Application on the front of the screen was a breeze, though I did have a bubble that didn't seem to want to go away. My first impression was that the screen was not crystal clear at all. It seemed hazy and was definitely not as smooth to the touch as the original screen. Installation on the back was hopeless. Most of the back went down just as smooth as the front. The problem was the edges. The iPhone 3G has much more rounded edges and the edges of the film just did not want to stay down at all, almost like it wasn't specifically made for the 3G model. Also, the coverage of the back of the screen, as well as a bit of the front, leaves some areas still exposed.
Overall, I would definitely stay away from this product, especially when I ended up paying almost double for the product, when the website shows the price as almost half the price. Again, do not make purchases when you're in a hurry, especially this product. I'm going to have to try to go back to the kiosk to see if I can remedy this problem, even though the receipt says "all sales are final". Let's see how good these people really are with standing by the products they sell and taking care of the customer.
UPDATE: I was finally able to get the corners down on the back film. However, there are a ton of blemishes. In first usage after letting it sit overnight, the screen quality has degraded quite a bit over not having the screen cover. Here's a picture:
Notice the bottom of the picture. Those blemishes show up all throughout the screen when light hits it and when the device is turned on. According to the manufacturers, I'm supposed to wait a day or two. But, I highly doubt that will go away with time.
Also, my fingers don't move over the screen cover nearly as smoothly as the original screen. One positive note, is that the lack of smoothness creates a less slippery device overall. It basically adds a bit of grip to the device, which means it's less likely to slip out of my hand in normal usage.
I still have not changed my stance on this product. It's not worth the $24.99 on the website, or the $40+ that I paid for it at the mall. I may still go back to try to salvage something out of this purchase, but I may just leave this on until it degrades and I need to add a new one. Good luck.
16 comments:
I bought the thing too, on the recommendation of one of the Apple store guys. The guy at the kiosk had his shill there to show me how great it looked on his phone, and it did. I bought it and he chucked it in a bag right away. When I got home and saw all the solutions, I got to thinking that it was unlikely to come off cleanly and so never put the thing on. I went and got a few of the static cling shields and am having no problems with them and know they'll come off when i want them to. It just didn't seem right to me to spray my new $300 phone with solution, or glue or whatever it is. They do say that exchange is OK with receipt, so I'm hoping they have something else I want though I'd rather just have a refund of course. Good luck with yours.
Thanks for the post. Here's an update. There is a kiosk a little farther down from the Apple Store that sells the original Invisible Shield and it's cheaper even with the installation cost. I watched the guy put it on and saw a finished product. Much more clear on the screen, though it still has a slightly sticky feel to it, which I like anyway because it gives the phone some grip. I also talked to the original guys who sold me the iShieldz product and a guy named Enad (I think) told me they were getting a redesigned one in a couple weeks and that I could come back and they would put that one on free of charge. I found out that the $40 I originally paid was supposed to include their installation. But, since I did it myself, they're going to redo it free of charge for me. I'm definitely going to hold them to it.
I had the same problem, however i went back to the iShieldz kiosk and had the person there install the product for me. At first it looked like the screen was distorted and wet. Then after about a day or two it cleared up and looked flawless. The back of the phone was a flat piece and it also had a few bubbles that soon disappeared. Overall i have had it on my phone now for a month and it looks fine. I think the price should be the same as the website but then again I think they charge for the install.
A.
You're right. They do charge for the install, as I asked them about it. It's funny that the guy charged me for it without even offering to do it the first time around.
I did end up going back and another guy there put a new one for me. It wasn't any redesigned version as I was told on a previous visit. But, it was better than my original install. The cover for the back remained on and the same, since my original installation for that one worked well enough for me. The back cover still doesn't cover as well as the real invisibleSHIELD for iPhone.
I did watch an install at the invisibleSHIELD kiosk a couple doors down from the iShieldz kiosk. The finished product looks just as good as my final iShieldz version and the back covers better. It was also just a tad cheaper than iShieldz.
I received my new cell phone 2 days ago, the T-Mobile G1 by Google, and immediately wanted to put something on the screen to protect it. I went out to the mall near my house in Brea, CA and found various alternatives of screen protectors, however none of the kiosks yet had a product to fit my new G1. One guy that was selling the iShieldz product suggested I try their website, which I did and I found that they offered a screen protector for the G1, so I ordered it for $19.95. It arrived today, Friday October 24, 2008 and I installed it earlier in the day. I was very meticulous with my installation and followed the instructions to the letter. So far it looks great and has not caused any degradation to the screen visibility. Overall I'm happy with my purchase from iShieldz; they had fast delivery and the product arrived as described. Just a side note: my kit came with only a single solution and I noticed in another post here that multiple bottles were mentioned, so I called the companies toll free number to make sure that I wasn't missing something in the package. I was told by some guy named Rick that all their products had recently undergone a redesign and the solution had been reformulated into one bottle, just in case another reader encounters the same thing.
