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Just applied the invisibleshield and im not too impressed.
First, the front and more so the back covers are too small and the corners of the phone is not covered. Second, the home key cover and camera lens cover are too big, so I avoided the home button cover and stuck the camera lens on by taking off the back cover. Third and finally the tacky feel means its a fingerprint and oil magnet, as I have sweaty hands this is especially annoying.
On the plus side it was relatively easy to put on and remove the bubbles.
sounds like you got the Full Body "Easy Install" version the Full Body "Maximum protection" version would have covered the corners, and have extended wings that goes up the sides.
same here i've a oily face / fingers, Zagg will not work for me as i've posted on other topic, I'll prefer the regular 3M PET screen protectors + a Gel case instead
Does it make the phone any less slippy to hold?
Ollie2 said:
Does it make the phone any less slippy to hold?
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Yep definately, it has a good grippy feel and the orange peel effect is reducing . Now that ive had it on a few days im warming up to it surprisingly. The best thing is that it adds little thickness and I can just plop it on surfaces without worrying about scratches.
Overall i quite happy with it, I just wished I got the full body sh*t.
would u mind to put some pics ???
i've been looking all around to see some pics of zagg installed on galaxy s but no luck !!!
i had the invisi shield on my touch hd, so the first thing i did when i got home from getting my shiny new SGS was to order one, still not arrived and thats with 2-3 day delivery. i did the right thing and ordered the full cover as it was the same price as the easy install version, i will post pics when i have recieved it and have it done.
as for gel cases i have one of them on order also as it has done a wonderfull job of protecting my touch hd (till i drove over it)
i gave up on the zagg, samsung is release nice fashion faceplates for the SGS
and i'm already using those nice gel cases + screen protector, that's more than enough protection for the phone.
out of the box, the phone is already super strong, and anti scratch, did you see the video?
it will only break the screen if you drop it from a 1.5 m high
it may be anti scratch but ive scratched the proximity sensor area already so hopefully the shield will stop other scratches. I would use a gel cover but the shield really doesnt add anything to the thickness, while the cover would.
I get some pics up as soon as I can get hold of a camera.
shohid1234 said:
Yep definately, it has a good grippy feel and the orange peel effect is reducing . Now that ive had it on a few days im warming up to it surprisingly. The best thing is that it adds little thickness and I can just plop it on surfaces without worrying about scratches.
Overall i quite happy with it, I just wished I got the full body sh*t.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply.
I've actually bought a silicone case and a screen protector for it and it's made it much more manageable and easier to hold and saved the phone when I dropped it the other day.
j_h3000 said:
would u mind to put some pics ???
I've been looking all around to see some pics of zagg installed on galaxy s but no luck !!!
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1+
1+
1+
what about touch sensitivity?
I installed an invisibleShield as soon as the phone arrived. It's a pain in the ass to install as usual, and I was not able to make the top two corners look good. They've already started to peel off but I guess it's going to take a while before the back has to be replaced so I'm not going to worry about it.
Is it worth it? I'd say yes, even after a year you'll still have a phone that looks brand new. Now, the edges around the phone will probably get a couple of scratches because unlike the shield for the iPhone this one does not cover the chrome/metal/whatever bezel. Not a big deal if you ask me.
So, touch sensitivity? It's good. It's just as sensitive with the shield as without. Your fingers won't glide as well across the surface tho. One more thing which you'll see in the pictures; Dust usually collects around the edges of the shield, there is not much you can do about that. Trust me, the dust looks much worse in a picture than it does irl. You can barely see it.
Pictures:
Front:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/999968/Automator Dropbox/IMG_0003.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/999968/Automator Dropbox/IMG_0004.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/999968/Automator Dropbox/IMG_0005.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/999968/Automator Dropbox/IMG_0006.JPG
Back:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/999968/Automator Dropbox/IMG_0008.JPG
I ordered the full body shield as it was half price.
I just used cheap 6 for 1 ebay screen protector as this one has too much of a grip.
As for the back, as said above the top corners just will not fit completely and lift just a tiny bit at the tips.
Getting tiny bubble out results in the orange peel effect. This is because the shield is slightly rubbery and streches as you force out the bubbles.
IMO the shield protects very well, but I cant imagine ever getting the 'perfect' look with it on.
Its far from invisible, due to slight orange peel, minute bubbles which will only turn into more orange peel should I try to force them out.
If I ever buy one again, it will have graphics on it(they have those for iphone etc, perhaps the sgs is too new..) as then the slight imperfections would be less obvious.
Id rate the item 6/10. It doesn't protect the bezel or extreme corners and doesn't look great where it does protect.
thx for the pics. i got the same edge problems on my old iphone too. the zagg shield is ordered, i should get it next week.
MagicOnline said:
i should get it next week.
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Don't count on it. I ordered mine on the 16th and I still don't have it (on the 25th).
i knew it would not cover the corners properly, it looks ugly when there are little pieces of plastic cropping out of the phone.
For the back I think the Zagg sheild is brilliant, almost full cover and invisible, with no extra bulk, and a little bit more grip.
For the front, I probably prefer a normal screen protector. My wife has a $1 screen protector from flea-baythat is much better to use (although needs more regular cleaning). The zagg is a little tacky meaning your finger doesn't slide as easily (not ideal for Swype).
Fitting:
I gotta confess that I didn't get the back perfect, but mainly because Ifit it in a dimly lit room, the cover edges are hard to see without bright light. I did get the corner 90% by using glad wrap (plastic wrap) tightly pulled over the corners and left overnight (saw this on a youtube demo video).
Also I once helped a colleague who fits 3m window film for a living. I noticed that he used a lot of liquid, so for the front I made up some more liquid, enough to refill the bottle Zagg provide. I used the whole bottle on the front, making fitting much easier, you can just slide tje cover around until it's perfect, then you just push out all the liquid. Using more liquid also seemed to help alleviate any bubbles. Also for the front I used a very bright light (480 lumens bike light) which made it much easier to see exactly where the edges were.
I'm also hoping that Zagg bring out the coloured/patterned backs, which in an email to me they said they would, then I'll use a regular screen protector for the front.
What is that liquid anyways?
I don't feel like it's a good idea to spray your device with something. When I put the shield on my iPhone I saw a couple of small droplets here and there enter the phone. I pushed some liquid near openings around the glass and some of it was sucked inside somehow. It hasn't damaged the phone, I still don't know if it can.
I just remixed a new solution: a couple of drops of baby shampoo with water in the bottle supplied. (I think you can use other stuff like washing detergent, but don't take my word, use google (3m film))
From the 3m website:
"3M™ Scotchtint™ Films are professionally applied by skilled, well-trained authorized 3M Dealers. Almost all of our films are designed to be applied to the inside of your glass.
The first step is to prepare the window area for the application; placing drop cloths on the floor protecting and/or moving furniture where necessary.
Next, the window glass is cleaned using simple cleaning solutions (often water and ammonia) and razor blade scrapers. Then the film is sprayed with a slip solution (detergent and water) for proper positioning, and applied to the window glass. Using a professional grade squeegee and following proper techniques, the application is completed by removing excess water, trimming the edges, and a final squeegee technique to dry the edges."
same here
liquid and electronics don't mix
i don't like the idea of having anything wet near my device.
WiseDuck said:
What is that liquid anyways?
I don't feel like it's a good idea to spray your device with something. When I put the shield on my iPhone I saw a couple of small droplets here and there enter the phone. I pushed some liquid near openings around the glass and some of it was sucked inside somehow. It hasn't damaged the phone, I still don't know if it can.
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So I've been using a Boxwave ClearTouch Crystal screen protector for the last few months, and have really been liking it. Recently though the screen has felt a bit rough so I decided to take it off and wash it under soap and water. This worked well, and it feels a lot better, however I have got a load of bubbles under the screen that I can't seem to get out. I think some dust may have settled on it while it was drying.
As such I'm looking for recommendations for a better screen protected, that is washable
I would just get an invisible shield.
They pwn in every way, just wipe them down with a damp rag and you're done.
thelucster said:
So I've been using a Boxwave ClearTouch Crystal screen protector for the last few months, and have really been liking it. Recently though the screen has felt a bit rough so I decided to take it off and wash it under soap and water. This worked well, and it feels a lot better, however I have got a load of bubbles under the screen that I can't seem to get out. I think some dust may have settled on it while it was drying.
As such I'm looking for recommendations for a better screen protected, that is washable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... Why would you remove the screen protector??? The "washable" bit is pretty much nonsense, mainly means that they aren't just a sticker you can't get wet IMO. Doesn't mean you can really take them off the phone multiple times.
I use an alcohol based wipe to clean mine, stays on the phone and squeaky clean.
I decided to order a Proporta screen protector, so I'll let you all know what that is like when I get it (and this time won't take it off!).
khaytsus said:
... Why would you remove the screen protector??? The "washable" bit is pretty much nonsense, mainly means that they aren't just a sticker you can't get wet IMO. Doesn't mean you can really take them off the phone multiple times.
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Washable screen protectors allow your entire phone to go in the wash with the rest of your clothes.
I just toss my N1 on my plate when im done eating., and my wife picks it up and washes it in the sink with the rest of the dishes.
Life is good.
JCopernicus said:
Washable screen protectors allow your entire phone to go in the wash with the rest of your clothes.
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Awesome.. We already have "dunked in beer", "swam with phone in pocket", "caught in a heavy rain storm" and random other water intrusion posts.. Now we'll have "washed in pants to get dust out of screen" posts.
I use the clarivue screen protector. Its static based instead of adhesive based so you can remove it, wash it, and toss it back on. Though in all honesty, why? I mean, the part absinthe the phone screen never gets dirty for me. Just wipe down the front and be on your way...lol. I love the clarivue though, I always forget I have a protector on and it was easy to get bubbles out because you can easily peel off and retry without issue.
Use scotch tape to remove dust.
So I received the Proporta Advanced Screen Protector, and well, its rubbish. It makes the screen look really bad and refracts all the pixels (I had the same with Zagg shields).
I'm debating whether to get another Boxwave protector or the Clarivue one?
post removed.
The Note 8.0 doesn't come with anything like a Gorilla Glass. So I guess, a ScreenGuard would be pretty important, especially for Guys who carry the 8.0 everywhere. So post your experiences, recommendations here for everyone to see.
P.S. The Note 8.0 is yet to be launched in my country(India), but eBay is already full with 2-3 dozen listings for Scratch guards ranging anywhere between 5-20 USD!!
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
agambhandari said:
The Note 8.0 doesn't come with anything like a Gorilla Glass. So I guess, a ScreenGuard would be pretty important, especially for Guys who carry the 8.0 everywhere. So post your experiences, recommendations here for everyone to see.
P.S. The Note 8.0 is yet to be launched in my country(India), but eBay is already full with 2-3 dozen listings for Scratch guards ranging anywhere between 5-20 USD!!
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While Samsung doesnt explicitly advertise it, there is certainly some sort of treated glass on the Note 8. The glass is comparable to the glass on the Note 2 both in thicknesses and hardness. I tested on one of the bank's test units and it can certainly take abuse, even so far as resisting scratches from coarse granite.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
robyr said:
While Samsung doesnt explicitly advertise it, there is certainly some sort of treated glass on the Note 8. The glass is comparable to the glass on the Note 2 both in thicknesses and hardness. I tested on one of the bank's test units and it can certainly take abuse, even so far as resisting scratches from coarse granite.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats good to know. Though I wonder why Samsung would choose to do so?
Even if doesn't want to pay royalties to Corning for the Gorilla Glass, at least it could write "scratch resistant glass" in its specs.
Would certainly improve our impression of the build quality of the Note8.
robyr said:
While Samsung doesnt explicitly advertise it, there is certainly some sort of treated glass on the Note 8. The glass is comparable to the glass on the Note 2 both in thicknesses and hardness. I tested on one of the bank's test units and it can certainly take abuse, even so far as resisting scratches from coarse granite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That really is bizarre that Samsung doesn't seem to mention anything about the quality of the glass--that seems like a big oversight on their part! It is good to hear your first-hand experience though--that is encouraging!
Perhaps at some point you or others could give a more detailed analysis of the glass quality, specific abuse it can withstand, etc.?
Even Gorilla Glass can be scratched from normal usage (as numerous reports by XDA users on various devices will attest). So don't take for granted that treated glass or GG makes your screen impossible to scratch.
Many people prefer the feel of going bareback with no protection, which is understandable. And its certainly a matter of preference. But its a simple fact that once you do scratch it, it really can't be undone. So if you are worried about scratches, better to protect it now, and not have to regret it later.
As far as what protector to buy, my recommendation would be to avoid the cheap ones. They tend to scratch easily, attract fingerprints, and you will be lucky to get them to last a couple months. Get a quality one in the $20 US range, as these are typically very difficult to scratch, actually attract less fingerprints and grime than the bare screen, and last a long time. I've had good quality protectors on my phone and my old tablet, that have been on for a year of more, and still look great. So in terms of durability and sheer quality, buying a good quality protector really pays off. Also, the wet apply type is much easier to install than dry.
