So I dont know how many of you have those TPU cases for our phones but the first thing I noticed was I was having to lobster claw the phone to get the volume buttons up and down to work. So I took the case of to take a look at the inside and I see that they made the indention for the volume keys to deep. What was the fix? A thin thin pace of cardboard from inside a package that I hadn't thrown away yet. It seems silly, and im sure other people have done this, but incase youre having the same problem I was and hadnt stumbled over this easy solution here you go! And the sensitivity is PERFECT, Just make sure you dont use to long,wide or thick of a piece of paper/cardboard otherwise when you push one button it pushes them both. Hope this helps someone else!
EDIT:
Was asked for a picture but since I now have this nifty phone, I took a video
Pictures please!
I actually cut out that part of the case (pictures in the Review thread) but I am considering ordering a glossy one because the matte one is a little too slippery and i'm scared i'm going to drop the phone
viper786 said:
Pictures please!
I actually cut out that part of the case (pictures in the Review thread) but I am considering ordering a glossy one because the matte one is a little too slippery and i'm scared i'm going to drop the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Video Added to main post
I think I'm gonna take a xacto knife to mine.
Sent from my Epic 4G Touch.
tenaciousj said:
I think I'm gonna take a xacto knife to mine.
Sent from my Epic 4G Touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats what i did, worked like a charm.
What we did on the evo silicone cases was to turn it on its side, put a small dot of silicone on the back of the button, let it set up and then when you put it on it is like a direct contact point on the volume buttons.
kawasaki00 said:
What we did on the evo silicone cases was to turn it on its side, put a small dot of silicone on the back of the button, let it set up and then when you put it on it is like a direct contact point on the volume buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats essentially what I did witht he piece of paper. Its just the right thickness to create a direct contact point.
Where a piece of paper floating around may work, I'd think a small piece of duct tape would work even better - wouldn't fall out, and wouldn't be as abrasive on the buttons.
geolemon said:
Where a piece of paper floating around may work, I'd think a small piece of duct tape would work even better - wouldn't fall out, and wouldn't be as abrasive on the buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used electrical tape. 3 layers, as good as a pieced of paper.
You can also use a piece of clear scotch tape (only need 1 layer) and put it on the inside of the case where the volume rocker is. That's a trick I picked up here on XDA a year back or so. Helps on quite a few models. I still prefer to use the Volume Control+ app to change the volume but honestly I haven't needed to use it with the Epic 4G Touch case since I don't find the volume buttons to be as difficult to press as some TPU cases I've used in the past. Thanks for making this video for the people that are having difficulty though!
---------- Post added at 12:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 PM ----------
tenaciousj said:
I think I'm gonna take a xacto knife to mine.
Sent from my Epic 4G Touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't recommend doing that as the case will become loose where the volume rocker is.
tenaciousj said:
I think I'm gonna take a xacto knife to mine.
Sent from my Epic 4G Touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a update on mine. I ended up getting the matte black as I didnt like the glossy ones finger prints. For whatever reason this one is 10x easier to work the volume rocker over the glossy one so I'm just going to leave it the way it is.
worked perfect for me thanks OP.
P.S. Does anybody know how to get the replacement screen protectors since the first batch didn't fit?
Cut my volume rocker piece out....now it works great. It is easy to press the volume buttons, they are still recessed so they dont get pressed accidentally, and the case is still as tight as ever. I used a very sharp fish fillet knife, but a razor / xacto would work great.
i took this case for granted and decided to deal with the volume rocker issue until i stumbled on this thread. wow! it worked. thanks! took 30 seconds and saved 5 minutes of my life each day!
A customer made a post on Amazon mentioning a really cool fix for a different phone. Instead of actually cutting out the button your having problems with, just make an incision along the side of the molded button. On the Epic 4G Touch for example, i used a kitchen knife since I didn't have my xacto handy and I made 2 parallel cuts, one each side of the volume rocker. Basically cut it as if you were going to cut the button out but leave the top and bottom end intact (he just suggested cutting along one side, i think cutting along both sides works better). You cant tell the cuts are there when your done. I can now press the volume buttons extremely easily! I would say this works significantly better than the tape trick, and I haven't tried the cardboard trick. Happy modding!
