Filed under: Accessories, iPhone
Invisible Shield now available for the iPhone
Since picking up my iPhone a week ago (has it been a week already?), I've lived in fear of that first scratch. How long will I be able to put it off? I carry my iPhone around like a newborn.That's silly, of course. The iPhone is a tool and should be treated as such. To ease my mind, I ordered an Invisible Shield. We've discussed Invisible Shield a number of times. Basically, it's a super-strong film that you apply directly to your precious, keeping it from harm. I saw a demo at MacWorld a few years ago, and was very impressed.
Once it arrives, I'll let you know how it performs. Invisible Shield for iPhone comes with a lifetime guarantee, costs $24.95US and is shipping now.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Johnny Thrash said 4:04PM on 7-06-2007
Apple directly to your precious lol... that is so true :P
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Johnny Thrash said 4:04PM on 7-06-2007
Apply** >.
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Big Ben said 4:16PM on 7-06-2007
I've used a similar (the same?) product from BestSkinsEver.com on my vid iPod. They've got an iPhone skin out now, too.
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awaspaas said 4:26PM on 7-06-2007
Invisible shield is a nice product - it's actually just custom-cut 3M Scotchgard paint protection film that is sold to protect the hood, bumper, and doors of cars. I have it on my phone and my iPod nano. There are small areas of my phone it doesn't cover, and they have been worn to bare metal, but the covered areas are like new. The iPod which is covered completely is spotless.
But hasn't the iPhone's screen been shown to be essentially scratchproof? Is this really necessary, for the screen anyway? The tests did show the outer metal ring getting banged up, so protection for the non-screen areas would probably be a good idea.
Besides, the invisible shields tend to have much more friction to your finger than the bare product itself, so I would think this would make gesturing more difficult. I am curious to see how this would end up feeling.
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Henry said 4:29PM on 7-06-2007
Is this really even necessary? If you were to watch this video, you'd see that even the edge of a key being scratched against the iPhone's screen leaves no mark:
http://revision3.com/systm/cracked
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wink said 10:33PM on 8-01-2007
well, I actually got one for my iphone. Wasn't really sure if it was necessary...got it anyways. Well, so far so good...gesturing isn't as smooth as before but I got used to it within hours.
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tyce said 4:39PM on 7-06-2007
I was in Irvine last week and had mine professionally wrapped, looks and works great! It is really putting my mind to ease!
The cart was right out side of the apple store at the spectrum in Irvine. The nicest part about it, is that finger prints and smudges don't show up at all on the surface like they do on the bare glass.
I wasn't really worried about the front as much as I was worried about getting the aluminum all scratched up on the back, like I had seen some of the review models had been.
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Alex said 4:56PM on 7-06-2007
To the people who already have the invisible shield on their iphone. I'm sure many here would be forever greateful if you could post some pics (especially of the sides and corners of the device).
And also share some more feedback:
--Does the screen still look the same? I've read that there is a slight yellowish tint after using the film???
--Does the phone feel more slippery now?
--I know you it doesnt impede using the phone, but is it at all weird to slide the finger on this now?
Thanks in advance.
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Rubbinz said 5:00PM on 7-06-2007
I wouldn't want this on my iPhone. I have it on my iPod and it has a grippy/tacky feel to it. It definitely would make navigation with your finger more difficult.
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Kai Cherry said 5:04PM on 7-06-2007
Heheh
My phone is *actually named* "The Precious"...
That's fantastic :)
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JD said 5:05PM on 7-06-2007
I have it on my ipod, and actually it's less slippery than the plastic and metal were. It's now starting to peel a bit at the edges, but looks fine after two years -- only one slight ding that I'm too lazy to replace it for. The wheel, though, does seem a bit less responsive (it always overshoots by one whatever I'm going for), so I'd be wary of it on the iPhone before others have tested it out.
