Some of you Galaxy S users maybe pissed at the fact that Sprint’s variant along with the international version all have front-facing cameras armed stock. The dudes at XDA Developers always make the impossible possible with their hacks. This time, they found a way to add a front-facing camera to the T-Mobile Vibrant (not sure if this will work for the other variants). This is simple way of doing it but not for the risk-takers. It involves getting your hands dirty by opening up your device, rooting it, flashing it, and adding a camera file to its proper location. Here’s what is needed to make this happen: Eugene’s Froyo JP3, camera data file, replacement camera w/ front-facing camera for $16, paint remover chemical or fiberglass pen, and tools to open device after removing battery, SD card, and SIM card. The full instructions are below if you are up for the challenge.
*Disclaimer* Be careful as you hack and open up your device and be sure you wanna try it out before starting this process.
1. Shutdown your Vibrant, remove battery, sim card, sd card
2. Remove each screw in the back plate
3. Using an opener tool (or something to wedge between the back and front plates), snap off the back plate.
4. Disconnect all of the “snap on” assemblies
5. Remove the Camera
6. being careful not to snap the connection to the power button (it is glued on the phone), move the main board to the side slightly so it stays safe.
7. Using your method of choice (paint remover chemical or fiber glass pen), remove the paint inside the circle molding where the FFC mounts to.
8. Install camera when area is fully dry (5 minutes or so)
9. Put phone back together
10. Flash Eugene’s Froyo (R3 is latest as of writing) – remember to flash a 2.1 kernel whenever trying to nandroid restore or installing a 2.1 rom so you don’t brick your phone during the downgrade
11. adb push cameradata file to /system/cameradata
12. boot up phone, download “mirror app for samsung galaxy s” from the market
13. Check your hair or something using your newly installed Front-Facing Camera!!
Read via Lifehacker
