any news of bronze users exchanging to black due to keyboard light issue?

[iPostNak3d]

i called tmobile today and talked to a rep about the keyboard lighting issue of the bronze phone...

the rep mentioned that several customers had already called in regards to this issue and that they were aware of it. she also mentioned that several people were already exchanging their units for the black instead.

but she did not tell me if anything else is being done... i mean... will they change the color and pull the bronze out of the shelves?

she did tell me that the bronze units got sold more then the black units.

does anyone know anything???

[Majestik Originality]

Hasnt been happening at my store.

[DaYuMu6ft7]

WOW!

So many issues already, and just my luck...

I'm still waiting on the Bronze phone to arrive

[ProbablyZack]

im glad i thought the black one looked better. but they did also tell me the wait was longer for brown. mine comes in today or tomorrow

[iPostNak3d]

there is definatelly an issue with the lighting of the keyboard...

we customers should all unite and call in tmobile and HTC as well... they need to fix this issue... and make sure the future units are fixed as well.

who is in this with me?

who can we contact to get the word out even more? any BIG REVIEW sites???

[elingreen]

my buddy got the brown one, then saw my black one, realized the keys are impossible to see on the brown, bought a black one, and sent the brown one back.

he's much happier now.

[ren857]

I have a brown one, but the issue with the keyboard isn't bad enough for me to send it back. I luv the color of the device and it's not going back (plus, I can kinda type without looking, so in those FEW situations where I may not be able to see a few of the keys, it's no problem for me.)

[bizarro_stormy]

my buddy got the brown one, then saw my black one, realized the keys are impossible to see on the brown, bought a black one, and sent the brown one back.

he's much happier now.

I did the same. and i'm sooooo much happier

[iPostNak3d]

just thought of something... to the people that bought the bronze units like me because they liked the two tone keyboard color of the bronze...

we can all switch to black cuz down the road i am sure they will be making some different color front and back faceplates for these phones... that will be sweet... a gun metal front and back faceplate with the keyboard in all black...

this way we can change the faceplate and the keyboard will be black... we will achieve the two tone in the black unit as well :)

PS> does anyone know how to remove the front faceplate of the G1 already? has anyone tried? does it come off easy?

[RegGuheert]

Called to return the brown one today. The labels on the keys are all but invisible when the backlight comes on (except when it is very dark in the room). Will keep the two black ones we purchased.

[atoy74]

Can anyone give examples of when the keys become difficult to see? I think that'll help many understand what the problem is.

[androidmonkey]

Can anyone give examples of when the keys become difficult to see? I think that'll help many understand what the problem is.

Its basically the letters/numbers on the keypads have a light behind them, and when the backlight is on its blends in with the color of the keypad. A simple fix would be to turn off the backlight on the keyboard. I posted a thread asking if this could be done. I also plan on posting this in the Android developers forum. If this can be done, the keyboard problem is solved.

[iPostNak3d]

@ atoy74... the bronze keyboard becomes very difficult to read AT LOW LIGHT environment. i don't know how else to explain to you.

@ androidmonkey... i don't want to be pessimistic... cuz i have the bronze and love the color... but what if your idea can't be done? what if this issue is permanent for us early adopters?

[LGSilva]

I loved my Bronze one but the "invisible" keys was a real problem, then I took back to T-mo store, paid $10 restocking fee and got the black one

[atoy74]

@ atoy74... the bronze keyboard becomes very difficult to read AT LOW LIGHT environment. i don't know how else to explain to you.

Right. What I'm asking is for some examples of what a "Low Light Environment" is?

I mean, can you see the letters in a movie theater? In a car at night?

[atoy74]

Is it safe to say that these two pics are not indicative of the problem? Cause, they look ok to me.

Sorry guys, just trying to understand the problem cause I really like the Bronze color.

[iPostNak3d]

@ atoy74... i really don't know howelse to explain this to you... but I AM SURE you will EVENTUALLY come accross this issue.

