Mods
iPhone 3G Modded with Macro
The iPhone 3G’s camera works alright until you want to grab a shot of something within a foot or so (like a butterfly, or unpopped pimple). And to address this dilemma, one modder softened the glue holding in his iPhone’s camera and rotated the lens to macrofy the fovus. He was able to take several shots within 5 inches, but the most impressive is this picture taken just .25 inches away from its subject. For a phone especially, that’s some impressive macro. If only it didn’t require such delicate surgery to implement—ahem—Apple—ahem. [flickr via Apple]
Popularity: 7% [?]
iPhone Hacks: refocusing your camera
Like most phone cameras, the iPhone’s lens is focused for the most general possible use, i.e. nearly at infinity. Apple reader Daniel Forsythe modded his iPhone to focus a bit closer up so he could use it to read bar codes that he shoots from magazines and equipment labels.
The mod involves breaking the glue that holds in the camera module and rotating the lens to bring the focus closer to the camera. With this hack, he can snap photos of close-in subjects. Check out his Flickr photo set for samples and discussion.
He writes that he plans to make a full mod guide should readers express interest in it. The photo seen here is focused to 0.25″.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Glowing Apple logo mod for your iPhone?
iPhones.ru posted a video (with dialogue in Russian, I think) showing a first-generation iPhone that’s been modified to light up the Apple logo on the back of the device when it’s turned on.
Sadly, it doesn’t show how exactly the modification was made, though I conjecture it uses light from the main display somehow, perhaps with optical fiber. Maybe the presenter is discussing it, but I don’t speak Russian, so it’s hard to say.
It looks pretty cool. I’m old enough to remember when people were doing this to their PowerBooks, so who knows? This might just be a built-in feature of some future iPhone.
[Via Saiko Land]
Popularity: 4% [?]
ColorWare does their thing for the iPhone 3G
If black and white aren’t enough for you, ColorWare is now offering their gadget coloring service for the iPhone 3G. Their iPhone site allows you to customize parts of your phone with 35 different colors on an à la carte basis. Obviously you have to send in your iPhone and the service takes about two weeks.
Unfortunately, it’s not cheap. Just to color the back of the phone is $150 (all prices are US dollars), with additional color options for the frame, home button, SIM tray, earbuds, and dock running $10-$20 each. In fact, if you went wild and purchased full customization, your bill would be $230 — more than the iPhone 3G. On the other hand, can you really put a price on being the only guy whose lilac-colored iPhone has a Candy Apple button?
[Colorwarepc via Apple]
Popularity: 9% [?]
Mod your dock to work with iPhone 3G
Two intrepid users have found a simple way to mod their old iPhone docks to work with iPhone 3G: a rotary tool.
All it takes, apparently, is grinding away about a millimeter of the plastic where the back of the iPhone 3G rests against the dock. A rotary tool with a tapered grinding bit appears to work the best, as it avoids touching the dock connector.
It might not have exactly the fit and finish of a new dock, but hey, the price is right if you already have the tools.
iPhone 3G docks are $29 at the Apple Store. Dremel grinding bits are about $10 for a five-pack. [Via Digg.]
Popularity: 8% [?]
