What's In An iPhone

[yogi]

Since we were talking about how and why computers work in another thread, I thought you might enjoy this unusual look into what makes up an iPhone

https://youtu.be/bhuWmcDT05Q

[Kellemora]

Yes, that was interesting, and so were a couple more video's that followed, hi hi.
A couple of months ago, I saw a rather long video of a cell phone being assembled piece by piece.
Although the machines placed numerous pieces at the same time, the video broke it down to each individual pieces placement. Thousands of tiny pieces go onto that board, both sides. And something I didn't know, some of the parts are actually printed on the board rather than being made and then installed on the boards.

[yogi]

Not only is it possible to print components onto a circuit board's surface, but it is also possible to print them under the surface. When I worked at Motorola one of our products used a circuit board consisting of seven layers. Components were printed onto each of those seven layers so that you could not actually see all the parts that are in the phone. The other amazing thing about that circuit board is that some of the components that were placed by machine on the surface were no larger than a grain of pepper. Not only did the machine grab and place it, but it also had to orient it in the right direction. There was no repairing these boards if they were defective. They had to be made right the first time or trashed.

[Kellemora]

Wow! That's something I didn't know. But it makes sense, considering how small things are getting.

I used to work on multi-CPU circuit boards back when everything was installed and soldered to the traces.
Most of repairs was replacing Driver Transistors that would burn out due the current they carried for the solenoids they activated. I repaired Pinball machines, Gaming machines, and Video game machines, which are a little different than Gaming machines, which are used in Casino's.

I have a little hand held Solitaire game I used daily while doing my History Lesson, studying the Constitution, while riding the Throne. It was made back in 2000 and was a version hated by many players because it is impossible to beat. I think that is why I like it, it's a challenge to get ahead on it.
When I was working on Pinball machines, the displays on those games burned out one right after the other.
LCD displays inside the gaming machines would also get dim after a few years.
But this little hand-held game I play daily the display is still just as sharp as when it was new.
It probably uses what Kindle calls the e-Ink technology. But even so, being made of plastic, one would think it would have dried up by now.
This is the same game I told you about the rubber buttons deteriorating and I fixed using a silk scarf with a drop of silicone on the scarf, since silicone does not stick to silicone rubber buttons. Still going strong!

[yogi]

That reminds me of a newly discovered use for my clever-phone. I used to read Bon Appétit magazine, but after a dozen years or so I let the subscription lapse. Now I bring my mobile computer along and peruse Twitter, do crosswords, and even answer e-mail in the John. Then again, the phone part too is functional while on the throne. Today my daughter called while I was sitting there. It was kind of awkward. LOL

[Kellemora]

I guess the way of stand-alone hand-held games has almost gone by the wayside since the advent of Schmartz-Fones. I never like trying to play a game on my little Flip-Fone. But the frau has a fairly large touch-screen on hers, so she can play a couple of games on her's while sprinkling the China God, hi hi.

[yogi]

I think Nintendo is still making hand held games (Switch). There may be a couple others too but I've not seen any of them advertise lately. I'd say gaming consoles have taken the majority share of the gaming market, but those mobile games are pretty darn popular too. Apparently Google thinks there is room for expansion in this direction because they are about to launch a streaming gaming service. It seems a little late for them to be doing something like that because all the big names already control the market.

[Kellemora]

Radica is who made the ones I liked best, but some of their latest designs were horrible.
Haven't seen anyone selling them at the local stores. They do have some hand-held games, but not the kind that appeal to adults.

[yogi]

I've seen some youngsters playing with what might be called a training tablet. It's designed to look appealing to kids but does some of the things grown up tablets do. A lot of the educational software is gamified to keep the interest of the short attention span users so that in some ways these things could be considered stand alone gaming units. I have seen electronic solitaire and poker hand held units, but it was so long ago that I don't remember when. If Nintendo ever bites the dust, I think that will be the end of it all.

[Kellemora]

I had an early game box, not a popular name, prior to those days I think. You had to turn your TV to Channel 3 for it to work, it had simple games like Pong, Break Out, and a few shooter games to shoot falling items. Not much. Got tired of it real quick, hi hi.

[yogi]

I think it was Atari that lead the Pong and Space Invaders games into their place in history. Back in the days before LCD's the cheapest way to come up with a monitor was to use the existing family television screen. It was novel, but then the family couldn't watch I Love Lucy while you were playing Breakout on the Atari. LOL Those were the good old days.

[Kellemora]

My first, second, and third Apple computers all used a TV on Channel 3.
I found an old big square 20 inch TV I used with them.
Plus had another one about 18 inch I think, that the tuner went bad.
Used it with the game console after I figured out how to get it to Channel 3, hi hi.
I don't think I had an actual computer monitor at home until I got the WANG PC.
Naturally the LISA and later WANG VS had monitors, as did the portable Trash-80s.