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Yes, this is a no brainer. They can't get the money from you to replace a screen for $200, if it's protected.
And with the Otter cases, the water detector probably won't change, so there goes another $200. Money, Money, Money.

Math fail. Aside from the fact that no one has ever saved their screen using a screen protector, they make a lot more money selling useless protectors than they will on replacement screens.
 
I think the covers interfere with upcoming increased levels of Touch Sensitivity. Just picked up 4 clear covers for my 3GS. Should last till the end of my contract.

If not a Touch-Sensative issue, then simply lame Apple. Total BS. :apple:
 
At our store, everyone who buys a screen protector expects us to put it on for them. It wastes time and conveys the idea that Apple should replace the protector if it goes bad or the phone needs replacement.

I am all for banning these annoying (and unnecessary) products!

-d
 
Well this is an interesting thread. I really had no idea what a screen protector was when I walked into the ATT store in December to buy my iPhone but I bought a package and the guy put it on for me--obviously an expert as there are no bubbles. I'm sure once I remove this one, I'll not put another one on since I doubt I will be able to do a good enough job to make me happy. It does stand to reason that the film does reduce touch sensitivity so that may well indeed be the main reason.
 
Good job Apple, I commend you. These things are a huge waste of money and totally make the experience of using an iphone just like all the rest of the crap phones out there (WM, BB, android, etc) that use touchscreen.

I like this move.

I've never had any problems with touch response using a screen protector. It feels absolutely the same either way.

But I wouldn't pay $15 for a screen protector at an Apple store anyway.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/7D11)

I love my zagg cover. Have one on the face and the back. The one on the back has my son's picture on it and the zagg skin makes it slip resistant. I find it necessary for the front because my keys were always scratching the glass. Maybe Masarati keys are diamond coated. :)

Maserati's still use keys?
 
The screen is durable, to be sure, but the back scratches like crazy. I have a Bodyguardz full body protector (screen and back), for that purpose.
Yeah. When I got an iPod touch last summer, immediately after I unboxed it I put it in a leather case. The screen isn't protected, just the back. That shiny stainless steel scratches too easily. The screen really doesn't need protection IMO. However if people want it they shouldn't be stopped (but they aren't anyway, because there are so many other places one could buy them). It's not like Apple said that if you put on these cases you broke your warranty.
 
At our store, everyone who buys a screen protector expects us to put it on for them. It wastes time and conveys the idea that Apple should replace the protector if it goes bad or the phone needs replacement.

I am all for banning these annoying (and unnecessary) products!

-d

I'm guessing this is the real reason. Thanks for the insight.
 
I'm guessing this is the real reason. Thanks for the insight.

The managers at our store have actually been telling us that we can no longer give away "replacement" screen protectors or put them on for the past few weeks. It was a change in policy.

-d
 
iLounge often seems to have an anti-Apple, pro-accessory bias, possibly connected to their advertising revenue. I say “seems” because I’m not ready to pass definite judgement on that.

But leave it to iLounge to use the inflammatory word “ban” for a store simply deciding what to sell! I guess 99% of all Mac products are “banned by Apple” because they’re not found in Apple’s retail stores :p

In any case, these screen protectors are not good products in my view—not for glass screens. The odds of them helping your screen look better rather than worse are low.

So... Apple decides not to sell that particular kind of product. Is that some kind of big deal?
 
i left the screen on my orignal iphone unprotected after my screen protector wore out. I prefered the look of the screen without it but ended up with two small scratches two days later. i use a protector from Zagg.com for my 3Gs and even though it takes away from the beauty of the screen, i have some sense of security that the screen would be harder to scratch.
 
Glare

I bought an anti-glare screen cover with my 3Gs when they were released. No bubbles and no problem using the touch-screen. I use it because I don't like glossy screens.

So the after-market films are costing Apple money, but don't they offer anti-glare as an option. Maybe the demand is too small - I seem to be in the minority here. But Apple seems obsessed with glossy screens and restricts customer options in this area - it's the only reason I won't buy an iMac.

In the end that is probably good for Apple because I am eagerly awaiting the next Mac Pro rev :D
 
Weird... But I never liked these things, they make the devices look much less sleek than they actually are, and a glass screen is seriously hard to get scratched unless you put it in the same pocket as your keys or something... I always put my iPod Touch alone in an empty pocket, and that's enough to protect it.

I'm the kind of person that hates when there's even the smallest scratch, even if it's on the back side of the device, but I hate it even more when I can't feel the glass or metal finish... I mean Apple designed stuff to feel good in your hands, so I think it's an important factor.
 
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.

That's what I think. But also, I don't find the need for the protector...if I drop the iPhone face down, a .0001mm rubber/plastic shield is not going to stop the glass from cracking or protect anything non-glass related. The protectors are probably somewhat good for greasy fingers (but you still need to clean it so what's the value?). The only reason why I would even think of trying one is if I kept my iPhone in a pile of keys/coins often...like pockets or my car glove box...but it's just easier, nicer, and only a little more expensive to get a decent carrying case for $15-$25 (not at the Apple Store!!!). Handhelditems.com rocks for iPhone and iPod accessories.

-Eric
 
I bought an anti-glare screen cover with my 3Gs when they were released. No bubbles and no problem using the touch-screen. I use it because I don't like glossy screens.

So the after-market films are costing Apple money, but don't they offer anti-glare as an option. Maybe the demand is too small - I seem to be in the minority here. But Apple seems obsessed with glossy screens and restricts customer options in this area - it's the only reason I won't buy an iMac.

In the end that is probably good for Apple because I am eagerly awaiting the next Mac Pro rev :D

a lot of them including mine screws up the picture quality. not just no glossy. my wife has a better one. don't care since i'll take crappy picture quality over a cracked screen
 
they probably didn't want people buying giant screen protectors for their iPads so they did away will all screen protectors.

I used to have a screen protector on my 3g, mainly for finger print reduction. Haven't needed a screen protector on my 3gs.
 
I am with apple in this one. When I bought my first generation iPhone I went to the Internet to buy the invisible shield, one for the iPhone and one for my MacBook, long story short, in only a few days the "invisible shield" was yellowish and disgusting. To remove it was an ordeal, specially for my MacBook .

Invisible my ass.
 
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.

But it's odd/interesting that Apple is also not stocking cases that have screen protectors included in the box. I don't really care and it is their prerogative, but it's not just shelf space.
 
Having owned all three iPhones, I've found the 3GS and it's new coating more prone to scratches. It's basically like having a screen protector on that you can't replace when it gets messed up.

There are some really nice protectors that don't leave bubbles and look and feel like there's nothing there. To me, it keeps the device in perfect condition for resale or to pass on.

Power Support Crystal Film and InvisibleShield are both good.
 
Steve probably saw and ipod /iphone with a bubble trapped behind the protector and had a fit :)

That is actually probably part of it. The current screens are very resistant (if not completely impervious) to scratches. Screen protectors make them even more resistant, but don't look as good if they are not applied well.

So having a bunch of iPhones out there with air and dust bubbles on the screen probably doesn't advertise the iPhone as well.

Some really weird responses on this thread from both sides. ;)
 
The screens can scratch and screen protectors work. The ones I have used haven't appeared to affect usability in any way.

If Apple don't want to sell them, people will have to get them elsewhere (and probably cheaper).

It does seem like a weird decision though.
 
Protectors feel like condoms--not nearly as pleasurable as direct contact. Be faithful to your prized possession, don't abuse it, and it will happily respnd for years to come.
 
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