Cruzerlite Skin review (x-post from general accessories)

Cruzerlite Skin review (x-post from general accessories) - Galaxy S 4 Accessories

Full disclosure: The guys over at Cruzerlite helped out Carbon when no one had heard of use by donating a few free cases so we could run some giveaways on our social networks. We went to them because we liked their product and the way that they interacted with the Android community. They were so excited about their new skin product that they arranged to ship a MotoX and one of their skins to me so that I might review it and give them, and you, my honest feedback. The device and skins have been since sent back to them. I was not paid or otherwise compensated for this review. Mostly I just wanted to check out a new product, have an excuse to play with a Moto X, and play with the lightbox I built last week.
I hate cases. To me, they've always been a necessary evil. I generally go with the thinnest TPU case I can find so I know my phone will be protected, and try and find one that actually looks cool. Which is why I've always liked the Cruzerlite cases. Very android friendly, and there were always lots of looks to choose from - android themes, art, etc. My favorite was the Tardis case. I was always very careful with my device. But scratches and things happen, and like many of you I never plan to stay with one device for more than a year or so. That means you gotta keep it looking like new so you can sell it later.
To me, that's the niche that the Cruzerlite skins occupy. If you drop your phone all the time this product isn't going to keep you from denting it or smashing the glass. It's vinyl, not TPU. If you're a purist who insist on rocking a totally naked phone, this product also isn't for you. If you're one of the many who hate cases but want to protect the phone in some way, or are confident in your ability to not drop your phone but want a custom look, then this product is where it's at. It'll protect your device from light damage, give you any look you want, and preserve the size and feel of your device.
The product comes in the form of thick vinyl stickers. As it's a brand new product they don't yet have a set of instructions on the site. They tell me they have that in the works and we should see them soon. With that in mind, I'll overshare my installation process and what I learned for you folks. Cruzerlite clearly wanted to make sure that you'd be happy with the installation of this product, so they've given you a single sticker for the back, two sets of stickers for the sides, and three sets for the front. You can screw this up and try again without ordering a new set. Note that I say stickers, but this is actually vinyl of a nice thickness, not some elmo sticker you'd get from the doctor after a checkup.
So having checked out both the vinyl and the Moto X I setup my lightbox and got down to business. I applied the back vinyl, taking great care to align the camera and microphone. It worked, after a fashion - it looked like a sticker slapped on a phone. A phone with a lot of curves. So far... meh. I stuck the sides on as well. It looked... like a bunch of stickers slapped on a phone. They didn't conform to the curves of the phone at all. So I called up Joel at Cruzerlite and told him that while I thought he had a nice idea, this was probable something that would only work on a phone with simple surfaces like an iphone. I showed him how it looked and he asked me when I was planning to finish the installation. Finish the installation? What? Heat. You apply heat after installation. Ohhhhhh. For a guy who was just told that his half-installed product wasn't very good, he was pretty cool about it. Thanks Joel.
Ok, so with that in mind, I dug out the hair dryer and got to heating. It looked a lot better. With a bit of heat and some pressure with my fingers, the vinyl conformed to the curves of the device and started to look like they belonged there. That said, because I installed them like they were stickers, there were gaps. Teal gaps. It didn't look great - but that was on me.
You might want to color match better than I did. Teal and
wood grain aren't known for being a classic combination.
So the first install didn't look so great. The vinyl was curved to match the phone, but I had ugly gaps that ruined the look. When I put the sides on, I aligned things like I would with regular stickers - not heat shrinking vinyl. But Cruzerlite clearly anticipated that, so I had more! Off came the vinyl on the sides and and back to square one. This time, I made sure there was some overlap so that when heat was applied, it would properly fit. Here's what it looked like:
You can already tell it's going to come out better this time. Out comes the hair dryer!
Now we're talking. No gaps, all the buttons are nicely cut out... it looks great. Again, the color combination shows why I'm not ever going to be a graphic designer, but it certainly highlights just how well the product fits the device. There's a slight edge where the vinyl on the sides and the back overlap. It's not unpleasant, but I'd like to play with this product some more to see if I could even avoid that. I've asked Cruzerlite to send me a few more and another phone, and hope to have a follow up on this in the future.
Yes, it has front stickers. The great thing about this product is it's up to you what you apply - if you don't want the front stickers, don't put them on. You could even mix and match them if you wanted. Get different colors and make the phone version of this:
Yes, that's a real thing. It's a Harlequin Golf and comes
that way from the factory. Please don't do this to your phone.
So after installing and playing with this, I like it. The vinyl is thick enough to feel like a high quality and durable product and on the whole I found it to be easier to apply than a screen protector. Sure, it's a bit tricky to align, but you don't have to worry about dust and the use of heat makes this a relatively forgiving product. I'm certain that I didn't do a perfect job with this, but I don't hate it the way you'd hate a screen protector with a bit of dust under it. I did manage to tweak the back a bit when applying it, and you can see the bulge from it. Again, this is something that I'd be able to differently now that I know how the product works so I'm not particularly concerned about it.
Cruzerlite has a whole range of vinyl to choose from too - 57 at the time of this review. There's wood grain, antibacterial colors, metallic, and leather skins. We're spoiled for choice and if you can't find something you like you might want to ask yourself why you're so picky.
I'd say this is a buy. They look great, feel great, and will do a fantastic job of protecting your phone from light damage. They're easy to apply, and at just under ten dollars you can't beat the price. For those of you who picked up a Moto X before Motomaker was a thing, this is a great way to change your phone's look without buying a new one, or get the look of wood without paying an extra hundred bucks for a single woodgrain option. (bamboo? seriously?) At the time of this review, the skins are available for the Moto X, Nexus 5, Note 3, Galaxy S4, and iPhone 5/5s.
I'll update this thread in the future if I can get my hands on another device and more vinyl. If possible I'll try something other than wood grain, too.
You can check out the rest of their skins at http://www.cruzerlite.com/skins

