Display anomaly: problem with color reproduction

Search This thread

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
Hi...

So i bought the new galaxy s...the best screen of mobile phones at the moment, super amoled....is everything to me except "super" right now.
The phone is merely a month old. I bought it from some guy that sells phones without the bill but with valid warranty (seal+signature) because in my country (Croatia) it wasn't officially available when I was buying it (it is now)...

Everything was fine for a week or so, when one morning I turned it on (left it for recharge during night) and noticed that something is wrong with the display. It had a certain "mist" layer (similar to when you boost brightness too much) in the home screen and menus were different too. I couldn't tell what exactly happened until I opened a few dark HD pictures.
I realized that the phone isn't displaying colors correctly, or their depth or something.

It displays them as if someone messed with color depth in driver settings and set it to 16 or even 8-bit (default is 24 or 32-bit as far as I know).
I tried fully resetting the phone (by typing in the code for factory wipe+reset) but with no luck.
Then I called the guy that sold it to me and he wasn't very polite, saying that it can't be possible and that I must have messed with phone or dropped it or something, which I haven't, I even have a special case for it to avoid scratches, etc. Nevertheless, he told me to send it to him and I did.
I also wrote him a short message explaining what the problem is, and even told him to compare the display with the other new galaxy s and to lookup some dark pictures, because the anomaly is best seen there.

The phone was for 2 weeks at him, and he kept saying that everything is alright with the display, that he compared it with other phone, etc. and that he'll keep running some tests just to make sure. I said alright, didn't want to mess with his job.
Today I received the phone. You're guessing - he didn't fix anything but I paid postal charges alright.
Since he doesn't seem to know or care about my problem I'm asking you for some favors. I need pictured proof of my anomaly, which I will then send to him again in hope he'll finally understand the problem and do something about it.

What I'm asking from you is to take screen shots of your Galaxy S with these two pictures on the screen (when they open click on them to get full size):
1. http://img824.imageshack.us/f/14213741.jpg/
2. http://img819.imageshack.us/f/35743610.jpg/

Please, just make sure that the pictures are clear to see. You might need to turn off your lights and take a night shot with macro to capture the screen properly.
After you do that, just post the screens here. I will need those pics to send him the evidence.

These are my screen shots, take a look at the pictures and you will see what I mean:

The home screen. Artifacts can be seen:


The menus screen:


The gallery screenshot, even here you can see the color anomaly:


The second pic. Please compare this to the second link I gave above:


And yes, everything is alright with my digital camera, the picture just looks that awful on the phone's screen :mad:

The second pic when screen dims after 30sec (notice how it adds purple layer):


The first pic. Please compare this to the first link I gave above:



The first pic when screen dims after 30sec:



So there it is... :(
If some of you wise people know how to fix this problem without sending it again to that guy or voiding the warranty, please do tell me. I assume it has something to do with color depth or something, maybe somehow that setting changed, don't know how or why, maybe some software I installed triggered it although none of it was illegal or malicious in any way...I think...

Thank you in advance for any help and I appreciate your efforts for helping! :eek:
 
Last edited:

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
No, I'm afraid to get the warranty void, nor do I know which firmware to flash, how to do it and how to un-do it. I also don't know if serial numbers will change or something :|
Sorry :(
 

BronzedDroid

Senior Member
Jul 22, 2010
306
11
Don't be sorry. I was just asking because there have been reports that some of the 2.2 froyo firmwares had some similar issues, but I think that was mostly when watching films.

So you didn't do anything "new" when this happened? Installed an app, messed with phone settings etc?
 

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
I received an advice to go to video player and while playing a video go to settings. There are some color controls but it didn't help.
One more thing I didn't mention before, the color anomaly is present even when phone boots up or shuts down, when those logos spin, etc. For example, when it boots, the big shiny "S" also has this anomaly instead of being smooth as it was originally...
 

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
Here, I even recorded a video of the bootup, maybe you can see what I mean although my digital camera isn't intended for capturing video so it may not be the best quality :/
At 0:14 where purple color is, it isn't smooth, instead it looks like thick lines of purple...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50G2uLFDo5I
 
Last edited:

AnnihilatorSC

Senior Member
Apr 17, 2008
126
3
Just take it to the closest Samsung Service Center for repair/replacement. Forget the dealer. If you have proper warranty papers there shouldn't be a problem.

