Removing the camera from a HTC Hero?

daveybaby · Oct 7, 2009

He can prove he doesnt have a working camera on his phone by showing them the hole where the sensor/lens used to be.

But youre right, he could have a camera in his belt buckle, in his glasses, in his briefcase... anywhere. Banning cameraphones is classic knee-jerk security... but then thats what security people tend to do - you dont tend to get too many creative thinkers applying for jobs in security

spenspuma · Oct 7, 2009

daveybaby said:
He can prove he doesnt have a working camera on his phone by showing them the hole where the sensor/lens used to be.

But youre right, he could have a camera in his belt buckle, in his glasses, in his briefcase... anywhere. Banning cameraphones is classic knee-jerk security... but then thats what security people tend to do - you dont tend to get too many creative thinkers applying for jobs in security

Haha

Thing is, there are a number of holes in the rear of the hero, who's to say it hadn't been moved to one of these....who's to say the device doesn't also have a camera on the front for video calls? The ONLY way you can be sure is to ban ALL phones? That's why I doubt simply putting a bloomin sticker over the lens is going to be adequate. If it is then the security there is a farce and very nieve.

dirks · Oct 11, 2009

The operation succeeded

I have removed the camera and my Hero is up again. I haven't recognized any problems yet. I can post some pictures of the disassembly later.

Bunjiweb · Oct 11, 2009

Would be interested to see further pictures, but am also curious as to how you will get away with it whilst people have already mentioned other various places you could be concealing a camera, would they all be picked up by a metal detector?

Ben

Slug · Oct 11, 2009

dirks said:
The operation succeeded

Well done Dirks! I hope the patient recovers okay....

I'd be fascinated to see any photos illustrating the procedure. They could be invaluable later if anyone needs to do 'surgery' out of warranty. I also hope your employers appreciate the trouble you've taken to comply with their policy - imho you deserve a pay rise just for dedication.

spenspuma · Oct 13, 2009

Slug said:
Well done Dirks! I hope the patient recovers okay....

I'd be fascinated to see any photos illustrating the procedure. They could be invaluable later if anyone needs to do 'surgery' out of warranty. I also hope your employers appreciate the trouble you've taken to comply with their policy - imho you deserve a pay rise just for dedication.

More likely the company will still ban the phone and he will have 1) wasted his time/effort and 2) in doing so invalidated his warranty.

Why would any company spend hours checking hardware in each and every phone that every employee has? It just wouldn't happen, there would just be a block ban if security was THAT much if an issue.

Personally I think the OP has manufactured the scenario as a talking point. Interesting to a point but then when you actually take a step back and analyse it, it becomes a bit unrealistic....do people REALLY believe the company will check everyone's phones and then start delving into the phones hardware and software to see if it is possible to take a photo on the phone? It's too Hollywood for me.

zukini · Oct 13, 2009

@Spenspuma GET A LIFE
@Dirks

Well done mate, I too would love to see the pictures.

(Im guessing you didnt do it at works as there are pictures!)

spenspuma · Oct 13, 2009

zukini said:
@Spenspuma GET A LIFE
@Dirks

Well done mate, I too would love to see the pictures.

(Im guessing you didnt do it at works as there are pictures!)

You've been reeled in too obviously.

CitizenErazed · Oct 13, 2009

To me, if the guy's done it with an EeePC and that's been acceptable by his employers, then obviously the same procedure on a Hero would be acceptable.

Yes, the policy is stupid, I don't think even dirks is disputing that. But if he's managing to get round it, more power to him.

dirks · Oct 13, 2009

Hello,

here's a little tutorial how to remove the camera.

Disclaimer: Don't try this at home

Don't blame me if you have destroyed your Hero. You void your warranty by disassembling the hero.

Necessary tools:
- small torx screw driver (I have to look up the size)
- small philips screw driver (I have to look up the size)
- a plastic pry-opener (like this one)
- a pair of tweezers
- a scalpel
- electrical tape
- block of foam

The basic disassembly is well described on the russian PDA Center website. I have already posted the link in this thread. Have a look at their images.

Disassembly of a HTC Hero (PDA Center)

1. Remove the battery cover.

2. Remove battery, SIM card and SD card.

3. Unscrew the 6 screws. 5 of them are torx. The last one with the label 'void' needs a philips screw driver. Although all 6 screws are fixed with some thread sealing they can easily be removed.

4. The next part is the tricky one: The back cover is snapped into the front cover. To get over the clips you have use the pry-opener. I started opposite the volume button (section 4, second image on the PDA Center site). In contrast to the PDA Center site I highly recommend a plastic pry-opener and not a metal knife.

Now that pandora's box is open we can start to remove the camera.

5. Remove the grey tape between the camera and the SIM card slot. I forgot to take a picture of that. Have a look at the images in section 6 on the PDA Center site. You can see the tape between the SIM card slot and the camera there. Just remove the tape gently with the side of a scalpel.

6. Now you can see the connector of the camera module. Look at my first image (IMG_7528b.jpg). It's the black connector labeled with 'CHT37-...'. Lift it up carefully with pair of tweezers or the side of a scalpel (don't use the cutting edge of the scalpel

Your result should look like my second image (IMG_7539b.jpg).

7. Now the camera can be removed. The camera is glued to the board. The glue is very soft. Just tilt the camera carefully to remove it. You can see the result in my last image (IMG_7541b.jpg).