Related

Cases and Protection

I am a week from having the cash to pick up an N1. I know there have been a lot of threads about cases, but I wanted to outline some of my thoughts and get opinions before I make my purchase. In addition, it is a little scary to hear reports of the phone getting broken easily: truth or not.
My problem is that I am a pocket phone holder. I do not wear belts often and when I do I am loaded with badges and other junk. Although I could hostler it, I already feel like batman without the fancy costume, and when I am not at work the hostler would not be an option.
So my plan is:
1. Get one of the plastic skins. My first choice is Clear Coat (new user so I cannot provide link). Most of these products appear to be the same, and although Clear Coat skins appear to have gaps and not fit as well as other brands, they have an installation guarantee. This is mainly to help the screen, but I will get full body to avoid scratches elsewhere.
2. Get a thin Silicon Gel Case. My theory is the gel will assist with gripping the device and absorb the shock from falls should they happen. This should also assist the clear coat skin against scratches to the body.
3. Get some sort of hard case to slip it into when I put it in my pocket. Since I normally carry my phone there, I am worried about the mysterious screen crackings which could be related to stress applied to the device when you sit and such. Hopefully a hard case will protect against this.
So, this is probably a little overkill, but am I completely insane?
My current phone is the T-mobile Shadow, which is a very cheap HTC phone with a plastic screen. I have had it for almost 2 years and have kept it in pretty good condition. I have 1 ding from accidentally placing it in the same pocket as my keys, and some major scratches when I had the genus idea of putting it in a ziplock bag when I went to Seaworld (well it did stay dry).
This is the most expensive phone I will have ever owned with only an very old world PDA being the most expensive mobile device. My wife is not exactly happy with me for spending this kind of money, and just seeing phones for calling people. As such, I am trying to make sure she cannot point a finger at a precaution I did not take: in addition to my own paranoia from reading the "I am having problems" forum on Google's site.
So, from the view point of people who have had other devices like this, am I being too worried or do these sound like reasonable precautions for this kind of device?
The information on these forums have been wonderful. Thanks for all the help!

