[MOD] FFC for the Vibrant development

[siirial]

MODDING THE SAMSUNG VIBRANT TO HAVE A FRONT FACING CAMERA (FFC)

DISCLAIMER: It is NOT my fault if this Breaks your Device, or if you screw it up trying to do it. blah blah you know the drill. XDA is also not responsible. This WILL void your warranty. Luckily it is easy to do.

***THIS IS ONLY FOR THE VIBRANT***
Other phones are slightly different inside

Required:
-Compatible rom (Bionix fusion or eugene's froyo or any rom that the dev specifically says ffc compatiable)
-JAC's OC/UV Kernel. Stock kernel will not work, period. Voodoo should also work KK's kernel also does not work.
-An FFC, of course (see below for where to get it)

HOW TO DO IT:
1. Open your phone
2. Remove the 7 screws or so
3. Remove the internal battery cover.
4. Remove your Vibrant camera... it is snapped in under the cam chip.
5. Using Goof OFF! or denatured alcohol or something similar, dip a q-tip in the chemical, and slightly dab the whole where it is to go.
6. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, and repeat (or if you are anxious, don't wait...)
7. Using something plastic for the safety of the digitizer glass, and scrape out the gunk.
8. Now, definitely let everything dry before putting your phone back together, and MOST definitely before you put the battery in and turn it on. Give it 20-30 minutes to be safe... depends on the chemical used.

I used a flat head screw driver, which is metal, but if you choose this USE EXTREME CAUTION!!

For more info, go to my thread in the General section as I may have missed something/got something wrong in this post. It has been a while since I first did this mod...

Useful tidbits:
If you get force closes when trying to use a the cam, then you did not read instructions. Use the proper kernel.

Banding is present in low light conditions. This looks to be a software issue. Popular belief is that the phone is powering both cameras at the same time when either is called, and is basically confusing itself. This is a work in progress.

Software that is known to work is Fring, various lame mirror apps, etc. Android video calling is only available in Froyo, but I have not tested it recently since Eugene's R3, so I cannot confirm that it working ATM. Tango may also work.

Attached the mach.aries file for those of you that wanna chip in and do some digging. Looks like most of the things we need are in there. Attached a .rar and a .zip file... for some reason I had both? It's been a loooong couple weeks.

Epic camera: thanks to KellyLewis3985 for the dl.
http://db.tt/0DEkw9X

How to Flash:

1. Download the ZIP and put it on the root of your INTERNAL SD Card.

2. Open ROM Manager and boot into ClockWorkMod (DO NOT use Stock Recovery) or boot into recovery the manual way.

3. Navigate down to "apply sdcard: select zip" and locate the .zip file in your internal SD card. Push the power button, navigate down to "YES" and push the power button once more.

4. Let it do its thing, and reboot. First boot *may* take an extra second... Play with new cam app.

To get a cam:

Just got some more cams ordered... should have them by the weekend, so any orders now will start shipping 11/8 in the order they are received.

Go here: http://bit.ly/8ZEPW4

 

[siirial]

UPDATES:



So, now my desktop is totally dead... makes noises it shouldnt right when i turn it on... have to replace... grrr

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Got some donations recently, just wanted to say thanks, but the good people here on XDA do not need to pay for one kid's dooschery. I returned the donations back to you. Here is the response sent with the refunds:

Hey man, I appreciate the donation... but the overwhelming support I received the other day on xda was more than enough. This one guy got me down for a night, and you guys picked me up. No one else on xda should pay for his dooschery. Again THANKS

I feel that there are some things more valuable than money. I wasn't pissed about losing $30 as I was about the principle and that someone would have the audacity to rip someone off that is trying to help. Again thanks.

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Well, due to over whelming support, i'm not done. Last batch has sold out, and some new options have presented themselves. Also, with the help of a few others, they are getting mad progress on diving through source code working on the banding issue... Keep following this thread for progress.

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So.... An ebay user who is also an xda member deliberately screwed me out of a camera and the money for it, so after this batch is gone, i'm done. He never updated his address with ebay or paypal, and of course i sent it to the address i had... and he got ebay to not only refund the full price but keep the fees for the sale and money transfer. Way to say thanks to the guy that got this started... asshole. oh! i get it. he is just out of high school and is a little slow to how the world works. probably because he "works on a farm with 70 dairy cows." <- quote from him.

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Next batch of ffc cams are coming in for those of you who do not have one yet. New listing, donating some of the process to breast cancer research/awareness...

eBay listing here SOLD OUT

Still settling in after the move and new job... Still w/o internet at my house too... So I am limited in what else I can do right now... Hopefully getting these out will help some of you.
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Breaking news available via my twitter feed of #vibrantFFC. my original thread here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=7941083
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This thread is for android/software development of the FFC for the Vibrant. Software and ROM support is insufficient atm, so let's get that fixed.

To see how to add the FFC, check this thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=804142

To get a camera check this thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=804122 or hit up my ebay listing here. buying cams from the wholesaler in large quantities to provide them to you individually... Wholesaler had minimum order requirements.

Currently, I have only tested the FFC in JP3 and Bionix. Mirror app works fine, but is useless.

Video calling is doable, but not available in Bionix. Is available in JP3, but is broken.

