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Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?

stridemat said:
Not going to happen! Apple have never got into accessories than can be produced by other companies for a a fraction of the price.
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Not unless it can lock the competitors out via authentication chips (video cables)... 😉 Don't think that is possible with transparent screen protectors though. 🙂
 
-
My heart goes out to any entrepreneur, app designer, or company

that makes money creating something to go (or work with) an Apple product.

Without any warning, Apple has disrupted or destroyed livelihoods overnight with such decisions as this.

Other examples

- case companies getting stuck with tons of outdated stock when Apple changes the dimensions of an iPod,
despite having a liaison working with Apple up to the release of the 'next gen' iproduct.

- Apps being pulled from the App store due to what appears to be a flip decision,
despite Devs best efforts to keep open communication with Apple.


Such a shame


Marc
 
this makes perfect sense to me. I've had a naked iphone since day 1 and i wouldnt have it any other way. I do like the screen too even with suntan lotion and sand all over it.

good move apple.
 
iOrlando said:
this makes perfect sense to me. I've had a naked iphone since day 1 and i wouldnt have it any other way. I do like the screen too even with suntan lotion and sand all over it.

good move apple.
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x2

I'd be even happier if they stopped selling cases for iPhones at Apple Stores altogether. They're completely unnecessary and undermine the beautiful design of the phone, ruining the experience that was brilliantly designed by Jonathan Ive and Co.
 
My "more." brand iPod Touch case came with a mirror-finish screen protector, which, I have to say, is pretty pointless, but damn it looks nice.

-Clive
 
Ultimatetone said:
-
My heart goes out to any entrepreneur, app designer, or company

that makes money creating something to go (or work with) an Apple product.

Without any warning, Apple has disrupted or destroyed livelihoods overnight with such decisions as this.

Other examples

- case companies getting stuck with tons of outdated stock when Apple changes the dimensions of an iPod,
despite having a liaison working with Apple up to the release of the 'next gen' iproduct.

- Apps being pulled from the App store due to what appears to be a flip decision,
despite Devs best efforts to keep open communication with Apple.


Such a shame


Marc
Click to expand...

I couldn't help but laugh as I read your post here. You know, there is a little thing called "RISK" that's involved with any business. Making accessories for devices that are updated regularly has some risks associated with it. You make it sound like Apple owes these people something. This is the big boy/adult world of business, where companies like Apple can and will do whatever the hell they want, because well, they're in business for themselves. Not the guys who started up a screen protector business a couple years ago.


Apple owes those companies absolutely nothing, and the same goes for any random app developer who has their app rejected. Apple creates the rules, and they're the final judge of what gets put on the App store. It's not like these companies don't know this when they begin making an App.
 
Apple probably doesn't want all of these things mucking up the beautiful aesthetics of their products. I can see people wanting to protect their products, but for Apple, the feel of the product and the interaction with it are half the experience. Not saying this is right or wrong, but it might be their line of thinking...
 
I don't care for screen protectors myself, but this just seems a little rediculous to me.

slicecom said:
x2

I'd be even happier if they stopped selling cases for iPhones at Apple Stores altogether. They're completely unnecessary and undermine the beautiful design of the phone, ruining the experience that was brilliantly designed by Jonathan Ive and Co.
Click to expand...

-2

I use a latex jacket/case and it provides grip. Yes the design is nice, but I like having a little extra grip when holding the iPhone for en extended period of time.
 
I took the cover off my 3G screen just now - been meaning to for a while, since I've got a replacement at home and the old one had some rippling and scratches. The bare screen is a fingerprint MAGNET. It's going to be annoying to live with that for the rest of the day.

I will agree though that it is difficult to scratch, and with the 3GS oleophobic screen a protector is not really needed.

I did not know that Apple store employees were applying screen protectors for customers... if that was actually consistent policy, it is really the only thing being taken away IMO. If you were just going to take it home and put it on, why not save $$ and buy online?

Edit: I should also note that I had the same Invisible shield film on the phone for over a year, and it held up extremely well. The scratches were very minor. HOWEVER, when I pulled it off I noticed it was extremely discolored and I had just gotten used to a crappy screen image (the bare screen looks WAY better). The material they use seems to absorb skin oils, or something. I mean this thing was nasty. Dark brown, really. I am hesitant to re-apply a new one, even knowing how badly the bare glass attracts fingerprints.
 
BryanLyle said:
Power Support non glare screen protector is the best thing I have bought for my iPhone. I guess I better stock up on them.
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As much as I question the need for a screen protector at all I do love the power support protectors! That's what I have now and I'm afraid to take it off because I'm probably so used to the matte finish that I won't like the 'naked' screen as well. They apply super easily too with no air bubble problems and are hardly noticeable. I think it is because they are a bit thicker and stiffer plastic than the cheapo brands.
 