I'm not sure what skin the last poster has used that yellowed, but I've used InvisibleSHIELD and Clear Protector, and they were still crystal clear after almost a year.

fujitsupalm said:
just gonna add one more here which is my favourite off all time, leather cases..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have looked at these, but did not see this one. How stiff is the case? The leather looks pliable, and I want to prevent any bending of the phone.
I was looking at the flip open ones, but those seem too bulky. Also many of the pictures of these seem to have the phone photoshopped in, which makes me nervious. Hate the white thread too, but I could deal with that.
As for the invisible shield skins, did you have them actually tint the phone, or just - when applied - appear to be yellow? I have seen many reviews of these even over months of time and never heard this mentioned. Although I would be nervous about it permanently tinting the phone, if it just appears yellow when on then its worth a try since they can be removed. I know they are a pain to install, but I hate static protectors and really want something on the screen.

Thanks, fujitsupalm.
I saw your post in another thread. I think I might be leaning toward the flip on you posted pics of. How bulky is that? Does it interfer with the use of the screen?
I will probably get the flip or book version (wish it would let me post links), and get an invisible shield for the screen. It is humid here too, so I might have the same issue. However, if I can just remove it then its worth a shot.

Hate my InvisiShield!!

So here in Las Vegas there is a Zagg store. Based on everyone's recommendation I decided to get a Zagg InvisiShield for my phone. I picked up 2 or 3 of the demo phones and was like hey this doesn't feel stick or tacky like everyone said it would!
So i look at the prices:
Zagg Full Body Skin $21
Installation $12 includes free Zagg microfiber bag.
So I decided to say OK, Ill let them install it so if they screw something up they can fix it on the spot. The fate of my phone is in their hands. I go to the counter and they tell me come back in 30 minutes.
So i am roaming around the mall, spending money on other crap I don't need. 30 minutes later I go back and pick up my phone. The moment I pick it up i am like WTF! Phone feels like its wrapped in a used condom!
I ask the sales associate why it doesn't feel like the "demo" phone and he goes ohhh that's the wrong one out there. That phone was put out there to show all the scratches on it. I go grab the demo phone and go dude where are the scratches on this thing!! There were none I was FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!
So needless to say I have this $40+ dollar Zagg POS on my phone and I am really hating it, but I cant bring myself to tear it off and lose my $40. I don't know what to do.
Things I immediately noticed for those of you who want to know what to expect from a Zagg InvisiShield.
1. Tacky Tacky Tacky - Phone feels like it wrapped in a used condom
2. Screen Resolution - This thing KILLS the look of the screen. Looks like a TV wrapped in Saran Wrap
3. Exposed corners - the skin doesn't even cover the corners of the phone. If on an you drop it on a corner edge you will dent the case easily
4. Feel - The edges of each individual piece don't line up properly on the phone, the screen protector is off to one side a little and the other pieces on the skin don't line up. This makes it so the edges of each piece you can really FEEL. It really ruins it.
5. The edges also give the edges of the touch screen a rough edge that you can easily see over the black sections of the digitizer.
I will try and get some photos tonight of everything I am talking about. All in all i am VERY unhappy with the Zagg.
So the question is do I take it off and deal with no protection, or say screw it and leave it on?

As for the way the screen looks and the tackiness, that will change over time. The screen should clear up in a couple days. The tackiness goes away the more you handle the phone... the oils from your hands will change the feel over time and make it very smooth in comparison to what it feels like right now. On my G1, I can honestly say it took a few weeks of normal use and the tackiness was gone... you just have to give this time.
As for the edges and corners... well that's why I would personally go for the BSE skin... they did a much better job of covering the corners properly. If the installation on some of the pieces is out of alignment, I'd take it back and tell them to redo it properly.

There would be no way for them to actually DO that. Looking at the piece you can clearly see some are too small for the areas they are trying to cover.
Ill give the skin a few weeks and see how it feels.
For those of you interested here are some photos from the other thread that explain what I mean PERFECTLY
http://adambuckeridge.com/nexus-one/zagg-nexus-one

Well, as far as the screen protector size... EVERY stick-on protector is short. I'm guessing they all used the same template before the phone came out and are too lazy to change it.

I thought it was supposed to be invisible?

