Exactly, I've been using handheld devices from Palm (never again), HP and now Apple for over 10 years and I've never had a screen damaged. You're better off buying a good protective case.
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Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?
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Risk is one thing. However, if a company produces anything for a product and has had a liaison working with Apple, for Apple to change dimensions once production has begun is just not right.
The screen protector that came with my myTouch functions well to prevent the screen from being finely polished/scratched every time I wipe it on my shirt to clear off whatever may have transferred to it from myself. I even bought an assortment of scratch-proof dust-repelling anti-reflective films for our gps devices - ProLynks Screenguarder. Applying these with the longest side first will help to align them, and bubbles are not a problem if the screen to be protected is clean first. Most bubbles are caused by a speck of dust getting trapped.
When I first bought the phone, I bought a silicone case to protect it from bumps. That is off now because it makes the phone too resistant to slipping into my pocket. The case cost under $3 with the shipping included.
This is very bizarre. I'm not sure "banned" is the right word, more "we choose not to sell". Myself? I tried one, hated it, and removed it. My son loves his. It's all personal preference. If Apple is worried about shelf space, that's one thing, if it's worried about perception - they can fix that with a lifetime scratch protection warranty for the same price of the protector.
If they are so indestructible, that would stand to make a mint.
If they are so indestructible, that would stand to make a mint.
Apple = Retarded
In all likely-hood, this is so Apple will be able to charge out-of-warranty phones for replacement costs and also to try to drive up the sale of their extended warranty. (Which IMO, since Apple is REQUIRING a 2 year AT&T contract, their default manufacturer warranty should cover the entirety of those two years.)
Next they'll ban cases.
I've gone through two screen protectors (due to my keys scratching them).
And just like the 'OSX never has viruses' myth, no matter HOW much Apple wishes you to believe it, Hardness of steel > Hardness of glass (regardless of quality or type of glass). Had I not had a protector on I'd have to put up with a refurbished iPhone (with who knows what other minor refurb defects).
I mean, ANY protection is better than none. I can't speak for everyone but I'd rather have a protector dented/ruined in one area than have a shattered screen.
No thanks Apple. I'll keep my STILL like-new phone with my case and screen-protector.
And Like MANY other people, I HATE the high-gloss smudge-magnet that is the iPhone's naked-screen.
With the matte-finish screen protectors I get neither glare nor smudges AND I get an added layer of protection.
**** you Apple! I'll gladly give the mark-up profit from these protectors to another retailer.
In all likely-hood, this is so Apple will be able to charge out-of-warranty phones for replacement costs and also to try to drive up the sale of their extended warranty. (Which IMO, since Apple is REQUIRING a 2 year AT&T contract, their default manufacturer warranty should cover the entirety of those two years.)
Next they'll ban cases.
I've gone through two screen protectors (due to my keys scratching them).
And just like the 'OSX never has viruses' myth, no matter HOW much Apple wishes you to believe it, Hardness of steel > Hardness of glass (regardless of quality or type of glass). Had I not had a protector on I'd have to put up with a refurbished iPhone (with who knows what other minor refurb defects).
I mean, ANY protection is better than none. I can't speak for everyone but I'd rather have a protector dented/ruined in one area than have a shattered screen.
No thanks Apple. I'll keep my STILL like-new phone with my case and screen-protector.
And Like MANY other people, I HATE the high-gloss smudge-magnet that is the iPhone's naked-screen.
With the matte-finish screen protectors I get neither glare nor smudges AND I get an added layer of protection.
**** you Apple! I'll gladly give the mark-up profit from these protectors to another retailer.
Far from being a bleeding-heart liberal, I felt compelled to point-out
how quickly Apple can change an entrepreneur's livelihood overnight,
and perhaps provide a warning for those thinking of going that route
or those who might be getting too comfy by making some change selling apps.
Apple's secretive/paranoid nature only compounds accessory developer's problems.
Way to attract more devs, Apple!
Sorry GM let you go, Bruiser.
I hear KIA is hiring down south.
Keep laughing at those idiots who try to do it for themselves, instead of being a company drone.
Marc
Not really relevant to what he was trying to say. GM deserved to die starting 15 years ago. Apples policies are not draconian as some would try to spin it. I'm very glad the App store and critical iphone APIs are controlled so well by Apple. The retail store should be able to carry any product or category of products it want's.
Most of you guys here are so quick to think that Apple is doing this to protect their image. Did it ever occur to any of you that maybe the Apple stores are getting too many returns on those film covers? Half the time people can't get them on well without bubbling up and they just get frustrated and end up returning the film. It's not an Apple product so why should they tolerate dealing with returns like that. I have talked to a few people that use those screen protectors and every one of them were frustrated because they had bubbles and they had exchanged them more than once.
I guess I'll have to order my screen protectors online before hand. I never have any problems with bubbles on the screen or dust because I always apply the screen protector RIGHT AFTER purchasing and removing the protective film. My last two iPhones have only had their bare screens showing for a few seconds while I was aligning the film. Then after six months I do the same thing swapping out the protector for the second one in the package.
For me its not so much about protection as it is about having the anti-glare coating. I use Power Support's anti-glare protectors on my iPhone. I think they look classy and cut down on finger smudges, making the screen more readable without having to rub it on my pants all the time like I did when I got my first iPhone in June '07.
