Using and administering an Android phone without display - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi xda-developers,
I'm considering to buy an old Android phone (Samsung Galaxy 3 i5800) with a broken display on eBay that I can use as WiFi camera.
I don't need the display for that, but I'm not sure if the device will work without the display attached to the board.
Is it possible to launch apps, change device settings etc. using an SSH connection?
Does anybody have experience with abusing phones like that?

DrZee said:
Hi xda-developers,
I'm considering to buy an old Android phone (Samsung Galaxy 3 i5800) with a broken display on eBay that I can use as WiFi camera.
I don't need the display for that, but I'm not sure if the device will work without the display attached to the board.
Is it possible to launch apps, change device settings etc. using an SSH connection?
Does anybody have experience with abusing phones like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its very cheap buy it and replace the LCD yourself, its easy and probably won't cost more than $15-$30 for a new LCD.
I have replaced dozens of LCDs and digitisers in various phones and mobile devices. Its not very hard. Youtube has disassembly vids for almost every smartphone ever made.
HTC Desire Z am using now i bought as a spares or repairs on ebay for about 50% of its 2nd hand value as digitiser was dead on top side.
New digitiser cost me $25 and took me 2 hours to fit (being very careful).
Also its nice to see what's inside

If you manage to get it connected to ADB you may be okay. If it has a keyboard or trackball you may be able to do some basic navigation without the touchscreen working.

Administering Android without display
Well there is to issues I see with buying a phone like that.
1. I would be surprised if the phone boots to the OS when the screen is not attached to the board because usually there is a hardware check cycle that it needs to go through on boot which will reveal that the phone has a missing screen.
2. Android OS by default does not have SSH server installed on it by default so you will need to install an app like “SSHDroidPro” which turns your phone into a SSH server in order for you to SSH to it using any client you desire. Without a screen connected I find that to be very difficult to accomplish.
I agree with “Guru Zep” going the route he recommended would the best option as long as you are willing to tinker around and enjoy putting it together
Good luck

Thanks for your suggestions!
I bought the broken phone and got a replacement display and it works perfectly.

Related

Asus Transformer Prime Touch Screeen Issue

Hello,
I have an issue with the transformer prime and the tablet has been replaced and the issue occurs also on the new tablet which caused me to dig a bit deeper.
The symptoms:
When I press one location a different location is pressed (all application).
When holding my finger in a single location the screen scrolls like crazy (all applications)
Sometimes presses are not registered.
(rare) I am sometime able to do a zoom in / out with a single finger.
This issue occurs to me after using the tablet for a while (usually CPU & GPU intensive applications accelerate this) and the tablet is placed horizontally and connected to the charger.
The Asus support was not able to solve the problem (3 RMAs + 1 replacement), so digging into the driver code for the digitizer I found that it is sensitive to noise (EMI) caused by the charging circuit and has even a special mode to handle this, however I suspect the the EMI is more than the noise reduction function can handle which causes the issue.
My question to you, is how would one go about to debug the issue (the driver loads a binary blob firmware to the digitizer when the system boots which I am not able to decompile / have the source code).
p.s. the device is currently on its 4th RMA visit per Asus support instructions.
Try using a different charger. Are you using an aftermarket charger ?
ccrazythunder said:
Try using a different charger. Are you using an aftermarket charger ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happens with the original charger with 1 tablet that has been repaired several times and a brand new replacement tablet.
I think this is a hardware issue in the series although Asus refuses to acknowledge it (same as was in the beginning with the GPS issues), there is even an hint in the digitizer driver code that they are aware of the issue and have even added a mode in order to try and mitigate it (noise reduction mode is activated when the charger is connected, probably due to the added EMI caused by the charging circuit).
I ended up returning it for a full refund which they only agreed after lawsuit papers have been prepared for knowingly selling a defective product and not complying with the warranty (since I got the refund the lawsuit did not proceed).
If you know how to modify drivers, can you invert the x-axis for the touchscreen and compile it up? ;D
Nightpath said:
If you know how to modify drivers, can you invert the x-axis for the touchscreen and compile it up? ;D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While that might be fun, and quite annoying (doing it to your own tablet), rooting my device and uploading a custom rom would mean loosing the warranty, however at the price cost of the tablet I would have expected to receive a device without serious defects.
I agree.
I have my tablet rooted, etc. I'd be willing to test it, if you were up to it. It'd just reverse the stock x-axis...if that worked all sorts of people would test it.