On all my previous phone, 4 so far, i used Invisible Shield, all installed on my own, and had always recommended it frens. So naturally i ordered InvisibleShield before i ordered my N1.
Previously InvisibleShield shipping was fast, this time round Nexus One came first and the shield came nearly 2 weeks after that. I never use the phone till the shield came, since i still had my old phone.
The InvisibleShield was PITA to install, the corners was not covered (as usual), the fit sucks!, Alot of big gaps here and there, i tried installing it 4-5 times, no matter how i tried i was not happy with the fit and quality.
So i return them for a refund, I needed a skin badly so i google around and read on several forums to find a better replacement.
I found BestSkinsEver, read alot of gd reviews on it, but was skeptical since the price was way cheaper then other full body skin out there.
When it arrives, i was abit disappointed. It came in a small envelope, whereas Zagg came with cardboard box with application pad and stuff. So i followed the online instruction on how to install BSE, i was amaze at how easy it was to install!
Other then mixing your own application liquid, the fit was great. I installed it once and it fit perfect!!! Very minimal bubbles, all the corners were covered!!! I did not use the screen protector though, since i prefered matt ones, easier to use Swype with.
Its been more then a month since i used BSE, still looks great. Corners not lifting, no signs of dirt trap on the sides, a prob i use always have with Zagg.
I highly recommend BSE, cheaper, fits great, cover corners, easy to install and also very enviromental friendly shipping package.

ur meant to leave it overnight after applying the skin

jcohenlv said:
So here in Las Vegas there is a Zagg store. Based on everyone's recommendation I decided to get a Zagg InvisiShield for my phone. I picked up 2 or 3 of the demo phones and was like hey this doesn't feel stick or tacky like everyone said it would!
So i look at the prices:
Zagg Full Body Skin $21
Installation $12 includes free Zagg microfiber bag.
So I decided to say OK, Ill let them install it so if they screw something up they can fix it on the spot. The fate of my phone is in their hands. I go to the counter and they tell me come back in 30 minutes.
So i am roaming around the mall, spending money on other crap I don't need. 30 minutes later I go back and pick up my phone. The moment I pick it up i am like WTF! Phone feels like its wrapped in a used condom!
I ask the sales associate why it doesn't feel like the "demo" phone and he goes ohhh that's the wrong one out there. That phone was put out there to show all the scratches on it. I go grab the demo phone and go dude where are the scratches on this thing!! There were none I was FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!
So needless to say I have this $40+ dollar Zagg POS on my phone and I am really hating it, but I cant bring myself to tear it off and lose my $40. I don't know what to do.
Things I immediately noticed for those of you who want to know what to expect from a Zagg InvisiShield.
1. Tacky Tacky Tacky - Phone feels like it wrapped in a used condom
2. Screen Resolution - This thing KILLS the look of the screen. Looks like a TV wrapped in Saran Wrap
3. Exposed corners - the skin doesn't even cover the corners of the phone. If on an you drop it on a corner edge you will dent the case easily
4. Feel - The edges of each individual piece don't line up properly on the phone, the screen protector is off to one side a little and the other pieces on the skin don't line up. This makes it so the edges of each piece you can really FEEL. It really ruins it.
5. The edges also give the edges of the touch screen a rough edge that you can easily see over the black sections of the digitizer.
I will try and get some photos tonight of everything I am talking about. All in all i am VERY unhappy with the Zagg.
So the question is do I take it off and deal with no protection, or say screw it and leave it on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% spot on.
I just bought the screen shield part, and it looked like goat crap, and it wass tacky as hell. The fit was poor because it's too floppy to align, the bubbles that are supposed to go away after 24 hours didn't and there were areas around the edges that didn't stay down.
I hated it, ripped it off the phone after the 25th hour and I'll badmouth those crappy shields for the rest of my life, or until I can't remember what a Nexus One was anymore. A warranty of a lifetime replacement of goat poop is worthless to me. It was a complete waste of my time and money.
I ended up buying a Seidio case for it - it's nice and easy to remove. I will look into another brand of screen protector. I don't care if they don't last forever - if it goes a day without looking like crap it's way ahead of a Zagg. I guess when it looks that bad to begin with, you can't really tell when it's degrading too easily.
Bottom line - and I have seen a lot of them since, is that they are ALL tacky, they ALL look like crap and the ALL introduce tons of artifacts to the screen.
Buyer beware - there is no money back on these.
jamesyb0i said:
ur meant to leave it overnight after applying the skin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did. It was still an awful pile of crap on my screen after 24 hours - and I let it sit. It was the first time I didn't have to charge a battery in a while.
rotohammer said:
I thought it was supposed to be invisible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was a joke, right?

Meh. Zagg makes good products overall... But the FIT on the N1 is absolutely atrocious. I will gladly buy a custom zaggskin if they can get a proper fit... I just emailed them to request information on possible plans to change their design for better corner coverage, or any other options they might be able to offer.
I'm not expecting anything in regards to getting a skin from them... But I'll hope nonetheless. (I would buy BSE, but I'd REALLY love to have a custom design if Zagg can answer my request.)

uansari1 said:
As for the way the screen looks and the tackiness, that will change over time. The screen should clear up in a couple days. The tackiness goes away the more you handle the phone... the oils from your hands will change the feel over time and make it very smooth in comparison to what it feels like right now. On my G1, I can honestly say it took a few weeks of normal use and the tackiness was gone... you just have to give this time.
As for the edges and corners... well that's why I would personally go for the BSE skin... they did a much better job of covering the corners properly. If the installation on some of the pieces is out of alignment, I'd take it back and tell them to redo it properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should and does are two different things. I've seen lots of them on iphones, and they all look like crap, all of them with some bubbling under gooey, sticky plastic and no small amount of screen distortion. After I bought mine, I inspected installations of Zagg at Best Buy where I bought it - guess what? There were about a half dozen of them on test phone and they were all tacky. According to the resident geek, most of them were on there for well over a couple of weeks. The tackiness may diminish somewhat over time, but it will never be gone. Anyone who says otherwise is full of it.
I think the reason these are so over-hyped is because people feel like they were fools for spending upwards of $15.00 for a cheap chunk of stamped plastic that performs so poorly, so they promote them instead. What a crock.

I bought one for my Zune 120 and installed the back and didn't bother installing the rest of it. Ended up taking it off the back. I will never buy any more of these "cover all" device covers again.

another thing that that might not be evident right away is that crud sticks to the outer edges of these types of screen protectors i had this on two non touch screen phones and didn't mind it except for the gummy crap that i'd be peeling away from the edges all the time.

attn1 said:
Should and does are two different things. I've seen lots of them on iphones, and they all look like crap, all of them with some bubbling under gooey, sticky plastic and no small amount of screen distortion. After I bought mine, I inspected installations of Zagg at Best Buy where I bought it - guess what? There were about a half dozen of them on test phone and they were all tacky. According to the resident geek, most of them were on there for well over a couple of weeks. The tackiness may diminish somewhat over time, but it will never be gone. Anyone who says otherwise is full of it.
I think the reason these are so over-hyped is because people feel like they were fools for spending upwards of $15.00 for a cheap chunk of stamped plastic that performs so poorly, so they promote them instead. What a crock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, then allow me to clarify. It DOES clear up if you install it properly. I've been using Zagg or Zagg-like products since I had my T-mobile Dash. It's just like installing window tint... if you're completely haphazard with it, it will look like crap. But in all the ones I've applied, they've all LOOKED great, aside from the orange peel effect that's evident on just about all the skin-type products. The best that I have used thus far is Clear Protector. I've had their screen protector on my G1 for almost 9 months and it looks perfect still.
Also, it (and the others) was tacky coming from just the glass screen at first. Over time the CP on the G1 has gotten MUCH smoother and less sticky. I suspect a small amount of this change is really just me getting used to the film and forgetting how smooth the glass is on its own (I remember when I took the last Zagg off my G1 prior to the CP and being surprised at how much more slick it felt), but I have compared it to one of my fresher installs and there's a noticeable difference.
Anyway, my main point is that you're right about the tackiness never completely going away, but wrong about the screen looking like crap after the install has settled. If it still looks like crap after a few days, then the installer screwed up.