[brianofmoore]

I too am a bit confused by this supposed issue.
I have read about it on other sites too, but I've now had my brown g1 for over a week and had no such issue. Im an avid txter, and thus have used the keyboard quite often in the past week in all sorts of lighting conditions and had no problem whatsoever seeing the keys.

perhaps my eyes are just adept to seeing in the dark

[IcyKidd]

I hope it doesn't become an issue to me when i get it. Maybe if i just memorize it xD

[IcyKidd]

Is it safe to say that these two pics are not indicative of the problem? Cause, they look ok to me.

Sorry guys, just trying to understand the problem cause I really like the Bronze color.


Those look perfectly fine i don't know why people are complaining.

sorry for double post O.o :p

[doomcomplex]

I have a bronze and this is a REAL ISSUE. You might not believe it from the photos online, but seriously, the keys are impossible to see in low light (super clear in daylight or in the dark, just invisible in low light).

I thought about returning mine but, honestly, it's a QWERTY keyboard, I have it memorized like every other computer user in the world. It hasn't really affected my use.

[shmokinponcake]

I just can't bear to let my brown go but the lighting ain't great

[iPostNak3d]

i went ahead and exchanged mine for a black on even though i LOVE the bronze color...

i would suggest to the BRONZE USERS to really check this out and test this as much as possible before your 14 day/or 30 day return period is over...

there is no way for me to be memorizing all the small characters on the phone... the letters i might be able too, but the rest... forget it!

they should have done the lighting in BLUE or GREEN... like the ones we find in cars... i bet that would have fixed the issue.

[endmp25]

cant u mod out the led?

[Divest]

This is pretty funny considering I would have thought this would be something that tmobile would have caught before releasing it.

This isn't just a minor setback, it's a HUGE problem.

[CJ Chitwood]

for those wanting pics, there is one in my album...

this shows a perfectly usable bronze...
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/cj-chitwood/albums/cj-s-pix-store/794-1224908463314-bronze-g1-with-keys-unlit.jpg



and this one shows it.... http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/cj-chitwood/albums/cj-s-pix-store/795-1224908482344-focus-on-the-lower-right-portion-of-the-screen-sorry-for-fuzzy-my-hand-was-tired-it-was-dark-and-my-g1-doesnt-have-flash-or-a-tripod-boo-waa-cry-still-gets-the-point-across-being-that-the-light-colors-on-the-bronze-g1-keyboard-can-be-hard-to-see-under-certain-after-dark-indoor-lighting-conditions.jpg

[CJ Chitwood]

Mind you, it's only a problem at just the right lighting condition... you can usually move thwe phone around to get more or less light to make it visible (I actually had difficulty making that shot...)

[jterry]

It seems the "chin" is casting a shadow. I have to tilt the keyboard to the right to actually see the letters. The backlight should have been red.

[atoy74]

for those wanting pics, there is one in my album...

this shows a perfectly usable bronze...
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/cj-chitwood/albums/cj-s-pix-store/794-1224908463314-bronze-g1-with-keys-unlit.jpg



and this one shows it.... http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/cj-chitwood/albums/cj-s-pix-store/795-1224908482344-focus-on-the-lower-right-portion-of-the-screen-sorry-for-fuzzy-my-hand-was-tired-it-was-dark-and-my-g1-doesnt-have-flash-or-a-tripod-boo-waa-cry-still-gets-the-point-across-being-that-the-light-colors-on-the-bronze-g1-keyboard-can-be-hard-to-see-under-certain-after-dark-indoor-lighting-conditions.jpg

Perfect, thanks for the pics. That reallly sheds some light (no pun intended) on the situation.

I'm going to still choose the bronze. I have perfect 20/20 and good low light vision which is what an earlier poster theorized could be the prob.

We'll see...I'll pass on my experience.