Same thing happened to mine, bought directly from Vip, about one hour after turning it on. Returned it to the Vip center and got a new unit 2 days later.

In any case, the address of the authorized service center is somewhere on the eastern outskirts of Zagreb.
 

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
It's got warranty papers of that guy's company. I don't think it would be accepted by official Samsung service center because it's not the original Samsung warranty paper that is legitimate in every Samsung center. This guy owns a small cellphone service company, sells cellphones bought outside of Croatia and gives his own warranty on them. Who knows how he gets them, I just know he had Galaxy S far sooner than it appeared here officially. Thanks for the advice anyway...
 

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
Sorry for posting one post after another, but this is important. I found someone else with the same problem: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1520586
I don't think I'm gonna try flashing the firmware, I'll wait until monday to contact the warranty guy and ask for repair of the device or the replacement. I will also send him a link to this post, so if you can take your screenshots, now would be a good moment :/
Thanx
 

AnnihilatorSC

Senior Member
Apr 17, 2008
126
3
I'd do the shots but I've got nothing to take them with. Sorry.

In any case, a replacement is necessary. It's definitely a hardware fault and it appears to affect early units. My replacement device has a later manufacture date and a newer firmware than the first, dead one.
 

cantIntoCode

Retired Recognized Developer
Aug 29, 2010
1,629
2,564
Glasgow
Wierd. You should definitely give Samsung a call. Your phone should be still under the manufacturers warranty. Hopefully they will replace the screen without any hassle.
 

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
I just called the guy who gave me the "warranty" and they don't admit that there's a problem with the phone, instead I have to pay analysis at the official Samsung service center (approx. 10€) to get the official paper saying that something really is wrong with the screen. After that he'll give me a new phone and take this one.
I'm not 100% satisfied with this solution, but considering other options I had and a fact that I bought it on the black market, this one is fastest.
 

Neo-ST

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2010
412
14
So...

My phone just returned from Samsung Service. Yes, the screen is faulty. I already knew that so it didn't surprise me, but behavior of the "warranty guy" did.
He attacked me verbally, saying that I'm a liar and that he doesn't believe me (although I did all this just because of him). He asked me worksheet number of my case at Samsung Service so that he can check if I'm telling the truth. To make to long story short, he refused to help even after he was convinced. One of his statements was "you bought the phone for half the price, what did you expect?! why didn't you buy the real one!".

After I ran out of nerves and being polite with him, I told him to fix the problem or face the consequences (inspectorate), after which he went mad again saying that I'm threatening him and that he can pay someone to find and kill me... I told him to do so freely. Then he yelled some more and finally hung up the phone. After 10 minutes I received a call from him saying to send him the phone on Monday.

So, suma summarum, I ended up being without the phone for more than a month and with 40€ of postal costs + Samsung Service's inspection.
 

xan

Retired Recognized Developer
May 21, 2006
1,407
455
Crack-ow
I came across this thread, and it look interesting.

Best of luck claiming your warranty. There always problems when it comes to 'service' warranty, because the seller will need to repair/pay repair bill from Samsung/get you a new device from his own pocket.

I personally would never buy a electronic gizmo w/o manufacturer's warranty.
 

nemethb

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2010
208
3
Ottawa
So...

My phone just returned from Samsung Service. Yes, the screen is faulty. I already knew that so it didn't surprise me, but behavior of the "warranty guy" did.
He attacked me verbally, saying that I'm a liar and that he doesn't believe me (although I did all this just because of him). He asked me worksheet number of my case at Samsung Service so that he can check if I'm telling the truth. To make to long story short, he refused to help even after he was convinced. One of his statements was "you bought the phone for half the price, what did you expect?! why didn't you buy the real one!".

After I ran out of nerves and being polite with him, I told him to fix the problem or face the consequences (inspectorate), after which he went mad again saying that I'm threatening him and that he can pay someone to find and kill me... I told him to do so freely. Then he yelled some more and finally hung up the phone. After 10 minutes I received a call from him saying to send him the phone on Monday.

So, suma summarum, I ended up being without the phone for more than a month and with 40€ of postal costs + Samsung Service's inspection.
Wow dude. Sorry you had to go through all that, that's just ridiculous. That guy clearly shouldn't be selling technology if he doesn't expect to get any returned because of issues. I hope you get it resolved okay and end up with a nice new phone. :)