Huh? Apple charges $14.95 for the 2-pack Power Support screen protectors. Where are you finding them shipped for $5.98 new online?!
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Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?
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What kind of person would think it was within his right as a consumer to return something just because he was unable to follow directions and screwed up the application of the film? Gen-Y?
First, I think the word "ban" is pretty silly in this context. More accurately, they will simply stop selling them in their stores.
Though I left the protective film on that came with my ipod touch (I don't think it was meant to stay on... but i left it on) I wonder if they sometimes can mess with the touch screens sensitivity and potentially make the product look bad/worse than it really is. This would especially make sense if they're doing the same for the touch/track pads on laptops...
Though I left the protective film on that came with my ipod touch (I don't think it was meant to stay on... but i left it on) I wonder if they sometimes can mess with the touch screens sensitivity and potentially make the product look bad/worse than it really is. This would especially make sense if they're doing the same for the touch/track pads on laptops...
Seems to me Apple did consumers that want these items a huge favor. Apple sold "screen savers" for what, $15 when you can get pretty much the same thing on eBay for $3 shipped. (Bought them many times. They come direct from Hong Kong -- probably the same factory that supply the "name brand" ones.)
This is such a non-story, yet some are up in arms like Apple "banning" people from owning an iPhone if they even look at a screen saver. Bizarro.
This is such a non-story, yet some are up in arms like Apple "banning" people from owning an iPhone if they even look at a screen saver. Bizarro.
Apple, as any other retailer, reserves to the right to pick and choose what they sell in their stores. So, this is a non-issue. It's not like they say you will void your warranty if you use a screen protector....which you can still get from a plethora of other places. Screen protectors often cause more trouble than they're worth. By removing them from the stores, Apple is helping to limit many people's unnecessary use of them. 
I use one but, even if you are careful, it's very easy to trip the water sensor making a huge headache when a device comes in for warranty repair and the water sensor is tripped.
200+ posts? Really? For THIS??
People, just buy them elsewhere or get em online. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter.
Apple seems to know why they're doing it, and given their track record I'm inclined to trust them. This is not an earth-shattering maneuver by them.
Move on, people.
People, just buy them elsewhere or get em online. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter.
Apple seems to know why they're doing it, and given their track record I'm inclined to trust them. This is not an earth-shattering maneuver by them.
Move on, people.
That's far too measured and reasonable an attitude to take for many.
Yes, you are correct that it was not meant to be left on. I'm surprised it hasn't fallen off with any amount of use.
As far as messing with the touchscreen sensitivity and appearance - never in my experience (2 iPhone 2Gs, 1 iPhone 3G) with screen protectors. I could never tell the difference in function of the phone with them.
With the "crystal" type protectors, I could never tell they were on when the screen was turned on. I tried the anti-glare type, which are effective at reducing the glare, but they do affect the appearance of the screen, kind of like polarizing to my eyes.
I did use the Zagg invisible shield on my original 2G iPhone for a while (until it died and had to be warranty swapped). That one has an orange peel texture to it, which doesn't seem to affect function of the touchscreen, but certainly feels different than the slick glass. Some people claim to prefer the tactile feedback of the orange peel to the glass. I had no opinion either way. Again, with the screen turned on, no visual difference to my eyes.
228 before my first post, and my thought was the same as yours.
Didn't stop either one of us from joining in, though.
Gotta love how the smallest things can set off the group sometimes.
Must everything be sensationalized? Since when does "retailer decides to stop stocking products" equal "BAN"? Screen protectors take up a lot of the limited product accessory display space and have a high rate of return. They're still available everywhere else.
Does the fact that Apple stores no longer carry certain brands of notebook cases mean those products were "banned" or that shelf space went to something else instead?
I guess my local supermarket banned Pellegrino because they no longer carry it. Am I supposed to boycott the store because of product carriage changes, or just go around the corner to Target?
Agreed.
I use a protector a month. Would hate to see the original glass after 3 months of no protector and it is not like they will replace the glass.
My daughter and friend both have iPhones; one with protector, one without. You can hardly read the screen through all the scratches on the one without after just 6 months. Oh, she was told that she would have to pay for the screen replacement ($199), since it was not normal "wear and tear".
The one with the screen protector looks like the day we bought it.
My daughter and friend both have iPhones; one with protector, one without. You can hardly read the screen through all the scratches on the one without after just 6 months. Oh, she was told that she would have to pay for the screen replacement ($199), since it was not normal "wear and tear".
The one with the screen protector looks like the day we bought it.
So true. Except on the Touch, where they didn't add the protection. Why was that, again?
I'm finding it hard to understand how people can muster much of a reaction to this article at all. Screen protectors are basically just a huge ripoff.
When I first got my 3GS I also bought a pack of XtremeMac screen protectors. No, not because of the name. I think I ended up paying $15 for 3 sheets of plastic that looked to be cut exactly to size for my new iPhone.
Well, for roughly $5 per sheet of plastic I wasn't really impressed, especially when I discovered that the screen on the phone is really difficult to scratch in the first place.