I'm so glad I found this thread today. This has been driving me nuts, and I was just about to take a knife to it. What I did was put a thin cardboard piece that fit into the indentation, then covered it with a piece of electrical tape to keep it in place (A mix of two different techniques mentioned here).
Related
I picked this up from a buddy who owns a accessory cart. Its a hard clear plastic on the back and a hard rubber around the sides. It covers the phone really nice and doesn't stick to your pocket like gel skins.
Heres some pics of it on the phone.
I haven't got mine yet, but if it's not the same case, it's very similar to this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=772826
Yup thats the case, great case.
Yeah other than the unlock/power button being a little troublesome its a great case. I found that since I normally unlock with my left hand I put the phone left top corner in the joint of my left thumb where it meets my palm and use my middle finger to push the unlock button. I'm not sure how I discovered it, but it seems to work every time after that.
Oh that which I mentioned above and its nearly impossible to cover the speaker hole if your volume is loud like mine is often after using Maps. My wife gives me the evil eye now and then when I turn it on in the morning.
Heres my photos of the phone in case.
http://s499.photobucket.com/albums/rr351/links4jeeps_kizer/Vibrant/
Is your power button cut out? I have the other case and hate that the power button not being cut out
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
rizzxx7 said:
Is your power button cut out? I have the other case and hate that the power button not being cut out
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I first got it the power/lock button was not cut out. After about 2 days I cut out the lock button.
speoples20 said:
When I first got it the power/lock button was not cut out. After about 2 days I cut out the lock button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Do you mind telling us what you cut the button out with?
rizzxx7 said:
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Do you mind telling us what you cut the button out with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xacto Knife
Can you shoot a photo and did it make a big difference?
Never mind on the photo you can see it up above.
kizer said:
Can you shoot a photo and did it make a big difference?
Never mind on the photo you can see it up above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heres the hole I cut. Gonna make it a little bigger and clean it up when I get a chance.
I got this case a couple days ago and I found that putting a small piece of paper the size of the indent for the unlock button makes the unlock/power button much easier to push. Be careful to not put a piece that is too thick because it will constantly be pushing the button and your phone will be constantly restarting. It has been working perfect so far. I will update in a couple of days. Hope this helps,
Russ
I cut mine too. I used an Exacto knife and cut from the inside. Other than the fact that it's not tapered, you can't tell that it's not a factory cut.
I like it for the fact that it makes the button easy to press but I also like it because it makes it easier to figure out which end is the top of the phone in the dark.
they need to make this case with the buttons cut out, I had to switch back to my mesh cases
Pneumatic said:
I cut mine too. I used an Exacto knife and cut from the inside. Other than the fact that it's not tapered, you can't tell that it's not a factory cut.
I like it for the fact that it makes the button easy to press but I also like it because it makes it easier to figure out which end is the top of the phone in the dark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. I just feel for the USB cut out at the top.
kizer said:
LOL. I just feel for the USB cut out at the top.
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Click to collapse
It also has a decidedly round butt sticking out.
I tried that cardboard trick, it helps but makes your phone case look ugly or steak out on a weird way. Sometimes it will hit both buttons. This fix will solve all these problems.
Here's the best way to fix the tpu case Volume buttons. Very simple.
Simply take a very small razor blade or a exact o knife and cut around the volume up buton but leave a 1/8th of a inch pivot point in between The volume up and down button. Next do the same for the down button.
I hope this solves everyones problem with these nice TPU cases if I Help to you please send me a thanks....
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
I just did this and it works well. The volume keys are much easier to press.
Here are some pics of how far I cut.
The first image shows that the cut is not noticeable unless you look very closely under direct light.
http://i.imgur.com/iQwi7.jpg
The second image shows the cut depth.
http://i.imgur.com/29xnd.jpg
Thanks for posting pictures i didnt have time hope it helped
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
I used duct tape instead. Three strip layers inside the case made perfect contact w/ the volume rocker. Its working perfectly now!
