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[PharaohsVizier]

I was looking at the PCB board on GBATemp and I am convinced that you only need to connect the 4th pin (or is it the 5th?) on the left to the line at the side to get the M3/R4 firmware.  Anyone care to try, I don't have an R4 yet.

[cory1492]

this was to be expected, m3 dont want language conversion, same for the normal m3 products.

Of course they don't. As with other M3 products they like to charge extra to the english people for less. Less support, less pda software, charge more money and claim it is "protecting" their distributors.

Even though R4 and "M4" are identical, I'm going to bet that the new design of the M3 has the final pad removed as well. Anyone ever take off epoxy from a thing like that before?  :lol: I'm also willing to bet the "big redesign" left those points intact but with the connections under the epoxy (though in the case of this type of epoxy, removing it will likely destroy the device under it).

PharaohsVizier: the pad that they did leave corresponds to the language conversion pad wrather than the firmware conversion pad.

kms: thanks for sharing the images  

[nuhbiwan]

sorry, but do you know a good hongkong shop which sells to europe?

[sneef]

if it's similar to the epoxy on xbox 360 dvd drives, you can remove it with a heat source and tweezers.  

[lenselijer]

but do you want to remove epoxy from 100pcs of r4 to sell them as m3 simply?

[cory1492]

if it's similar to the epoxy on xbox 360 dvd drives, you can remove it with a heat source and tweezers.  

It is similar, but the chip that is contained in the epoxy is entirely different than the 360's. As far as I know, it isn't a surface mount chip, its an epoxied bump chip (not the actual name of the tech) which means (smaller than) hair thin wires connected directly to the PCB and the chip die, all enveloped in the epoxy (it's the tech they use to make $2 or less calculators in taiwan/china).

As with the 360 though, it should be possible to remove a small amount of the epoxy (verses all of it) to access the very edge of the pads the bump's chip are connected to... but it would be very very risky to the chip and you could not insert the knife under the epoxy at all.

If we knew what that chip was exactly, and a source to get a standard SMT version... scrape the entire bump off and replace it with the 20cent part it probably is.

but do you want to remove epoxy from 100pcs of r4 to sell them as m3 simply?

why bother, if you are getting 100 of R4/M3S you'd get them all for about the same price... no?

[PharaohsVizier]

PharaohsVizier: the pad that they did leave corresponds to the language conversion pad wrather than the firmware conversion pad.

I think you didn't understand what I mean.  What I meant was, under the black circle is the chip right?  I am pretty sure if you connect the 4th or 5th pin (I can't tell without a better picture) of the chip to the line on the side (scratch off the green stuff) you can probably still convert from R4 to M3 Simply or Vice Versa.  It really doesn't look like they did much against this conversion, just took out the really nice pads.

[cory1492]

I think you didn't understand what I mean.  What I meant was, under the black circle is the chip right?  I am pretty sure if you connect the 4th or 5th pin (I can't tell without a better picture) of the chip to the line on the side (scratch off the green stuff) you can probably still convert from R4 to M3 Simply or Vice Versa.  It really doesn't look like they did much against this conversion, just took out the really nice pads.

I did understand what you mean. Scratching off the green stuff will just give you access to the ground rail, they completely removed the pads and traces going to the chip connections. Under the black stuff is the chip die and bond wires, not a normal SMT chip.

The 2nd picture on the right of the page should show you the difference, the epoxy is holding the die and wires, and the IC package/legs are left out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit
and a good closeup of how the wires connect under the epoxy to the PCB (making it wrather risky, since they dont appear soldered)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_bonding

Read my previous post, where I talk about epoxy and getting at the mounting template. It is not a simple matter to remove the epoxy for this type of access, and honestly I doubt the risk to the chip connections is actually worth it - there are absolutely no chip legs to lift.

Whether they changed the chip that is under the epoxy so the connections no longer correspond to those previous traces is another matter entirely, since it is a in house/custom made chip there is a good chance that M3 and R4 now use entirely different asics instead of a jumper method to determine the difference.

BTW: openchip on gbatemp told me the proper name for this type of chip mounting (under the epoxy vs. using a silicon casing) - it is called "die-bonding" where the die that is normally contained in an IC package is put down, super small wires are connected with a die bonder from the actual chip die to the pcb traces, and then set in epoxy.

[Joey Ravn]

(Let me get aside this savvy conversation, I really don't have the brains to understand it... )

Also, along with the new chips and package, both M3 and R4 won't be shipping with an alternate color shell like before:

M3 Simply /R3 DS only offers one shell   23-01-07

Sorry ,
Due to the demand of M3 Simply  /R4 DS is huge.
Our mould can not be supported enough M3 Simply /R4 DS shells daily .
The new  batch of M3 Simply /R4 DS only offer one shell (No extra shell offered ).

It's a pity for those who don't have their M3/R4 yet. They'll be missing a replacement shell that always may come handy.

[zektor]

(Let me get aside this savvy conversation, I really don't have the brains to understand it... )

Also, along with the new chips and package, both M3 and R4 won't be shipping with an alternate color shell like before:

M3 Simply /R3 DS only offers one shell   23-01-07

Sorry ,
Due to the demand of M3 Simply  /R4 DS is huge.
Our mould can not be supported enough M3 Simply /R4 DS shells daily .
The new  batch of M3 Simply /R4 DS only offer one shell (No extra shell offered ).

It's a pity for those who don't have their M3/R4 yet. They'll be missing a replacement shell that always may come handy.

Saw that too. I'm so glad I ordered mine when I did.

[PharaohsVizier]

Damn! I should have bought it when it was released!

[lenselijer]

from Hk, it's like usd 33  now, with the price increase, those are my actual pic taken yesterday.

ist one cost me hkd 230 (usd 29)

2nd one cost me hkd 260 (usd 33)

I got it from a friend, normal selling price is about HKD290-400.


kms

Strange, i paid $22 for my R4, a friend in china bought it.
Price only raised to $22.50 today because alot of people in china buy the r4

[kms]

I know, it's cheaper in china, as you see, i was referring to hong kong.

just bought a M3 simple 1st batch yesterday.

now I have the following:

R4 1st batch

R4 2 Batch

M3 simple 1st Batch

DS one

[xavmax]

Hello !    
First , sorry for my bad english... but i'm french...
I've received an R4 Ds Chinese version... but i would like to transform it, in an english version... it's not possible now?   Thanks.

photograph of my linker  :  http://photoxav.free.fr/webmaster/100_1242.JPG

[kms]

open the card and solder the two joint on the left hand side near the middle.