Touch not working in sunlight

[JRS200x]

So I've been having an annoying issue with my incredible and haven't been able to find any information on this specific issue and whether it is an issue that is known or just a problem with my phone.

The issue is this, when I am outside in the sun, especially direct sunlight, the touch screen bugs out to the point that you can't control anything anymore. The Home, Menu, Back and Search buttons all stop working and won't recognize me touching them. On top of that the screen itself seems to ignore me touching it, or will misinterpret the touching in weird ways (sliding my finger along the screen doesn't scroll but instead zooms in and out, stuff like that.).

Again this is only happening in direct sunlight it seems, and actually will go away if I lock and then unlock the phone for a minute or so and then pops back up and does not ever happen inside or in shade etc.

Anyone else had this issue or know anything about it?

 

[CRKhead]

Haven't seen anything mysef except the difficulty reading the screen... Touch always seems to work, but I'll check it out again today...

 

[JRS200x]

So noone else has had a similar issue?

 

[RBasil]

So noone else has had a similar issue?

While reading the screen here in Arizona is terrible, I have no problems with touch in the sun.

 

[JF]

I am in the Phoenix area as well and I haven't had problems working in direct sunlight.

 

[Jared DiPane]

Thats rather odd that it is the entire screen that is going crazy. I know that some times the optical trackpads dont like the sun, its the same way on the BB.

I would imagine that device to be defective, and I would give Verizon a call about it.

 

[JRS200x]

So I called Verizon tech support and the rep there was absolutely worthless, and told me I had to go into my local store and ask tech support there, which I have now done.

Apparently, the touchscreen becoming glitched in sunlight is a known issue with phone and is supposedly being fixed by an update that is being pushed out to phones in the coming week (by next Friday the tech claimed). Apparently this update is bringing a multitude of fixes to the phone... Hope she was right and not just blowing smoke up my...but she seemed fairly intelligent about the whole thing.

 

[RBasil]

So I called Verizon tech support and the rep there was absolutely worthless, and told me I had to go into my local store and ask tech support there, which I have now done.

Apparently, the touchscreen becoming glitched in sunlight is a known issue with phone and is supposedly being fixed by an update that is being pushed out to phones in the coming week (by next Friday the tech claimed). Apparently this update is bringing a multitude of fixes to the phone... Hope she was right and not just blowing smoke up my...but she seemed fairly intelligent about the whole thing.

Update next week? Not gonna happen. If a local sales rep knew about an update coming for the Inc next week it would be all over the blogs (including this one).

Tell her you want it in writing or you want to exchange the phone. I've NEVER heard anyone besides you having problems with touch sensitivity in the sun. Visibility yes, but not touch sensitivity.

 

[sklemp]

I've noticed some touch issues in the direct sunlight. When I put the phone in my own shadow (I have a big head) the screen starts to work better. I can recreate the issue about 85% of the time. I was at a baseball game last sunday and outside the visibility sucked but what was worse was the screen sensitivity.

Next time you have the problem, try to cast a shadow on the phone to see if it temporarily fixes the problem.

 

[bigdds]

I was also told an update would be coming next week.

 

[RBasil]

I was also told an update would be coming next week.

Google I/O is next week. I'm sure they will be releasing 2.2. But do you really think Verizon will allow Incredible owners to update to it on release day?

Really?

And if normal Verizon sales reps had information that 2.2 would be released on the Incredible next week don't you think every Android blog in the world (including this one) would be posting the news?

Come on people...

 

[Genetic_Bloom]

No one is saying they're getting 2.2 next week, an update does not mean a new firmware version. They're saying a service update is coming which makes complete sense. Every Verizon Android phone released up to this point has received a maintenance update within the first month or so and it's not crazy at all to assume it's coming next week. There's now two people in this thread who have heard it, so it's not like some tech at Verizon is just making it up for ****s and giggles, what would be the point?

Verizon doesn't exactly report to the media anyway regarding their updates, they generally just leak out a couple days in advance not a week or two. There's no reason to believe an update won't be coming to the Incredible next week, especially since two people in this thread alone have said they've heard it.

 

[CSMITH200]

sunlight legibility?

I've seen the posts saying the AMOLED screen is tough to see in strong light. Is it bad enough to make the Incredible unusable? Is it just enough to slow you down, or is the problem exaggerated? (I'm in Arizona and often write rather long memos while outdoors or in a car---as a passenger.) If it's a real issue I may go for the LG Ally instead.

Also, not on this thread but how's the virtual keyboard? I'd be coming from a Blackberry and worry I'd miss the physical keyboard, unfortunately the way Verizon stores secure phones with a tie strip through the middle of the display makes it tough to really test a virtual keyboard.

 

[RBasil]

No one is saying they're getting 2.2 next week, an update does not mean a new firmware version. They're saying a service update is coming which makes complete sense. Every Verizon Android phone released up to this point has received a maintenance update within the first month or so and it's not crazy at all to assume it's coming next week. There's now two people in this thread who have heard it, so it's not like some tech at Verizon is just making it up for ****s and giggles, what would be the point?

Verizon doesn't exactly report to the media anyway regarding their updates, they generally just leak out a couple days in advance not a week or two. There's no reason to believe an update won't be coming to the Incredible next week, especially since two people in this thread alone have said they've heard it.

If there was an update coming next week (firmware or service) and Verizon reps knew about it then why have their been zero reports of it on any Android blog? You know as well as I do the Android blogs would be all over this news.

The Verizon reps these people are talking to are confusing the new 2.2 Google firmware is (probably) releasing next week during I/O. It won't be the first time Verizon reps have been confused about an Android update and provided the wrong information and I'm sure it won't be the last.

 

[Qazme]

If there was an update coming next week (firmware or service) and Verizon reps knew about it then why have their been zero reports of it on any Android blog? You know as well as I do the Android blogs would be all over this news.

The Verizon reps these people are talking to are confusing the new 2.2 Google firmware is (probably) releasing next week during I/O. It won't be the first time Verizon reps have been confused about an Android update and provided the wrong information and I'm sure it won't be the last.

Yeah the blogs would have ate this news alive if it where true lol. And Verizon reps have the wrong information isn't anything new, along with a lot of them like to act like they know or have information about things that aren't true. Most of them will flat out make stuff up from my experience.

 

[Genetic_Bloom]

We'll see what unfolds in the next week I guess.

 

[RBasil]

We'll see what unfolds in the next week I guess.

Well, now we know the firmware is not going to be updated this week. You only have 2 more days for a service update to be released. Care to comment now?

http://www.androidcentral.com/most-2010-htc-android-phones-will-get-froyo-2010

"if your phone was launched this year, we will most likely offer an upgrade for it to the Froyo version. This includes popular models like the Desire and Droid Incredible as well as hotly anticipated phones like the Evo 4G, MyTouch slide and upcoming models. We will announce a full list of phones and dates once we are closer to launching the upgrades. We are working closely with Google and our other partners to ensure we have the earliest access to everything we need to provide a complete and solid Sense experience on Froyo. We expect to release all updates in the second half of this year but can't be more specific yet."

 

[rpfarrah]

FWIW, just tested my DI in full, bright sun: no touchscreen issues at all. To the OP: your phone is defective and now that it IS a week later with no "update". IMHO, it's time for a replacement phone.

Good Luck!

 

[gburns]

no problems here other than the expect hard to read screen, goes with the type.

 

[RBasil]

Verizon doesn't exactly report to the media anyway regarding their updates, they generally just leak out a couple days in advance not a week or two. There's no reason to believe an update won't be coming to the Incredible next week, especially since two people in this thread alone have said they've heard it.

So much for your "update" on the Incredible huh?