[Q] [Q} Broken LCD, controlling the phone remotely? [Help]

I have a new Sammy GS3 from Tmo US. My brother had the upgrade, but my original phone broke, so he let me have his contract upgrade, and I picked up the GS3. Long story short, I got a small crack in the screen when I dropped it, but the LCD is shot underneath. We ordered the insurance, but it is under my brother's LINE, not under the PHONE itsself. So I need him to be able to access data for a couple days, but we cant do anything to the phone whatsoever.
I guess my question is, ideally is there an emulator that I can use on the desktop over USB cable? or (more realistically I suppose) even just anyway possible to control it remotely, without using the lcd? make a download here, attempt a call there?
Thanks in advance!!!

[Q] Disable touch screen completely

Hello folks,
I'm guessing at whether or not this is the right forum for this, please feel free to move it if I am wrong.
I have an Asus Transformer Infinity with keyboard dock that is out of warranty and has started "ghost touching" (a common problem with the digitizer). It renders the tablet pretty much unusable due to the constant touches on screen. I'm wanting to completely disable the touch screen and use this as a netbook now. I can get away with that since I have the keyboard dock. I'm up for any solution, including physically disabling the digitizer (if anyone can tell me conclusively which of the cables inside to disconnect).
I've done some searching and come up with build.prop modifications. The ones I have tried thus far have been ro.product.has.touch.screen=false, and ro.product.max_num_touch=0. (telling the tablet there is no touch screen, and that 0 concurrent multitouches are allowed, respectively).
In both cases, I restarted with no discernible effect.
Is there another build.prop variable I could try setting? Or perhaps an app that runs at boot and disables screen touches?
As an aside, if anyone knew of a way to calibrate my screen to induce a deadspot at the coordinates of the ghost touch (it's very consistent in a 1 inch square area, that would probably be the best.
Thanks for any help on this! I love my tablet and am hoping I can get it to at least marginally useful again!
Running Asus Transformer Infinity TF700T with Crombi-kk 4.4.2, have root access, knowledgeable with terminal (and how to edit build.prop from the terminal)
Hi wmdaricthompson,
I don't have an ASUS Transformer to try but a couple of weeks ago I did switch a digitizer and LCD on an IPhone. It should be just a matter of disconnecting the 2 parts of the ribbon cable that go to the digitizer. I don't have enough posts to give you a picture but if you google "asus transformer digitizer" and look at images you should be able to find pictures pretty quick. It is an orange ribbon cable than splits at the end into 2 separate cables. I don't know how hard it is to access this but if it is indeed because the hardware for the digitizer is malfunctioning this should fix it. Re-plugging in this cable (take off and then put back on) may even give you the digitizer back depending on if your issue is based on a wire connection problem.
Good luck and be careful taking your tablet apart (if you decide to that is).
Michael
PS - there is a youtube video called" How to Open and Fix Asus Tablet" by tampatec that shows you how to open your ASUS Transformer up.
