This past week I tried to fix my wife’s iPod. I thought, “I can do this.”

In the past week my wife’s iPod was acting funny. Since this was a “hand me down” from me I felt obligated to see if I could fix the problem.

Turns out there were some black streaks running through the LCD display of the 5th Generation iPod Video. I had replaced the battery myself about 2 months ago with a battery I ordered online but now these black streaks were bothering her…and me.

Upon inspection, I noticed the faceplate was coming off. So I looked online and ordered a replacement faceplate. Cost me about $12 with $2 shipping.

It arrived and went to work on replacing it. Click on the pictures for a larger view – they had some VERY VERY small screws! I had to get my daughter to help me put those on the tip of my screwdriver!

I carefully took it apart and replaced the new faceplate, held my breath and turned it on – but it didn’t do anything to fix those black streaks on the LCD. They seemed to be getting worse.

Some more investigation online and it seemed that the LCD was going bad. It’s a 5yr old iPod so I figured maybe it was time to see if I could replace the LCD myself. Looking and getting prices plus quotes to send it in and get it fixed, I decided I could buy the LCD online for $30 with shipping. I would be saving about $70. But it would mean I would have to totally disassemble the iPod and I was worried.

But then my mantra kicked in…

If it’s already broken, then take it apart and try to fix it – if you don’t then you haven’t lost anything but you have all to gain.

So I did a trial disassemble to see if I could get to the LCD before I ordered the part. I took it apart, then put it back together and it started up! So I ordered the LCD.

It arrived and I went to work…then I broke the battery connector that was soldered to the logic board…

DOH!

I can’t fix that. So I threw in the towel. I must’ve pushed my luck on the battery connector one too many times in my trial disassembly and it snapped off.

I showed my wife and I could see she was bummed (but not as much as me) so I purchased her a refurbished 120gb iPod online. She was happy to get something electronic from that was not a “hand me down.” I’m going to return the unused LCD part minus a $5 shipping fee.

You win some, you lose some.

Beto

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I’m always trying to build stuff to help compliment the photography and video I tinker in. So, two weeks ago I built a “light box” to place items inside and have the product evenly lit.

There are plenty of DIY plans on the web so after some searching, I selected this one and modified it to my liking.

I wanted to make it bigger and “cooler” – from a light/heat perspective.

Most of the plans have you using bright incandescent bulbs but I used fluorescent bulbs that do not generate heat AND they are GREEN (save the planet) which my wife really loves to push on me.

So over the course of two days, I completed my build with stuff I bought at Home Depot – sans the white sheet Liz purchased for me at Walmart. And this time…I didn’t use PVC. Can you believe it?

I’m pretty happy with the results. Plus, it folds up nicely.

As soon I as built it I couldn’t wait to test it so I just started grabbing things and photographing them using Liz’s Nikon DSLR. See one shot below – you can click on it for a larger picture.

I didn’t really color correct any of the images in Photoshop (other than to get rid of some spots), so some might be a little dark but overall, I’m pleased with the results.

I should have used a light on top (other than just the two on the side) but that would meant tearing the light box down and moving it into my study and well, I was just too excited and just started shooting on my workbench.

I also posted more images of the build below plus other (macro) stuff I photographed inside it. Just click on an image to blow it up or view as a slideshow.

Beto

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

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Popularity: 48% [?]

Most of you know that I’m a “tinker-er” with stuff. I like to build things from stuff/plans I see on the web.

Well, I know you’ve seen me build stuff from PVC – I love that stuff. And I even created a logo to use on my posts when I’ve built stuff from that wonderful material.

So this past weekend I built something. I’m still working on the post but I got stuck on what logo I would use since I didn’t use PVC this time.

So I came up with the logo above. What do you think? You can click on the logos for a larger view.

I’ll be using it when I “build” stuff without using PVC.

Stay tuned.

Beto

Popularity: 47% [?]

Saw the movie on Saturday with my kids and one of Emmy’s friends. Wifey had a wedding to attend, so it was just me and kiddos.

We thought we’d just stroll in 20mins before the movie started but I was amazed that the tickets were almost sold out!

I was not about to sit in the front row or be separated, plus we’d be craning our necks to view the movie so we opted to find another theatre showing.

I stepped out of line, whipped out my trusted iPhone and using Flixster, quickly located another movie showing an hour later at another theatre.

I looked over at the kids and said, “Drake, we are LEAVING!”

We drove over, purchased our tickets an hour early, went in and waited for the theatre to be cleaned out.

Glad we did that – the line behind us grew long pretty quick.

Since we were up at the front of the line, we got in first and I was able to seat us all in prime viewing location in the theatre.

We got the “acoustic sweet spot” – see the video below. Liz swears this is how I act.

Anyway, the movie was good, I enjoyed it. Joaquin and Emmy both really wanted to see this movie since they have both read the books. I love to sneak looks over at my kids during the movie, to see their eyes transfixed on the big screen, unconsciously grinning in the dark. Reminds me of…me.

But I think I got more delight out of hearing them point out the “creative liberties” film makers took while making the movie. On the drive home, they both stated they loved the movie but both got quite competitive in reminding each other of the differences between the book and the movie.

My heart swelled with pride knowing I’m not the only one in our family that compares what they read, to what they see on the big screen….but at a much younger age.

Of course now they can’t wait until the next one of the series comes out. The conversation transitioned from the movie to Greek mythology and naming the Gods from memory…

Zeus, Poseidon, Hades…heck Joaquin even told me that the Blacksmith of the Gods is Hephaestus.

Go look it up…I did when I got home.

I’m truly blessed to have such wonderful children that love to read.

Beto

Below is a 2min video of a character from a show I love to watch (The Big Bang Theory) as he goes about locating the “acoustic sweet spot” in a movie theatre. It is pretty funny.

Popularity: 48% [?]

I stumbled across this while surfing. The visual says it all.

Beto

Quick fix to turn a PC into a Mac by ALLY on FEBRUARY 5, 2010 Now this is a mod job that’s bound to stump even the best modders out there. Turning an ordinary laptop into a Mac is tricky business. Thankfully it seems that someone has mastered the task. All you’ll need is some boxing tape and an apple. I don’t think it actually matters as far as the color of the apple goes. You should probably take a bite out of it just for the sake of authenticity though. Source: Gearfuse

link: Foolish Gadgets – Part 2

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