Not sure what brands are available in the OPs home country. But I've had good luck with Skinomi and Zagg, but there are other high quality brands, as well.
redpoint73 said:
Even Gorilla Glass can be scratched from normal usage (as numerous reports by XDA users on various devices will attest). So don't take for granted that treated glass or GG makes your screen impossible to scratch.
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Click to collapse
+1 to your opinion. Have seen some Gorilla glasses scratched.
Regards to applying, I would actually from a brick-and-mortar mobile shops, those guys are real experts at applying these.
Also, can anybody tell me the effect of the screen guard on the S-pen experience. Glossy or Matte. Which one would be preferrable? so as to not deteriorate the experience much
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
redpoint73 said:
Even Gorilla Glass can be scratched from normal usage (as numerous reports by XDA users on various devices will attest). So don't take for granted that treated glass or GG makes your screen impossible to scratch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said!
agambhandari said:
Also, can anybody tell me the effect of the screen guard on the S-pen experience. Glossy or Matte. Which one would be preferrable?
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I'm wondering about these questions too.
agambhandari said:
Regards to applying, I would actually from a brick-and-mortar mobile shops, those guys are real experts at applying these.
Also, can anybody tell me the effect of the screen guard on the S-pen experience. Glossy or Matte. Which one would be preferrable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The wet apply screen protectors are pretty forgiving, and easy to apply. But having a pro do it is not a bad idea, if you are uncomfortable trying. If they mess it up, they typically just take it off and try again with a new protector (at no charge to you). Obviously not an option, if you do it yourself.
Can't comment personally on matte protectors. But some folks over at the HTC Flyer forum (my old tablet, that also has pen support) seemed to like the matte protectors, as the slightly textured surface felt a bit more like writing on paper. Using the pen on the glossy or non-matte variety is very similar to how it feels on the bare screen.
Matte protectors also cut down on glare. But they tend to give a "hazy" look to the screen that I find unacceptable.
redpoint73 said:
The wet apply screen protectors are pretty forgiving, and easy to apply. But having a pro do it is not a bad idea, if you are uncomfortable trying. If they mess it up, they typically just take it off and try again with a new protector (at no charge to you). Obviously not an option, if you do it yourself.
Can't comment personally on matte protectors. But some folks over at the HTC Flyer forum (my old tablet, that also has pen support) seemed to like the matte protectors, as the slightly textured surface felt a bit more like writing on paper. Using the pen on the glossy or non-matte variety is very similar to how it feels on the bare screen.
Matte protectors also cut down on glare. But they tend to give a "hazy" look to the screen that I find unacceptable.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick reply.
As a screen itself, I find Matte ones to be better, the viewing angles and sharpness can feel a notch down than the glossy, but the reduction in glare is pretty significant. I have it on one of my Laptops(also Samsung) and it feels very good.
I guess have to wait for others' views on the S-pen experience. Probably other Note devices have some opinions on other XDA sections, will try to find out
I hired the Geek Squad to install one of those InvisibleShield protectors from BestBuy when I got my Note 8, and had it on my tablet for about three hours. I took it off because it creates an incredible amount of friction with the S Pen's nub, making writing with the thing a fantastically aggravating chore (not to mention that the pen left track marks). I'm not saying that all screen protectors are so bad when it comes to this thing's core functionality, but InvisibleShield sure is. I'd be very curious about a protector with the lubriciously of the actual screen.
ZaphodAK42 said:
I hired the Geek Squad to install one of those InvisibleShield protectors from BestBuy when I got my Note 8, and had it on my tablet for about three hours. I took it off because it creates an incredible amount of friction with the S Pen's nub, making writing with the thing a fantastically aggravating chore (not to mention that the pen left track marks). I'm not saying that all screen protectors are so bad when it comes to this thing's core functionality, but InvisibleShield sure is. I'd be very curious about a protector with the lubriciously of the actual screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you throw some light on the material of the Screen Guard, was it glossy or matte?
So are you without the Guard now?
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
Check out the thread I just made for the MiniGuard. It works very well!
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
agambhandari said:
Could you throw some light on the material of the Screen Guard, was it glossy or matte?
So are you without the Guard now?
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The guard was glossy, near as I can remember. I am indeed without the protector.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using XDA Premium HD app
ZaphodAK42 said:
I hired the Geek Squad to install one of those InvisibleShield protectors from BestBuy when I got my Note 8, and had it on my tablet for about three hours. I took it off because it creates an incredible amount of friction with the S Pen's nub, making writing with the thing a fantastically aggravating chore (not to mention that the pen left track marks). I'm not saying that all screen protectors are so bad when it comes to this thing's core functionality, but InvisibleShield sure is. I'd be very curious about a protector with the lubriciously of the actual screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ZAGG InvisibleShield screen protectors are the type applied with a liquid solution. Any of these type of screen protectors need to sit untouched for at least 24 hours to completely dry and become hard. Otherwise if you use your device before the skin has had a chance to completely dry, it will be slightly gummy at first, then a bit harder but still a bit of a rubber-type surface when using a stylus, which causes the stylus tip grab or stutter across the surface. Even when dry, these have a slight Orange Peel surface that I don't care for. YMMV. IME these also don't work well or last very long in Tropical or humid enviroments.
I've never liked any of the wet-application protectors for these reasons...I've tried the Zagg's, Skinomi's and one other I can't remember. I'll stick to the SGP/Steinhill Ultra Crystal dry-application protectors. Unfortunately, these aren't available yet for the Note 8.0.
Just my .02
bbfoto said:
The ZAGG InvisibleShield screen protectors are the type applied with a liquid solution. Any of these type of screen protectors need to sit untouched for at least 24 hours to completely dry and become hard. Otherwise if you use your device before the skin has had a chance to completely dry, it will be slightly gummy at first, then a bit harder but still a bit of a rubber-type surface when using a stylus, which causes the stylus tip grab or stutter across the surface. Even when dry, these have a slight Orange Peel surface that I don't care for. YMMV. IME these also don't work well or last very long in Tropical or humid enviroments.
I've never liked any of the wet-application protectors for these reasons...I've tried the Zagg's, Skinomi's and one other I can't remember. I'll stick to the SGP/Steinhill Ultra Crystal dry-application protectors. Unfortunately, these aren't available yet for the Note 8.0.
Just my .02
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Click to collapse
Huh... that liar. The guy at BB told me that the protector would be just fine and dandy after two hours, which is why I bailed after trying to use it for an hour. Oh well. At least it provided about an hour of amusement as my buddy and I attempted to rip or puncture the plastic with everything we had in the house (we were unsuccessful, even with ceramic knives and a motorized hand drill) (edit- after I had taken the protector of my tablet, of course). I'll keep an eye out for one of the dry applicators that you mention. And I'll apply it myself, after reading the instructions with my own eyes.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using XDA Premium HD app
ZaphodAK42 said:
I'll keep an eye out for one of the dry applicators that you mention. And I'll apply it myself, after reading the instructions with my own eyes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be aware that dry apply is much more difficult to put on. With wet apply, you have time to slide it around, into just the right position, before you squeegee the excess application fluid out. With dry apply, its basically like a sticker, if you are off by just millimeters as you start to place it, you have to peel it back and start over, likely getting more fingerprints on the edges every time you do that.
Also, for some reason I can't explain, the wet apply gets much less dust under the protector as you apply it. The wet apply protectors I've used (twice now) have gone on flawlessly, and dust free as far as I can see. Before this, I used the dry apply many times. It took some practice before I could really get a dust free application. The first few I did, had a good amount of dust under them until I learned to go it just right. Even with experience, it takes a lot of care to get a dust free install with the dry apply. With wet apply, its pretty effortless.
I couldn't tell you why the wet apply seems to get less dust under them during installation. It doesn't make sense by conventional wisdom. Maybe dust particles just get carried away, when you squeegee the excess application fluid away.
I'd recommend doing the shower trick with the dry apply type (and it doesn't hurt with wet apply either) to reduce the amount of dust in the air while you do the install. That is, run a hot shower for 10 minutes or so, to steam up your bathroom. This pulls much of the dust out of the air. Then bring your tablet in there and apply the protector (don't leave it in there before or after the install, to minimize the time the device is exposed to high humidity).
Its true that dry apply does have a smoother finish and less tacky feel then wet apply. They tend to not suffer from the "orange peel" look. But the orange peel look on good quality wet apply protectors tends to be hardly visible when the screen is off, and not visible at all when the screen is on. But this might vary depending on the room's lighting conditions. To me, the orange peel is not a bother, but that is probably a personal preference.
The experts who put the guards here, first polish the device display to a great extent and then put the guard straightaway.
The one they applied on my phone, had a good protective covering which was peeled as the guy applied more and more. Even after this, there was another protection over the actual guard.
Also the screen guard wasnt specifically for my device, he also cut it out as per my device after the application.
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
bbfoto said:
The ZAGG InvisibleShield screen protectors are the type applied with a liquid solution. Any of these type of screen protectors need to sit untouched for at least 24 hours to completely dry and become hard. Otherwise if you use your device before the skin has had a chance to completely dry, it will be slightly gummy at first, then a bit harder but still a bit of a rubber-type surface when using a stylus, which causes the stylus tip grab or stutter across the surface. Even when dry, these have a slight Orange Peel surface that I don't care for. YMMV. IME these also don't work well or last very long in Tropical or humid enviroments.
I've never liked any of the wet-application protectors for these reasons...I've tried the Zagg's, Skinomi's and one other I can't remember. I'll stick to the SGP/Steinhill Ultra Crystal dry-application protectors. Unfortunately, these aren't available yet for the Note 8.0.
Just my .02
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I emailed Spigen SGP asking if they were going to make one for the Note 8 and they said they had no plans to do so. i was certainly disappointed to hear that. I have one of their protectors on my note 2 and its great. I agree with you, the dry apply protectors are so much smoother than the wet ones and do not have orange peel or get that "sticky" feeling.
there is another thread with a review of the MiniGuard protectors which look to be of the dry apply variety. i almost bought some the other day when i ran across them at amazon and now that the review confirmed it (with pics too), this looks like the best option since Spigen wont be making anything.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BXQUQ9U/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Turbo Brian said:
there is another thread with a review of the MiniGuard protectors which look to be of the dry apply variety. i almost bought some the other day when i ran across them at amazon and now that the review confirmed it (with pics too), this looks like the best option since Spigen wont be making anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is too bad about Spigen SGP. If you (or others) try out the MiniGuard protectors consider letting us all know your impressions (and whether you went with Clear or Anti-Glare). @JokeZony0u has done a great review of the Clear protectors, but I think it is still helpful to have multiple datapoints for these kinds of things.
^^Thanks for that. Yeah, it looks as if the MiniGuard is the dry-app protector to get since Spigen SGP is out of the equation. Hopefully we'll get more good reviews of other protectors as well.
I agree that the hot, steamy shower technique is good. Also have some small, clean pieces of 3M Scotch Tape handy to pluck off any dust particles from the screen or the contact side of the protector film. I use a large microfiber cloth lightly dampened with isopropol alcohol to clean the entire device beforehand. Then I use the included microfiber cloth to further clean the screen just before applying the protector.
There's a good YouTube video on the best way to apply the dry protectors.
You line the protector up on your screen first (before removing any layers).
Then once the film is aligned properly, hold it in place and attach two pieces of blue painter's tape to the top of the protector film and just along ONE SIDE of the phone/tablet...one near the top and one near bottom, so that the screen protector flaps open to one side like a page in a book, using the blue painter's tape as a hinge.
Flip it open & out of the way and clean the screen again with your microfiber cloth. Double-check your alignment and readjust if necessary.
Then peel back the bottom film layer, remove it completely, and slowly apply the screen protector from the taped side to the free side.
Sqeegee out any bubbles.
Lift the protector just slightly with another small piece of blue painter's tape if you need to remove any dust particles with your Scotch Tape.
Sqeegee again and make sure the alignment is good.
Only remove the side positioning tape if you are satisfied with the application and alignment.
Finally, carefully remove the temporary top layer from the main screen protector film, being careful not to lift the main protector film.
Hi guys.
I thought I'd share my experiences with some products I bought. It's the least I could do for a forum that's provided me with so much good stuff. Descriptions of the experiences will be brief and straightforward.
Let's get straight to business.
Zagg InvisibleSHIELD Dry Screen Protector [front and back]
When I purchased my GS4, I ended up getting this screen protector kit for free after haggling with the sales rep. Always haggle.
Installation was straightforward and easy due to the dry install. Clean the screen, align the protector, apply, squeegee. Repeat for the back.
The texture of this protector was very similar to Zagg's original wet application protectors. It's slightly thicker than the average cheap screen protector, it feels tough, but the trade-off is high friction. Some (like me) wouldn't enjoy this.
If light hits the screen at the right angle, you can generally see some marks on the screen protector as it is essentially a flexible plastic material. Not a big deal, and they sometimes go away (Zagg's signature "self-healing" product).
The back protector has a matted finish to it. It may appeal to some as the back of the S4 is highly glossy - even the black models which have a crosshatch black and silver design. The matted protector tones down the glossiness and the black/silver crosshatch design gains sort of a dull metallic look. Pretty cool.