[George Salazar]

Im waiting for my black g1. hope i dont have any problems with it. with my luck

[iPostNak3d]

LOL... no offense... but some of you make me laugth with your comments...

who the hell will be tilting the keyboard in low light situations so they can type??? who has time for this bull??? i know i don't...

somebody else said to me not to type in low light conditions... to wait and type later... what??? did i hear this suggestion right??? (sarcasm)

bottom line is this... and i speak as a designer as well as a consumer... if the design of the product ain't right then it is gong back to the shelves. it doesn't deserve a cent of my hard working money.

there was a lack of testing from the manufacturer and whoever else was involved... i am sure they are aware of the issue... they just want to cut costs down and don't fix it yet.

somebody else mentioned here if a mod could be done??? please... give me a break... i mean... if i were to buy everything expecting to mod them... forget it... not worth my time.

again, don't take offense to what i am saying, i am NOT TRYING to hurt anyone here... i just can't STAND why people settle FOR LESS.

ps) my vision is PERFECT, according to docs i have over a 20/20... and my boyfriend has a perfect 20/20 and WE BOTH have a hard time seeign this keyobard. and no, our home is not lit like a football stadium... and we also don't live like bats in the dark... we do have ligthing in the house, like a lot of people, the lights are dimmed.

[androidmonkey]

@iPostNak3d (http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/ipostnak3d/), to each his own. I like the Bronze, since most phones Ive owned have been black. The keyboard lighting is an issue, but its not HUGE. The major issue that I have is the inability to store apps on the microSD card. That issue is HUGE, since Im running out of space on the measly 70MB internal storage.

Ive been researching a way to turn off the keyboard backlight. Not luck so far, but it seems like it should be doable.

[CJ Chitwood]

@nak3d: tilting the kb is almost instinctual for me but then i live with only about 240 watts of incandescent and fluorescent light in the room and i deal with this in other things too like taking notes on paper.

@all: it's really only in one specific position that has the problem. any more or less light hitting the keys and it's perfectly legible.

[atoy74]

LOL... no offense... but some of you make me laugth with your comments...

who the hell will be tilting the keyboard in low light situations so they can type??? who has time for this bull??? i know i don't...

somebody else said to me not to type in low light conditions... to wait and type later... what??? did i hear this suggestion right??? (sarcasm)

bottom line is this... and i speak as a designer as well as a consumer... if the design of the product ain't right then it is gong back to the shelves. it doesn't deserve a cent of my hard working money.

there was a lack of testing from the manufacturer and whoever else was involved... i am sure they are aware of the issue... they just want to cut costs down and don't fix it yet.

somebody else mentioned here if a mod could be done??? please... give me a break... i mean... if i were to buy everything expecting to mod them... forget it... not worth my time.

again, don't take offense to what i am saying, i am NOT TRYING to hurt anyone here... i just can't STAND why people settle FOR LESS.

ps) my vision is PERFECT, according to docs i have over a 20/20... and my boyfriend has a perfect 20/20 and WE BOTH have a hard time seeign this keyobard. and no, our home is not lit like a football stadium... and we also don't live like bats in the dark... we do have ligthing in the house, like a lot of people, the lights are dimmed.

Well, then it just sounds to me like you need one or two higher wattage bulbs. Booyah...Fixed!!! (sarcasm)

[brianofmoore]

who the hell will be tilting the keyboard in low light situations so they can type??? who has time for this bull??? i know i don't...

speaking of laughs.. that one got me pretty good.
was that sarcasm too?

(sarcasm)
because if not.. i totally agree.. who has time to be tilting their phone!?
that could take up almost a full second to tilt it nearly 20 degrees!!
preposterous!
(/sarcasm)

now as i stated before ^^ i have sent many a txt message
on my bronze g1 so far... and had no problems at all
but ive come to realize that isnt entirely true...
though the problem isnt that i cant see the letters/numbers when its lit
its the fact that the back lighting turns off so quickly if im not pressing a key...
i counted 7 seconds before it turned off if i wasnt in the middle of typing...
i tend to move the track ball when this happens to turn the light back on...
but that gets very annoying... and can jump you to another input/button/whatever
sometimes in order to make that quick witty retort to my friends that start to think
they are hold more wit than I... takes a bit longer than 7 seconds to come up with.......
at least 10 seconds...