bridgeofstraws said:
Hi wmdaricthompson,
I don't have an ASUS Transformer to try but a couple of weeks ago I did switch a digitizer and LCD on an IPhone. It should be just a matter of disconnecting the 2 parts of the ribbon cable that go to the digitizer. I don't have enough posts to give you a picture but if you google "asus transformer digitizer" and look at images you should be able to find pictures pretty quick. It is an orange ribbon cable than splits at the end into 2 separate cables. I don't know how hard it is to access this but if it is indeed because the hardware for the digitizer is malfunctioning this should fix it. Re-plugging in this cable (take off and then put back on) may even give you the digitizer back depending on if your issue is based on a wire connection problem.
Good luck and be careful taking your tablet apart (if you decide to that is).
Michael
PS - there is a youtube video called" How to Open and Fix Asus Tablet" by tampatec that shows you how to open your ASUS Transformer up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the information!
I have already opened the tablet once, and saw that cable, I wasn't sure if I would lose any element of the image as well, so I didn't pull it without getting some confirmation first (if I accidentally break a cable clip, I don't want to seriously regret it).
I'll try plugging/unplugging a few times to see if I get function back, and if not, I'll just lose the touch.
Thanks again for your reply!
(I'll post up here the results to confirm for any who are curious/googled their way to this thread)
wmdaricthompson said:
Thank you for the information!
I have already opened the tablet once, and saw that cable, I wasn't sure if I would lose any element of the image as well, so I didn't pull it without getting some confirmation first (if I accidentally break a cable clip, I don't want to seriously regret it).
I'll try plugging/unplugging a few times to see if I get function back, and if not, I'll just lose the touch.
Thanks again for your reply!
(I'll post up here the results to confirm for any who are curious/googled their way to this thread)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two thumbs up. Disconnecting the two amber cables from the screen disabled the touch capacity without impacting this picture at all.
Thanks again!
Thanks
wmdaricthompson said:
Two thumbs up. Disconnecting the two amber cables from the screen disabled the touch capacity without impacting this picture at all.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi wmdaricthompson. Firstly I realize this is an old thread but thanks for the info. Just a few questions if you can remember. I also have the dock and have ghost touches making the tablet quite unusable so am thinking of doing your fix. When you disconnected the touchscreen cable did you just then leave it loose inside the tablet or did you remove both ends? The end from under the screen near the dock pins appears glued on rather than using clips.
Cheers
Hey here such mini keyboards (in case u need them) https://www.chipspain.com/en/apple-accessories/bluetooth-keyboard-case-iphone-4-4s-black-7421.html
Galaxy S8 Keyboard Cover, Black Mobile Accessories - EJ-CG950BBEGWW | Samsung US
Discover the latest features and innovations available in the Galaxy S8 Keyboard Cover, Black. Find the perfect Mobile Accessories for you!
www.samsung.com

