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Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?

tbobmccoy said:
The real problem is with the plastic backing.... it's cracked so badly now that I'm sure the resell value has dropped for it. I'd really like aluminum iPhones back, please.... :(
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Seriously, what the hell are people doing to break these that bad? They're a phone and not something to be thrown around and bashed about. Granted occasionally people with drop things and so a crack/scratch here and there is expected. The only reason I have a case to protect the white backing is so it doesn't get skidded across my desk and scratched that way.

Be sensible people.

B
 
It might be inconvinenent, but I do agree with this decision. People always asked m if they needed to protect their iPhones' or iPods' screens. It does give the imagine, if you're selling protecting, that they need protecting

Plus, on the practical side, these little accessories take up a lot of space in the accessories section, when they could be offering something else. I personally like the anti-glare because I don't like the mirroring effect of the iPhones screen. I guess I'll just have to buy these elsewhere now.
 
ghostface147 said:
I don't see the big deal. I find the screen to be highly durable. I didn't even know they sold screen protectors at their stores since I never had a need for one.
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When I bought my first iPhone, on day ONE mind you, all the iPhones in the store had screen protectors on them. AND you couldn't tell they did. The salesperson suggested I get a pack of 3. All 3 worked flawlessly over 3 years and ever had a single bubble. When I removed the screen protector and took that phone out of it's case it'd been in for 3 years it was pristine.

So, with the oleophopic (?) screen now that doesn't get as oily, the screen protectors completely negate that, so I'm guessing that's why they won't sell them. That's why I didn't put one on my 3Gs. Yep. My 3Gs with the huge scratch on the screen. Don't know where it came from. Oh, and my 3Gs also has a huge crack in the plastic back. The first iPhone was such a higher quality product in some ways.
 
possible reasons...

1. The next iPhone will have a new scratch proof screen material (synthetic sapphire?).

2. They're tired of the returns by customers who open the package and botch the installation.

3. Apple is coming out with their own screen protectors. At $15 a pop, Power Support is literally printing money. A screen protector probably costs less than a nickel to manufacture and package. If that's the case, it's nearly a 30,000% profit margin. They'd be wise to want a piece of the action.
 
I think it's HEAT, too. Especially if they've removed things that stick to the deck of MacBooks.

I swear by InvisibleShield/BodyGuardz, even on the screen. I put my phone in my pocket with earbuds tied with one of those plastic coated wire twisties. There's a puncture in the screen cover, presumably from some wire sticking out of the twistie. I can't say for sure that would have scratched the screen, but that stuff is difficult to penetrate, so I count that as 'saved me once!'
 
The title here is a bit dramatic. "banning" :rolleyes:
Again filed under who gives a ****? It's not like screen protectors are gone forever.
 
miles01110 said:
Well that's annoying. Seems like an example of Apple throwing a fit when a company makes a product to correct a potentially fatal problem with their devices (fragile screens).
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the only thing fragile about the screens is that they shatter when you drop them (as is typical of glass). The films in question don't do jack for that.

The answer to the riddle is likely space and sales. They have the ipad coming out and that will bring several Apple created accessories and dozens more 3rd party accessories. They will want to have room to store stock and display these items to take advantage of the ipad being the hot new thing. This means cutting back on other stuff. So they are cutting things that don't sell. And these films etc might simply be part of that list.
Although that said, the original source report from ilounge made claims of 'several' companies and I can't recall any films being sold by Apple from anyone but Power Support and Agent 18 for months. So perhaps some of this is just bitterness by companies that want to jump in but Apple said no thanks.

There are also comments from several sites by alleged Apple employees that they support the removal because customers are always demanding they put the screens on which takes time from other customers plus if they don't do it perfectly the customer demands a free replacement, genius employees saying folks getting iphone replacements demand free films to replace the one on the damaged phone and so on. So they are thrilled to be done with that stuff.
 
What I'm talking about is the inadequacy of any argument that boils down to "why fix that problem NOW? They've been living with that problem for years!" The idea that one must continue making the same mistake over and over again because they made the mistake before is not a legitimate argument.

kernkraft said:
What the hell are you talking about,man?!

He raised a legitimate point and this is how you react?


