Apple iPhone Dissected

Conch writes "Only hours after the launch, the Apple iPhone has been dissected. The good folks at AnandTech violated one of the first iPhones to still our curiosity about whats inside the aluminum shell. 'Please note that we're doing this so you are not tempted to on your recent $500/$600 expenditure, while it is quite possible to take apart using easy to find tools we'd recommend against it as it will undoubtedly void your warranty and will most likely mar up the beautiful gadget's exterior.'"

More and more detailed pics

[stefanb]

at ThinkSecret [thinksecret.com]. Plus they didn't destroy the case :-)

Re:What's that?

[Svippy]

Uh, duh, of course they can sell the batteries, not what I am saying. Since, well I think at least, the iPhone will even in the USA remain for the few, then if the other stores could sell, they wouldn't, because Apple has made sure the battery is so integrated into the phone. You tell your average Joe to change that battery. I know other stores can adapt those feat, but why bother? When the market is so tiny.

This is also the same reason the iPhone won't work in Europe, where consumers aren't that willing to commit to a single company. At the same time, European consumers (at least Scandinavians) prefer text messages (SMS) over calling at most, and the iPhone's keymap does not live up to that quality. Though, I may be wrong on the keymap, I haven't tried an iPhone, so I wouldn't be entirely sure, though I am thinking it won't be as easy as a usual keymap.

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[account_deleted]

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Re:Wow

[Gord]

Obviously you can't change the battery yourself, but from those pictures it looks like even Apple couldn't change it. That can't be so, can it?

Apple will replace it under their service program, when the phone is out-of-warranty. $85.95 including postage.

http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/service/batter y/ [apple.com]

Uses an ARM Jazelle processor

[Sam Haine '95]

I see the iPhone uses a 667 MHz ARM processor that's able to execute Java bitecode directly. I wonder what Java performance is like on this thing?

Re:SIM

[lexarius]

You can change the SIM in the iPhone too (there are pictures of the software demanding that the SIM be inserted). However, like many US phones, it is vendor locked and can only be used with SIMs from a particular provider. If Apple drops the exclusive deal with AT&T (which they can do in two years), they'll probably send out unlock codes via Software Update. Maybe.

Re:SIM

[Anonymous Coward]

Uh, it's quite easy to change the SIM card in the iPhone. There's a tray at the top that works like the battery tray in the Apple Remote.

Re:Why not just one chip?

[jamesh]

I'm not an EE guru, and I know next to nothing about the iPhone, but very standard chips exist for lots of things like 802.11abg, GSM, CDMA, 3G, USB, Bluetooth, LCD/TFT displays, audio, battery charging and monitoring etc. Also, some of these components might be region specific. It makes some sense to keep them separate rather than try and stick everything on the same die, unless you are really pushed for space. Once the thing leaves the factory it may not be repaired, but at the assembly level they may well swap out a bad Bluetooth chip and replace it if required...

It also allows for (eg) 802.11n ability to be added at a later date if a pin compatible 802.11abgn chip comes on the market, or for them to change display vendors (maybe requiring a different driver chip) if they need to.

Re:Why not just one chip?

[dsanfte]

The more stuff on a chip, the lower the yields due to failures of individual components, and the more need for a heat spreader. Secondly, putting all the stuff on a chip means it has to be manufactured by a single company, so less cost-savings is to be found than from shopping around for off-the-shelves from China.

I would also hazard a guess that some of the components on the PCB would simply not fit into an IC.

That being said, if you really wanted to make an all-in-one-chip iPhone, it's probably possible, minus a few bulky components, but probably not economical. I'm pretty sure they've put the phone together in close to the cheapest way possible given their circumstances.

Re:Almost good enough for me.

[sethstorm]

Or you can go with an unlocked phone [nokiausa.com] with all that and more. No touchscreen, no lock-in, no lack of 3G, no closed door to third party apps. Gambling for version 2 might not be a good idea.

Re:Wow

[djh101010]

Apple will replace it under their service program, when the phone is out-of-warranty. $85.95 including postage.

http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/service/batter y/ [apple.com]

Oh come on now, Gord, the bashers were displaying their ignorance for us, and you had to go and spoil the little show by injecting actual facts and everything. What were you thinking?

Another point, is that I've sent 2 iPods back to Apple for battery replacement, and both times they came back as (presumably) the same guts but a new battery, and case. So the cost (60 bucks as I recall) was in effect a refurb. Looked like a brand new unit coming back.

