dissection
Latest
Samsung's Omnia II gets the video tear down you've all been longing for
Samsung's WinMo 6.5-packin' Omnia II has been available to Verizon Wireless customers (or at least those unaffected by the Droid) for a few weeks now, but strangely, we've yet to see a proper dissection of this here smartphone until today. That said, we're sure the patience you've put into this will pay off after heading past the break, where all of the itty-bitty internals are shown in stunning detail for your entertainment / education. As a good gal we once knew would say: "Ain't that the berries!" [Thanks, Costas]
Nokia N900 teardown reveals smartphone semantics
Until robots rule, we're still within our rights to do pretty much anything to our gadgets short of chucking them at the help. Still, some of you might want to look away as Nokia's promising flagship handset -- the Maemo powered N900 -- is stripped of its components and Finnish dignity to reveal its ARM Cortex-A8 CPU and PowerVR SGX 3D accelerator soul. Check the unofficial how-to video after the break. If you look real close you just might spot the difference between this "mobile computer" and a smartphone.
Archos 9 PMP sneaks into the FCC, gets dissected when caught
Archos has already made it abundantly clear that its Windows 7-based Archos 9 media player is US-bound, but just in case you were worried over legalities, this FCC filing should crank your stress level down a notch. Best of all, this particular entry includes external and internal photographs, meaning that the camera-toting employees within the deep, dark FCC labs are actually credited with handling the (admittedly messy) dissection. Shocking pixels await you in the read link, so make sure you go in fully prepared.
Mac Portable gets a 20th anniversary vivisection
In September 1989, Apple made its first stab at a portable Macintosh computer. The name? "Macintosh Portable." Kind of has a ring to it, huh? This 16 pound behemoth packs a 10-inch (640 x 400) monochrome display, 16MHz Motorola CPU, 1MB RAM, 40MB HDD, 3.5-inch floppy drive, and a 2400 baud modem into a handsome clamshell design that features (and this is our favorite part) a modular design that allowed the user to position the trackball on either end of the keyboard. Lefties of the world unite! Originally yours for $6,500 - $7,300 (that's $11,288 - $12,677 when adjusted for inflation), but we're guessing you can find someone on eBay (or at Goodwill) to cut you a deal on one at this late date. Hit the read link to celebrate this momentous anniversary in the manner of a true gadget-head: by watching someone gut the thing and take pictures of it. You'll be glad you did.
Microsoft's Zune HD already cracked open and photographed (updated)
Considering that even now only a swath of Zune HD owners are able to update their software in order to -- you know -- have a working device, we can understand Anything But iPod's eagerness to stop trying and just crack open Microsoft's newest entrant into the portable media player market. Without getting too gushy, we can definitively say that the innards look just as sexy as the exterior, but unfortunately the make and model of the internal WiFi chip (amongst other things) remains a mystery. Hit the read link for a nice gallery of closeups, but be sure and shield your screen from any lingering cube passers.Update: iFixit just went live with their teardown as well!Update 2: The iFixit teardown is complete. While there aren't any 802.11n WiFi or vacant camera-space surprises like those found inside Apple's iPod touch, the Zune HD doesn't need any to pique our interest. What you will find photographed in exquisite detail is the NVIDIA Tegra SoC, SiPORT HD Radio module, Toshiba-sourced flash NAND, a 2.45Wh battery, Wolfson MIcro WM8352 audio subsystem, and Foxconn logo confirming its manufacturing origin. There's also a "for our princess" inscription meant as a tribute to a Zune team member who passed away during development. Check the gallery for a tease or head over to iFixit to get knee-deep in it.%Gallery-72950%
3rd gen iPod touch gets torn down, 802.11n and possible camera slot found
There's no denying that Apple let the entire world (yes, even the native Easter Islanders) down by not shoving a camera of some sort into its iPod touch, but if a delicate teardown completed by the screwdriver-wielding fiends over at iFixit is any indication, a seasoned modder could certainly add one. A 6- x 6- x 3-millimeter space was spotted between a Broadcom chip and the wireless antenna, which is reportedly not enough room for an iPhone-esque sensor, but just enough space for the video camera module found in the 5G iPod nano. In potentially more interesting news, the aforesaid Broadcom BCM4329 chip actually supports 802.11n. For the nerds in attendance, you'll recognize that even the iPhone 3GS can't handle those high-speed airwaves. Furthermore, the chip supports FM transmission, so at least theoretically, the device could stream tunes to your old school stereo through an open FM station. Eager for more? Tap that read link, buster.
