Clearly not built with serviceability in mind, but maybe that's okay with this device. Fitbit's new fitness tracker, the Flex, packs a lot in a tiny package with durability to boot!
2. v
Where are we going?
‣ iFixit: Who we are, what we do, and the
importance of repair.
‣ Fitbit Flex Teardown: A look, inside and out, at
Fitbit’s newest life assistant wristband.
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Wednesday, October 30, 13
3. v
Booth # 1537
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
Online Platform for
Creating & Distributing
Visual Instructions
& Capturing Data
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4. v
WHO’S THIS GUY?
‣
Marketing / BD / Hats Upon
Hats!
‣
‣
Twitter
@EricDoster
email
doster@ifixit.com
Wednesday, October 30, 13
v
I spend most of my time
encouraging people to take
things apart & convincing
companies to make it easier
for them to do so.
I like building & rebuilding
things: ask me how to fix your
sink or remodel your kitchen.
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14. v
‣
We are building an online community of
people sharing repair know-how.
‣ We will make it :
EASY for anyone to share repair
knowledge
SIMPLE for people to fix their devices
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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29. v
Does it make sense to fix a VCR?
‣ It depends on who you are : Does it make
environmental sense to throw it away?
‣ Manufacturing an iPod Nano emits 68 pounds
of CO2
‣ Catch 22 : It’s expensive to fix a VCR because
the expertise isn’t common, and there is little
demand for parts.
Industrial Design Consultancy: http://www.idc.uk.com/news-view.asp?id=39
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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30. v
Electronics Trashed in 2005
21
17
17
16
14
Cell Phone
Monitor
TV
Peripheral
Desktop
(% of respondents in past 12 months)
v
Consumer Reports 2006 e-waste study
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Wednesday, October 30, 13
31. v
in 2005, the u.s. buried
electronics containing:
‣
‣ 183 thousand pounds of mercury
1.3 million pounds of arsenic
‣
77 million pounds of lead
v
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Wednesday, October 30, 13
39. v
Tools of the trade
‣
Pro Tech Kit
‣
‣
‣
‣
Dental tools
Spudgers!!!
Magnetic Mat
‣
‣
‣
Lots of bits (just in case)
Keeps track of screws
Screws stay put
Heavy Hitters
‣
‣
Hobby knife
Rotary tool
Wednesday, October 30, 13
v
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41. v
Initial Thoughts: Repairability
‣ Ease of access?
‣ Non-existent...
‣ Modularity?
‣ Probably not...
‣ Is that okay?
‣ It might be.
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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42. v
But iFixit, you like repairable devices;
how might that be okay?
It is true—we do really love repairable devices. The
Flex does seem quite impenetrable, but such design
choices may make the device last longer. More time
on your wrist means less time in a landfill.
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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46. v
So far, so good!
The Flex is easily removed from and installed into
the included wristbands, so we can rest assured that a
damaged band will not ruin our Flex experience.
And those waterproof contacts will assuredly extend
life expectancy.
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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47. v
Model number easy
to identify
Insertion arrow has
to count for
something...
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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48. v
on to the device carnage!
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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54. v
Repairability Check: Removable
Components?
‣
LED light guides
‣
‣
Bluetooth Antenna
‣
‣
serve as the display for the device
communicates with other devices and the Flex dongle
A small bit of the motherboard
‣
obviously not built for repair, a bit of the motherboard comes off
stuck to the antenna
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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55. v
This device isn’t going back
together...let’s get in deeper!
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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62. v
The challenge of building a compact
device?
You need to make it awesome
with a motherboard and battery
and a circular vibration motor
and make it ultra-durable
water-proof too, please
and 5-day battery life
in the next 12 months
for $100.
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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67. v
Tech specs: NFC
‣ Near Field Communication
‣ Establish radio connection between small devices
in close proximity
‣ Enables a tap to launch the Flex mobile app
Nexus S
Galaxy S4
Fitbit Flex
‣
First Android with
NFC capabilities
‣
Compatible with select
NFC devices and dongle
‣
4.8” x 2.48” x 0.43”
‣
0.6” x 0.4” x 1.8”
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
‣
Best-selling Android
device wish NFC
‣
5.38” x 2.75” x 0.31”
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68. v
STMicroelectronics 32L151C6
Ultra Low Power ARM Cortex M3
Microcontroller
Nordic Semiconductor nRF8001
Bluetooth Low Energy
Connectivity IC
Most likely the accelerometer IC
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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69. v
Nothing on the back??
‣ No chips on the back means
room for:
‣ Vibrator motor
‣ Battery
‣ Antenna
‣ LED light guides
v
Wednesday, October 30, 13
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72. v
What makes it a
2 out of 10?
‣
Inaccessible (non-replaceable) battery limits the life of the
device.
‣
Impossible to open without destroying the device or
compromising waterproofing.
‣
‣
Internal repairs are infeasible.
‣
The wrist strap is waterproof, durable, and easy to install.
Solid waterproofing, no moving parts. and lightweight
construction mean a durable, longer lasting device.
Visit ifixit.com for thousands of repair manuals.
Wednesday, October 30, 13