I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to cut the plastic over the volume buttons off entirely...
Depends how fat your fingers are. The hole can get a little narrow, making it harder to press than the suggestion above.
IMO though wait a week before doing anything. I thought they were a little stiff at first, but I just pushed them in and out about 30 times with the case off and they loosened up. I actually prefer it stock now, as I don't press the volume buttons by accident when holding the phone in landscape mode and it isn't bad at all now that it has loosened up.
OMG! The duct tape works perfectly. Pain to cut it but now the buttons work like butter!!! Weeeee.
Coming from HD2, on which I had to apply a home-made lanyard mod, involving some insulating tape, which needs to be changed after a while due to usage, I saw with a big surprise the lanyard hole/hook in the SGS2, since I was long used to today's smartphones NOT having any safety hook whatsoever (as if it was more important to fall-protect a 30USD vanilla phone than a 700USD technological grail), so I was kinda counting on said hook on the Note as well.
Since it's not the case, I'd love for someone already owning the device to check whether it would be possible to apply such a lanyard mod somehow to the case, more specifically if insulating tape can be put so the back plastic cover keeps it in place and makes it fall-safe as needed
EDIT: Sillyw4lks proposed this mod
I would make two holes in a rubber gel case and put the strap in the case instead of the Note.
No, I can't find any good way to hook the lanyard. Perhaps a small hole in the back cover? But I wouldn't do that on mine.
maddler said:
No, I can't find any good way to hook the lanyard. Perhaps a small hole in the back cover? But I wouldn't do that on mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would u rather loose the phone or the back cover ?
The rationale behind a lanyard is to not having to use a case at all, because you prevent the phone from falling in the first place
Couldn't you just loop some high strength fishing wire through the speaker grill on the back plate and use that to tie to a hand-lanyard (like the one on the wiimote)? My only concern would be, should it drop, if it would just rip the back plate off or actually stop the entire thing from falling.
Try the speaker hole. It doesn't cause problems for listening music/sounds.
dl.dropbox.com/u/4087751/Imagenes/note/IMG_20111107_172221.jpg
(I'm new and i can't post url's, right click/search link)
Btw, i tried only one fall and it works. The back plate resists extreme pulls.
I would be more partial to something like this, which was posted in the HD2 accessories forum a long while ago, and that has accompanied me through these couple last years. Lifesaver in a few occasions, one of which just today.
Using the speaker grill is interesting enough, I still wonder if it will actually hold in the long term. A piece of tape you can replace thousands of times, a plastic part in the case can be a pain if it gets broken.
Your idea is interesting and inspiring though, and until now sounds like the best.
drgopoos said:
Would u rather loose the phone or the back cover ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I wouldn't. But I see no other options if you absolutely want a lanyard. And I DO NOT WANT
---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------
ephestione said:
The rationale behind a lanyard is to not having to use a case at all, because you prevent the phone from falling in the first place
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beside I'd feel quite uncomfortable with a 5 inches smartphone hanging from my neck
maddler said:
Beside I'd feel quite uncomfortable with a 5 inches smartphone hanging from my neck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*wrist, and only when you're actually holding it, otherwise it comfortably sits in your pocket
Sillyw4lks said:
Try the speaker hole. It doesn't cause problems for listening music/sounds.
dl.dropbox.com/u/4087751/Imagenes/note/IMG_20111107_172221.jpg
(I'm new and i can't post url's, right click/search link)
Btw, i tried only one fall and it works. The back plate resists extreme pulls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice idea.
Another place would be to loop the lanyard between the camera lens and LED flash holes on the rear case.
I recently picked up a cheap, generic lanyard for use with the Note and have found that it completely changed the way I hold and use the phone. It makes holding the phone a lot more comfortable and allows for full single hand usage of the phone. Also, I have done some drop tests and it pretty much drop-proofs the phone (linked below is a video of a drop test I did). I HIGHLY recommend getting one of these, if only for the increased flexibility it gives you when using it single-handed.
