The Cardinal Rules for Getting a Gadget Modded
That brand new phone?
Ever wished for more functionality out of them? I recently went to an underground gadget mecca (of which I won’t name) with a friend to get his PSP modified. There were tons of merchants hawking mp3 players that are dead-ringers for ipods, mp4 watches (yes! a tiny screen on your wrist for divx movies!), brandless digital cameras boasting of megapixels waaaayyy up there, and alas, the illegal console mods area.
He got one of those connect-to-TV things, which allows him to watch PSP videos on his HD. While this is pretty amazing, and is pretty far off from a drastic mod, you gotta look at these safety tips:
Never attempt to D.I.Y. your way into mods – Especially if you don’t want to “brick” a gadget — (thanks iphone!) experiments are always fun, but not once you’ve destroyed your first gadget, leaving it a mass of useless plastic and metal.
Clarify the terms of getting your gadget modded – Since most of these underground operations void your warrantee for the product, ask if you can get a replacement (or free repairs) if things go wrong along the road.
Try the merch – If they have sample gadgets, give ‘em a try. Do they provide the functionality they promise? Does it impede the gadget’s other functions? Is it worth losing a warranty over?
Remember, most of these operations are illegal and nullifies your agreement to the terms of usage. If you destroy a gadget via modding, don’t expect a money back.
where does one find these “underground gadget meccas”?
Hey Matt, me and my buds found one by Chinatown, literally hidden in residential areas. It takes quite a bit of asking around if you want to find one near your area.