OK, after looking at the internal photos on the FCC's website, I'm pretty sure it can be done.
Here's how you do it... I think! I have only gotten as far as step 4 and I'm not going any further.
*** WARNING *** WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY, SO DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU BRICK YOUR PPC
1 Remove the battery cover.
2 Remove the battery.
3 Unscrew the two screws under the top of the battery cover. There may be some stickers over them.
4 Pry the panel over the camera off. Be careful, there are some tabs holding it in place. Two at the top of the panel and one to the side of the speaker. You should now see a circuit board. This looks like one part of the camera. It has the flash LED on it. An insteresting side note. On the top side under that panel is a flex circuit board with a zig zag pattern on it. This must be the Bluetooth or WiFi antenna.
5 There is one screw holding the LED circuit board in place. Unscrew it.
6 Now you should be able to pry this circuit board out of it's connector which is right under the LED itself.
7 This should expose the camera module. I think the module can also be pryed out of its connector which should be under the right side of the (flex?) circuit board. There are four holes in the plastic housing right where the camera should be, but I don't think they are for screws or anything.
8 Put back the panel and screw it back on.
9 Put the battery back and also the cover.
Hit the reset button.
Viola! A PPC-6701.
Any brave soul willing to try this for real??? Take pictures as you do it and post them here.
Sincerely,
Robb "Not my fault if you screw up your PPC" Bates
Robb
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Zoomer PDA>HP200LX>Palm Pilot>Visor>VisorPrism>Treo180>h1910>h2215>X50v>PPC-6700
Last edited by Robb Bates : 03-08-2006 at 11:01 PM.
Reason: Added photos
Some of us are not allowed to take our 6700's into work with us. I for instance sometimes do consulting work at a defense contractor and have to leave my 6700 in the car whenever I go into one of their buildings even though the work I am doing has nothing to do with national defense or even remotly classified material.
Many people want a PPC-6700 but there are many companies that will not allow cameras on their premises. Since there is no cameraless PPC6700 version available right now, this gives people an option.
Robb
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"You're such a geek!" --- "Why, Thank you!"
Zoomer PDA>HP200LX>Palm Pilot>Visor>VisorPrism>Treo180>h1910>h2215>X50v>PPC-6700
I don't think that there was ever a doubt that you COULD remove the camera.
What some people want to know is, can you remove the camera without making it a brick.
I personally think it would have been easier to simply choose a phone WITHOUT a camera for if you are in a job field that requires or possibly requires government / bonded clearance.
__________________ Shi Kai Wei: XV6700/SCH-i730/XV6600/SCH-i600
Well sure. You could always send a dril bit through the lens. With what I've seen, it looks like you can remove the camera without destroying it. And actually put it back if you want. The only question is: How will the PPC6700 react with the camera not there? Is it going to lock up when it tries to load some driver? Or is there some other circuitry on one of those boards that is neccessary for proper operation. Knowing how most PCB manufacturing is done, HTC more than likely made it so they could just leave the camera module(s) off the board and it would works just the same (less the camera functions).
But will it "brick" it? I seriously doubt it. But we'll never know until someone actually tries it.
Robb
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"You're such a geek!" --- "Why, Thank you!"
Zoomer PDA>HP200LX>Palm Pilot>Visor>VisorPrism>Treo180>h1910>h2215>X50v>PPC-6700
What makes me curious, is that most phones come in a NON camera version BEFORE it makes a camera version. Why in this case, was the camera version first?
The possiblity exists that the camera is simply a daughter board (Plugin) module, but the possibility also exists that it is not.
I never remember anyone suggesting drilling the lens out. Everyone knows that anything created with electronic components can be taken apart or modified.
All I am saying is that it is pretty bold to say 'You Can Remove The Camera' and then say that it has never actually been attempted successfully by you for fear that you will 'brick the phone', but best of luck to whomever wants to try with this posted educated guess.
Credit does go for the warning to everyone that it has never been attempted and that they take the risk upon themselves however.
__________________ Shi Kai Wei: XV6700/SCH-i730/XV6600/SCH-i600
What would it matter if you took the camera module out, I am assuming you'd still have to put the lens back on to avoid having a gaping hole on the back of the phone, and I am sure that if your company doesn't want cell phones with cameras that it would still look like a cell phone with a camera, especially considering that it says 1.3 megapixel right above the lens.
They trust you enough to let you see all of this highly classified material (or whatever the case may be), yet they think that simply having a camera on your person would immediatly turn you into a backstabbing traitorus lunatic?
I hope I never work for a company that is so short-sighted and untrustworthy.
Then I guess you will never work for any reputable major corporation that relies on its intellectual property for success. Either that or you simply do not have a realistic view of the world. I worked for Motorola for 10 years and Intel for 3 years. I would not consider EITHER of those companies to be "short-sighted" in ANY respect and BOTH have policies restricting camera phones in most areas. Look at it from this angle - with 5000+ employees at Intel - is it reasonable to expect that EVERY ONE of those employees would exhibit the highest degree of integrity, morality and virtuousity? If you believe that then I have a prime piece of beach front property I'd like to sell you right here in New Mexico!
In all seriousness - the "bad guys" dont just sell drugs on the street corner. They work everywhere. Simple fact of life.
Heres something else to think about - next time your changing clothes in a gym locker room - you might better appreciate the fact that many health clubs now also restrict camera phones on their premises - for obvious reasons.
I am assuming you'd still have to put the lens back on to avoid having a gaping hole on the back of the phone
I actually took the panel off and looked inside. The little macro "switch" and "lens" is part of the back panel and is not attached to the camera module, so you can remove the camera and not have a gaping hole in the back. Very convenient.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shi_Kai_Wei
The possiblity exists that the camera is simply a daughter board (Plugin) module, but the possibility also exists that it is not.
It is a module. Take a look at the internal photos referred to in the original link. You can see that the camera part of the phone is actually two modules. One is for the flash LED and one is the actual camera. Both are connected to the mainboard by miniature high density connectors. I've seen and worked with these connectors before and I know that you can remove and replace these connectors easily.
Robb
__________________
"You're such a geek!" --- "Why, Thank you!"
Zoomer PDA>HP200LX>Palm Pilot>Visor>VisorPrism>Treo180>h1910>h2215>X50v>PPC-6700
PPC-6701? More like PPC-6699, or PPC-ZERO after somebody futzes with an incredibly complex piece of equipment and screws it up royal.
I really can't see why this would be worthwhile. If you can afford this phone you can afford a backup non-cameraphone with an identically set up PDA, you'll just have to unconverge.
I've seen and worked with these connectors before and I know that you can remove and replace these connectors easily.
If it is all just that easy, then by all means let us know how it turns out. It looks as if several users would love to know how to make the 6700 a NON-Camera phone.
I look forward to your results.
Best of luck.
__________________ Shi Kai Wei: XV6700/SCH-i730/XV6600/SCH-i600
Why not pull out a BT, non-camera PDA? Then you can transfer files that you need onto the non-camera, use it on the site, then switch back to the 6700.
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