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Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?

I love my film protector on my touch... makes clearing the finger prints easier.. I don't think I would bother re-attaching the same one if I needed a new touch, I would just buy another one as they are good products and relatively cheap.
I'll just buy them off line...prob cheaper too :p
 
Eminemdrdre00 said:
Apple's making it harder and harder for me to like them as a company. They make really stupid decisions.

Why ban screen protectors now...they've been in Apple stores for almost 3 years!
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Why ban slavery now ...
Why get a prostate exam now ...
Why invent the internet now ...
 
It's All About Retail Shelf Space, Folks

As CFreymarc said on page two, this move by Apple to remove "screen protectors" from their own stores is all about making more shelf space available in the Apple Stores for iPad accessories. It's not a "ban" on screen protectors in general!

Many of you seem to think this is some sort of evil consipracy or something, but why jump to such a unfounded conclusion? These kinds of protectors have been around for several years in the Apple Stores, but now with the new devices coming and the need for space even more pronounced, it's time to lose the weakest of the products in the stores. NBD. Apple knows you can get this stuff online anyway and that it's still easy to find at AT&T, BestBuy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and so on.

I also thought iTatoo's comment quite funny and so true! To wit:

"After thinking about it for a while, reminds me a bit of my grand mother's house and the plastic covers on the furniture ... kept it looking great so that when it was time to replace it and give it away it was really nice for the next owner (or junk yard depending on the case) and was never fully enjoyed while she owned it"

I remember those crazy plastic protectors too!
 
Actually I happen to know the reason for this.


It's because a vast majority of the people who buy these from Apple then don't understand that the fidelity of multi-touch sensors is greatly reduced by about 50%. Even though most people who use these don't' notice them, or will attribute it to the screen protector, there's a 30% who think it's something wrong with the iPhone.

There's no need to ever use a screen cover like that, and if your of the 10% who works in a really harsh environment you can order it online. Apple doesn't need it pushed as if they are required as they aren't. They won't keep your screen from cracking ever.
 
i know why

i used to work at an apple store. we replaced MANY screen protectors because people could not put them on correctly (and Apple bit the cost every time). I think that reason along with the fact that all the new screens in Apple's touch devices coming along are oleophobic and therefore the screen protectors create a less touch satisfaction experience. The oleophobic screens feel great, and the protectors don't. Also, the protectors don't really protect anything anyways. The iphone screens are very resistent to scratches, and if you drop the phone on a rock or something, a screen protector won't prevent it from cracking. I agree with this decision by Apple.
 
talkingfuture said:
This has to be one of Apple's stranger moves!
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Fine by me!

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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What is your problem people? You can saw keys across the iPhones glass screen and it won't scratch. Don't believe me, head to YouTube or try it yourself! The only real danger is breaking, but these products are pointless for that!

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 hate these filter screens. They are completely pointless! The glass screens don't scratch anyway, they offer no protection against breaking or dropping, they interfere with the multi-touch experience and cause friction with swiping and gestures, they ruin the oleophobic coating. I say AMEN Apple! Thanks for doing us a favor. People who want these will still be able to naively fork over $30-$50 at a kiosk in the mall or other places to get them.
 
DoNoHarm said:
these protectors are completely unnescessairy. I applaud Apple for this decision. Unless you have sapphire or diamonds hanging out in your pocket, your screen will not scratch from keys or other metal objects. If there is an impact of sufficient force to crack glass to begin with, there's not that much that a thin screen protector will do - the force of impact will likely be transferred to the glass anyway.
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The gloss, just like on the iMacs, the MacBook Pros and the new Cinema Display is annoying. I want a matte phone. Until that day happens (never) I'll use an anti-glare screen protector.

Gloss = Garbage.
 
I don't see the need for these. i do have one deep scratch in my screen, but that was because I was an idiot and put a carbide drill bit into the same pocket as my iPod touch, and went for a drive. That is the only damage, and frankly, it was my fault not a design issue.

Otherwhise it has been dropped face down (oops) on concrete and had various other coins and metal items in the same pocket. I try to avoid this, but sometimes crap happens.

Maybe some production runs of these glass screens are more durable than others? Glass is unique to say the least!!
 
trip1ex said:
Why is not selling a product in your store any longer considered a "ban?"
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Bravo. This post wins the thread.

Seriously. Apple has decided that these things aren't worth their valuable shelf space.

I totally agree with that. There's no reason they need to waste store space on them.
 
danielwsmithee said:
Not that it means anything but I have had the complete opposite experience. I regularly put my phone in my pocket, occasionally it gets placed in the same pocket as my keys & coins, and yet I don't have a single scratch on the screen. My last phone with a plastic screen was scratched up so bad you could barely use it by the time I got rid of it.
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Yep. In addition, try putting a phone in your pocket with you keys and see how long that screen protector lasts. For that matter, put the phone in your pocket by itself and see how long the screen protector lasts. Unless you can afford to replace that screen protector 10 times a day, you are probably better off without it.