If you're particularly looking for a Zagg product and hate wet application as I do, then this will be the product for you. Overall much better than the Zagg HD protector (as I will explain below).
Zagg HD Screen Protector
After the high friction nature of the Zagg Dry application screen protector bugged me too much, I decided to try out the HD. The representative at Best Buy was telling me just how amazing it was. So.. as the naive consumer, I gave it a shot.
$25.99 + Tax - Pretty much standard price for retail stores, and the bulletproof warranty that Zagg offers is always nice.
Installation was a breeze. I paid them 8 dollars to get a terrible application job involving several dust bubbles. They assured me all of it would disappear after 48 hours. Surely enough, after 48 hours I came back and had them re-install a new one for free.
Not to bash the folks over at Best Buy - some of them are great. Just make sure you tell them not to saturate your phone to the point of comparison of a liquid submersion with that Zagg spray solution.
The HD seemed like it delivered at first. I had the protection (that they claim), and the screen felt a lot smoother than the dry application/original. It nearly felt too good to be true - and it was.
The Zagg HD's texture is thanks to being a little thinner than their original. The consequence of this is that even the slightest pressure with your fingernail ends up creating an indentation mark on the protector. Worst of all is that these indentations are essentially permanent.
Within one week, my screen was cluttered with indents from poking and entire streaks from swiping.
It actually doesn't look bad when you're directly looking at the screen or at night. As a matter of fact, you can't even tell they're there. If you're out in the sun however, forget it. Text is illegible at times due to the sunlight showing those indentation marks to tear your sanity asunder.
Save your money, don't get this.
Spigen Glas t Nano Slim [0.15mm]
The search for a decent screen protector seemed to be grim until I came across this. The Glas t Nano Slim is made of tempered glass. Glass on top of glass - who (a noob like me) would have thought?
It was pricey. $34.99 + Shipping for a single screen protector without a bulletproof warranty (like Zagg) is pretty heavy.
Needless to say, I purchased it after reading so many great reviews of the product.
Contents: Protector, squeegee, a clear back protector (that I didn't use), microfiber cloth, some plastic button stickers (to put over your home key) in orange, white, and black. They look like plastic bubbles (not all that great).
Being such an expensive screen protector, I decided to use a shower steam technique:
Take your clothes off
Go to the bathroom
Shut the door
Clean the counter you'll use with microfiber
After cleaning your phone of oils, place your phone and screen protector+installation materials in a drawer
Turn the shower on (hot)
Place a hand rag on the floor (to keep debris low)
Wash (the crap) out of your hands, dry with rag on floor
Turn shower off when the mirror fogs
Wait a few minutes for the steam to settle (else you may get water particles to adhere to the screen protector adhesive)
Take phone/protector/materials out of drawer
Use alcohol swab included in package to wipe screen
Use same swab to wipe counter once more before setting phone down
Wipe screen with microfiber cloth included in package
Take off screen protector backing while holding the screen protector adhesive side DOWN
Align, drop, gently press finger on center and watch the adhesive evenly spread
Use squeegee for any bubbles (I had none)
I'm absolutely terrible at installation but this one was on perfect.
At first glance you can hardly tell there's a screen protector at all. The fit is very close to the edges. There's an oleophobic coating on the glass so your fingers will glide across the screen. Responsiveness is crisp (for all 3 screen protectors).
The tradeoff for such a great looking/feeling screen protector is protection. Zaggs don't shatter. Supposedly the Glas t will crack like an eggshell if broken, and you can simply peel it all off in one piece. Hopefully, I won't have to find out myself.
The problem I witnessed with going naked on screens (with my Galaxy S2) was that the oleophobic coating eventually wears off. It took me about a year before the coating was completely gone. This makes the screen smudge severely to the point of no visibility in sunlight.
The Glas t protector is a neat addition. You can use it (hopefully) for a year until the oleophobic coating wears off, then just rip it off and either put another one on or just use the screen naked. If naked, it'll perhaps be time to consider an upgrade by the time that coating wears off anyways.
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Summary:
Zagg Dry: Orange peel look, tough protection, high friction, matted finish on battery plate, marks may heal over time, bulletproof warranty
Zagg HD: Smoother feel than Dry/Original, prone to indentation/scratch marks, marks do NOT heal, bulletproof warranty
Spigen Glas t: Made of tempered glass, oleophobic coating (super smooth touch), close to invisible, feels a little fragile (since it's glass), expensive, only limited warranty (defects)
It's my first review, so I apologize for any sloppiness. Will write more reviews on a couple of cases and batteries sometime down the road (after I used them enough).
