked him to possibly send me the damaged one to make a replacement
He agreed and sent me this So I could Mic. it and make a cast in order to possibly fab a metal or Carbon back...... Thanks for the generosity !
Ok ... I up loaded 10 pictures showing various points of view and showing the mic'ed thickness or actual size...
1. I noticed the actual thickness of the glass back is .5 mm +/- Just 1/10 of a mm thicker than the average glass screen protector
2. There no electronics or antennas or anything on the back cover.... this is good ......otherwise making a new cover would be harder.
3. In actuality, this Glass back is quite fragile being coated with an oleophobic resin coating on the inside and out. The same as a glass screen protector. I added a crack to it by barely flexing it when I was measuring. My guess is when installed on the phone, they engineered this to has collective increased strength once attached to the phone.
4. Basic Measurements are the Following:
• The wall thickness is .53 mm ...
• The Length is roughly just shy of 150 mm
• The width is just shy of 74 mm
• The Camera opening is about 15 mm
• The flash/light is about 12.5 mm
• The Tangent radius 2.85 mm which makes it just shy of a true 90 degree radius ......
• The variances are probably a result of the cleaning/deburring process after casting.
The Double stick tape this used is nothing really special I did not show it but, the adhesive is basically the same as other high grade double stick tape.. The one thing about it is they used a type strong plastic as the body medium.
Looking forward to making a custom back poses a couple of issues ........ If made with Carbon Fiber........ not sure I can really get it that thin so that would mean the back would be slightly thicker somewhere between .75-1mm
If made with Metal I would think the Aluminum 7000 alloy would do it and this could be milled to the tolerances pretty close to the original spec. So, That may be the way to go. The issues with metal the shape can deform over time with abuse so, Need to make sure the metal chosen has excellent shape memory properties
Either way, as I get further into this project I will update as I go. Bear in mind this will be a bit of a slow process, remember most of us are not rich , therefore, we have day jobs, family ......... you know A Life
Thanks for reading, ~~~ oka1
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Click to collapse
ooh! i would love an aluminum back plate.
Be sure the metal you choose doesn't interfere with NFC and MST!
I like this. I would jump all over more durable back... What about Titanium?
I know it would cost more but i wouldn't mind.
Ill keep an eye out for this
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Mayonesa said:
I like this. I would jump all over more durable back... What about Titanium?
I know it would cost more but i wouldn't mind.
Ill keep an eye out for this
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
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I actually thought the same thing 10x the cost and I am not sure there is any real benefit to using it since the back is so small
FYI I did make a mold to see if I can do the carbon Fiber, it looks doable ........ So I am going to try that 1st. Mostly, because I am a bit worried if the back is metal it may interfere with phone reception
oka1 said:
I actually thought the same thing 10x the cost and I am not sure there is any real benefit to using it since the back is so small
FYI I did make a mold to see if I can do the carbon Fiber, it looks doable ........ So I am going to try that 1st. Mostly, because I am a bit worried if the back is metal it may interfere with phone reception
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Click to collapse
I would buy a carbon fibre back most likely, that would be epic! xD
I think carbon fiber might interfere with the reception as well since it is conductive.
ratindahat said:
I think carbon fiber might interfere with the reception as well since it is conductive.
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It would have to be grounded to have any shielding qualities, wouldn't it? I wouldn't think carbon fiber alone would block reception, it's a mesh so it's not like radio waves can't get through...
except you can make a Faraday cage out of copper mesh. I do know that a few people were playing with carbon fiber cases on the original asus transformer and they had to cut holes to allow the wifi signal to work properly.
I can't find any real info saying carbon fiber makes a particularly good Faraday cage.
The holes in a carbon fiber mesh also should be wide enough for frequency to go through, or so I'd think.
I don't think a carbon fiber cover would halt any signals.
All of my information is anecdotal from other builders. No idea if it will have a negative effect.
im totally support for this guy..
I will buy a back should it become available, in whatever material, mine cracked from a drop smh
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Mine cracked also from a drop. 18 inches high dropped it cracked right across the back.
john21511 said:
Mine cracked also from a drop. 18 inches high dropped it cracked right across the back.
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Yeah i just picked up a $8 Heat gun, now i gotta source a new back somewhere....i guess it'll have to be a sammy replacement part :/
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
They are vailable here.... Probably not oem but might be as good
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=181919589270&alt=web
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Is the back easy to replace?
My N5 is naked all the way. My N4 naked too and just sold it after having it for 1.3 yrs. Never dropped.