I'm sure those people using screen protectors are extra careful with their phones, because they don't want to damage the protector itself. They may even think that damage to the protector saved the phone from damage. That of course would be false because the protector is made from plastic (not hard scratch resistant glass).
 
mistergsf said:
Why don't you speak for yourself? I always had a Power Support screen protector on my first gen iPhone and when I got the 3GS, I decided that I would forego one this time around. Well, after 2 months of ownership, I had 2 scratches that were toward the middle of my screen. It's not generally noticeable but against a white background, it's very annoying. Having a screen protector just adds another layer of protection for those who are a little more "rough" with their phone. What the hell is wrong with that? If Apple insists they are unnecessary, they should stand behind their claims and replace any phone that gets a scratch, nick, or chip, etc. with no questions asked. How 'bout that?
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Had a Power Support screen on the first gen, and on my second time around (dropped first gen iPhone, got a replacement), didn't use one -- it got scratched a couple times.

For my iPhone 3GS, no screen cover (oleophobic is much nicer than the crystal films). So far 0 scratches -- still looks like new every time I rub it against my shirt.
 
goodcow said:
The gloss, just like on the iMacs, the MacBook Pros and the new Cinema Display is annoying. I want a matte phone. Until that day happens (never) I'll use an anti-glare screen protector.

Gloss = Garbage.
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You are confused.

Gloss and glass are 2 different things.

Now, it's ok to hate them both if you want to. I'm not saying you have to like them.

But the fact that you're calling 'glass' 'gloss' means you're not being very clear. I'm also unaware of a matte plastic LCD screen that could survive in people's pockets for very long. Have you ever touched a smart phone that has a matte screen on it? I'm not sure it's possible.
 
4nNtt said:
Yep. In addition, try putting a phone in your pocket with you keys and see how long that screen protector lasts. For that matter, put the phone in your pocket by itself and see how long the screen protector lasts. Unless you can afford to replace that screen protector 10 times a day, you are probably better off without it.

I'm sure those people using screen protectors are extra careful with their phones, because they don't want to damage the protector itself. They may even think that damage to the protector saved the phone from damage. That of course would be false because the protector is made from plastic (not hard scratch resistant glass).
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Not the case. I was much less careful when my old iPhone had the Power Support Crystal film, and it literally had 0 scratches. Plastic can be tougher than glass.
 
who on earth ever bought one of these at a retail price

who on earth ever bought one of these at a retail price ???

it does seem a very strange thing to stop selling them given the profit margins on these thing.

you can usually get a couple for a pound on ebay - often including postage from hong kong!

i used to have one my ipod touch but have been without for a year or so now - no scratches on my screen and i've not bee particularly careful with it.. Now. the old plastic screen ipods... a protector was essential for those - look at them sourly and they scratched.

but for the glass screens they are pretty much irrelevant.

for those looking for some great meaning behind this, don't !

Steve probably saw and ipod /iphone with a bubble trapped behind the protector and had a fit :)
 
I doubt that this is preparation for release of Apple's own similar type of product.

But as has been mentioned in comments here, just because they are not selling it in their stores does not mean that they are banning it. I hardly believe Apple support would treat an iPhone with a matte skin like a jailbroken iPhone.
 
empee said:
i used to work at an apple store. we replaced MANY screen protectors because people could not put them on correctly (and Apple bit the cost every time).
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I (personally) would never complain to Apple about my inability to fit a screen protector to a device. If you do **** it up, how would that be Apple's faultt?
 
goodcow said:
The gloss, just like on the iMacs, the MacBook Pros and the new Cinema Display is annoying. I want a matte phone. Until that day happens (never) I'll use an anti-glare screen protector.

Gloss = Garbage.
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+1

The bad thing is that Apple themselves actually 'love' the glossy screens. I remember when the unibody 17" MacBook Pro was released, he said they will have an anti-glare option, showed a picture for a few seconds and then went back to pictures of the regular glossy version saying that this was "his favourite". Glossy (or.. to be more acurate.. the glass) makes people believe the screen is better than it actually is, which I think is great for viewing films etc., but crap for serious editing :(
 
I doubt it is because of the duribility statement. Apple could care less if people think it's durable or not and if they do they shouldn't because people already have the phone purchased. If I think the screen is weak and want to buy a protector it shouldn't matter to them because I already bought it.
 
I used to have these on my Windows Mobile phones, which had screens made out of transparent plastic. But since iPhones use glass instead, I never bothered putting a screen protector on. I'm on my second iPhone and the screen is as good as new.
 
Stupid move, as is becoming common with them lately. I love the excuses people are making just to somehow agree with them.

You don't need a screen protector, so sayeth the Apple.
 
Stange move by Apple, but I have long given up using them, prefering for the naked route :eek: and just using this sleeve
ipod-touch-incipio-orion-sleeve-case-3.jpg

I actually prefer the feel of the iPhone without the protector.
 
Island Dog said:
Stupid move, as is becoming common with them lately. I love the excuses people are making just to somehow agree with them.

You don't need a screen protector, so sayeth the Apple.
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What's your beef? Go buy your screen protector someplace else. Apple isn't banning them.
 
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