Bill Detwiler

After waiting in line, spending $600, signing a two-year AT&T contract, and activating the iPhone, we decided that the next sensible action was to take the thing apart — in classic TechRepublic Cracking Open style. In addition to our extensive photo gallery, we filmed three video clips in which TechRepublic’s cracking open guru, Bill Detwiler, explains why and how we disassembled the iPhone. During this second clip, Bill explores the components inside our dissected iPhone.

Bill Detwiler share five things you should know before you attempt to replace a cracked iPad screen or fix a broken smartphone.

Bill Detwiler cracks open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Android tablet and finds an easy-to-open case, clean hardware layout, and replaceable battery.

Bill Detwiler cracks open the HTC One X, finding an internal design that isn’t exactly repair-friendly and a battery that’s difficult to replace.

Bill Detwiler shows you how to replace a cracked front panel on the iPad 2 or iPad 3.

Bill Detwiler shows you how to replace a cracked glass panel or broken display on the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S.

Bill Detwiler cracks open the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and shows you how it’s a snap to open, easy to service, and an improvement over the 10-inch Galaxy Tab.

Bill Detwiler cracks open the Galaxy Tab 7.7. Inside, he finds a familiar Samsung tablet design and lots of the company’s homegrown hardware.

Bill Detwiler cracks open the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and shows you how Barnes and Noble made it lighter and gave it an integrated reading light.

Bill Detwiler shows you how to remove and replace a cracked LCD panel from an Asus UL50V laptop.

Bill Detwiler cracks open the Iconia Tab A510 and explains the good, bad and interesting of the Android tablet’s internal hardware and design.

Bill Detwiler disassembles the Toshiba Excite 10 and finds a Android tablet that may not appeal to fans of Toshiba’s earlier Thrive