God, some people have lost their sense of reality. They've had no problem with screen protectors until Apple had problems with it. I hope that one day, Apple will come out with a pile of steaming crap with an Apple logo on it, so I can legitimately demand these people to buy into their 1984 joke. - Wait! Apple just done it - it's called the iPad! :rolleyes:


By the way, I love my anti-glare screen protector that I purchased from the Apple Store in Southampton. Just like me, hundreds of thousands made the decision to put on an additional layer to protect the screen. Also, with that freaking poor battery, my iPhone's brightness is set to a fairly low level, so there is no chance that I could see the screen outside. So, I needed anti-glare. Let me tell you, Steve Jobs and the other poodles, I would put this screen even on my MacBook Pro, so I could use that outside too. What a joke this mega-giga-hyperglossy screen is!
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Sour Apples

Its apparent Apple has a problem with anyone making aftermarket products for there phone,ipods and computers that will be usefull and less costly. They are by far a very greedy company who needs to lighten up some. They are extremely expensive no matter what you buy 20 bucks for 1 piece of plastic so you dont scratch the screen and the sad part its junk. They should spend more time worrying about androids taking bites out of the apple.:D:apple:
 
miles01110 said:
Well that's annoying. Seems like an example of Apple throwing a fit when a company makes a product to correct a potentially fatal problem with their devices (fragile screens).
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I really hate to quote the second or third post in a thread like this, but seriously this really bothered me.

There is NO NEED whatsoever for screen protectors on the iPhone/iPod touch, they have some of the toughest screens on the market and if something is strong enough to damage the screen without a protector, then chances are it's going to damage the screen with the protector on as well.

I treat my iPod touch pretty badly and it's not scratched, i've taken keys to it to show people who don't believe me, and in most stores the salesperson does that to the demo model to prove it as well. It pisses me off when i see iPhones with the screen protector on, it looks like s***, it gets all scratchy, it peels off, and it makes it a little annoying sometimes to use the touch screen.

Every time i see one on an iPhone i wanna ask that person to borrow their phone just so i can tear the film off!!!!! Useless junk, thank you apple!
 
This ban of screen protectors for iPhones/iPod touches contains a lesson relating to iMacs. There is a large percentage (anywhere from around 20-40%) of people who would prefer a matte, non-reflective screen on their iMac. See http://macmatte.wordpress.com - whenever this complaint is made, some smarty pants says that those matte-lovers can apply a non-reflective film to their iMac screen. Now, if it's darn hard to apply a screen-protector to a small iPhone screen without bubbles, dust etc. imagine how difficult it is to apply a much larger sticky sheet to a large iMac. Please, get real. By the way, there's close to a 1,000 petitions at the macmatte site.
 
Guerre said:
The plastic screen reduces the probability that the impact of a hard object will cause a crack -- I've tested this to my satisfaction using my wife's old iPhone. Why was it available for such testing, I hear you ask? Because the screen cracked from hitting some object in her purse, and Apple wanted $300 to fix it. We did what most people do in this situation, we upgraded to a new phone and signed a new 2 year contract with scumbucket AT&T.

If cracking the glass is so unlikely, then why doesn't Apple stand behind their product and offer to fix broken glass for $25 (or something reasonable)?

On the other hand, if Apple is making assloads of money from replacing cracked iPhones and getting people to sign new contracts, and they also want to destroy the secondary market in used iPhones, then banning screen protectors from their stores makes a lot of sense.

Steve Jobs doesn't do anything by accident. This decision was made to increase their profits, nothing more.
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I don't think so. The points I made before are very valid, more so than yours I am sorry to say. These filter screen have not prevented at least 8 people I know from breaking their screens and if you want to argue that a little clear film will somehow keep glass from breaking I call BS! It may hold the broken pieces together once shattered, but nothing more.

I have had my iPhone 3G since it launched with no case, no film, nothing, just naked phone, and it is in perfect condition.
 
katewes said:
This ban of screen protectors for iPhones/iPod touches contains a lesson relating to iMacs. There is a large percentage (anywhere from around 20-40%) of people who would prefer a matte, non-reflective screen on their iMac. See http://macmatte.wordpress.com - whenever this complaint is made, some smarty pants says that those matte-lovers can apply a non-reflective film to their iMac screen. Now, if it's darn hard to apply a screen-protector to a small iPhone screen without bubbles, dust etc. imagine how difficult it is to apply a much larger sticky sheet to a large iMac. Please, get real. By the way, there's close to a 1,000 petitions at the macmatte site.
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Then why aren't 20-40% of MBP sales matte? What does a self-selecting survey prove?
 