Re:This phone is a 2 HAND device vs 1 HAND device

[catwh0re]

All phone functions can be carried out with one hand. (similar to how you handle an ipod with one hand.)

More advanced functions such as web browsing and browsing email are far easier with two hands (but if you can be bothered stretching your thumb around, then again you can do it one handed.)

It's silly to suggest that the iPhone is the only phone that benefits from two hands. (E.g. any phone that uses a stylus requires two hands on the go.) Since many phones do already require two hands to operate them, having a multi-touch display represents better efficiency of the hands (that is, it should speed you along a little bit, touch typing and gesture short cuts are good examples of this.)

NEO1973

[Tony]

Sounds like you want a FIC NEO1973 [openmoko.org]. According to Sean Moss-Pultz in his most recent announcement [openmoko.org], the consumer model due in Q4 this year will include wifi.

It's almost fully open. As in, everything is open except the AGPS daemon, which you don't need for GPS, just AGPS.

And it'll only be $450, for the phone itself. No contracts required.

ifixit has a much better takeapart...

[dreemkill]

http://stream.ifixit.com/ [ifixit.com]

they did it some time yesterday, about an hour after it came out i think.

and by the looks of it, they didn't destroy it.

Re:SIM

[abdulla]

I think it's actually 5 years. They must have one hell of a deal.

Re:Hooray Apple released a phone!

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

"Why does Apple hate DRM on audio, but not on Software or Video?"

Their OS includes no activation or DRM.

Learn things.

Re:Why not just one chip?

[Bender_]

Ignore all other replies, they are only half truth.

The truth is: Different manufacturing processes are required depending on the function of the chips. There are many different types of integrated circuits in a cellphone: Logic (processor), analog parts (Silicon and exotic III-V semiconductors), Memory (NAND flash, NOR flash, DRAM), Sensors (think MEMS). Each of these require a different process flow. Combining those is often extremely expensive to impossible.

The way it is usually done is to use different circuit techniques to achieve the same functionality in a silicon logic process. However in many situations this is not possible or economical, yet.

ARGH!

[Anonymous Coward]

Discreet = shy, discrete = individual. Learn it, use it, live it.

Re:Hooray Apple released a phone!

[Anonymous Coward]

The TPM chip that isn't on the logic boards? Sweet!

AC for a reason...

Re:SIM

[xil]

No, you don't have to take it apart! There's a slot on the outside of the device, that you can open with a paperclip, that opens the tray with the SIM card.

Re:This phone is a 2 HAND device vs 1 HAND device

[soft_guy]

It depends on what you are trying to do. I bought two iPhones last night - one for me and one for my daughter. I am typing this reply on the iPhone right now.

I can easily call someone with one hand (using my thumb to touch the display). I am using two hands to type this message though. Also, the software keyboard on the iPhone is easier in my opinion to type on than the keyboard on my old Treo 600.

I'm not saying the device is perfect, but it does live up to the hype.

Re:Touch screen display

[Rytr23]

The touch screen works like a charm, the interface is really fabulous and functional.. and I would think that after a year it will still be going strong.. unless you have fingers made of stone flesh.. I avoided touchscreens after seeing the terrible wear on my treo's touchscreen years ago after relatively light stylus usage.. Then again, I cannot attest to the long term viability of capacitive touchscreens.. Anyone know about them? Do they "lose" sensitivity after use/time?

Re:Hooray Apple released a phone!

[Lars T.]

Of course, it does require a special chip on a motherboard made specifically by Apple to boot up or install. How is that not DRM?

You mean the chip that isn't found in the latest Macs? The one that keeps those Macs from running Mac OS X, and that is never accessed by Mac OS X?

Re:The battery is not replaceable by design.

[Anonymous Coward]

Have you ever changed an iPod battery? Cause it doesn't sound like you know what you are talking about.

All recent iPod batteries are soldered to the board just like the iPhone.

All recent iPods have Lithium Polymer batteries.

By "recent" I mean pretty much everything since those ugly ass first or second generation original HDD iPods. Ever notice trendy designs like what Apple uses look really shit after a few years?

Re:Wow

[Stewie241]

a. kit is a slang term for gear. So, read, They probably weren't poor until they blew all their cash on Apple Gear. :)

b. that being said, I believe the iPod is an Apple product that requires other parts (most don't even come with a charger that can be plugged into the wall).