[pivotCE]Unlock your HP TouchPad 4G
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By pivotCE
Well, it’s 2024 and technology continues to advance. The TouchPad isn’t new by any means, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be slightly modernized to be more convenient today. Specifically, it is entirely possible to convert the TouchPad’s Micro USB port to USB C for charging and USB storage access. I’ll show you how.
This is a tough mod which requires micro-soldering and modifying a PCB which you will have a hard time sourcing a replacement for without buying another TouchPad. Proceed at your own peril.
Tools for the Job
To do this mod you’ll need a few things for tools and parts. Here’s a list of what I used:
– Needle nose pliers/tweezers
– USB C boards with 5.1k resistors
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– Soldering iron, solder, flux and a hot air station
– Flush cuts
– Dremel with cutting or sanding wheel
– 28 AWG wire or smaller. 30 AWG is pretty good but any wire around 0.25mm to 0.5mm should work.
– Small file and screwdriver set
– Painter’s and kapton tape
– Metal spudger Disassemble the TouchPad
This is where you’re going to want to get that metal spudger out and be very careful not to snap clips. I can’t explain it better than iFixit already did so go check out their and then come back here.
Modify the USB Connector Board by Removing the Micro Port
There are a few ways to remove the Micro USB port. I added a bunch of flux and coated all the connectors in fresh leaded solder and then used a hot air station set to 800 degrees while wiggling the port very slightly with needle nose pliers. You don’t have to be particularly careful here so if you want to cut the port off with the dremel or the flush cuts or just rip it off with the pliers, (I don’t recommend it but…) that’s fine. We’re not using the pads it’s soldered to anyway. You should STILL be careful not to crack the board. Go slow. Be patient.
Trim the USB C Board
We need to expose the USB C port a bit on this board so let’s cut it down. Grab the painter’s tape and flip the USB C board upside down. You’ll see a small trace between the front and rear anchor points on the right side, which we don’t want to cut. Mark the tape just on the other side of that trace like I did. Dremel along the tape line until you get to the port. You can then use needle nose pliers, a flat file, and/or flush cuts to remove the rest of the board from the bottom of the port.
Prepare the USB Connector Board for the USB C Port
We need to slide the port into the old space so grab the painter’s tape again and mark off the area I marked to make room for the USB C port. You can place the port up to it like I did and use that as a guide. Grab your dremel again or a similar tool and cut out what you marked off. When you’re done, the USB C port should slide easily into the groove. It will fit tighter when we add the kapton tape in a later step.
Make Room in the TouchPad for the Added Thickness of the USB C Board
The USB C board will sit underneath the USB connector board so we have to make room by trimming away the plastic underneath. For this you’ll need to use flush cuts or any other tool you have to chip away. You could use the dremel for this if you’d like. Be careful to not go beyond the first inner layer. Beyond that is the outer shell of the TouchPad. There’s no real method here, just cut out the screw posts and chip away. Use the pictures below as a guide.
Cut the USB C Hole from the Old Micro USB Hole
To open the micro USB hole enough to fit the USB C port, take a rounded file to the left and right of both sides and just file a little bit at at time. Use a small flat file to widen the top and bottom of the port. This process is just trial and error. File a little and then grab the USB C board to test. The port will need to fit inside the hole a bit so you can push it through from the outside to test the hole size if that’s easier. Note: the USB C board will likely not rest on the bottom of the TouchPad and will float a little. This is good because it makes room for your wires and a little kapton tape underneath.
Tape the USB C Board
Since we hacked away at the USB connector board it’s possible we’ve provided the perfect environment for creating shorts! Oh no! So get out the kapton tape because we’re going to add a layer on both sides. You’ll see how I did it on one side below. Do it on both sides. You’ll also notice how I did not cover those two small square contacts just at the bottom of the tape. That’s because we need them.
Where To Get Power and Data
You’ll see the diagrams below which I’ve marked with VBUS (power), data in, data out, and ground. Obviously the old port is gone and most if its pads, but I wanted to show that both sides of the board have the connections. You could possibly do this mod differently, and if you so choose, hopefully these help.