How it Helps Single-Handed Use
Because the lanyard I got has a clip on it I am able to detach the lanyard part of it and just have a little “tail” of sorts on the phone. I almost always have this tucked between my middle and ring finger when holding the phone, as it allows me to comfortably hold the phone without needed to support it from the bottom of the phone with a finger. It is hard to explain, so I took a video of it (linked below). This manner of holding the phone means that the ONLY part of the hand that needs touch the phone is the middle and ring fingers on the center of the back plate of the phone. The traction from the skin on the back plate keeps it from moving left/right, gravity keeps it from moving up, and the string connecting the bottom of the back plate to the tips of my middle/ring fingers keeps it from falling. It basically feels like the phone is floating in your hand when holding it like this. It allows you not only to comfortably hold it and use your thumb, but use both your thumb and index finger for zooming and panning as well! And, if you tilt the phone in your hand, you can reach ANY part of the screen with your thumb. You can manipulate the phone however you like, by doing this, without fear of dropping it because the string is firmly between the two fingers.
(This video is in HD so you can press the 720P button and make it fullscreen to see more)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMQ32JT3Uk8
Drop-Proofing
The video shows it the best but you can drop the phone however you want and it will be caught by the lanyard every time. The back plate is fit so securely into the phone that it does not budge, not a single clip of the back plate has come undone in any of my tests (and in one of my tests I flung it around in a circle on the end of the lanyard). Quite amazing really, defeats the need for an OtterBox for me.
(This video is in HD so you can press the 720P button and make it fullscreen to see more)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFOAuDcmRU
More Pics
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
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If you like this post thank me by pressing the 'Thanks' button
A+ for creativity.
Hey, watched your vids. How are you using this 1 handed? It looks like you've somehow got the thick part of the lanyard up close to the phone in that video...
nice work.
By the way, did you hurt your finger doing this mod ?
copualt3: Thanks!
gerizafa:
Hopefully the linked photo below illustrates it more clearly. I simply tuck the lanyard attachment between my middle and ring finger and it holds the phone.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h260/piranha_pilot/IMG_0988.jpg
blobotorian:
Thanks! And lol no I didn't, I accidentally cut myself while absent-mindedly taking knives out of the dishwasher.
would it **** u off if the back cover fell off and ur phone smashed?
bamboo12 said:
would it **** u off if the back cover fell off and ur phone smashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too use a lanyard, but have mine attached to the flip case back (also at the speaker hole).
Firmly pulling the flap away from the lanyard, and nothing happens. It's not coming off by accident.
BTW... I have a much smaller lanyard with nice leather detailing. Without ever consciously thinking about it, I have gotten into the havit of leaving the lanyard dangling out of my pocket, and my hand subconsciously goes through the lanyard every time I take the phone out of my pocket.
I plan on using a Nillkin TPU case which has strap holes and an SGP Asturias leather handstrap on my imaginary Note. I say imaginary because it's all just an idea, I might get one, I might not. The dev community is so good for the SGS2 that I'll just miss having so many options and tweaks.
@unsinkable can u post some pictures
I did this exactly, sturdy at first but I kind of have the feeling that plastic grill will break some day.
Still better than having the whole phone break after a fall tho.
Not having included a proper lanyard hook like in SGS2 was a huge shortcoming for note designers. SGS2 had the con of an unproperly placed lanyard in the top part of the phone, but still!
I'm finding it rather difficult to get my lanyard's string through my speaker phone grill.
It is in fact hard, the typical lanyard end-cords are thicker than the space avaialble in the grill, but if you push attentively enough, or use the help of a tiny object like a de-tipped needle, to push the loop in the middle for you, it is then pretty easy to do the job.
manhattan212 said:
I'm finding it rather difficult to get my lanyard's string through my speaker phone grill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm just remove the back plate first and then tuck it in and out?
broke mine.
My lanyard broke the little bar behind the speaker.
I personally don't think much force was used to make this happen.
It didn't break it off completely, just one side. So I pushed it back in, so that cosmetically it looks ok -but I certainly can't attach a lanyard on it again.
