I'm a big fan of screen protectors, especially for cell phones that rattle around in my pocket with keys. For example, the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD line (see earlier post) includes screen (and body) protectors from devices ranging from handheld cell phones, PDAs, iPods and other media players -- to portable gaming devices, digital cameras, and GPS devices -- to laptop computers and even watches.
And for the hot gifts of this holiday season (see earlier post), the invisibleSHIELD screen and body protectors are also available for E-book readers including the Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook -- plus protection for the hottest gift of the season, the Apple iPad.
The iPad screen is really beautiful, but the reflective surface picks up finger smudges and makes them very visible, which is a bit icky when showing off your new device.
Apple Support recommends cleaning the iPad screen with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth, or with an isopropyl alcohol solution.
And the iPad Important Product Information Guide (PDF) further explains how the screen is coated: "iPad has an oleophobic coating on the screen; simply wipe iPad’s screen with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove oil left by your hands. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal usage, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and may scratch your screen."
Instead, you can use a screen protector like the invisibleSHIELD to both protect the display from scratches and to make it easier to clean.
The invisibleSHIELD material itself is scratch and abrasion resistant, and even self-healing. In addition, the film has a subtle texture, which provides a more secure grip.
The result on the iPad is that the screen still looks great and responds as usual to finger presses and movements, but no longer has the glossy look with highly visible finger smudges, so I no longer need to carry around a cloth to to regularly wipe the screen. The invisibleSHIELD also reduces glare for easier viewing in difficult environments.
Of course, the other issue is installation -- How do you precisely align a big sheet of sticky plastic film onto the face of the iPad? It turns out to be pretty straightforward, as shown in the Installation videos (and also see previous post).
The trick is to spray the film, and your fingers, with the included water-based solution, so you can actually slide around the film on the face of the iPad to nudge it into position. There's margin for error in the process, so you can remove and re-spray the film as needed to get the fit right. (And you can remove the sheet later by just peeling it off.) Of course, a second pair of hands is helpful as well for positioning the big sheet and holding the iPad steady.
After the wet installation, you then need to spend some time using the included squeegee to push the excess moisture and bubbles out to the edges. There will be some imperfections left on the face, which will work out as the material settles in and dries.
It turns out that the hardest part of the processes is finding a time that you can survive without your beautiful new iPad for a day or so -- You need to wait 12 to 24 hours after application for the invisibleSHIELD to "set" properly, and allow any remaining solution to fully dry.
invisibleSHIELD is available in over 5,000 designs for different electronic devices. Designs for the iPad are available at $29.99 for the front or back and $39.99 for the full body. A smaller device like the iPhone is priced at $14.99 for front or back protection and $24.99 for the full body. All come with a 45 day money-back guarantee and a lifetime replacement warranty.
For more fun, ZAGGskins combine the invisibleSHIELD material with customized high-quality images and designs. You can use one of the pre-existing designs or upload your own.
Find the
ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for iPad
and invisibleSHIELD for iPhone on Amazon.com