Have not had a chance to test Tango, but Fring looks to be coded to use the rear camera...

UPDATE: there has been a lot of progress recently. Halfway through reading all of the threads... Seriously have note had much time, but should be able to finish compiling all of the info into this post soon.
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[memorito]

Currently, I have only tested the FFC in JP3 and Bionix. Mirror app works fine, but is useless.
Video calling is doable, but not available in Bionix. Is available in JP3, but is broken.
Have not had a chance to test Tango, but Fring looks to be coded to use the rear camera...
Any more ideas?

Hi, Siirial. Is that Bionix 1.7? I can't get Mirror app to work.

 

[MichaelB91]

Tango doesn't work yet but I emailed the developers and they said it will be included in their next release

 

[memorito]

Hi, Siirial. Is that Bionix 1.7? I can't get Mirror app to work.

Ok, I am a little confused as to which thread I should be posting in. But here goes.
My FFC wont load in Mirror App using Bionix 1.8 Stock Kernel.

Here is the logcat. http://pastebin.com/biJmEhPr

----------- Edit -----------

Ok, so I finally got around to installing a Rom with a modified kernel. (Specifically Bionix 1.8 w/ Jacs)
The Mirror app now loads the FFC and the image is actually better than the rear cam at the moment.
So, it looks like whatever is going on in the kernel makes a huge difference. Perhaps someone can
take a look at the i9000 and Bell SGS Kernel's.

 

[silox2000]

Posted this in the other thread and it was recommended that I post it here:


Just a thought to kick around some ideas, has anyone looked at this?

http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.Parameters.html

Looks like there are a few options that could be tweaked, including 'antibanding' for 50 and 60hz

 

[paradox4286]

Ok, so I finally got around to installing a Rom with a modified kernel. (Specifically Bionix 1.8 w/ Jacs)
The Mirror app now loads the FFC and the image is actually better than the rear cam at the moment.
So, it looks like whatever is going on in the kernel makes a huge difference.

i believe the above it true, i am running bionix 1.8 with the kk kernel, and i cannot get the mirror app to work, will load in the jacs kernel and see the difference.

edit:

i reloaded Bionix 1.8 with Jacs oc/uv without voodoo, and can now confirm the front camera working with the mirror app, albeit grainy

 

[TheBrandonWRX]

Could not get FFC to work on Bionex 1.7 Stock kernel. Third the kernel info.

 

[memorito]

i reloaded Bionix 1.8 with Jacs oc/uv without voodoo, and can now confirm the front camera working with the mirror app, albeit grainy

Grainy or blurry?
If blurry, you can rotate the focus ring on the actual camera. That's what Cobra did to fix his.

 

[silox2000]

Received camera, installed and confirmed that mirror app works on Bionix 1.7 with JAC voodoo kernel(voodoo activated). Unfortunately, the rear camera problem still exists. Tweaking focus now via outer ring of FFC.

 

[yincrash]

Just installed the new camera. Still on stock JI6 ROM. Banding happens. I recorded some video and can post it if people are interested. Might check if there is any logging that happens when the camera starts up.

 

[paradox4286]

Grainy or blurry?
If blurry, you can rotate the focus ring on the actual camera. That's what Cobra did to fix his.

ahh gotcha, i'll try that when i get home after work.

 

[yincrash]

when using the rear camera in vignette, the area where the camera chip is gets very warm after not very much use.
maybe the stock vibrant camera data files don't place nice with the i9000 camera

 

[jamez243]

Does any dev have a cam yet?

 

[orells]

So here's a thought, can I use sgs tools-prop.editor and change the info there to mimic the i9000? I nelieve it will trick fring (and all other apps) into thinking my phone is an i9000, but I dont wanna brick my **** as my laptop is not with me to odin.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

 

[memorito]

So here's a thought, can I use sgs tools-prop.editor and change the info there to mimic the i9000? I nelieve it will trick fring (and all other apps) into thinking my phone is an i9000, but I dont wanna brick my **** as my laptop is not with me to odin.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

DO IT! LOL
Um, I would try it but I am on a Mac... so even worse, should it brick.

 

[Freedomcaller]

So here's a thought, can I use sgs tools-prop.editor and change the info there to mimic the i9000? I nelieve it will trick fring (and all other apps) into thinking my phone is an i9000, but I dont wanna brick my **** as my laptop is not with me to odin.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

i dont think fring works on the i9000 either...

 

[ga3lopez]

I read in another post that a person flashed the captivate Rom on to the vibrant and it worked..everything works good...what if we try to flash the i9000 Rom on to the vibrant...won't.that work perfectly since the settings for the camera is already set up...we should try it.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

 

[aloxotls]

Video Calls

So here's a thought, can I use sgs tools-prop.editor and change the info there to mimic the i9000? I nelieve it will trick fring (and all other apps) into thinking my phone is an i9000, but I dont wanna brick my **** as my laptop is not with me to odin.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I used SGS tools as you suggested and changed the ro.product.model to GT-I9000, rebooted, and the FFC works on the test call. I have yet to try it on Tango, because it is early in the morning and it takes two to tango. (Sorry could not resist)

 

[orells]

Thats the ****! Where can I find the info to change it to?

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App