there is a setting to determin how long the screen waits before turning off
but i see no such setting for the back light on the keyboard

ie: i want this option

[iPostNak3d]

CHECK THIS OUT... tmobile erased this thread/msg of this user asking them for an update on the issue of the bronze keyboard lighting thing...

i found the bellow info doing a google search... (tmobile g1 bronze keyboard light)

<LI class=g>Bronze keyboard unreadable -- tech support, how about an answer to ... (http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=87&thread.id=12497)

Oct 28, 2008 ... Forums : T-Mobile G1 - (Android) : General : Bronze keyboard unreadable ... the bronze keyboard in low light when the backlight is on. ...
forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=87&thread.id=12497 - 68k - Cached (http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:SoAeL4LSLEIJ:forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message%3Fboard.id%3D87%26thread.id%3D12497+tmobil e+g1+bronze+keyboard+light&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us) - Similar pages (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&q=related:forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message%3Fboard.id%3D87%26thread.id%3D12497)

[androidmonkey]

CHECK THIS OUT... tmobile erased this thread/msg of this user asking them for an update on the issue of the bronze keyboard lighting thing...



Well, it probably was deleted because there are many other threads talking about the same issue. Im getting use it to, since I am a touch typist on a standard keyboard. I would like the option to turn the backlight off, but Im ok if we dont get this. Im sure it will come though, thats the beauty of Android...

http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=87&message.id=14885&query.id=96200#M14885

[bugmenot1]

I have 2 bronze g1s that I just got yesterday. One is really hard to see in low light, while the other one is actually fairly good. So I think there are some variances in the models. I'm going to try to go exchange one of them for a black one at a tmobile store today.

[RegGuheert]

I have 2 bronze g1s that I just got yesterday. One is really hard to see in low light, while the other one is actually fairly good. So I think there are some variances in the models. I'm going to try to go exchange one of them for a black one at a tmobile store today.Interesting! Probably explains some of the differences in people's perceptions of this issue. My brown one went back yesterday...

[bugmenot1]

So I went to a tmobile store and they wouldn't let me exchange it. I called tech support and they know nothing a keyboard problem. So I was transferred to customer support where the person advised me to send my bronze back and then reorder a black one.

Pretty lame..

[love_me_G1]

I have a brown one, but the issue with the keyboard isn't bad enough for me to send it back. I luv the color of the device and it's not going back (plus, I can kinda type without looking, so in those FEW situations where I may not be able to see a few of the keys, it's no problem for me.)


I'm with you on that one...Yeah, the keys are a little dim sometimes but when I'm in less lit areas (and in need of backlight), the backlight does the job...I like the brown one a lot because it looks different in different lighting, ranging from dark grey-ish to light brown.... :rolleyes:

[CJ Chitwood]

exactly... the problem only exists under a very specific light setup and only some of us have the lighting setup that causes a problem...

[mithikx]

I have a bronze one, I prefer the two tone but it happens if im out side at noon with no shade and thats about it (so far) plus im kinda remembering where the odd keys are

[randybo]

I exchanged my bronze G1 which is going back to T-Mobile tomorrow. Technically, I ordered a 2nd black G1 (which their online website strangely let me do) and then after I placed my order, called T-Mobile customer service and told them I was returning the brown model (T-Mobile has a 14-day return policy).

I like the brown color better and it's two tone styling, rather than the dull flat black G1, but it's keyboard contrast STINKS! The keyboard letters can only be easily seen in daylight and darkness. I knew the minute I saw the keyboard I had made a mistake ordering this color.

The keyboard has a light bronze tint that makes it even worse (why not use silver?). When the keyboard backlight comes on, the key characters are very difficult to see in normal office lighting. T-Mobile and HTC really fubar'd this model's keyboard and wrecked the usability of the only alternate color choice available in the US. I still love the Android OS and am now satisfied with the keyboard on my new black G1!

