I just installed a NuShield DayVue screen protector on my iPad 2, and it could usurp the Power Support Crystal as my favorite screen protector for the iPad.
I've tried a number of different brand protectors, and until the PS was never really satisfied with the quality. The PS Crystal was the first and only protector at the time that had no discernible orange peel texture, rainbowing, effect on tactile response or effect on optical clarity.
Notwithstanding that I've been completely satisfied with the PS protector, I came across the NuShield website recently and was intrigued by the claim that the DayVue protector is an anti-reflective ("AR") protector. Anyone who wears glasses is probably familiar with AR lens coatings, but in a nutshell AR differs from anti-glare in that the latter works by diffusing/scattering light by means of a matte texture (yes, I know, that's not exactly and technically accurate, but it's adequate for purposes hereof), whereas AR works by cancelling reflections with out of phase wavelength reflections (grossly simplified again). From an optical perspective, the difference is that anti-glare films, by design, necessarily have an adverse effect on optical clarity, whereas AR coatings do not. If you've even seen a glossy LCD or plasma panel that, when off, gives a faint purplish hue to reflections - it probably had an AR coating on the screen.
I always wondered why there didn't seem to be any AR protectors for the iPhone or iPad as I know that alot of people, like me, would love some reduction in reflections without the deleterious effect on clarity that anti-glare protectors have. As it turns out, NuShield has been making just such protectors (the "DayVue" line) for some time now, but for whatever reason I didn't come across them until last week. I of course immediately ordered one and installed it this morning, and here are my initial observations:
Pros:
-Substantial reduction in reflections and night and day versus the PS.
-No discernible orange peel texture, rainbowing or other effect on optical clarity. Equal in every way to the PS.
Cons:
-A tad "grabbier" (i.e., more finger friction) than the PS or a bare screen in terms of tactile feel. Not really noticeable with light or normal pressure, but pressing down harder on the screen can result in some grabbiness.
-If anything, this protector actually seems to enhance and amplify fingerprints. Pure speculation on my part, but I'm guessing that this is because the oil residue that fingerprints are comprised of is more reflective than the AR coating, thus making fingerprints stand out. Fingerprints haven't bothered me at all on the PS Crystal, but they are much more prominent with this protector.
-Requires frequent cleaning because when the protector is covered with fingerprint oils, the AR qualities are significantly diminished if not completely eliminated.
-home button cutout is a u-shaped cutout that extends to the bottom of the protector as opposed to a circular cutout that only surrounds the button itself. Aesthetically, this would drive me crazy if I weren't using a case that covers the entire home button and bezel anyway.
Overall, I really like this protector and my preliminary conclusion is that I prefer it to the PS Crystal because of its AR qualities. I say "preliminary" because I'll have to give it some more time to see how much the fingerprint issue bothers me and detracts from the AR benefits.
Now for a few pics. Usually I find screen protector pictures to be completely pointless because you shouldn't be able to see much of anything, but it's completely different with this protector. Pay particular attention to the difference between the home button and the area just beneath it, which are not covered by the protector, and the rest of the screen. The home button area appears much lighter/whiter in the first two pictures because they are reflecting the white ceiling above the iPad, and in the last picture you can pretty clearly see the difference in the prominence of reflections.
I've tried a number of different brand protectors, and until the PS was never really satisfied with the quality. The PS Crystal was the first and only protector at the time that had no discernible orange peel texture, rainbowing, effect on tactile response or effect on optical clarity.
Notwithstanding that I've been completely satisfied with the PS protector, I came across the NuShield website recently and was intrigued by the claim that the DayVue protector is an anti-reflective ("AR") protector. Anyone who wears glasses is probably familiar with AR lens coatings, but in a nutshell AR differs from anti-glare in that the latter works by diffusing/scattering light by means of a matte texture (yes, I know, that's not exactly and technically accurate, but it's adequate for purposes hereof), whereas AR works by cancelling reflections with out of phase wavelength reflections (grossly simplified again). From an optical perspective, the difference is that anti-glare films, by design, necessarily have an adverse effect on optical clarity, whereas AR coatings do not. If you've even seen a glossy LCD or plasma panel that, when off, gives a faint purplish hue to reflections - it probably had an AR coating on the screen.
I always wondered why there didn't seem to be any AR protectors for the iPhone or iPad as I know that alot of people, like me, would love some reduction in reflections without the deleterious effect on clarity that anti-glare protectors have. As it turns out, NuShield has been making just such protectors (the "DayVue" line) for some time now, but for whatever reason I didn't come across them until last week. I of course immediately ordered one and installed it this morning, and here are my initial observations:
Pros:
-Substantial reduction in reflections and night and day versus the PS.
-No discernible orange peel texture, rainbowing or other effect on optical clarity. Equal in every way to the PS.
Cons:
-A tad "grabbier" (i.e., more finger friction) than the PS or a bare screen in terms of tactile feel. Not really noticeable with light or normal pressure, but pressing down harder on the screen can result in some grabbiness.
-If anything, this protector actually seems to enhance and amplify fingerprints. Pure speculation on my part, but I'm guessing that this is because the oil residue that fingerprints are comprised of is more reflective than the AR coating, thus making fingerprints stand out. Fingerprints haven't bothered me at all on the PS Crystal, but they are much more prominent with this protector.
-Requires frequent cleaning because when the protector is covered with fingerprint oils, the AR qualities are significantly diminished if not completely eliminated.
-home button cutout is a u-shaped cutout that extends to the bottom of the protector as opposed to a circular cutout that only surrounds the button itself. Aesthetically, this would drive me crazy if I weren't using a case that covers the entire home button and bezel anyway.
Overall, I really like this protector and my preliminary conclusion is that I prefer it to the PS Crystal because of its AR qualities. I say "preliminary" because I'll have to give it some more time to see how much the fingerprint issue bothers me and detracts from the AR benefits.
Now for a few pics. Usually I find screen protector pictures to be completely pointless because you shouldn't be able to see much of anything, but it's completely different with this protector. Pay particular attention to the difference between the home button and the area just beneath it, which are not covered by the protector, and the rest of the screen. The home button area appears much lighter/whiter in the first two pictures because they are reflecting the white ceiling above the iPad, and in the last picture you can pretty clearly see the difference in the prominence of reflections.