Re: Metal case [was: Application idea: Bicycle computer]
How about a case that's part metal and part plastic? Make it plastic just around the antennas (which, IIRC are at the 'ends' of the phone) and metal everywhere else? Heck, it could end up having a *good* effect by being extra shielding between the antennas and the (noisy) electronics of the phone itself. --pj On Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008, Flemming Richter Mikkelsen writes: On 3/7/08, Erland Lewin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 2008/3/6, JW [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Why do people want metal cases so much...???Features in wiki hardware wishlist too. My thought is aluminium = metal = faraday cage = stops gps, gsm, wifi, bt signals = BAD idea The back of the iPhone is mainly metal isn't it? Many attractive cell phones today have at least parts of their cases made of metal. Also, I read about someone (forgot where) trying to make a Faraday cage, but apparently it is quite difficult in practice. For an efficient cage you apparently need many meshes with holes in different sizes for different frequencies if I recall correctly. I guess this could be easily tested by putting a cell phone in a tin can and trying to call it... I don't think it is as easy as you think. Please correct me if I am wrong. For low frequencies the cage will have little effect, but for the wifi it is not easy to predict. It gets complicated with high freqs. And if it seems to work nicely when you test it without touching the phone, maybe it don't work so nice when you do??? I am no expert... just my thoughts -- Please don't send me Word or PowerPoint attachments. See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html Join the FSF as an Associate Member at: URL:http://www.fsf.org/register_form?referrer=5774 ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Metal case [was: Application idea: Bicycle computer]
By the way, when will the CAD files for the Freerunner case be released? Also, is anyone seriously working on alternative cases for the FIC Openmoko phones? I've heard the GTA01 and GTA02 have similar cases, but it hasn't been confirmed if they are identical. I'm going to wait for word on this before I make anything (or just wait until I get a GTA02). I'd like to make initial prototypes with molds casts made from a GTA02 to try out shapes before doing anything in CAD that could be machined. ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Metal case [was: Application idea: Bicycle computer]
On 07/03/2008, Jeremiah Flerchinger [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've heard the GTA01 and GTA02 have similar cases, but it hasn't been confirmed if they are identical. my understanding (from mail list prev and IRC) is that there are (small) differences to internal case dimensions between GTA01 and GTA02. This is because we have different components inside (Wifi antenna? etc) JW ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Metal case [was: Application idea: Bicycle computer]
2008/3/6, JW [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Why do people want metal cases so much...???Features in wiki hardware wishlist too. My main reason for wanting a metal case is that it ages better than plastic. I carry my phone (currently a Sony Ericsson P910) in my pocket, and even though I try to keep it separate from keys, coins and other hard stuff, after a while the color gets worn off and it looks really ugly. I want my phones to last for a couple of years. My thought is aluminium = metal = faraday cage = stops gps, gsm, wifi, bt signals = BAD idea The back of the iPhone is mainly metal isn't it? Many attractive cell phones today have at least parts of their cases made of metal. Also, I read about someone (forgot where) trying to make a Faraday cage, but apparently it is quite difficult in practice. For an efficient cage you apparently need many meshes with holes in different sizes for different frequencies if I recall correctly. I guess this could be easily tested by putting a cell phone in a tin can and trying to call it... IMHO, after FIC successfully releases the Freerunner, they should either get some good designers to design a very attractive case for a next version, or maybe hold a contest among industrial design students to get some cool ideas. The Freerunner is great feature-wise, but IMHO isn't physically attractive enough to sell well in a mass market. By the way, when will the CAD files for the Freerunner case be released? Also, is anyone seriously working on alternative cases for the FIC Openmoko phones? /Erland ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
