I just did the prong mods on all my MicroUSB cables.

The metal is REAL soft. I looked at the "prongs" on the underside of the connector and see the problem. The "ramp" profile is a lot flatter on insertion compared to removal out the plug. The profile is asymmetrical. That's why it is easier to insert the plug, but stiff on removal.

I have some little files that are cheaply available from places like Harbor Freight. Basically Jewelers files. Kinda like these:

http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=4614

My plan was to flatten the "backside" portion of the profile to see how it fit. That is the steep portion that retains the plug.

Well a few swipes of the file and they were gone! Very soft!

Went in and out like Butta!

Really took too much off, so figured I would slow down on the next one's.

OK, next cable, I had 3 to do, a few strokes and look at the profile, blew it with compressed air, and voila, just enough to retain OK, but went in and out easily. Did the third cable, blew them out, and I'll be able to sleep easy tonight!

I left just enough metal to be felt on them. It goes in with a slight "detent" feeling and comes out just fine. If I have no "accidents", I'm sure it will last for the life of the device, if I am careful!

Thanks. Strange that both articles claim that the problem is that the USB lead is too tight, when the real problem is the way the USB socket is mounted on the PCB.

They do have one part correct "While stopping short of a product recall [...]". That means if mobicity continue to fail to honour their warranty, I will not be purchasing another N900 because I could be easily be paying for an identical phone that has exactly the same problem.

Brian May

It's a chicken or the egg kinda deal. Both problems exist. But if the port were mounted properly, the plug effort wouldn't be as big a problem.

I had an issue yesterday to charge via USB. Normally I remove and attach the cable a few times a day...
So yesterday the battery went flat and I thought that I need to send the phone to Nokia...
PC Suite could not detect the phone. I removed battery, plugged the USB, attached battery, no help. Tried with other PC's...

Went home and plugged a normal charger and it WORKED.

Today came to office and USB charger is working as well...and PC Suite...

Good news, but strange. But, now I'll be more careful with my USB.

Otherwise the phone is GOOD, battery life could be better of course.

Since I ripped out the hooks of my charger plug, I noticed that the device now starts charging immediately every time I plug it in. Before that it sometimes just refused to detect the charger.

this kind of concerns me.

the usb port broke on my N95, and nokia denied repair saying the board was corroded and unrepairable, and thus the warranty was void.

which is a load of **** as i live in the desert and never had water anywhere near that phone

OK folk some good news.

I just phoned Nokia Care head office. They informed me my phone had been fixed and was being returned to the care centre I took it into.

EDIT: Please read comment below. I am truly pissed with Nokia Now.

For those that do not know My port was twisted inside the phone but not completely removed..

---------

I also want to express my utmost respect and gratitude to Texrat.

Texrat without your support and fight for Nokia customers I do not thin k this would have gone so well for ourselves of Nokia long term. Without the publicity that you initiated I find it hard to believe that Nokia would have accepted this as their issue. At least not until forced to by a lot more unhappy customer.

The other key element was your provision of support and a single rally point within this thread.

I hope you really have not burned your bridges to the mother ship. But I will tell you and Nokia that you have the support of myself and I am sure the whole community will agree.

In the unlikely event that anyone from Nokia reads this post. You really need to thank Texrat for his confidence that your organisation will do the correct thing. Given the size and communication issues that arise in any corporation as it grows. People like Texrat can be the only ones able to gather the community together and fill them with good will while your organisation keeps closed lipped due to the fear of saying the wrong thing.

While you take weeks to decide of the right response you have to remember that customers like myself are left with a huge investment that looks to have been a complete waste of money. People such as Texrat can be the onl;y thing that prevents them (and myself) from taking the often correct choice for themselves and placing Nokia on the do not buy list.

OK Apparently Nokia dosent know what it is doing.

I phoned there head office this morning and was told the phone had been returned fixed.

The repair center just phoned me stating that it had been returned.

Beyond Economic Repair.

What the **** is going on with Nokia.

This is exaxtly the ******** they where playing before the recent announcement.

They are refusing to fix this.

Aw man, that's bad.