[DaYuMu6ft7]

WHY AM i THE ONLY ONE STILL WAITING FOR THIS PHONE!?

iLOL @ THIS BROWN CLOWN BEING SUCH A FAILURE...

BUT IT'S STILL ON ***** BACK ORDER***** UNTIL NOV 12TH <--- WTF!

[androidmonkey]

The more people who return the brown = the less people who have the brown = the more unique my phone is :)

I guess touch typist like me dont have to worry about this issue to much.

[RegGuheert]

The more people who return the brown = the less people who have the brown = the more unique my phone is :)

I guess touch typist like me dont have to worry about this issue to much.You must have REALLY skinny fingers!! I'm a touch typist also, but the pitch of the keys is about HALF the pitch of my fingers.

Seriously, I'd LOVE to be able to touch-type on the G1, but cannot figure out how. Any chance you could post a video on YouTube showing how it's done by a master? :)

TIA!

Reg

[gavinfb]

count yourselves lucky for the bronze one. The white one is more ridiculous. Light green light on white. In low light you need to stick the keyboard on your nose in order to see where are the keys.

[androidmonkey]

You must have REALLY skinny fingers!! I'm a touch typist also, but the pitch of the keys is about HALF the pitch of my fingers.

Seriously, I'd LOVE to be able to touch-type on the G1, but cannot figure out how. Any chance you could post a video on YouTube showing how it's done by a master? :)

TIA!

Reg

Touch typist meaning I know where the keys are, not necessarily I can keep my left fingers on the ASDF and right fingers on the JKL;....lol

[bugmenot1]

For me its impossible to touch type of the g1 because the keys are too shallow. Its too hard to feel where the individual keys are. Believe me I tried all this past weekend before I ended up sending my bronze back.

[sushi420]

so todays the 14th day after i bought i from the store on launch day...i'm really tempted to try to exchange it for a black one, i've tried ignoring the keyboard lighting issues but it's getting worse because i use it a lot when im at home on the couch under low light conditions...anyone else going to the store today?

[androidmonkey]

Im surprised Google,HTC, or a developer hasnt come up with the simplest fix for this, turn off the backlight. I can be done, since the backlight goes off independently of anything else when the keyboard is closed. With the backlight off, its easy to see the keys. I tried asking on the Android Developers forum about a setting to turn the backlight off, nobody responded.

[dwang]

Even if they implement a backlight command its still would be a pain to turn it on and off. I prefer just exchanging it for a black one.

[N3TWORK BURN3R]

Can you guys take a picture of the keyboard in low light situations? I have a black and a brown one (in the mail) and i wouldnt mind rejecting the brown one if its that bad. Anyone?

[androidmonkey]

Can you guys take a picture of the keyboard in low light situations? I have a black and a brown one (in the mail) and i wouldnt mind rejecting the brown one if its that bad. Anyone?

Someone posted a picture earlier, maybe in another thread.

I find myself not having an issue except for the special characters which may not match a standard QWERTY keyboard. If you are a touch typist, you will know where the keys are located and wont really look at the button labels rather just the correct button. Hope that makes sense :)

As for having to turn the backlight on/off if its implemented. I would leave the backlight off 95% of the time. The only time you really need the backlight is when you are in a completely dark room.

[atoy74]

Can you guys take a picture of the keyboard in low light situations? I have a black and a brown one (in the mail) and i wouldnt mind rejecting the brown one if its that bad. Anyone?

Posts #16 & 26 have pics. Check em out...

[sushi420]

just got back from exchanging it, paid the $10 and good to go!

i really like the black keyboard much better!

[jokerdb78]

Theres nothing wrong with the bronze phone they all run off the same everything, Its called a glitch those things happen. And if it happens more then once maybe your G1 has downs.

YOU GUYS SHOULD WAIT TILL THE WHITE G1 COMES OUT IN LIKE 1 MONTH OR SO.

[androidmonkey]

Theres nothing wrong with the bronze phone they all run off the same everything, Its called a glitch those things happen. And if it happens more then once maybe your G1 has downs.