If you're putting a screen protector on for the first time and your iPhone isn't brand new, I suggest buying a microfiber cloth. They work wonders for preparing the screen surface. In addition, Power Support's kits usually come with a sticky back sort of plastic that you first put down on your iPhone, then peel back to remove any remaining particles. Then you can put down the film. I did this with my first gen iPhone after 6 months of having a glossy screen and didn't have any problems.
So I'm assuming there won't be any iPad screen protectors available for launch day? Guess I'll have to do some online searching...I was expecting to just pick it up in-store along with some other accessories.
For me its not so much about protection as it is about having the anti-glare coating. I use Power Support's anti-glare protectors on my iPhone. I think they look classy and cut down on finger smudges, making the screen more readable without having to rub it on my pants all the time like I did when I got my first iPhone in June '07.
If you're putting a screen protector on for the first time and your iPhone isn't brand new, I suggest buying a microfiber cloth. They work wonders for preparing the screen surface. In addition, Power Support's kits usually come with a sticky back sort of plastic that you first put down on your iPhone, then peel back to remove any remaining particles. Then you can put down the film. I did this with my first gen iPhone after 6 months of having a glossy screen and didn't have any problems.
So I'm assuming there won't be any iPad screen protectors available for launch day? Guess I'll have to do some online searching...I was expecting to just pick it up in-store along with some other accessories.
aniiti-glare
I use an anti-glare film, it shows less glare, but also less fingerprints and oils.
I use an anti-glare film, it shows less glare, but also less fingerprints and oils.
"Banned"! Holy hyperbole Batman. It's the end of the world 
They're only discontinuing a product. Happens all the time. It's not like everyone has to check their 'protected' iphones at the store door. Geeez.
They're only discontinuing a product. Happens all the time. It's not like everyone has to check their 'protected' iphones at the store door. Geeez.
Still available
The screen protectors are still available on the Apple online store as of 3:30 March 17.
The screen protectors are still available on the Apple online store as of 3:30 March 17.
While I can understand the frustration behind this move, I initially purchased a screen protector when I purchase the original iPhone, and later when I switched to AT&T from Verizon to purchase my 3G. Both times, I purchased the screen protector. My original iPhone had the screen protector on from the day I bought until I sold it. However with my 3G, after about 3-4 months, I took off the screen protector because it was accumulating dust (which, for me, was rather annoying). Ever since, I have not had a screen protector on my 3G. I take good care of my phone, and I also realized that unless I drop the phone, the screen is not going to scratch. With that said, it still would have been nice for Apple to come out and state why they made the decision to remove this product from their retail stores rather than have us all speculate as to the reason behind the move.
He had to laugh?
Followed by a 'There, there, let me tell you how it is' explanation.
Ummm, yeah...the guy was a condescending pr|ck/troll?
Back on point -
Dont even get me started on the whole Google Voice debacle.
Bring on the multi-tasking already.
Bottom line - the warm and fuzzy is becoming cold and abrasive.
When one develops a plan, one would prefer to know the rules, too.
Seriously considering a droid-based phone next, but I digress.
Marc
Exactly. I mean, it's not like the markup on these things in the Apple Store wasn't ridonkulous, anyway. I always buy my accessories online and keep the extra 30-40% in my pocket where it belongs.
The fact you can "just buy them online" is not the point at all. It was a *ick move by Apple. What the hell are they doing...
Just my $0.02's worth:
1st reaction: first the app store, now the real store, what's next, OS X apps?
2nd reaction: BFD! Who cares, in the long run? Apple's overpriced on everything in the store anyways. Buy these on Amazon and save 30% off the retail price, plus don't pay sales tax if you're in California (another 10% saved).
As for the screens on iPhones. I don't use screen protectors on my 3G, it just doesn't need one with that oleophobic screen.
I did use one on my first iPhone 2G, which inexplicably received a nasty little scratch in the top third of the screen despite having never been dropped, never place in my pocket with anything else besides it polishing cloth. Very odd.
I also used them on my second 2g, and on my 3G, because they get horribly streaked with fingerprints without them. I don't use them for "protection" but just so I don't have to keep wiping them.
For the Nexus One detractors, the streaking and fingerprints is a big issue on that one too. I haven't put a protector on it yet, but I purchased one and will eventually. That oleophobic coating on the iPhone 3G is something I wish Google had "borrowed" from Apple for the N1! I wonder if it's patentable, and more importantly, any way to apply it aftermarket?
1st reaction: first the app store, now the real store, what's next, OS X apps?
2nd reaction: BFD! Who cares, in the long run? Apple's overpriced on everything in the store anyways. Buy these on Amazon and save 30% off the retail price, plus don't pay sales tax if you're in California (another 10% saved).
As for the screens on iPhones. I don't use screen protectors on my 3G
I did use one on my first iPhone 2G, which inexplicably received a nasty little scratch in the top third of the screen despite having never been dropped, never place in my pocket with anything else besides it polishing cloth. Very odd.
I also used them on my second 2g, and on my 3G, because they get horribly streaked with fingerprints without them. I don't use them for "protection" but just so I don't have to keep wiping them.
For the Nexus One detractors, the streaking and fingerprints is a big issue on that one too. I haven't put a protector on it yet, but I purchased one and will eventually. That oleophobic coating on the iPhone 3G