The screens were not entirely cut to size, a hole for the microphone you place to your ear was missing, which led to me having to cut a hole where one should have been so that I could hear calls. That led to a crude looking ear hole with lots of bubbling around the ear piece. At this stage, I'm quite unhappy about the price paid and what I received.
To make matters worse, the screen is just a little bit too big for the front surface of the phone. Perhaps a 2mm reduction in width would have meant the screen fit perfectly. Instead, the edges of the protective screen sit on the chrome rim. The exposed adhesive collects dust, dirt, and pocket lint now, making the phone look dirty.
So, for $15 I got 3 screens that aren't ready to fit as they require an earhole be cut. Not only that, but they don't fit well enough to avoid collecting dirt and dust. Good luck finding something to cut the screen so that it doesn't bubble around the ear piece.
I applaud Apple for doing this as I've come to the conclusion that these protectors are a waste of time and money. For the price, the covers could at least arrive pre-cut to fit the phone and sized appropriately. They don't though, and for the price, that is simply ridiculous. These companies play on peoples love of iPhones to dubiously convince them that buying this product is a good investment to protect their new phone.
Apple is not putting these companies out of business, they're just choosing to remove what could be seen as a corporate endorsement by carrying these products. I say good on Apple, because these products aren't really necessary.
The screens are long gone, my iPhone screen is not scratched, and I definitely won't fall for that marketing gimmick again.
When I first got my 3GS I also bought a pack of XtremeMac screen protectors. No, not because of the name. I think I ended up paying $15 for 3 sheets of plastic that looked to be cut exactly to size for my new iPhone.
Well, for roughly $5 per sheet of plastic I wasn't really impressed, especially when I discovered that the screen on the phone is really difficult to scratch in the first place.
The screens were not entirely cut to size, a hole for the microphone you place to your ear was missing, which led to me having to cut a hole where one should have been so that I could hear calls. That led to a crude looking ear hole with lots of bubbling around the ear piece. At this stage, I'm quite unhappy about the price paid and what I received.
To make matters worse, the screen is just a little bit too big for the front surface of the phone. Perhaps a 2mm reduction in width would have meant the screen fit perfectly. Instead, the edges of the protective screen sit on the chrome rim. The exposed adhesive collects dust, dirt, and pocket lint now, making the phone look dirty.
So, for $15 I got 3 screens that aren't ready to fit as they require an earhole be cut. Not only that, but they don't fit well enough to avoid collecting dirt and dust. Good luck finding something to cut the screen so that it doesn't bubble around the ear piece.
I applaud Apple for doing this as I've come to the conclusion that these protectors are a waste of time and money. For the price, the covers could at least arrive pre-cut to fit the phone and sized appropriately. They don't though, and for the price, that is simply ridiculous. These companies play on peoples love of iPhones to dubiously convince them that buying this product is a good investment to protect their new phone.
Apple is not putting these companies out of business, they're just choosing to remove what could be seen as a corporate endorsement by carrying these products. I say good on Apple, because these products aren't really necessary.
The screens are long gone, my iPhone screen is not scratched, and I definitely won't fall for that marketing gimmick again.
It's the cost of replacing the protectors!
This has nothing to do with the perception of display durability (although that is a side benefit for Apple). It has everything to do with the fact that customer's expect Apple to replace their screen protector free of charge when their iPhone is swapped out at the Genius Bar. At $15 per 2 phones (2 per pack) it gets really pricey from a lost revenue and physical inventory perspective.
This has nothing to do with the perception of display durability (although that is a side benefit for Apple). It has everything to do with the fact that customer's expect Apple to replace their screen protector free of charge when their iPhone is swapped out at the Genius Bar. At $15 per 2 phones (2 per pack) it gets really pricey from a lost revenue and physical inventory perspective.
The actual reason is....
because typing and navigating in a iPhones is bulky and slower than an actual hardware device like e Blackberry.
Many people are trading iPhones with Blackberrys because of that and Apple fisrt stept is to blame this sort of manofacturers.
Personally iPhones and iPod touch are good but I have been playing with iPod touchs and the displays sometimes does not get the touch, specially when moving things around and is really anoying.
because typing and navigating in a iPhones is bulky and slower than an actual hardware device like e Blackberry.
Many people are trading iPhones with Blackberrys because of that and Apple fisrt stept is to blame this sort of manofacturers.
Personally iPhones and iPod touch are good but I have been playing with iPod touchs and the displays sometimes does not get the touch, specially when moving things around and is really anoying.
I would say it's because of the return rate, in conjunction with people always asking the specialists who work there (which takes more time away from the sales floor) to put them on for them. Who in turn almost always will botch the installation and will have to return them and give them another one.
Agreed. There are 1000s of items that are not sold in the Apple store, that pertain to Apple and their products. Are they also considered "banned"?
Such a non story, about a non issue.
That is a beginning to an entirely separate topic. How much more sanitary are phones / iPods of users who keep cleaning their non covered devices, as compared to those with with a screen protector?
Those results have more to do with how differently they treat their expensive equipment.