Happy shopping folks - choose carefully.
That's a great review man. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
NRGZ28 said:
That's a great review man. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
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Was just starting my search for screen protectors, and this was great. Thanks for the review! How was the screen clarity between the dry Zagg and the Glas T? I've noticed with previous Zagg wet applications a severe degradation in clarity with the screen protector on.
I had the spigen Glas.T nano installed, real glass @ 0.15mm, fantastic product but for me it proved to be a little fragile, in my pocket something caused the edge to "chip" then it just spread accross the screen. I'm now using spigen Glas.TR which is a little thicker @ 0.4mm but has the rounded edges for better "chip" protection.
I see that for iPhone 5 they've fetched out a Glas.TR nano @ 0.23mm thickness & rounded edges, If they fetch these out for S4 I'll be buying one.
At some point when I wasn't watching, my note 4 seems to have found something sharp to fight with and there is a fairly nasty (can feel with fingertip) inch long scratch on the glass towards the bottom of the display.
Yes, I should have bought a cover, but having had 2 HTCs over the past 5 years without getting a single scratch I obviously thought I had some kind of anti-scratch super powers. (I am anti-scratch man, see me in an upcoming movie...). So anyway, obviously I was wrong.
I have been doing a bit of research and see suggestions that were I to get a tempered glass protector, then the silicone sticky would likely fill in the scratch and make it magically vanish when the cover was applied.
Is this true? If so, what cover would you recommend?
If false - any other solutions?
It is under warranty but I'm pretty sure Samsung don't cover "cosmetic damage" like scratches.
And apologies, this really isn't intended as "yet another cover thread" I know there are loads, but rather a "what cover will fix my ****" thread
i'm not sure of any solutions for you but i want to show you my experience with a small scratch (i could feel it with my finger tips and my finger nail would be able to feel the depth of it). I never heard of it filling in a scratch but thats not to say that its false but in my case i got the glass to cover it so i wouldn't feel it when using the spen (at times the spen would get stopped on the scratch)
https://goo.gl/photos/RitAZ9r5EA4hn47H8
This was my old note 3 and this is with the screen protector on. in my case it did not make the scratch vanish or get filled in but it did help with not being able to feel it was there.
It's not that true. It'll help a little, but it's mostly just marketing. Only real fix is to have the screen replaced.
Get a tempered glass so you don't feel the scratch and it'll also help disguise it from some angles, and after a few weeks you'll stop caring or paying attention to the scratch.
Well my display panel suddenly broken from inside showing no wear/shatters in the glass itself. But that's another story. Buying a tempered glass cover will hide those little scratches (those non-deep scratches that are only visible at a certain angle) and your screen will look like brand new. Unfortunately if you have a deep scratch it may hide it a lot but you will see a multicolor line (distorted pixels) and, in the worst case, an air bubble.
Clean and polish screen, fill in scratch with vaseline, polish again, apply tempered glass on top.
berniebennybernard said:
Clean and polish screen, fill in scratch with vaseline, polish again, apply tempered glass on top.
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Vasoline? Have you done this it sounds too good to be true. Does it matter which tempered glass?
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Droidatar said:
Vasoline? Have you done this it sounds too good to be true. Does it matter which tempered glass?
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
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First do not use vaseline it is a petroleum product and petroleum products dissolve other petroleum products.
what I mean by this is that the vaseline could potentially eat at the screen protector, " yes even the tempered glass ones " as they are coated with various films that are most likely made from petroleum based plastics.
However the person who suggested did touch on a good idea.
Instead of vaseline I would recommend " Silicone Grease " first because it's not petroleum based but second because it is thicker and will not melt/liquify when your phone gets warm in your pocket or during use.
You can find silicone grease in the plumbing dept. at any Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, Etc. it is usually used inside of faucets to coat the rubber seals within and is made to not deteriorate under extreme temperatures.
Keep some around as it's good for other things aswell.
Otherwise do as instructed above and polish, then apply enough silicone grease to fill in the scratch before finally applying your tempered glass if there are air bubbles after the first try apply more grease and re-apply your tempered glass if you still have air bubbles you could try using a vibrating sander " with the sandpaper removed " of-course. But I doubt that would be necessary.
If all goes well I doubt youll barely notice the scratch unless it is a rough one " meaning not a clean scratch "
Hope this helps