SanDisk Sansa Clip+ gets torn down, presumably built back up again
No need to twist our arm to get a confession: we absolutely enjoy seeing ultra-complex hardware getting dissected bit by bit. But sometimes -- particularly on cold and unwelcoming mornings with no coffee in the cupboard -- we prefer to keep things simple by just cracking open a shockingly rudimentary MP3 player. The spartan Sansa Clip+, which you may know as the Sansa Clip plus a microSD slot, turned out to be a doddle to undress, and its insides were about as uncomplicated as they come. Two SanDisk chips dominate the miniature motherboard, and the fabled marathon-running battery also makes an appearance. If you're not 1) disgusted or 2) confounded by the details we just discussed, you owe it to yourself to check out all the bare naked circuitry in the read link. [Thanks, Yuki]
PSP Go disassembled, reassembly still in question
Well, the PSP Go may still not be available to the general public just yet, but the folks at levelup.cn have somehow managed to wrangle one out of Sony's hands, and have promptly gone and done what appears to be the first proper disassembly of the device. While there's expectedly not a whole lot of surprises, we do get a good look at the now non-removable battery (pictured above), the on-board memory, the familiar nub and controls and, of course, the complete lack of any UMD remnants -- not to mention a curiously placed GameCube watermark. Hit up the link below for the step-by-step teardown.
Video: RIM's BlackBerry Tour respectfully torn to bits, reassembled
We've already given you our thoughts on RIM's BlackBerry Tour, but our warm hearts just wouldn't let us take the crowbar to it. Thankfully, the tool-wielding fiends over at GSM Phone Unlocking are a bit more calloused, as they've decided to dissect and reassemble the aforementioned smartphone in a nail-biting 5 minute, 38 second YouTube clip. Head on past the break if you're interested in seeing the innards of Verizon's newest 'Berry, but unless you're ready to rock, we'd recommend nailing the mute button first.[Thanks, Omnifox]
13-inch MacBook Pro gets torn apart
We've only just started playing with our new 13-inch MacBook Pro, but the cats at iFixit have different ideas -- they've already torn one open for your morbid viewing pleasure. Interestingly, battery replacement involves only the removal of a couple tri-wing screws and a sticker, so the situation isn't totally dire, although we'd obviously prefer if Apple had left well enough alone. Other than that and the addition of FireWire and the SD slot, things seem to be about the same as the original unibody MacBook, but don't take our word for it -- hit the read link and feast your eyes.
Palm Touchstone torn asunder, cost to manufacturer estimated at $5 (update)
As much as we love those guys and gals over at Will It Blend?, we couldn't help but cringe each time they "dissected" any given gadget. The cautious cats over at iFixit, however, are more our style. Gentle, loving, appreciative and respectful -- what else could you want in a gizmo surgeon? Per usual, they've done whatever it takes to get ahold of Palm's new Pre and Touchstone, but rather than basking in the glory of ownership, they promptly unrolled their tool belt, fired up the DSLR and proceeded to dissemble both units for your viewing pleasure. We already know that all those little innards add up to right around $170 (for the Pre, anyway), but there's nothing quite like looking at each and every chip and bit yourself. Hit up the read links below if you find your interest piqued, and don't forget to tip your hat as you exit. Update: Through their official Twitter account, the iFixit folks have chimed in to say they'd be "shocked if it cost more than $5 to manufacture." As always, that's not the whole story and there's probably a good number of other variables justifiably contributing to the cost, but knowing $70 is a bit of a turn-off for some customers, we can only hope that price drops sooner rather than later. Read - Palm Pre teardown Read - Palm Touchstone teardown
Palm Pre and Touchstone get torn down gently, beautifully
As much as we love those guys and gals over at Will It Blend?, we couldn't help but cringe each time they "dissected" any given gadget. The cautious cats over at iFixit, however, are more our style. Gentle, loving, appreciative and respectful -- what else could you want in a gizmo surgeon? Per usual, they've done whatever it takes to get ahold of Palm's new Pre and Touchstone, but rather than basking in the glory of ownership, they promptly unrolled their tool belt, fired up the DSLR and proceeded to dissemble both units for your viewing pleasure. We already know that all those little innards add up to right around $170 (for the Pre, anyway), but there's nothing quite like looking at each and every chip and bit yourself. Hit up the read links below if you find your interest piqued, and don't forget to tip your hat as you exit.Read - Palm Pre teardownRead - Palm Touchstone teardown
Dell's Mini 10v gets unboxed, cracked wide open, fitted with OS X
Not that Dell's other Mini machines aren't perfect candidates for creating your own hackintosh, but it's stellar to know that the outfit's newest member is as well. After going on sale earlier this month, the Mini 10v has been procured, unboxed and dissected, all in the name of unabashed discovery. Interestingly, it seems as if the RAM slot requires that the keyboard and motherboard be lifted for access, but for even the mildly seasoned computer user, that's absolutely nothing they can't handle. If you're into hardcore, uncensored splayings of newfangled netbooks, the read link is where you need to be, holmes.[Via MyDellMini, thanks Erik]
Sony's OLED X-series Walkman torn apart, stripped of its dignity
Well, well, well... what do we have here? Oh, it's Sony's anxiously awaited (in the States, that is) OLED X-series Walkman, all ripped to shreds before most of us have even held one in our tiny hands. Yes, a Holmesian sleuth over at Sony Insider has trolled the FCC for the internal shots of this dude, and discovered a few tidbits of heretofore unknown info, namely that the PMP boasts a 250MHz NEC MP201 ARM processor. There's one more shot after the break, and be sure to hit up the read link for all the pertinent, discernable specs.