Whatever. If apple doesn't want my cash, I don't care. I'll pay someone else for it. Sorry, I don't care how many people say the screen is durable and won't scratch, it's GLASS and will SCRATCH. Microscopic scratches that you can only see at this angle in this light or whatever are still scratches. Of course screen protectors won't save the screen From cracking from dropping/hitting it on something. It's ment to keep crap from rubbing up againt it and marring up the screen. I have an otter box defender that I popped the screen protector out of so I could use the zagg invisableshield. Works like a charm. I have no sensitivity issues what so ever. If the 60 bucks I spent on them protects my investment, then it was worth it, and at the end of the day, my 3Gs looks like it just came out of the box, which will help me sell it for a premium in a couple of months when I upgrade to the new generation.
 
Putting a screen protector on an iPhone is like putting plastic wrap on a couch.

scan0022.jpg
 
Rooftop voter said:
Sorry, I don't care how many people say the screen is durable and won't scratch, it's GLASS and will SCRATCH. Microscopic scratches that you can only see at this angle in this light or whatever are still scratches.
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Totally agree. All of the people saying, 'I've had my iPhone for 2 years with no film and the screen is scratch free' - I call bullsh*t. Take a high resolution picture at the right angle and I pretty much guarantee it'll be scratched. It sure as hell won't be perfect like the day you got it. Just because it doesn't have a huge, immediately noticeable gouge out of it doesn't mean it's not scratched.

I think the 3G/3GS iPhone in generally is pretty delicate for a phone. Even with cases on, the chrome bezel gets scratched to hell, the back cases can crack regularly. They're tougher than some smartphones, but certainly not bullet proof. I've seen countless people with smashed screens still forced to use them because they didn't take insurance and it's too much to get it fixed or replace. They need care!

The original 2G iPhone I had took some real abuse with no cover or screen protector and heavy use. The screen was scratched to hell by the time I upgraded, hence babying the 3GS with a PowerSupport case and screen protector.

Also, if you want to ensure no bubbles when you put a screen film on:
  • ensure your hands are washed and dried thoroughly
  • clean the phone screen with lint-free cloth
  • do it in as dust free environment as possible and clean the surface with the same lint free cloth too.
  • When you're applying the film, start from the top and do it bit by bit and use the cloth to smooth out the laid film as you put it down.
  • then push any air bubbles you do get to the sides.
  • You can also hairdryer the film when its on, pushing the bubbles to the sides. That can help.

It works for me every time. Actually getting it perfectly straight seems like the harder thing to do.
 
AlBDamned said:
Totally agree. All of the people saying, 'I've had my iPhone for 2 years with no film and the screen is scratch free' - I call bullsh*t. Take a high resolution picture at the right angle and I pretty much guarantee it'll be scratched. It sure as hell won't be perfect like the day you got it. Just because it doesn't have a huge, immediately noticeable gouge out of it doesn't mean it's not scratched.

I think the 3G/3GS iPhone in generally is pretty delicate for a phone. Even with cases on, the chrome bezel gets scratched to hell, the back cases can crack regularly. They're tougher than some smartphones, but certainly not bullet proof. I've seen countless people with smashed screens still forced to use them because they didn't take insurance and it's too much to get it fixed or replace. They need care!

The original 2G iPhone I had took some real abuse with no cover or screen protector and heavy use. The screen was scratched to hell by the time I upgraded, hence babying the 3GS with a PowerSupport case and screen protector.

Also, if you want to ensure no bubbles when you put a screen film on:
  • ensure your hands are washed and dried thoroughly
  • clean the phone screen with lint-free cloth
  • do it in as dust free environment as possible and clean the surface with the same lint free cloth too.
  • When you're applying the film, start from the top and do it bit by bit and use the cloth to smooth out the laid film as you put it down.
  • then push any air bubbles you do get to the sides.
  • You can also hairdryer the film when its on, pushing the bubbles to the sides. That can help.

It works for me every time. Actually getting it perfectly straight seems like the harder thing to do.
Click to expand...

A peice of flexible plastic works better than using the cloth to smooth out film coverings.
 
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