[Q] Auto Touch Test in Mini OS with Broken Touch Screen?

My touchscreen is cracked, digitizer no longer working. I can't use the touchscreen anymore except for the very bottom. Decided to flash phone back to stock to remove any flag that the phone is rooted in case I would need to claim insurance on it. Device isn't showing up in ADB or fastboot on my computer, though my cable is a bit shoddy. Any way to get past this and at least to the "Welcome" screen? I would say that sending a touch event via ADB would be my first guess, but there's no ADB or even fastboot function, even in recovery mode. Any ideas?
I would replace your shady cable. Then try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57954105&postcount=10
So are you trying to get into the OS? Just replace your cable maybe that will help you get in but just to let you know on the MINI OS page you have to hold the power button then make your selection (had to learn the hard way). Here is a tool that may help if it is configured correctly then you can control the whole phone via adb. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786395 they have everything you need in the zip just to let you know if you have linux it is a little hard to set up.
I had the exact same issue a few days ago as posted in this thread and the simple answer is your G3 is now as "dead" as mine is - without a working digitizer to allow you to press that OK button, you're not going to get any further. It won't work with any ADB tools because that Mini OS thing isn't Android-based from what I can tell and doesn't utilize those particular methods of device communication over USB. Mouse won't work either because that requires the Android drivers obviously.
My G3 did work with the mouse just fine but my bad decision was not just leaving it alone in that working state and deciding to roll back to the stock ZV4 firmware - that wasn't what caused me problems, however: what caused me problems was that damned Mini OS mode and me not being able to press the OK button which was just inside the dead area of the screen, sadly.
I'll be ordering a replacement display assembly for mine later today if I can track one down on eBay that's an actual OEM part which seems to be a very difficult thing these days.
BUYER BEWARE:
If you're looking to get a replacement display assembly for your G3 like I am, be aware that many sellers on eBay are selling screen assemblies that are sub-standard crap, they don't have the LG logo on them, and they even come with resolutions as low as 960x540 which is obviously not a true factory replacement part considering out G3 resolution is 2560x1440 - I mean I'd be perfectly happy with a replacement display at 1920x1080, but 960x540 on a 5.5" LCD? Ugh...
Just be careful, ask questions if needed of the seller and if they don't respond in a timely manner (or at all as almost 10 of them haven't for me) then don't spend a dime until you do find someone that will confirm and verify it's the right part for replacement.
I still haven't found a seller I trust yet of the few that have responded to me, for the record. I may end up just holding onto this G3 until I do get the right part at a later time - I really want to get it repaired but I'm not going to waste money on some lame ass seller that tries to rip me (and others) off, it's just not going to happen.
If you call sprint or do the online chat they will send you a replacement device. Here is the link to contact sprint (if you want to):http://www.sprint.com/landings/chat/
Just to let you know the online chqt button comes and goes so you may want to call.
br0adband said:
I had the exact same issue a few days ago as posted in this thread and the simple answer is your G3 is now as "dead" as mine is - without a working digitizer to allow you to press that OK button, you're not going to get any further. It won't work with any ADB tools because that Mini OS thing isn't Android-based from what I can tell and doesn't utilize those particular methods of device communication over USB. Mouse won't work either because that requires the Android drivers obviously.
My G3 did work with the mouse just fine but my bad decision was not just leaving it alone in that working state and deciding to roll back to the stock ZV4 firmware - that wasn't what caused me problems, however: what caused me problems was that damned Mini OS mode and me not being able to press the OK button which was just inside the dead area of the screen, sadly.
I'll be ordering a replacement display assembly for mine later today if I can track one down on eBay that's an actual OEM part which seems to be a very difficult thing these days.
BUYER BEWARE:
If you're looking to get a replacement display assembly for your G3 like I am, be aware that many sellers on eBay are selling screen assemblies that are sub-standard crap, they don't have the LG logo on them, and they even come with resolutions as low as 960x540 which is obviously not a true factory replacement part considering out G3 resolution is 2560x1440 - I mean I'd be perfectly happy with a replacement display at 1920x1080, but 960x540 on a 5.5" LCD? Ugh...
Just be careful, ask questions if needed of the seller and if they don't respond in a timely manner (or at all as almost 10 of them haven't for me) then don't spend a dime until you do find someone that will confirm and verify it's the right part for replacement.
I still haven't found a seller I trust yet of the few that have responded to me, for the record. I may end up just holding onto this G3 until I do get the right part at a later time - I really want to get it repaired but I'm not going to waste money on some lame ass seller that tries to rip me (and others) off, it's just not going to happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm sitting on an LG G3 with a replacement screen that clearly isn't oem.. The touch screen worked ok in the regular OS, but it didn't work in TWRP so I decided to return to stock.. I can't press the OK button in the Auto Touch Test screen so I can't finish returning it to stock.. If you ever ended up buying a replacement screen that was worthwhile, I'd be interested in knowing what store you got it from.
This was what I ordered:
https://flashtechllc.com/lg-g3/21891-lg-g3-lcd-touch-screen-digitizer-assembly-gray-.html
Worked fine once received, and the price is significantly lower now - I paid over $90 for mine at the time. I did sell the G3 a few days after replacing the screen but that was the whole point I suppose: I put about $150 total into it and sold it for $225 so, ~50% profit ain't so bad.

Is there a DEFINITIVE GPS fix?

