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Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?

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've had two iPhones (2G and 3GS) and have never used a screen protector. My 2G didn't have a case, and was dropped enough times to cause the black plastic piece at the bottom to come off. However, there were no blemishes on the screen.

My 3GS has an Incipio Feather, an incredibly lightweight case that doesn't protect the screen or provide any sort of bumper if the phone is dropped on its face. Still, no blemishes.

In short, I wouldn't consider this a fatal problem. Especially since the screen damage I've seen has all resulted in scratches or cracks. Anything strong enough to scratch glass is surely strong enough to scratch through plastic. And anything strong enough to crack the glass isn't going to be affected in the slightest by a piece of overpriced cellophane tape across the front of the phone.

However, the laptop covers seem justified. The palm rest on both my sister and monther's MacBooks are dingy.
 
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).
Click to expand...

I agree it is annoying that Apple is 'banning' them, but I don't agree their screens are fragile at all. My original 1st gen iPhone is still going strong (with a new owner) with not a scratch on the screen and I never used a case or a screen protector and carried it in my pocket with keys/change/etc. I don't think a screen could be much more durable and still be a screen (and affordable)...

I am using a screen protector on my 3GS though...only because I was worried about the oleophobic coating. I haven't heard anything negative about it so far though so I'm considering taking it off. It was an expensive screen protector so it has held up really well, no bubbles or defects, can't even tell it's on there.

I'd say the back of the iPhone/ipod touch is way more prone to damage and in need of protecting than the screen...
 
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My 3g worked fine with its screen protector. Selling less accessories at point of sale is confusing but if there is a legit reason for Apple to not stock them (causing damage) then who am I to argue?
 
billystlyes said:
JC, Apple is the new evil empire for sure. I mean come on, you have a right to protect your investment. That glass screen is far from bullet proof.
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I've never really considered "not available at the Apple Store" to be a big downer. There are a gazillion other places, including online, that you'll still be able to buy them if you want them.
 
For a company trying to promote its green agenda, it's really hard to convince people of that if you're selling extruded plastic with an aerosol-applied adhesive, meant to be thrown away.
 
Do people actually buy screen protectors straight from Apple these days? Cheaper and better alternatives are often found online.

Filed under: who gives a ****?
 
wallinbl said:
My guess is that they are getting a lot of support calls regarding difficulty using the devices and finding that these are interfering with the multitouch working properly. My iPhone is less adept at picking up touches when a protector is on it.
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I tend to agree with your analysis although I've placed screen protectors on both my original and 3Gs iPhones as soon as I bought them. Perhaps I'll remove it and see if there is a difference. Also, I'm wondering if the adhesive used on the protectors is having a long term effect on the screen. I would love to hear an explanation from Apple. Yeah, right, good luck with that:).
 
Umm, it's:

*) Designed not to need screen protectors (has a durable protective film already).
*) Applying screen protectors makes the touchscreen less responsive since it's a capacitive screen:

Capacitive touch-screens use a layer of capacitive material to hold an electrical charge; touching the screen changes the amount of charge at a specific point of contact. In resistive screens, the pressure from your finger causes conductive and resistive layers of circuitry to touch each other, changing the circuits' resistance.
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*) Applying screen protectors will easily bubble or trap dust or hairs, and I bet they get a lot of customer returns.
*) Applying a screen protector to a product that already has a BUILTIN screen protector and anti-glare and anti-scratch coating is completely stupid.


My five thousand cents.
 
I tried a screen protector when I first got my iPhone. It was a big fat waste of money. The screens are very durable. Any impact that is going to crack the screen will do it regardless of whether or not the protector is there.

Also the glass screen does not scratch, where a plastic protector will.
 
This is pretty interesting. My iPhone 2G I gave on the gf when I got the iPhone 3G (I know, I'm cheap like that), it never had a screen protector, and still doesn't. She hammers that thing too - when she gets back in a coupel hours I'll ask to have a look at it to see what condition the screen is in, it's 3 years + old I think. I got that 2G the same day the iPhone released in the UK.

The 3G, I stuck a screen protector on it a month or two after I got it. Will take pictures of both screens tonight to compare..
 
unity said:
Right.... because you cant buy them elsewhere.
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These companies make a huge bulk of their sales from the Apple Store! Now, without warning, Apple decides to yank a product after selling it for 3 years. Apple does not care about their developers or partners.
 
Clearing shelf space for iPad

The only logic I can see here is a "broad sweep" to handle the upcoming release of the iPad so there is retail shelf space available for iPad accessories. The amount of iPad accessories pre announced by third parties is staggering. A single iPad protective case takes up six times the space of an iPod / iPhone accessory. It could be as simple at that.

Also, the retail store managers could have looked at overall profit of each accessory category. The protective screens may have needed a lot of customer support to keep it going and thus was the lowest overall margin product.

Also, while putting a screen protector on a 3.5" screen such as the iPhone is pretty easy, these screen protectors that are being made of the iPad's 10" screen requires some skill to get that entire surface bubble free.

This will only make third party distributors for screen protectors and cases more profitable.
 
Power Support non glare screen protector is the best thing I have bought for my iPhone. I guess I better stock up on them.
 
The screen protectors and cases have to be one of the biggest rip-offs in peripherals around. Most are around the $30 range for a decent one. If you bought the 32g iTouch that's a 10% premium, for a small piece of plastic. I bought mine at a discount store that was clearing out a certain brand. Originally it sold for $35, I got it for $6, which is what it's worth.
The screen protectors, from my experience are a pain. Some are difficult to put on correctly if you're not extremely careful. Others leave a gummy residue when removed. Others are just too thick and don't function well. I think Apple made a good move with this. God knows how many returns they got on these things.

Now, if they can only provide a decent cheap case. ;)
 
DoNoHarm said:
Unless you have sapphire or diamonds hanging out in your pocket, your screen will not scratch from keys or other metal objects.
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this is absolutely not true.

i have NEVER had my iphone in my key pocket. EVER. i have never had anything harder than a credit card in the same pocket.

and yet... i have a couple little scratches, and one that is a little annoying.

not the end of the world, certainly. usable, and most not noticed.

but that screen WILL scratch. (3G anyway)

"reduce the perception that such protectors are a necessity because the devices' screens are not sufficiently durable"

especially since this perception is true. at least SOMEWHAT. they DO scratch, and not always from diamonds. :D
 
I like the matte screen protector on my iPod Touch because it improves the feel/responsiveness of the touch screen. The matte surface has more consistent friction than the glass surface. It also reduces fingerprints. I don't care that it doesn't reduce glare and that it makes the screen look kind of fuzzy/grainy and slightly washed out. I had no protector for a while, and the screen has no scratches (the back is another story; glossy metal = bad). The only time I ever worried about it was at the beach (sand grains could scratch the screen), and I wouldn't ever want to drop it on the sidewalk if it's not in its case.

I got the screen protector for a few dollars from Dealextreme.com. The one I got is for a 3gs, but I cut it to fit and it's close enough.
 
They're awful anyhow. The phone was never meant to have all of these things on them so it's great that Apple stores are clearing their stores of the junk that belongs at a bazaar or some hippy market.
 
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Heat reduction?
 
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