After that put some electrical tape on the connector und fill the space previously occupied by the camera with a piece of foam. Snap the back cover back on, put the screws back, and so on.

That's all

daveybaby · Oct 13, 2009

Nice work dirk, but i have to admit i'm now mostly reading this thread to see what spensuma is going to come out with next

spenspuma · Oct 13, 2009

Just a quick question...

How does your company check that you don't have a camera in your (or any other employees) phone?...and how often do they check up?

Bunjiweb · Oct 13, 2009

spenspuma said:
Personally I think the OP has manufactured the scenario as a talking point.

Either you are far too cynical, an immature child, or a pathetic looser, why bother posting on a thread where you are just out to attack the author? I thought this was an interesting thread, if u don't like it, there's plenty of other threads you can NOT reply to.....

dirks said:
here's a little tutorial how to remove the camera.

Thanks for replying, very interesting, and certainly surprising to learn that actually it is quite simple to remove the camera. I wonder why they made it such an easily replaced module? I guess it is because the magic and other HTC android handsets have the same mainboard, but they left the camera a removable option so that they could update specs such as on the HTC Hero (from 3.2mp to 5mp sensor).

Ben

spenspuma · Oct 13, 2009

Bunjiweb said:
Either you are far too cynical, an immature child, or a pathetic looser, why bother posting on a thread where you are just out to attack the author? I thought this was an interesting thread, if u don't like it, there's plenty of other threads you can NOT reply to.....

Ben

So, you feel it ok to attack me but don't feel I should question the op? That's a bit rich

Slug · Oct 13, 2009

spenspuma said:
So, you feel it ok to attack me but don't feel I should question the op? That's a bit rich

Perhaps if you actually contributed, rather than merely criticising other posters, you'd have a better reception.

If you don't agree with a thread, or have no interest in contributing to it, then rule #1 is... move on to the next one. That way you don't waste either your time or that of those who are interested in it.

Phases · Oct 13, 2009

Nice work, dirks! Can't argue with having to abide by company rules - even if they are a bit over the top. Gotta pay those bills! Glad you found an acceptable solution.

Thanks for the write up, too. Interesting to read if nothing else.

spenspuma · Oct 14, 2009

spenspuma said:
Just a quick question...

How does your company check that you don't have a camera in your (or any other employees) phone?...and how often do they check up?

I would be interested in an answer to this question please. Thanks

daffyduck · Oct 14, 2009

Spensuma, you would be surprised what companies will do to make sure facilities are secure.
Intellectual property theft is a serious problem in major corporations & that is the issue here.
I think your comments, while well-intentioned, were slightly naive.

spenspuma · Oct 14, 2009

petergdakin said:
Spensuma, you would be surprised what companies will do to make sure facilities are secure.
Intellectual property theft is a serious problem in major corporations & that is the issue here.
I think your comments, while well-intentioned, were slightly naive.

Certainly not nieve, quite the opposite actually. I'm just curious how this company will check all the phones to make sure there are no cameras on the employees phones..if someone has gone to the trouble of removing a camera then id be even more concerned because how Di they know the person hasn't hidden a camera behind another hole in the hero, or indeed how do they know there isn't one in the front?

I'm not being nieve, I'm just trying to get my head round why a company wouldn't just ban mobile phones than have to spend valuable resources constantly checking the exact specs of everyone's phones and how they've modified them.

daffyduck · Oct 14, 2009

spenspuma said:
I'm just curious how this company will check all the phones to make sure there are no cameras on the employees phones.

I'm just trying to get my head round why a company wouldn't just ban mobile phones.

How about airport-like inspections? I have had to do similar before.

Mobile phones are too much part of everyday life, that is why they can't ban them. Trouble is the convergence of mobiles and computers.

daveybaby · Oct 14, 2009

spenspuma said:
I would be interested in an answer to this question please. Thanks

Why on earth would anyone feel the need to answer your questions when youve basically called them a liar without any evidence or reason?

spenspuma · Oct 14, 2009

petergdakin said:
How about airport-like inspections? I have had to do similar before.

Mobile phones are too much part of everyday life, that is why they can't ban them. Trouble is the convergence of mobiles and computers.

I suppose the point is....almost 100% of phones these days have cameras and seeing as almost 100% of people have a mobile phone I just think it far fetched that everyone that works there would be drilling out the cameras on their phones....I just think the company would block ban them AND if the person needs a phone for work then the company would provide one.

I actually think its some people on here that are a bit nieve/gullable to believe all they read and take it as gospel

spenspuma · Oct 14, 2009

daveybaby said:
Why on earth would anyone feel the need to answer your questions when youve basically called them a liar without any evidence or reason?

Not called anyone a liar...Im just interested to know the full facts, that's all.

spenspuma · Oct 14, 2009

Anyway, let's draw a line under it now, people can make their own minds up.

Let's move on......

Great work on removing the camera from the hero....proper dedication there, hope your bosses appreciate it.

zukini · Oct 14, 2009

spenspuma said:
I actually think its some people on here that are a bit nieve/gullable to believe all they read and take it as gospel

Mods Can we either kick this guy close this thread or something because this has gone on long enough. He says that he

Removing the camera from a HTC Hero?

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Newbie

Android Enthusiast

Check six!

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Newbie

Attachments

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Android Enthusiast

Well-Known Member

Check six!

NO LONGER ADMIN

Well-Known Member

daffyduck

Guest

Well-Known Member

daffyduck

Guest

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads