Protecting the iPhone
I've long sought a solution to protect my iPhone 3G from scratches, dings, and the like. Bulky (or any, from experience) cases just aren't my thing. The iPhone is a sexy device and I hate covering it up with any sort of case. Silicone cases definitely look the best, but aren't for pocketers. They make it a real pain to take out of the pocket without taking out the pocket itself, too.
Luckily I found Zagg and their invisibleSHIELDs. They're a great company that makes an awesome product. It's a clear screen and back protector combo (also sold separately) that's made from the same stuff used to coat helicopter rotor blades to prevent rocks and stuff from messing them up. It's super strong, super clear, and super hard to install. That last part doesn't sound so hot, but they're still totally worth it.
The story starts about a month ago when I first ordered my screen protector from them. I got it in the mail a couple of weeks later and decided to undertake the daunting installation instructions on my own. Unfortunately I didn't spray enough of the finger spray stuff on my fingers so I instantly left fingerprints on the underside of the protector, which must be touched for proper installation (hence the spray meant to prevent fingerprints). Luckily Zagg offers a lifetime guarantee so I requested that and got a new one in the mail (for free) a week or so later.
The second installation went much better. I got everything on perfectly, even after I had to lift it up again to remove a particle that got under it and then later a piece of hair. Everything went so well, until I really started looking at the screen. I saw what looked like water damage from what I thought was excessive use of the finger spray. Yeah, I used a ton to prevent a re-run of the last attempt that resulted in it looking like a penitentiary booking form. I tore the protector off in frustration, just to find out it was an imperfection with the iPhone wallpaper itself. Ouch.
Zagg was totally cool about asking for another replacement, but I had to fork out another $3.95 to get this one shipped out. Apparently that's policy and I just lucked out on getting the first replacement for free. Oh well. Anyway, I tried that one and just couldn't stop the hair and other particles from getting underneath it and wound up ruining that, too. Yeah... three of them so far. I had given up.
I sent a pretty desperate and probably pathetic email to Zagg's support, explaining my incompetence and begging for a refund so I could be done with the misery. I was told that it had already been a month since I placed my order and that I couldn't get a refund. Through a friend at work, I found that there's actual retail locations owned by them that do installations for you and took up Zagg on their offer for a fourth replacement protector.
When the fourth protector arrived in the mail, I didn't open it. I waited until the weekend and headed down to the Irvine Spectrum to the Zagg store (can't recall the actual name) to get them to install the stupid thing for me. With the installation of that, plus the cost of the back protector (which I bought in-store) and the installation of the backing, it came to just $33 (it's just $55 if you purchase the front, back, and installation of both in-store). Cool. The process took about an hour and then I left, promising not to even look at the thing while the protectors "set" to prevent peeling, bubbles and all of that horrible stuff. I truly barely touched the device for almost three days. I wanted it to be perfect.
When I got home I noticed an imperfection with the back installation near the camera hole. A little piece had formed a tee-pee sort of thing, kind of like a fold. Zagg guarantees their installations, so I waited the week that the receipt said I should wait for imperfections to sort themselves out and went back the next weekend. They happily offered to reinstall the back protector and two hours later, I was without a device for 3 more days as I let everything settle up. Here I am a week later, now with two perfect installations... a front and a back clear protection suite for my iPhone 3G. I would highly recommend checking these things out if you've got an iPhone that you want to be protected but sexy.
Luckily I found Zagg and their invisibleSHIELDs. They're a great company that makes an awesome product. It's a clear screen and back protector combo (also sold separately) that's made from the same stuff used to coat helicopter rotor blades to prevent rocks and stuff from messing them up. It's super strong, super clear, and super hard to install. That last part doesn't sound so hot, but they're still totally worth it.
The story starts about a month ago when I first ordered my screen protector from them. I got it in the mail a couple of weeks later and decided to undertake the daunting installation instructions on my own. Unfortunately I didn't spray enough of the finger spray stuff on my fingers so I instantly left fingerprints on the underside of the protector, which must be touched for proper installation (hence the spray meant to prevent fingerprints). Luckily Zagg offers a lifetime guarantee so I requested that and got a new one in the mail (for free) a week or so later.
The second installation went much better. I got everything on perfectly, even after I had to lift it up again to remove a particle that got under it and then later a piece of hair. Everything went so well, until I really started looking at the screen. I saw what looked like water damage from what I thought was excessive use of the finger spray. Yeah, I used a ton to prevent a re-run of the last attempt that resulted in it looking like a penitentiary booking form. I tore the protector off in frustration, just to find out it was an imperfection with the iPhone wallpaper itself. Ouch.
Zagg was totally cool about asking for another replacement, but I had to fork out another $3.95 to get this one shipped out. Apparently that's policy and I just lucked out on getting the first replacement for free. Oh well. Anyway, I tried that one and just couldn't stop the hair and other particles from getting underneath it and wound up ruining that, too. Yeah... three of them so far. I had given up.
I sent a pretty desperate and probably pathetic email to Zagg's support, explaining my incompetence and begging for a refund so I could be done with the misery. I was told that it had already been a month since I placed my order and that I couldn't get a refund. Through a friend at work, I found that there's actual retail locations owned by them that do installations for you and took up Zagg on their offer for a fourth replacement protector.
When the fourth protector arrived in the mail, I didn't open it. I waited until the weekend and headed down to the Irvine Spectrum to the Zagg store (can't recall the actual name) to get them to install the stupid thing for me. With the installation of that, plus the cost of the back protector (which I bought in-store) and the installation of the backing, it came to just $33 (it's just $55 if you purchase the front, back, and installation of both in-store). Cool. The process took about an hour and then I left, promising not to even look at the thing while the protectors "set" to prevent peeling, bubbles and all of that horrible stuff. I truly barely touched the device for almost three days. I wanted it to be perfect.
When I got home I noticed an imperfection with the back installation near the camera hole. A little piece had formed a tee-pee sort of thing, kind of like a fold. Zagg guarantees their installations, so I waited the week that the receipt said I should wait for imperfections to sort themselves out and went back the next weekend. They happily offered to reinstall the back protector and two hours later, I was without a device for 3 more days as I let everything settle up. Here I am a week later, now with two perfect installations... a front and a back clear protection suite for my iPhone 3G. I would highly recommend checking these things out if you've got an iPhone that you want to be protected but sexy.
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