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Amazon Kindle Touch (2011) Teardown
At the same time Amazon launched the Kindle Fire tablet, it also introduced three new Kindle e-ink readers--the Kindle, Kindle Touch, and Kindle Touch 3G. I've already cracked open the Kindle Fire and 2011 Kindle. All that's left is the Kindle Touch.
For a more in-depth review of the 2011 Kindle's internal hardware, check out my article, "Amazon Kindle Touch (2011) teardown: Replaceable battery, Neonode touch screen."
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch:
The Kindle Touch has a 6" (diagonal) E Ink multi-touch display with a resolution of 600 x 800 pixels (167 ppi) and 16-level grayscale. The device has a The e-book reader measures 4.7" W x 6.8" H x 0.4" D and weighs 7.5 ounces (213 grams).
As of this writing, the 2011 Kindle Touch is available for $99.00 (with Special Offers) and $139 (without Special Offers). The 3G version of the Touch is available for $149 (with Special Offers) and $189 (without Special Offers).
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch:
The Kindle Touch has two internal speakers.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch:
Along the bottom edge of the Kindle Touch are a 3.5mm headphone jack, Micro- port, and a power button.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Popping loose the back cover
Using a thin metal blade, I popped loose the Kindle Touch's back cover.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the back cover
Once loose, I slide the back cover down and away from the Kindle Touch.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: First look inside
Lifting the cover off the Kindle Touch, we get our first look inside the Amazon e-book reader.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Internal hardware
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the battery screws
Using a Phillips #00 screwdriver bit, I removed the screws holding the Kindle Touch's Li-Ion battery in place.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the battery
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: 3.7V, 1,420 mAh Li-ion Polymer Battery (Model: S2011-002-A)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the case screws
After remving the battery, I removed several screws that hold the Kindle Touch's metal, outer case to the display assembly.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Heating the front molding
I used a hair dryer to heat the adhesive that holds the Kindle Touch's front molding to the display assembly. At the same time, I used a thin metal blade to pry the molding loose.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the front molding
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Front molding removed
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the front case screws
Several screws, located on the front of the device, hold the Kindle Touch's metal case to the front display assembly.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the outer metal case
With all the screws removed, I lifted the Kindle Touch's metal case away from the display assembly.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Metal case and display assembly
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the motherboard screws
Next, I removed the Kindle Touch's motherboard screws.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Disconnecting the display connector
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Disconnecting the speaker wires
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Disconnecting the Wi-Fi antenna wire
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the cellular card spacer
Being a Wi-Fi only Kindle Touch, this unit has a black, plastic spacer in place of a cellular card.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Cellular card spacer
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Wi-Fi antenna support
A clear plastic bracket is attached to the display assembly with metal tape and to the motherboard with weak adhesive. Using a thin metal blade, I separated the bracket from the motherboard, but left it attached to the display assembly.
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Removing the motherboard
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Prime View International (PVI) 6-inch ED060SCG E Ink Display
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Display assembly
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Internal speakers
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Power button contact
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Home button contact
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Wi-Fi antenna bracket
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Macronix MX25U4035ZNI memory chip
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: PVI 6-inch ED060SCG E Ink Display
Prime View International (PVI) 6-inch ED060SCG E Ink Display
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Motherboard - Front
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Motherboard - Back
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: 800MHz ARM Cortex-A8 Freescale i.MX508 processor (MCIMX508CVK8B)
800MHz ARM Cortex-A8 Freescale Semiconductor i.MX508 Multimedia Applications Processor with integrated Electronic Paper Display Controller (MCIMX508CVK8B)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Samsung K4X2G323PC-8GD8 DDR SDRAM
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: 4GB SanDisk SDIN5C2-4G NAND Flash memory module
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Freescale Semiconductor MC13892 Power Management Integrated Circuit (M1382AJ CTPQ128R)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Texas Instruments SN92009 Power Management IC (SN92009 A4 TI 19IL A3RR G4)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Wolfson WM8962 Audio Codec (WM8962E 19BRKBC)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Qualcomm Atheros AR6103 Wi-Fi package (AR6103T-BM2D)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Texas Instruments M430F2272 16-bit Ultra-Low-Power Microcontroller
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: NXP 74HC4067 16-channel analog multiplexer/demultiplexer (HC4067BQ L1E8R024 UnD138E)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: National Semiconductor LVM654 12MHz, Low Voltage, Low Power Amplifier (VM16AH LMV65 4MT)
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Texas Instruments YF04E TI 18K AGHQ
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Texas Instrument CEF TI J 15YN
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Neonode zForce touch screen system sensors
Like the 2011 Barnes & Noble Nook, the Kindle Touch uses the Neonode zForce touch screen system. This technology uses a series of transmitters and receivers (likely IR) to create a grid above the display. As an object, such as your finger, passes through the grid, the system translates its movement into actions on the display.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Complete teardown
For a more in-depth review of the 2011 Kindle's internal hardware, check out my article, "Amazon Kindle Touch (2011) teardown: Replaceable battery, Neonode touch screen."
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle Touch: Texas Instruments SN92009 Power Management IC (SN92009 A4 TI 19IL A3RR G4)
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
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After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & WorkBy Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...
Disclosure
Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.
Full Bio
Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.