Uhh lol ok Apple. I'll just buy them online from now on?

How strange. My girlfriend's screen is scratched. Granted, she doesn't baby it, but she doesn't toss it up against the wall either, so all this "teh screen is indestructible!!!1" stuff is nonsense. The crystal one I have on my 3gS doesn't affect aesthetics at all, and actually makes it cleaning it off a breeze. If I recall correctly, the bare screen when cleaned is relatively sticky, not slick at all compared to when I have the cover. Make playing certain games and txting a bit easier.

All of it is enclosed in an incase Showcase which has saved it from it's share of drops. If I remove all the protection from the phone, I could put it back in the box and sell it as new.
 
I bought into the hype and didn't cover my iPhone 2G's screen. By the time I upgraded to my 3GS, there were a few scratches on the screen. Nothing that dramatically reduced usability but I thought it sucked all the same.

So, I put on a screen protector before I charged up my 3GS after buying it on day 1. My wife didn't put a screen protector on her phone. Her phone now has scratches on the screen while I have a couple of scratches on my screen protector. As much as I'd like to not use a screen protector, I want to keep the screen in pristine condition.
 
Apple goes through great lengths to make the iPhone as thin, elegant and durable as it is. Only to see stupid people put it in ugly cases or films that make it thick again. Apple needs to fight this pest.
 
Maybe they want to stand by their product, their glass screen are scratch resistant. So by selling those protectors they make fools of themselves? I dunno..
 
slicecom said:
x2

I'd be even happier if they stopped selling cases for iPhones at Apple Stores altogether. They're completely unnecessary and undermine the beautiful design of the phone, ruining the experience that was brilliantly designed by Jonathan Ive and Co.
Click to expand...

Have you ever seen a 3G or 3GS without a case? Holy scratches! No case was fine with the original aluminum iphone, but you almost need one on the new models if you don't want scratches. I use a clear power support air jacket, it's super thin plastic and hardly even noticeable.
 
I think, "Apple Stores to stop selling Screen Protectors" would have been a more appropriate title. They haven't banned anything.
 
If this is the case - I can see the frustration brought to Apple with customers trying to return them. That would drive me nuts as a store employee.
 
was waiting for the extreme spin on this. without official comment, this comes across as petty. people are going to put protectors on their phones regardless, you might as well have them at POS. I love all the comments about how silly people are for thinking they could get accessories for their iphone at an apple store.

*LTD* said:
you can still buy them, just not in Apple Stores.

Apple is not going to sell or stand behind a product that puts an extra layer between the finger and the screen. Apple did not intend for their devices to have protective screens, nor did they intend for them to be used with protective screens.

Apple device screens are among the most durable and scratch-resistant you'll ever find. There's no actual need for any screen protection.

As for the ban, screen protection kind of defeats the purpose of oleophobic coatings, and does send the message that Apple's screens are in need of protection.

I've stopped using plastic screen protectors for my iPhone long ago, preferring a nice, thin, plastic/transparent backing. Works great.
Further, you can get your screen protectors elsewhere, just not in Apple Stores. No big deal.
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Bleh. The only reason I have a screen "protector" is to protect the screen from my oily fingers! It's smudge protection, not damage protection.
 
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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Sounds more like Apple protecting its customers and its own reputation from a product pretending to correct a non-existing problem with their devices (fragile screens).
 
When I first found out the iPhone would have a glass screen, I was pretty excited. I've never associated glass with scratching, just breakage. Then I saw the Wired video where they put one in a plastic bag full of keys and shook it for an hour. That was enough to convince me.

I'm on my third iPhone and I've never seen a scratch. Smudging hasn't been much of an issue, especially not on the 3GS screen. An occasional rub against my shirt and it's all clean.
 
You can pick these things up for pennies anyway. Anyone stupid enough to pay stupid amounts of money in an Apple Store for one deserves to be ripped off.
 
*LTD* said:
It's not a big deal, since you can get them anywhere else. Just not in Apple Stores.
Click to expand...

This being the key difference between these products and iPhone apps.

I don't know if it is funny or sad when some of the posters assumed that a ban from the Apple store meant they couldn't get a screen protector anymore (like the one guy wanting to stock up on them, lol).

They must have really submitted themselves to the whole Apple iPhone OS ecosystem that now they just assume anything not sold by Apple isn't available at all!

Isn't it nice to be able to buy products from different sources?

Can we now apply the same philosophy to apps for the iPhone OS, please?
 
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