uansari1 said:
Anyway, my main point is that you're right about the tackiness never completely going away, but wrong about the screen looking like crap after the install has settled. If it still looks like crap after a few days, then the installer screwed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it's evident that it's pretty damn easy to screw up, because every installation I have seen looks screwed up. Even if there were no bubbles, the screen look mottled and distorted. And if you look closely enough, there are always bubbles.
As far as my own experience goes, I didn't just "haphazardly" apply it - I followed the directions supplied with it to a T.
That "orange peel effect" you refer to is NOT on all screen protectors - this isn't my first go 'round with screen protectors.
The Zagg product is just a lousy, crappy, overpriced, poorly engineered product, and I don't know how anyone being objective could think otherwise. The fact that a company provides no avenue for refund is very telling about their product. Effectively, there is no satisfaction guarantee - a guaranteed lifetime supply of goat dung isn't satisfaction.

uansari1 said:
you're ... wrong about the screen looking like crap after the install has settled. If it still looks like crap after a few days, then the installer screwed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, can I point out here that "looks like crap" is completely subjective? You may have been happy with it but I was never very happy with mine. The fact is the thing is not completely "invisible" - the orange peel effect is very noticeable and it's going to be up to each individual user to determine how acceptable that is. I thought it looked like ass, myself.
Frankly, I was just thoroughly unhappy with the Zagg Invisible Shield. The whole-body protector was utter sh*t, with the corners peeling up left and right, and gunk getting under all the corners making them impossible to stick back down (not to mention the large gaps at the corners), and even the screen protector got lint and dust under the edges, bubbling it up. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so outrageously expensive and unable to be removed and re-applied.

attn1 said:
Well, it's evident that it's pretty damn easy to screw up, because every installation I have seen looks screwed up. Even if there were no bubbles, the screen look mottled and distorted. And if you look closely enough, there are always bubbles.
As far as my own experience goes, I didn't just "haphazardly" apply it - I followed the directions supplied with it to a T.
That "orange peel effect" you refer to is NOT on all screen protectors - this isn't my first go 'round with screen protectors.
The Zagg product is just a lousy, crappy, overpriced, poorly engineered product, and I don't know how anyone being objective could think otherwise. The fact that a company provides no avenue for refund is very telling about their product. Effectively, there is no satisfaction guarantee - a guaranteed lifetime supply of goat dung isn't satisfaction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I agree, Zagg isn't the best out there, I can guarantee there are at least a couple that are worse! Anyway, there is enough competition and alternatives to never have to buy either of those brands, including Zagg.
binary visions said:
Uh, can I point out here that "looks like crap" is completely subjective? You may have been happy with it but I was never very happy with mine. The fact is the thing is not completely "invisible" - the orange peel effect is very noticeable and it's going to be up to each individual user to determine how acceptable that is. I thought it looked like ass, myself.
Frankly, I was just thoroughly unhappy with the Zagg Invisible Shield. The whole-body protector was utter sh*t, with the corners peeling up left and right, and gunk getting under all the corners making them impossible to stick back down (not to mention the large gaps at the corners), and even the screen protector got lint and dust under the edges, bubbling it up. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so outrageously expensive and unable to be removed and re-applied.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with your initial comment... and on a continuum of various subjective outcomes, I'd hardly say Zagg looks like crap. Ghost Armor is the worst I've found....yellowing after only a couple months. I'm sure others are also pretty crappy in comparison since the number of knockoffs is staggering. That being said, there are many products superior to the Zagg as well. Clear Protector, PhantomSkinz, BSE, etc.
I should clarify, contrary to what it seems you guys think, that I was never totally happy with the InvisibleSHIELD. I much preferred the Clear Protector on my G1...and on my N1, I am thoroughly happy with the dcmugen88 static screen protectors. So if I came off as a gung-ho Zagg fan... I'm not. I do think they're overpriced (seriously, $15 for just a screen protector is retarded), and there are better alternatives for less.
The point I was trying to get across, which everyone seems hellbent on disputing is that how good you are at installing makes a difference, sometimes all the difference. I can install at least the screen protector portions of these skin-type products with my eyes closed and the next day you won't even see them on there...I'm sure others can too cuz it's not rocketscience. On the other hand, I'm sure some of you don't have the patience or skill to get it looking that good either... just the way things are. That's all I'm saying. Anyway, if you guys want a great screen protector, I've been saying for over a month to go with dcmugen88... exactly the same as the Seidio product at a fraction of the price...or if you want a skin, get the BSE (Best Skins Ever) product. Paul22000's installation pics are proof positive that it's the best skin for our phones.