A quick note: this mod can be done with a 4-pin USB C port. That would give you power and data just like with the USB C board I’m using in this guide, however, a 4-pin USB C board will not charge with a USB C charger (ie USB 3.1). The board I’m using in this guide provides the ability to use any charger because it comes pre-built with 5.1k resistors wired to CC1 and CC2 to ground. This is the trick that tells the USB C chargers to send power to the device.
Solder the USB C Board into the USB Connector Board
This isn’t a “how to solder tutorial” so hit up youtube and find a good tutorial that works for you. In general though, use flux, pre-tin the VBUS, Ground, D-, and D+ pads on the USB C board as well as the points on the bottom of the USB connector board.
Now for the tricky part, I didn’t list it in the Tools section above, but it would really help to have magnification or a digital microscope for this. I have these things and I used both. You might have steadier hands and better eyes than me. The picture below was my first attempt of the three TouchPads I modded, and it’s not my best soldering work, but fundamentally, this is what yours should look like.
Put the Pieces Together
You can use a bit of kapton tape to secure the wires in place a bit more if you’d like but it’s not required. It won’t short since it’s only plastic underneath. This is all press fit into place, but if you’re uncomfortable with that, you can add a little hot glue under the board as you put it back into the TouchPad. You don’t have to put the metal shield back into place if you don’t want to. It’s all a pretty tightly fit and if you find the TouchPad screen isn’t as flush as you want, just leave the metal shield off. A little kapton tape right on top would be fine instead.
Congrats, You Now Have USB C
I did this mod on three TouchPads and each one works fine with any USB charger I could find, including USB C port having USB 3.1 chargers. I can also confirm the data connection works just like it should to connect via USB mode on PC. Sadly, this doesn’t do anything to stop webOS from telling you the charger you’re using isn’t the original TouchPad barrel charger, but you can make a custom cable to stop that which I’ll cover in a future article on pivotCE.
#webOS4ever
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By News Reporter
Home is where the heart is, and it’s also often the best place to start when you’re seeking to make a positive difference in the world. A prime example is the ‘home electrification’ trend, which, in a nutshell, helps drive sustainability by replacing fossil fuel-powered household appliances with cleaner and more efficient electricity-driven ones.
Home electrification includes the installation of electric appliances and heating and cooling systems, such as heat pumps, which transfer heat from one place to another by circulating refrigerant. Heat pumps provide the practical benefits of year-round indoor comfort and lower utility bills. When integrated with solar panels and battery storage systems, they take things a step further – empowering homeowners with energy independence and the ability to power their homes during outages.
According to a study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Joule, electrification could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the residential sector by 36 to 64 percent and cut overall GHG emissions in the U.S. by 5 to 9 percent.1 To accelerate the transition to electrification, many governments are now offering incentives and subsidies, such as those included in the U.S. government’s Inflation Reduction Act, to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient home technologies.2
Electrifying your home with LG brings the compelling advantages of the company’s industry-leading core-tech and extensive lineup of sophisticated, energy-efficient products. LG’s innovative core components, including reliable, high-efficiency motors, ensure unparalleled performance and energy-savings across a variety of home appliances.
The company also provides the seamless connectivity and easy energy management with ThinQ Energy, compatible with a comprehensive range of LG appliances and HVAC systems. The LG Home Energy Platform, centering on the Energy Storage System (ESS), optimizes energy usage to prevent waste and emissions, and enables smart control of connected home appliances.
Many of LG’s products, which help reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency, are eligible for rebates. From ENERGY STAR® certified induction cooktops to low energy-consumption, low-emissions HVAC systems, LG offers a diverse array of cutting-edge solutions that can drastically decrease household reliance on fossil fuels and boost efficiency at the same time. Among these are water heaters equipped with heat pumps, and innovative laundry solutions like the impressive WashCombo washer-dryer with Inverter HeatPump.
Embracing home electrification is an investment in a cleaner, healthier future. With LG’s energy-efficient appliances and core technologies, you can transform your living space into an all-electric abode – shrinking your energy footprint, minimizing your environmental impact and making a positive difference in the world.