YOU GUYS SHOULD WAIT TILL THE WHITE G1 COMES OUT IN LIKE 1 MONTH OR SO.

Dude, did you even read any part of this thread? This isnt a glitch, its a design flaw of the Bronze G1. Some of us can live with it, some of us cant.

[smilez_c]

Do you guys think T-Mobile is really sold out of the Bronze G1's or they are just saving themselves from the keyboard issue?

[dacookie]

I haven't had any problems with this at all. I noticed it once, but it didn't bother me. UNTIL NOW. you guys made me really paranoid about my keyboard now. thanks alot. im keeping my bronze tho. the color is too sweet to exchange for black.

[androidmonkey]

Do you guys think T-Mobile is really sold out of the Bronze G1's or they are just saving themselves from the keyboard issue?

Probably sold out. The black is the high volume color.

[DaYuMu6ft7]

I would like to know how they Sold Out of the Bronze, which had sooooo many problems...

But still have the Black in stock, I'm so confused

They surely took the Bronze off the website quick!

[androidmonkey]

I would like to know how they Sold Out of the Bronze, which had sooooo many problems...

But still have the Black in stock, I'm so confused

They surely took the Bronze off the website quick!

What do you mean "Soooo many problems". The only issue ive read about is the keyboard lighting.

[atoy74]

LOL, I think I got the last bronze. Got my shipment confirmation Wednesday and immediately after got an email saying they are out of stock and would I like to get a black one instead.

Well, I'm holding my bronze now and have been playing with it for almost 24hrs. I see where folks are complaining. The keys are difficult to see under some specific lighting conditions.

That being said, I don't think it's a big deal. It just depends on your personality. IMO the attractiveness of the bronze color outweighs the keyboard backlight issue.

Your mileage may vary...

[DaYuMu6ft7]

What do you mean "Soooo many problems". The only issue ive read about is the keyboard lighting.


True!

But so many have been returned for that reason, Now they're telling me I won't recieve the phone I ordered on OCT 4th...

Until NOV 24th, the CSR said both the Black & Bronze are on back order/out of stock

[tymewillcome]

I ordered the G1 from tmobile customer support. I first recieved a defective phone, bronze was the color. It could not, and would not read any sim card due to the pins literaly pushed all the way up. THe sent me a second one that took a week turn around! I opend up the second package so happy to mess with my new toy- THE SAME PROBLEM!!! I told customer support to screww off, and asked them how do quality come from this? How hard is it to turn on a phone b4 it is shipped? I visited a retail store and did my contract there, and got a working bronze phone! wooho! It was a headache I must admit, but it was worth it. I have a 3g iphone, and prefer my G1 over it anyday! THE keyboard lighting SUCKS!! I am sure some sort of fix will come out??

[unseen]

True!

But so many have been returned for that reason, Now they're telling me I won't recieve the phone I ordered on OCT 4th...

Until NOV 24th, the CSR said both the Black & Bronze are on back order/out of stock

Really? I placed an order through Customer Care on November 3rd and was told I'd receive it on the 10th. I have been calling everyday since then to check up on the status, because I haven't gotten any shipping info.. until about an hour ago when I checked my reference number again and got info that it was shipped on the 7th through 3 day express.

All the reps kept telling me orders placed before the 5th of NOV would receive their phones on the 10th. You should call and complain. I would not take that crap.

[DaYuMu6ft7]

Really? I placed an order through Customer Care on November 3rd and was told I'd receive it on the 10th. I have been calling everyday since then to check up on the status, because I haven't gotten any shipping info.. until about an hour ago when I checked my reference number again and got info that it was shipped on the 7th through 3 day express.

All the reps kept telling me orders placed before the 5th of NOV would receive their phones on the 10th. You should call and complain. I would not take that crap.

My first date for arrival was Nov 10th for the Bronze...

Could you let me know what color you ordered and if UPS showed up on Monday!?

Thanks!