I'll have to find a case/shell with a lanyard loop.
Incidentally, does anyone know if it's possible to get a replacement back panel?
manhattan212 said:
My lanyard broke the little bar behind the speaker.
I personally don't think much force was used to make this happen.
It didn't break it off completely, just one side. So I pushed it back in, so that cosmetically it looks ok -but I certainly can't attach a lanyard on it again.
I'll have to find a case/shell with a lanyard loop.
Incidentally, does anyone know if it's possible to get a replacement back panel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Metal ones to be found on ebay
Sent from TapaTalk on my Samsung Galaxy Note
thanks for the vids . .
but seems a bit much to wear a wrist leash to carry a cell phone?. .
manhattan212 said:
I'll have to find a case/shell with a lanyard loop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please share if you do find one. I'd also be interested in a case with a lanyard loop spot!
mcatt66 said:
thanks for the vids . .
but seems a bit much to wear a wrist leash to carry a cell phone?. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought so at first but it soon becomes 2nd nature (5 weeks now)
zkyevolved said:
Please share if you do find one. I'd also be interested in a case with a lanyard loop spot!
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Click to collapse
the ringke case in the thin case thread has lanyard holes
zkyevolved said:
Please share if you do find one. I'd also be interested in a case with a lanyard loop spot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nillkin has one. They're fairly easy to find on ebay. I think they have multiple colors, or something.
I find it very difficult to wake the phone with the power/wake button. Just the angle of the bezel and how flush the IR button is makes it much more of a chore compared to any other phone I've used. Does anyone know of a case that can remedy the situation? I don't care if it covers the IR.
I bought the poetic case off amazon (3rd revision) and it doesn't help with the flush power button issue. Since no one responded I'll keep updating as I get more cases. Sad.
I don't know how tough it is to remove the old poetic case (since everyone seem to gush about how difficult it is) but I don't find it very hard. Simply pry open one corner then expand the gap and it pops off pretty easily. I much rather have a tight case than a lose one *wink*
Currently waiting on basal case. Don't know if I should just exchange then phone because of the recessed button.
I came across this:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/for-HTC-One-...hone_PDA_Cases&var&hash=item5d3d09adf1&_uhb=1
I think i might buy this one
isinisterx said:
I came across this:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/for-HTC-One-...hone_PDA_Cases&var&hash=item5d3d09adf1&_uhb=1
I think i might buy this one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one for my One S, and honestly it's junk. Its hard to put in your pocket because its grippy, and it collects lint constantly.
The rubber inside feels cheap, and loose around the sides where there is no support.
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
Well thanks for that lool
Here is my remedy for the power button and its awkward position. Never use it. Find a kernel with swipe to wake and then I use a sleep widget on the home screen to sleep. I double tap the bottom of the screen to wake it up. Works perfectly
I got the urban armor gear one off of ebay
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
Yep the basal case sucks too. I actually flashed cyanogenmod nightlys and use the swipe to unlock feature. Got to swipe all the captivate buttons kinda like iPhone. Unfortunately there is a slight lag but that'll probably get cleared up when more stable releases are out.
xxquicksh0txx said:
I have one for my One S, and honestly it's junk. Its hard to put in your pocket because its grippy, and it collects lint constantly.
The rubber inside feels cheap, and loose around the sides where there is no support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because it is made of silicone. That's one material I hate... yes, even in the other way.
fffssslll said:
Yep the basal case sucks too. I actually flashed cyanogenmod nightlys and use the swipe to unlock feature. Got to swipe all the captivate buttons kinda like iPhone. Unfortunately there is a slight lag but that'll probably get cleared up when more stable releases are out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... for the time I'm running CM 10.1, I'm using volume wake and hold menu to lock. I'm sure it saves battery life because the capacitive panel is off when asleep. Plus when I had S2W enabled, it seemed that I could never get it right the first time.
Agreed, I too also had this case on my one s and it's really crappy and too loose in the areas where the hard plastic doesn't wrap the case
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
The urban armor gear makes the volume button so much better than without it, though the wake button stays the same maybe even abit worse..