As for the strength of the iPhone screen itself, remember that it's glass, so while it's a bit harder than a knife blade or key, it's less hard than quartz crystals, the main ingredient in sand. So there's plenty of stuff out there that can still scratch it.
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steven W Riggins said 6:34PM on 7-06-2007
http://www.geeksrus.com/2007/07/04/video-of-invisible-shield-on-my-iphone/
I made a silly little video of mine in use
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ty|er. said 5:23PM on 7-06-2007
I don't have any pics right now to show you, but can take some tonight and post them.
The screen *for the most part* looks the same. There is now yellowish tint, but from an angle, you can tell there is a piece of plastic down. From any other angle or distance, it is hard to tell there is anything there. Most of my co-workers didn't even notice it today until I pointed it out.
The phone feels less slippery, as it has a tackier (for lack of a better word) grip to it, ie: plastic is not as smooth as glass.
There is a noticeable difference in the feel of sliding your finger across it. Going back to my last point, it's plastic instead of glass. This doesn't hinder the operation, just gives it a slightly different feel.
I used my phone for the first couple days with out and it was a hard decision for me to make to wrap the whole thing. I was dead-set on wrapping the back, but was weary about doing the front. I took the plunge however and am glad I did. The piece of mind it provides is well worth the change in feel. Plus, I figure if it gets to the point I miss the glass feel, Ill just pull off the front which is easy and leaves no residue behind.
If you have any other questions about it, just ask I'll try to answer them as I see them.
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ty|er. said 5:24PM on 7-06-2007
That should have read 'NO' yellowish tint, not 'now'... sorry.
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Adam said 5:31PM on 7-06-2007
So I just have to share this:
I was in the local Apple store yesterday getting my MacBook looked at (the power adapter was acting funny...got it replaced) when I was at the Genius bar a guy has an appointment for his iPhone. The tech asked what was up...he slides the iPhone across the table (his wife also had hers out...yes a two iPhone family). I look at the phone and the screen is shattered. He tells the tech that he dropped something on it. After about a half our they GIVE HIM A NEW ONE. He dropped something on it and they gave him a new one. He walked off without even thanking them. (The tech was pretty pissed off after he left because of that--can't say I blame her). I wonder if they're doing that to avoid the bad press of having screens break or something. Blew my freaking mind.
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Blair said 5:37PM on 7-06-2007
How lovely. They gave a brand new iPhone to a guy who broke it himself... but I can't get my incredibly unevenly backlit MBP replaced.
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Billy K said 5:38PM on 7-06-2007
I put a plastic shield on the day after buying my iPhone (I forget the brand - the one carried in the brick-and-mortar Apple Store with the real earty packaging). I learned my lesson after getting a scratch on one of my iPods two days after purchase.
The feel is different (slightly), but the peace of mind is priceless. No tint or hit in brightness. I can't imagine doing without it.
Just be really careful when applying. I've done many of these on iPods and it's still just plain difficult. And when it takes several attempts (as it did with iPhone), you'll end up with dust or debris under it, which sucks.
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Billy K said 5:42PM on 7-06-2007
@14 -
I wonder how Apple is going to handle broken phones in the long-term. People really just treat their phones like crap. I was hanging out with a gal last night and she dropped her RAZR to the concrete floor. The battery door flew off. She was like, "LOL. I do that all the time. This is my boyfriend's phone, cause I finally broke mine.)
Since I got my old cel phone and frist iPod in '03, Ive dropped the phone once and my various iPods (5 total) like four times. I don't understand this nonchalance.
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jeff said 5:57PM on 7-06-2007
Please, I'm begging you... enough iphone posts already. Else just advise when you will be over it so I can go away and come back at that time.
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cameron said 7:27PM on 7-06-2007
here's some pics:
no yellow. amazing protection. almost invisible.
http://camerongibbs.com/images/iphone1.jpg
http://camerongibbs.com/images/iphone2.jpg
http://camerongibbs.com/images/iphone3.jpg
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