HI - I got my ishieldz at the UTC kiosk as well. They declined to put it on despite my paying the extra fees they charge for that at the kiosk. When I tried the result was much like others have described - with degradation of the view. It took much "discussion" to get them to replace it and to put it on. The screen never looked quite right. I found them difficult and would never purchase from that kiosk again. It is all sales talk and you overpay to boot. Customer service is non-existent. When I went back in to the Apple Store the people inside told me they had heard many of these same complaints from lots of customers.
Thank you for this post and comments. Was helpful and much appreciated. They do try to hurry you.
I thought about doing this iShieldz, until I read this.
Has anyone since had a better experience?
Ishieldz sells their product to diffent stores and kiosk so the price the shield was at the kiosk or mall has nothing to do with ishieldz. Ishieldz shield is 19.97 for the front and 34.97 for the full wrap with install. That is if you go to the kiosk actually owned by Ishieldz. Also if you are to register your shield at ishieldz.com and its will to bubble up, peel up, turn yellow or even if they are too many stratches. They also don't charge you restall like invisible shield. Now if you want to take it home. The solution will NOT damage your phone! It is used to activate the adhesive on the back of the film. Plus only 2 sprays are necessary .If that is too many then just put none on you phone and extra on the shield. Now not all ishieldz are perfect so their maybe some duds but compared to shield of its kind ishield is far better!!! It IS the thinnest, clearest, strongest, most resistant to scratches and smudges on the market! They are also the ORIGINAL screen protection with FIRST patent. If the sometime haze is their only problem that is pretty good. Invisible shield bubbles up, peels up, turns yellow, is thick, leaves that same haze on your phone, charges you install everytime you have a problem and is far more expensive the ishieldz.
Thanks for the latest post on how well the iShieldz product works. It's been over 2 years since I put mine on my 3G (have I really had this phone that long?). I do agree that the blemishes I described and shows in the picture of my original post have been long gone. Since the original installation, the backing came off and I replaced it with a Moshi back cover. The front cover is still the original and still protecting the phone. However, there is a bubble in the cover between the bottom of the iPhone button and the edge of the phone. The same type of bubbles came up on the backing of the phone, which eventually caused me to replace it with the Moshi back cover. I will be replacing the phone soon, but I'm sure I will research further what product I use on the new phone. I would go with iShieldz again if the cost to get it installed was just a few dollars more than the product itself and not twice the price of the product.
To respond to the last comment, if you recommend going to a iShieldz-authorized distributor for installation, then make it easier on the consumer to tell the distributors apart. To me, that's what Invisible Shield does well. Otherwise, thanks for making a decent enough product that has protected the front of my 3G for a couple years now.
However the kiosk or store displays their product is not ishieldz fault. If the kiosk is displaying their product a lone like they are an ishieldz kiosk well shame on them. The only ishieldz kiosk paid for by the actual owner are located in the Inland Empire. I forgot to add in my last post if you purchase an ishieldz from their website or the company owned kiosk you can register for a lifetime warranty. This includes bubbling up, turning yellow, peeling up and even too many stretches. It is a really great product at a very low price. If anything do not waste your money on invisible shield they are all around awful.
Ishieldz will soon be releasing DRY APPLY shields. So those who don't trust the solution will not harm your devices ishieldz now will have dry apply. No solution. No waiting.
I bought it upon recommendation from the dealer and then purchased it and installed myself - BIG mistake - all the while I was doing it as per their instructions and video and thinking to myself - 'why am I spraying my phone' and it wrecked my phone! I've email the Ishieldz people with no response.
DON'T BUY IT or at least don't install it yourself.
Same things happened to me a $20 screen cover just gave my $600 iPhone water damage thanks ishieldz!
Freaking out right now.... Just had kiosk installation, and now can't hear out of the speaker (ear). I'm so pissed, and worried, though the ishieldz website says it should evaporate, I'm really distressed about this- it's my work phone, too! Crap crap crap!!!!!
Sorry about the phone. Hope you get it working again. Maybe let it dry out to see if it'll work again? Also, try a headset (preferrably wired) to see if it'll work too.
Good luck.
I bought ishieldz for my HTC incredible S, followed the instructions (video) exactly, and now my screen has water damage. So f'ing pissed, AHHHHHHH.
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