To learn more about LG’s solutions with energy efficiency for home electrification, stay tuned to
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By News Reporter
Space has the power to shape both the perception and perspective of our experiences. Fueling everyone’s passion for interior design is the emotional influence of our surroundings and our appetite for aesthetics. From the uninitiated to the aficionado, we make conscious efforts to reflect who we are through our home decor. Interior design trends are inspired by cultural events and, at times, are reactions to movements in popular culture. With such powerful actors, maintaining balance and introducing elements that complement rather than overpower are gaining value. This is especially important when it comes to integrating essential yet potentially disruptive elements like the TV into a room’s decor. Fortunately, LG has devised a solution that resolves this dilemma while letting people stay true to their distinctive style.
With LG OLED M, the TV is no longer the interior designer’s nemesis but a tool to elevate the décor and tailor spaces to modern lifestyles through its seamless integration. Compact and discreet, the elegant OLED TV with the Zero Connect Box is the only OLED TV that can send both 4K 120Hz video and audio wirelessly, helping homeowners free their TV from cables and external devices and gain the freedom to achieve their dream living spaces.
More Space for the Things You Love
Feeling overwhelmed by the mess around your TV screen? Visible cables and bulky furniture can take up valuable space much to the frustration of the designer. A cluttered space not only disrupts the balance of sophistication and functionality they worked so tirelessly to curate, but it also limits their ability to express a distinctive personal style through their home design.
LG OLED M with the Zero Connect Box declutters the TV area by banishing tangled cables and external devices to more discreet locations like on a side table, bookshelf, cabinet or coffee table – practically anywhere the designer sees fit. This feat also eliminates the need for a bulky TV unit or cabinet which often disrupts the room’s design, freeing up space to display ornaments, paintings or maintain a simple look.
With the maximalism trend growing, where every inch of space is carefully considered in the overall aesthetic, the Zero Connect Box emerges as a versatile solution. By eliminating tangled cables and external devices around the screen, homeowners can enjoy newfound freedom to experiment with placement, colors and textures, helping them build the aesthetic harmony they desire.
The TV for Sophisticated Simplicity
As more designers embrace the quiet luxury trend, which champions effortless elegance over the risk of being ostentatious, the LG OLED M and its Zero Connect Box has become the ideal companion to realize a home of understated sophistication. Creating a cohesive look through muted tones, refined finishes and simplicity under the quiet luxury concept, the LG OLED M elevates the elegance of a living space with the Zero Connect Box. A nightmare for designers seeking to develop a space that looks luxurious but not overly so, cables and clutter limit their design freedom as they must be hidden by more furniture.
With the Zero Connect Box, it’s easy to inject luxury into the TV area in an understated and effortless way, simplifying the space by removing unnecessary clutter. And thanks to the OLED screen’s sleek, ultra-thin design, it mounts flush to the wall to resemble a sophisticated picture frame that blends into the décor instead of taking attention away from it.
Hassle-Free Flexibility
With the Zero Connect Box, designers are no longer tied down by the length of their TV cables or the placement of furniture. They can be more strategic with their floor plans. The Zero Connect Box unlocks new room layouts without the hassle of rewiring or moving heavy furniture. Want to rearrange the furniture for movie night or update the interior with the seasons? No problem, as the LG OLED M can be moved around the room with ease as it eliminates the hassle of untangling, disconnecting and reconnecting multiple cables.
Another major benefit of the Zero Connect Box is how it allows users to effortlessly connect or disconnect devices without having to reach behind the screen or wrestle with cables – which also pose a trip hazard. It gives the user the power to place their Zero Connect Box anywhere within reach of a power cord, and therefore the ability to manage all connected devices in a more convenient and well-organized space.
A Home Theater for Every Occasion
Another home trend emerging in recent years is a home theater that adapts to modern living. With LG OLED M, home designers can create a home cinema that doubles as a gaming room. In this space, the console or Blu-ray player, which light up when in use, can be placed out of view instead of under the TV to minimize distractions and maximize immersion.
LG OLED M mounts flush to the wall while its Zero Connect Box transfers video and audio wirelessly to the screen, so what the viewer sees ahead is just the OLED TV. This makes it easier to appreciate the incredible self-lit picture quality of the OLED screen, which facilitates higher immersion thanks to less distractions between them and the display.
What’s more, LG OLED TVs not only deliver perfect blacks and offer large screen sizes, but they often perform better than projectors in brighter environments, so the room doesn’t have to be pitch black to achieve the level of immersion gamers live for.
