Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Tearing down an Ouya: iFixit finds it to be easily repairable]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/tearing-down-an-ouya-ifixit-finds-it-to-be-easily-repairable/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/tearing-down-an-ouya-ifixit-finds-it-to-be-easily-repairable/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/tearing-down-an-ouya-ifixit-finds-it-to-be-easily-repairable/#commentsTearing down an Ouya iFixit finds it to be easily repairable The Ouya team sent the gentlehands at iFixit a retail unit of the tiny Android console to rip apart and gauge its openness and repairability. IFixit found only one moving component, the fan, in the entire little box and remarked on the hardware's "very clean and simple layout."

The Ouya scored a 9 out of 10 on iFixit's Repairability scale, because it uses standard-head screws, no weird glues, and most of its components are easily removed and replaced. IFixit factored in the Ouya controller to its score, knocking it for having the joysticks soldered to the circuit board, meaning a broken stick may necessitate an entire board transplant.

JoystiqTearing down an Ouya: iFixit finds it to be easily repairable originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidhardwareifixitmobileouyarepairteardownWed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita torn down, deemed easily repairable due to modular design]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/playstation-vita-torn-down-deemed-easily-repairable-due-to-modu/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/playstation-vita-torn-down-deemed-easily-repairable-due-to-modu/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/playstation-vita-torn-down-deemed-easily-repairable-due-to-modu/#comments We here at Joystiq like modules quite a bit. As you'll see to your right, our website is adorned with more than a few of them, so we were glad to hear about just how modular the PlayStation Vita's design is, as discovered in a teardown of the device by iFixit. In fact, due to its modular design (among other things), the device was given an 8 out of 10 "repairability score" by the site.

Beyond the thrilling news about the Vita's internal architecture, the site also points out that, despite needing a fancy baby screwdriver, the Vita's internal battery is "definitely serviceable by the average user." It also doesn't hurt that the internals won't cost a ton of coin to replace, if something does break. Should you be interested in all the gory details regarding the Vita's internals -- gory details that our dummy brains can't properly contextualize -- iFixit is more than happy to accommodate you right here.

[Image credit: iFixit]

JoystiqPlayStation Vita torn down, deemed easily repairable due to modular design originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryhardwarehardware-architectureifixitmodularmodular-designmodulesplaystationplaystation-vitateardownvitaFri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect teardown: two cameras, four microphones, 12 watts of power, no controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/kinect-teardown-two-cameras-four-microphones-12-watts-of-powe/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/kinect-teardown-two-cameras-four-microphones-12-watts-of-powe/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/kinect-teardown-two-cameras-four-microphones-12-watts-of-powe/#comments So what exactly goes into making a controller-free experience with Kinect? A lot of technology, apparently. The folks at iFixit have broken down a Kinect unit, revealing a bevy of chips and parts inside the new peripheral.

Kinect features not one, but two cameras to capture various information about the user. One camera, combined with an infrared emitter (the third "pinhole" on the front), provide the 3D information necessary to create the "depth map," while an additional camera captures the standard visible spectrum at 640x480 resolution. With the proper lighting and space, the combination of these cameras allows Kinect to see you in 3D.

Perhaps more surprising than the number of cameras hidden in the sensor is the number of microphones. In addition to three cameras, the device features four downward-facing microphones, three on the right side and one on the left side, integral to the Kinect's voice recognition capabilities. Considering the sheer quantity of power-hungry parts hidden inside the Kinect, it's no surprise that its power demand (12 watts) is so much greater than what a standard USB port can offer (5 watts) -- that's why you'll need a separate power adapter for using it with original Xbox 360 consoles.

JoystiqKinect teardown: two cameras, four microphones, 12 watts of power, no controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakdownifixitkinectmicrosoftteardownxboxThu, 04 Nov 2010 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Retro consoles torn apart, ancient innards exposed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/retro-consoles-torn-apart-ancient-innards-exposed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/retro-consoles-torn-apart-ancient-innards-exposed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/retro-consoles-torn-apart-ancient-innards-exposed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you want to see just how far game consoles have come over the last few decades, check out iFixit's teardown of the Atari 2600. As you can see, there's not much to onetime king of home entertainment. Just look at how complex an iPhone 4 is in comparison! The Atari teardown was part of a full week of retro console deconstructions, including the Famicom, Magnavox Odyssey and even the Virtual Boy. Check them out for yourself -- if you think you can handle all that naked, aging PCB.

JoystiqRetro consoles torn apart, ancient innards exposed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atari-2600culturefamicomifixitmagnavox-odysseyteardownvirtual-boyWed, 08 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DSi XL, broken down into extra-tiny pieces]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/dsi-xl-broken-down-into-extra-tiny-pieces/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/dsi-xl-broken-down-into-extra-tiny-pieces/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/dsi-xl-broken-down-into-extra-tiny-pieces/#commentsThe ironically named iFixIt has, once again, completely disassembled a new electronic device, allowing us all to get a look at the bits that compose it without having to tear apart our own beloved devices. The latest hardware to go under the knife screwdriver: Nintendo's just-released DSi XL, which, in its torn-down form, takes up even more space!

In exhaustive detail, the iFixit team pulls apart the new, big DS, cataloging all the parts inside. Unsurprisingly, the internals are very similar to the previous DSi, save for a larger (in both capacity in physical size) battery and one fewer ribbon cable. Oh -- and, of course, those massive screens.

JoystiqDSi XL, broken down into extra-tiny pieces originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSdsi-xlhardwareifixitnintendonintendo-dsiteardownMon, 29 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to explode your brand new PS3 Slim]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/how-to-explode-your-brand-new-ps3-slim/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/how-to-explode-your-brand-new-ps3-slim/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/how-to-explode-your-brand-new-ps3-slim/#comments If you're prone to falling under spells where all you want to do is dismantle your (slightly less) expensive pieces of technology, DIY site IFixIt recently posted a comprehensive manual on how to take the PS3 Slim completely apart. We suppose this article serves three important purposes:
  1. It gives a good look at the guts of Sony's new streamlined hardware.
  2. It gives modders instructions on how to prepare their consoles for Frankenstein-ation.
  3. It teaches Xbox fanboys how to obliterate the PS3 Slim in a showy, $300 act of protest.
We hope said article is only used for the first two reasons, but history has taught us that we live in an entirely senseless, illogical world.

JoystiqHow to explode your brand new PS3 Slim originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diygutshardwareifixitps3-slimtechnologyWed, 26 Aug 2009 11:14:00 EST