The screen on my Treo 600 broke out in streaks and patches of organge discolorations like a fungus. It continued to work other than the fact the display was obscured. Palm replaced it at no charge, but within three days the new unit has started to display the same problem.
Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas about its cause? A quick search of the net didn't turn up any hits. I'm concerned I might inadvertently be the cause. Generally, I keep the phone (no protective cover) in my front pants pocket but I am careful not to apply pressure to it.
Posted by mitch@osafoundation.org at October 18, 2004 01:54 PMSounds like you might have some funky fungus in your pants ;-) Might want to get that checked out.
That's really strange, I've never heard of that. I have a Sony Clie T665, that I always have in my pocket. Though it does have a very protective water-resistant cover to keep it safe.
Posted by: Robert Accettura at October 18, 2004 03:17 PM
I had a treo 600 screen go pin stripe(all various colors) on me, it was very bizarre
Posted by: chris at October 18, 2004 08:17 PM
Strange. I have a Treo 600 that I sometimes carry in my front pocket, and so far nothing has happened. Can this be the first occurence of the dreaded "Treo Screen Flu Virus"???
Posted by: alex hebra at October 19, 2004 04:54 AM
I have a Treo 600 and had the exact same orange, splotchy "fungus" -- good word -- appear. The folks at Sprint gave me a new phone without a question. They'd seen it before, several times, it appears.
Posted by: Rex Hammock at October 19, 2004 07:29 PM
Maybe the problem isn't screen pressure; maybe it's magnetism like a CRT needing deGaussing. Carrying magnetic components in your pocket??
Posted by: Greg at October 20, 2004 03:08 PM
Mitch, this is so funny. I have the same problem and it just appeared yesterday. A quick google tells me I am not alone. I thought it was a Halloween trick but I seem to have dreaded orange florescent fungus on the Treo. Will have to visit AT&T this week. Hope all is well.
Posted by: Siobhan at November 1, 2004 09:08 PM
I have experienced twice the same problem. The first time they change it to me but I am now looking for a different solution becouse it is very upsetting what is happening with an expensive piece of technology.
Posted by: Jorge at November 5, 2004 06:23 AM
I just got off the phone with Palm Support. They are sending me my FOURTH treo 600. The display problem described has occured each and every time.
My last treo worked fine for about 3 months...
Palm just advised that they extend the warranty each time they send out a new unit.... I have had my treo since april, 2004. If the pattern holds, I will go through 8 treo's per year.
Posted by: Jim Sharp at November 5, 2004 11:40 AM
Hi Mitch:
You are definitely not alone. I too have the growing orange "fungus." AT&T is sending out a replacement at no charge.
Do any techies know if this is a short in the screen, or some other problem?
Posted by: Dan Clements at November 8, 2004 04:37 PM
Hi Mitch:
This phenomenon (of orange squiggly streaks) manifested itself on my Treo 600 yesterday. Today, it looked as if it got worse -- 'fungus' is indeed a good word to describe it. I'm relieved that a Google search shows that this is not a unique phenomenon. I was beginning to think my Treo 600 was freaking out because I'd just brought home a new Treo 650 the day before. :)
Posted by: donlim ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.osafoundation.org/mitch/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 11, 2005 08:01 AM
I have had exactly the same problem with my PALM TREO 600 (240€ to repair the screen !!!).
10 years that I use on a daily basis a classical PALM and never encountered such problems.
PALM TREO is definitely a product to avoid !
Arnaud
FRANCE
Posted by: ASA at April 1, 2005 12:06 AM
I disagree that the Treo is a product to avoid. I love mine. It does so much and it frees me from having to carry two devices.
But today I just got my third Treo because the first two developed the orange blob. Verizon Wireless replaced it immediately each time, but it's still a pain in the neck. I have to copy all of my data and applications, re-establish connections with accounts, re-set preferences, etc.
Naturally, Verizon won't say how many times we have to go through this drill before they give up. Anyone know?
Obviously, it'd be really nice to get a free upgrade to a 650, but I imagine I'd need to endure quite a bit more with the 600 first.
Posted by: Ski Cat at November 21, 2005 04:48 PM
Orange Treo flu?
DO NOT return your Treo.
DO NOT pay several hundred dollars.
I have discovered the no-cost, low-tech, permanent cure for the common orange blob - so DO share this message with your fellow Treo-nauts.
What causes orange Treo screen-flu? Simply this: water molecules under one layer of the screen (which can happen if you used your Treo outdoors in wet weather). When too much water gets into one part of the screen, that part of the screen turns orange and also starts "infecting" nearby pixels. So ...
... to cure the "flu," you need to spread the water molecules around enough so that no location has a "critical mass" sufficient to trigger the orange-osity.
How do you do that? Simple - take your stylus (or a fingernail) and scrub from the center of the stain outward, up and down and beyond in all directions from the center of the stain to the center of the screen. (Don't damage the screen - use about the same pressure that you would use if scraping chewing-gum off that screen while trying to get it absolutely all off.)
With this procedure, you'll probably find it takes only about 5 or 10 minutes (15 minutes in really tough cases/big stains) for the orange disfiguration to become smaller and smaller, paler and paler ... and eventually totally disappear. (NOTE: Even after the orange blob disappears, when turning on the device you may *momentarily* see - for just a split-second right before the back-light turns on - a faint constellation of teeny-tiny very-pale-orange specks. However: just as soon as the device finishes turning on the screen will look entirely normal and "factory-new," with nary an intrusive citrus-hued pixel in sight. So regard those temporary micro-blob-ettes as little "surgical scars" from your successful operation to cure the common orange-itis.)
Posted by: KateGladstone at December 22, 2005 11:22 AM
Hi Kate!
A tiny orange streak appeared on my Treo 600 just yesterday. I've been using my unit for 9 months now. I tried your suggestion and "massaged" my screen for more than an hour (5-10 minutes won't do) and the thing won't disappear. The streak was just broken to bits and is now scattered in one particular area of the screen! =(
Posted by: GianJay at March 4, 2006 07:00 AM
hey i tried using my fingernail and stylus to get rid of the orange on my screen and though it took maybe a half hour it did work. i pressed relativly hard to do it but the screen held up and the orange is almost all gone. Thanks for the help
Posted by: dan at May 18, 2006 07:45 PM