To further explore how LG is innovating consumers’ ability to create living spaces that perfectly match their lifestyles, head to the
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By News Reporter
‘Optimism your feed’ Playlist Curated by Global Influencers Will Enable Users
to Engage With Optimistic and Inspiring Content on Their Social Media Feeds
SEOUL, May 29, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) today launched a global campaign called ‘Optimism your feed,’ which aims to help users bring more optimism to their social media experience by inviting them to proactively engage with positive and inspiring content on their feeds.
“As a customer-focused brand, LG is a passionate champion of optimism. We aim to create positive changes in people’s lives by being intentional with our positive activities both online and in the real world,” said Kim Hyo-eun, vice president and head of LG’s Brand Management Division. “In the AI era, LG remains committed to our unwavering promise of ‘Life’s Good.’ We will continue to enhance our customers’ lives with a human-centric approach, fostering hope for a better future.”
A new global survey commissioned by LG found that social media is both a source of anxiety and a place where people turn to be entertained, keep up with friends and family, and stay informed about news and current events. According to the survey, almost half of respondents (45 percent) report their social media feeds consist of an equal or greater amount of negative content than positive content. One in four respondents (28 percent) claimed negative content on their social media feeds has increased their anxiety and one in five (20 percent) said it has made them unhappy.
link hidden, please login to view also suggest that algorithms often promote negative and niche conversations. The global survey sought to understand the triggers that affect how algorithms work and how to increase your feed’s positive content. The result is the ‘Optimism your feed’ playlist of original content that, when interacted with, will pull more optimistic content into your feed.* ‘Optimism your feed’ is part of LG’s global , introduced last year to inspire and encourage people to approach life with an optimistic attitude.
Created in collaboration with global influencers renowned for their optimistic influences including , , and more, the ‘Optimism your feed’ playlist includes over 20 short-form videos ranging from motivation to feel-good content.
Additionally, LG is consulting with social media experts including Professor , an information scientist and technology ethicist, with a PhD in Human Centered Computing. Fiesler researches and teaches in the areas of technology ethics, internet policy and online communities, and has published on topics such as social media content moderation and recommender systems. She also educates the public on these topics as a content creator.
Social media has become an integral part of our lives, and algorithms play a significant role in the content that we see in these spaces. LG’s global playlist and campaign gives users the opportunity to see more positive and uplifting posts. By being more conscious about what we choose to engage with, we can bring stronger optimism, balance and happiness to our lives.
According to Fiesler, “Recommendation algorithms determine what we see on social media by predicting what content we are likely to engage with. These algorithms can therefore send us down ever more specific niches – for good and for bad. Research has shown that left unchecked, users can go down negative rabbit holes and encounter harmful content quite quickly. One of our first lines of defense needs to be improving our digital literacy, and paying more attention to how algorithms influence our online experiences. And the good news is that we do have some control over the input for these algorithmic predictions; if we choose to engage with optimistic content, there’s a good possibility we will see more of it.”
Victoria Browne, a global influencer and TEDx Talk speaker, said, “The algorithms on our social channel can have a big impact on the content we see online, which impacts our mental health. That’s why I’m passionate about ‘Optimism your feed’, and I hope that people use this playlist as a foundation to retrain their algorithm and encourage positivity in all aspects of their lives. So much of the stigma and difficulty of tackling mental health is that it is unseen. With this campaign, we are saying you should reach out to your friends, and that we can help each other. Our algorithm should recommend content that makes us feel more connected to people, not less.”
The ‘Optimism your feed’ playlist can be found on LG’s global TikTok channel and global YouTube channel , and will later spread to various social media platforms through collaborations with influencers around the world. More details can be found on the campaign page on .
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* According to a global survey conducted by Dynata on behalf of LG in 2024.
Survey Methodology
Timings: Fieldwork conducted from April 26 to May 2, 2024
Countries: USA, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, South Korea, India, Australia
Age: People between 22 and 65 years old and weekly TikTok or Instagram users
Sample Size: 400 respondents in the USA, 200 respondents in the rest of the markets
Method: Quantitative questionnaire online survey through Dynata’s proprietary panel
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