Well, I stand corrected. Evidently, there is an avenue for a partial refund. I say partial because the buyer is on the hook for shipping the entire package back to Zagg, and that's not free. You also need to get it done within 45 days and have your original sales receipt.
In the end, you can get SOME money back in exchange for a boatload more effort than it's worth. Still, I'd rather give the post office some money and Zagg zip, zilch, nada - so I'll be enduring the aggravation of the pursuit of a refund on general principle.
Update: After two days, I got an email back from Zagg effectively saying they don't refund items they didn't sell directly. This is not a returnable item from the retailer I bought it from - so I am back to getting even more camel dung for my money - or nothing. I choose nothing and a lesson learned.

attn1 said:
That was a joke, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, but but someone was bound to say it.

rotohammer said:
Of course, but but someone was bound to say it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you forgot to say "bazinga!"

Ok so its been 4 days ......
Case is still Tacky, not as bad as day 1 but still tacky!
Orange peel effect on the screen has not cleared up!
Dust and gunk are starting to build up on the edges and its been in the micro fiber bag since I bought it..... what a POS.
If you say the orange peel affect is from "poor installation" I will laugh my butt off. This was installed BY A ZAGG REP IN A ZAGG STORE! So don't give me crap about "poor installation"
I have decided to make a compromise on this. I am going to keep the full body and just replace the screen protector portion of it. I cant stand the way it affects the way it makes the screen more difficult to type on. So now I am looking for a good CLEAR screen protector.
Any recommendations?

Clear Smoke Snap-On Case for T Mobile G2

So today I receive my Clear Smoke Snap On Case from DAYDEAL.COM on Ebay. I always like the smoke look on my phones when purchasing a case, so my decision was no different this time around. The case overall does not restrict the phone functions or slide out keyboard. Phone is protected well from the top and bottom, sides vary because of the large volume key on the phone. The case is more design to protect your phone from scratches, nicks, and knee height drops. Personally I believe major drops like, phone falling when leaving your car, might be pushing it. Case does fits well onto the phone, so you don't have to worry about it falling apart when in use.
Overall I give case a 8/10 base on value, minor protection, and overall design and look on the phone.
I have posted some pictures on my gallery using image shack, see below.
h t t p://img443.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=clearsmokecase.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=clearsmokecase.jpg

Thank you

Thanks for including the pics!
I just have a couple questions:
How much bulk does it feel like it adds to the phone?
Does it collect a lot of finger prints?

Troggie81 said:
Thanks for including the pics!
I just have a couple questions:
How much bulk does it feel like it adds to the phone?
Does it collect a lot of finger prints?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can answer your second question without a problem, I work doing vinyl manufacturing so grease, dust, and dirt are a daily routine for my phone. So far it has pass the test with two days under these conditions, NO PRINTS, scratches, or stains. Adds no bulk what so whatever, which is a plus. Only complaint is that it's really hard to take off, but that's a good thing also.

Where you get it?
Edit:nvm found out
Sent from my HTC Vision G2

I have the clear version of this... well the place where I got my phone provided me one for free. It's pretty decent for free... as with all cases it'll make your phone look prettty lame but that's the price for protection.
Easy put on, the part that is on the screen is easily taken off but the part attacked to the keyboard and battery are a little harder.

Just got this from daydeal and got to say its fantastic for the price better than the seidio one I had for my milestone thanks op

Just received mine today. Most cases look pretty stupid but I think the "smoke" appearance to this unit actually make the whole thing look pretty nice.

Have the same (?) model and my experinence is the same. The phone feels really protected, but adds bulk and makes it look a bit silly. Almost feels like my old SE P990.
Still it fits snuggly and can't think of a better solution if one wants more than scratch protection.

GelaSkins for Desire HD

Hi has anyone tried the GelaSkins available for the DHD? they look pretty sweet:
http://www.gelaskins.com/store/skins/phones/HTC_Desire_HD/
The iphone skins have some good reviews on youtube.
Might look at getting a custom one sent out in the next few weeks.