MSI's all-in-one Wind Top AE1900 gets dissected
MSI's new all-in-one Wind Top AE1900 may look all neat and tidy on the outside, but it's an expectedly different story on the inside, as the folks at Blogeee.net found out when they unceremoniously ripped one apart. Of course, there aren't exactly a ton of surprises to be found, but it does look like anyone hoping to upgrade the RAM may be out of luck, as the standard 2GB of RAM is simply soldered on with no slot provided for expansion -- although there seems to be a bit of confusion as to whether that'll be the case in the actual retail version, or just this early version sent out for review. Hit up the read link below for a closer look.[Via Eee-PC.de]
Apple's iMac (early 2009) dissected beautifully
As we saw when comparing the uncovered internals of the old MacBook Pros to the new MacBook Pros, there ain't much different inside of these new iMac machines. Still, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to share ifixit's glorious splaying of Apple's freshest all-in-one Mac. As we've come to expect, these guys used only the best tools and the best lighting to shoot the dissection, and the whole thing is seriously bordering on artistic. Tap the read link for more pictorial delight as well as a ridiculous amount of detail covering what they found within.
Dell's Inspiron Mini 10 dissected... in official service manuals
Dell's all too elusive Inspiron Mini 10 is finally getting a bit more full frontal with us thanks to a fresh set of service manuals hosted up at the outfit's website. In the read link you'll find a Technology Guide, Service Manual, Setup Guide and Tech Sheet, all of which give you a closer, more intimate look at the one computer Dell decided to sell via QVC first. Curiously enough, this also means that Dell is the first to dissect its own machine, though these images aren't nearly as titillating as those sure to be hosted up soon by a curious early adopter.[Via jkkmobile]
Dell's Mini 12 dissected for your viewing pleasure
It's taken quite awhile for someone to gather up the courage to do it, but at long last, Dell's cutesy Mini 12 has been stripped of its dignity and dissected for the world to see. Honestly, there isn't much in this netbook that you haven't already seen in similar alternatives, but those unable to resist the allure of undressed gadgets will still want to give the read link a visit. Or two, depending on your level of self-restraint.
Sony VAIO P ripped apart
Well, that didn't take long. Mere hours after we saw the ultra-lovely Sony VAIO P make its official debut here at CES, some industrious, sadistic folks have seen fit to tear it to shreds, exposing its guts for all to marvel (or tear up) over. We have to say, it's just as good looking on the inside as it is on the outside, but see for yourselves after the break, where there's a beautiful / horrifying gallery to stare at, and hit the read link for the full project.%Gallery-40986%[Via jkkmobile]
3M MPro110 / Optoma PK101 pico projectors get dissected
Sure, we frequently come across gizmos so small that tweezers and eyeglass repair kits are needed to dissect 'em, but rarely are those gadgets projectors. With the new wave of minuscule beamers comes a new kind of tear down, and Tech-On has taken the time to split apart and photograph both the 3M MPro110 and Optoma PK101. The splaying gets pretty detailed, too, with us being informed of two large LSIs on the former (one from Weltrend; one from TI) and a hard look at the LEDs of the latter. Have a peek at the writeups and accompanying images below, and see just how long you can go without uttering an "aww" -- we'll bet it's not long at all.Read - 3M tear downRead - Optoma tear down
