Screen glitch?

[Etel Smolnitsky]

Hello everyone!

This is my first time posting on a forum, but I needed people's advice and opinions on what may be wrong with my phone before I go to a store for this issue. I noticed this issue immediately after I purchased my phone, I just never thought anything of it because it occurred only in one area. I have a screenshot provided here (http://i.imgur.com/M2wjEM0.png). The issue there is that I can not select the ripple effect, and my original thought was maybe it was not compatible with my settings. After extensive research, there are no explained issues to be found. My mind was jogged back to this when I realized when trying to create a doodle message that the exact same spot on my screen has an issue (http://i.imgur.com/UWSZbud.png). I installed a couple of whiteboard applications and the same issue happened. I know it is not the program I was using for the doodle (GOSMS). I purchased the phone brand new from AT&T August 1st, it has never met water or been dropped. I have a Hyperion 5400mAh battery attached.

If anyone knows what this could be, I would appreciate any input. Thank you in advance, and I will answer any questions to help further evaluate what could be the issue.

 

[SpookDroid]

So, you have 'dead' zones? I'm sorry, I just have trouble understanding what the issue is since your 'doodle' and the 'Ripple' option don't seem to overlap...

 

[Etel Smolnitsky]

Sorry for my lack of clarity, I am at work currently. It is not exactly a dead zone, I included the ripple effect screenshot to show the exact location of the glitch area on my screen.


Oh, this is embarrassing. You are right, they do not overlap completely. However it is rather close. I was attempting to draw a diagonal line, and right about where the "Ripple effect" is located on the screen, the line in the doodle messes up. I apologize for my non descriptive words, English is not my first language. Do you know what these "dead zones" could be? Hardware or Software wise.

 

[SpookDroid]

If it does repeat 'everywhere' (as in 'no matter which app you tap, it's always faulty') then it's definitely hardware. If sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, it might be both, but I'm leaning more on 'hardware'.

You can try this: If you haven't enabled "Developer Options", do so (Go into Settings, More, About Device, and click a bunch of times in rapid succession on "Build Number"). Now, go into Developer Options to the "Input" section. There, enable "Show touches" and "Show pointer location". This should show on screen a trace of everything your phone is recognizing and the location of the pointer (your finger). If you trace a line on that area without lifting your finger and the trace shows a complete line, then your hardware is OK. If it doesn't, you should take it for warranty replacement right away.

If it DOES show the complete trace, that means your screen is recognizing the input but the software isn't. Try factory resetting your phone and see if that helps. If it doesn't, you'd still need to take it for warranty replacement.

Hope this helps

 

[Etel Smolnitsky]

I did have it enabled already, so I did as you recommended. It completely skipped that area (as in it does not see that my finger is passing over it). I shall take it to the AT&T store to prove the hardware issue, and hopefully they do not refuse a replacement. Thank you very much

 

[SpookDroid]

Yup, then it's a hardware issue. Just make sure you're not using any kind of protective film over the screen before taking it to AT&T, they might get picky on that.

Also, since you're taking it in to be replaced and I assume you'll wipe it clean anyway, try to do a Factory Reset. It's a long shot, but you don't lose anything by trying... And if by some miracle it works, it saves you the trip to the store hehe