They look nice. A good way to make your phone more unique.
Fashion for the phone. Minimal protection I expect.
Post some pics please if you get one in the future.

nice .. but i think protection is more important .. is there any case (softcase or any) that also have design like this too ? it will be more interesting ..

I like the one which london city, i remember it is a game on iphone. forgot what is the name, is it on android by any chance?

I had a few of these skins for ny iPhone. its a nice way to customize your phone but that's about it. will only protect against very light scratches. you'll need a proper case if your prone to dropping your phone. if your not or like your phone to be naked then by all means go this route.

i am using one gelaskin. well its very nice but it doesn't protect from falls, just from scratches. but it changes the look of your device. i love them!

I have GelaSkins on my iPhone and also on my Kindle 3. They look really nice if you apply them correctly (I managed to install mine just fine, though the youtube videos made it look exceptionally hard).
However, I prefer them much more on the Kindle as its a bigger device and also, less prone to needing too much protection.
I used the iPhone with just the skin for a few days, then gave up and started using it with the skin AND a case. So not really worth it, IMO, if you want protection.
With the design of the DHD, I feel the skins are useless as I would always be worried about the Sim cover popping off if I used it naked. I use it with a silicon back cover and am happy.
Overall, save your money

Any site that sales/makes Custom battery covers?

I'm not looking for a custom case for my note 4, because I don't use cases or screen protectors for any phone I have ever owned. (all of them still look almost brand new after having owned them for over a year) What I am looking for is a website that either sales, or will let me design a nes controller back cover for my note 4. I know that I can goto a site like skinit, and design a sticker that I can put on my phone, but the back cover is removable, so why can't I just completely replace it? It'll not only make my phone look even cooler, but also remove the AT&T logo on the back (which isn't even the reason for do this. I just want a fancy back cover) I know that this probably isn't that popular since most people put a case on their phone, but I don't want to put a case on my phone. Yes I know it isn't smart to go without a case on an $800 phone, but I don't care. I like how the phone looks and feels without it.

I was wondering the same thing. I found an R2D2 one which was awesome but I have the charcoal one. Right now I'm just going with the stock white cover.

I used to be all about skins and such on my phones, ordering a couple from.... I forget the site, it's not DecalGirl, but the other pretty popular one (much better quality). Then I was about to order a new one one day, and it struck me; "I don't really want to spend $15 and wait 2 weeks for this... I bet I could get myself a pack of vinyl adhesive inkjet paper, put together a template in PS, then print whatever design I want on high quality paper..." Well, that's a bet I would have won.
To really print up a nice looking skin, first make sure your template's perfect, good paper isn't super cheap, but again, you can find a pack of 10 for about $15, so I could print out a new one... ya know, in the interest of keeping it fresh, then cut very carefully... I use high quality scissors for most of the outline, then break out the exacto knifes. To cut out some holes, I attach a super sharp exacto knife to a compass, and for really small ones, sometimes I'll use an old soldering iron which works quite well. Last thing before application, I highly recommend 2 coats of this "finishing" spray. It both protects the image from degrading, and makes the colors pop nicely. The stuff I use is called Modge Podge super acrylic sealer. Two light-ish coats letting it dry after each, and using a brush to smooth out the spray on the image immediately after each coat.
Depending on your... "arts and crafts" skill,s a skin that you order will likely be higher quality, but with a little practice you can make your own that are close enough, then you can change it up whenever the mood strikes you. Just a suggestion, but personally I ended up preferring my own OG work, plus I've got a stash of vinyl sticker paper just in case anything else happens to be in need of some decoration. If you decide to go that route and need some advice, don't hesitate to hit me up

iAmkin9 said:
I was wondering the same thing. I found an R2D2 one which was awesome but I have the charcoal one. Right now I'm just going with the stock white cover.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you find this r2d2 back cover?

Can't post links but eBay "Star Wars R2D2 Robot Battery Housing Back Cover For Samsung Galaxy / Note Phone"

Making my own sounds like a lot of work. I suppose if I so ever decide to go the stick on route, I'll probably just buy one.

I decided to make a ballistic nylon back like the Droid Turbo.if I ever go through with it I'll post pics.

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welcome