My AT&T H820 LG G5 is out of warranty and LG won't honor any repair since I bought it on eBay. I have tried 2 band aid fixes - shimming underneath the metal mesh damper gasket and also shimming underneath the motherboard where the 3 gold pins touch along with bending pins upward. Both "repairs" lasted a week. So is there a definitive and gauranteed fix? What is LG doing, just replacing the metal mesh and damper gasket and then it fails again? I also noticed that my metal mesh damper gasket is a different appearance than what I have seen photos of online, as if there is a revised part. My GPS is now completely non-functioning.
Anybody? Surely there has to be a lasting repair and known cause.
Seems not. I have given up, aside from occasionally popping back here to see if anyone's found something new. I have taken to using an old phone as a bluetooth GPS transmitter. It's a pain, but it works.
Unfortunately LG still uses those same old crappy useless springs that it did several years ago, and they are not very flexible hence why it fails and then fails again. I think putting items underneath will only bend it even further slightly raising them would have been a better fix and then firmly attaching the case. Probably too late for you. The only other option would be solder in some more but I haven't seen the board for ths device.
Would it be possible to use the GPS antenna from my bootloop G4?
Jezza0 said:
Seems not. I have given up, aside from occasionally popping back here to see if anyone's found something new. I have taken to using an old phone as a bluetooth GPS transmitter. It's a pain, but it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've looked how to do this and can only see how to use a phone as a GPS transmitter for a pc, please could you tell me how you did it?
Edit: I found one, worked my way through until it came to allow mock locations within developer settings, to find that as I am running android 7 this option has been removed so back to square one
Sent from my LG-H850 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
3dd1 said:
I've looked how to do this and can only see how to use a phone as a GPS transmitter for a pc, please could you tell me how you did it?[/URL]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure. On the phone with working GPS you want to share, install btGPS from Meowsbox, and get the licence key too (£1 if I recall correctly).
On the G5, install Bluetooth GPS from GG MobLab (which is free and fully functioning).
Once both apps are installed, you just have to pair the devices via bluetooth, enable the transmitter on the old phone, and finally select the old phone in the dropdown on the G5 and press connect.
Is it annoying? Yeah, a bit, but actually I can keep my old phone (Samsung S3) hidden away in the car and it still gives decent reception. And because the screen's off on that device, it lasts for hours without killing the battery.
HTH.
Jezza0 said:
Sure. On the phone with working GPS you want to share, install btGPS from Meowsbox, and get the licence key too (£1 if I recall correctly).
On the G5, install Bluetooth GPS from GG MobLab (which is free and fully functioning).
Once both apps are installed, you just have to pair the devices via bluetooth, enable the transmitter on the old phone, and finally select the old phone in the dropdown on the G5 and press connect.
Is it annoying? Yeah, a bit, but actually I can keep my old phone (Samsung S3) hidden away in the car and it still gives decent reception. And because the screen's off on that device, it lasts for hours without killing the battery.
HTH.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that Before I buy the software for the phone with working gps, does it require GPS mock locations on the G5 as it appears that functionality has been removed from the developer settings in android 7
Sent from my LG-H850 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
3dd1 said:
Thanks for that Before I buy the software for the phone with working gps, does it require GPS mock locations on the G5 as it appears that functionality has been removed from the developer settings in android 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh - yes, good point. I also had to set Bluetooth GPS as the mock location app. Since that's the free app, I'd install that first and see if it can be configured. Also you can test out the transmitter app for (IIRC) 10 minutes before it dies in good crippleware form. Plenty of time to make sure it's working though.
Although... I'm using Android 7.0 on my H860 and mock locations is working fine
I ended up taking a chance and dropped a very small amount of solder on each of the spring contacts everyone keeps talking about lifting or putting a small piece of plastic underneath. In the past lifting the spring helped for a month or so before it started to not seek GPS again.
Yes, I've tried the whole APN update, using GPS Toolbox (which I've had before LG G5), rooted, etc but believe too this is simply a hardware issue on the contacts.
As far as the soldering is concerned, if you're near sighted, you won't need a magnifying glass but the contacts are very small so a very steady hand is a must and of course some soldering skill is required. I'll try to take a macro shot of how it looks this weekend. So far after a month it's been rock solid.
The 3 golden pins are from the volume control. The internet has been spread with fake information relevant to fixing the LG G5's GPS Fix as I also think that opening it up and closing it back down and so on just reseats the contact from the real place for a little while See the most useful marked answer for further explaination: https://nl.ifixit.com/Answers/View/394237/GPS+Not+working+well+at+all
delete

Categories

Resources