Invisibleshield, comments, experiences?

[Xaeron]

theinvisibleshield.com/ipod_screen_protectors.html

The video, theinvisibleshield.com/invisibleshield_demo_videos.html , looked really cool

I just placed an order for the iPod Nano full body protector.

Does anyone have any experience with this company? Or its products whatsoever?

the application instructions are something I worry about, theinvisibleshield.com/application.html
So there's a need to wet the film etc, but I guess they have made sure it won't damage the iPod.

It's not that cheap though, but hopefully it will be worth the money.

EDIT: Damn, sorry, I put this in the wrong forum.

If somebody from the staff could move it, much appreciated.

[random person]

I came across Invisible Shield at the Macworld Expo in Boston. The shield looked very cool, so I had the CEO of the company put in on my B&W 4G Ipod right on the spot. That's a good thing, as once I saw it done, there was no way I would ever do it myself!

First, a fair amount of water is sprayed on the shield. Much more than I expected. It's necessary so that the shield can be shifted and smoothed once it's on the device. My Ipod worked fine afterwards but this is not something I would do again, now that I can see how much water is involved.

Secondly, once the shield is in place, it lends a kind of pixellation shimmer to the screen itself. This is no big deal on the black and white Ipods but it is definitely an annoyance on the color screens (I went back to the booth to check this out directly) as it reduces the clarity of the screen and the sharpness of the imags and text. It's a shimmering, slightly rainbow effect. Definitely not good on a color screen. So, while I had bought an additional shield for my 60 gig color, I went back to Macworld to return it the next day.

Finally, once I had it done I realized there is some inherent illogic in using films like this. They immortilize forever whatever fingerprints and smudges were already on the back of your Ipod -- after all, you have to handle the thing to put the screen film on, and once you put it on, you can never clean your Ipod again. And as for scratches, while your actual screen is protected, the film itself does scratch. There is a self-healing aspect to the film in that some scratches kind of fix themselves, but some do not. So you've gone through this entire process to protect your screen and pod from scratches, only to result in a film that gets all scratched up anyway.

The moral of this story? Cancel your order and wait for a case where you can remove your pristine Nano any time you want.

[Aristotle]

oh, good thing you posted that, I was really considering purchasing one as well.

[jstylex0r]

$20? oh cmon what a rip off do you really need that on ur ipod

[wytwolf]

Yeah i just went to the source (radio shack for americans) and paid 6 bucks CAD for 4 universal screen protector sheets. I already had a speck tightskin so i didn't need anything for the back. I do have a slight rainbow effect on my 30GB photo, but I can live with a slight rainbow effect over my screen looking like a skating rink.

One plus is that I had one noticable scratch, which is now unnoticable under the protector. My old iskin hard screen protector doesn't fit my tightskin and my iskin doesn't fight my dock. So if i want to use my dock it's my best/cheapest route.

[gouged]

damn i was heavily considering purchasing this skin, it looked to be the best clear thin wrap out there for the nano even though its expensive

but that review is making me think otherwise. is it really as much of a hassle and as unclear (rainbow effect) as he says..?

i wish i could see one in person myself

so whats the best alternative to the invisible shield?

[teh-cut]

So my plan for a clean nano is:

Go to dust free paint booth, take ipod of of box wearing latex surgical gloves, cover with clear plastic/vinyl shield of sort.

[talksalot81]

Originally posted by teh-cut
So my plan for a clean nano is:

Go to dust free paint booth, take ipod of of box wearing latex surgical gloves, cover with clear plastic/vinyl shield of sort.

Anyone who wants..... i can get you access to a high grade clean room for the right price

[Aristotle]

lol

[bav]

i kind of placed an order for the invisible shields.. but for some reason the payment failed..

THANK GOD, cos after reading the instructions on how to apply the shield, i got well nervous.. that much water on an electrical appliance? come on!!

one of the guys who works there emailed me saying that my order wasn't processed completely and was basically saying how good the things are and trying to get me to replace the order!

i'm with the rest of you guys.. No Thanks..

I'll go naked for now...

[gouged]

bav, where did you see the instructions for applying? didnt see it on the website

[Xaeron]

Originally posted by gouged
bav, where did you see the instructions for applying? didnt see it on the website

Here's the instructions: theinvisibleshield.com/application.html
and on the url below is a review of the product, with pictures.


rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2005/GearNGadgets/September2005/RDMGG_InvisibleShieldFirstLook.htm

[gouged]

wow that review makes it seem like it wasnt really that big of a deal after all
argh.. who to trust? :P

xaeron, what do you think of the invisible shield now that people have posted their opinions?

[random person]

Just to chime in again on this -- I suppose you could say it's no big deal in that even after all that water was applied (he used a small spray bottle and sprayed it multiple times until the shield was very wet) the Ipod did work fine the next day. I say "next day" because I was told it takes that long for the shield to "set" --ie: "dry." Plus it is a tricky business to put it on as you need all that water to keep the thing sliding properly so it can seat exactly where you want it. And you might still be left with some air bubbles (mine was applied by the CEO so there were no air bubbles to speak of by the next day.) Still it is alarming how much water is used -- I would never have agreed to have him do it if I knew!

That said, the pod I had done is very cool now and it feels different in the hand. It is a cool substance, no doubt about it. So if you have the stomach for wetting your device well then by all means do it.

But, as for the screen pixillation effect -- let me explain that you certainly can still see the screen after the skin is on. It is not obscured. It is, however, shimmery afterwards, with some rainbowing. Kind of like what you see when you are too close to a cheap Plasma tv. You can see the image, but it slightly riggles at the edges. I really like the sharpness of the color screened Ipods so I definitely would not apply one to a Color Pod, even though I thought the Black and White one came out fine.

Funny, while I was at the booth returning my Shield there was someone buying one for his PC screen, of all things! Imagine putting all that water ON YOUR LAPTOP SCREEN? Eek!

[Xaeron]

Originally posted by gouged
wow that review makes it seem like it wasnt really that big of a deal after all
argh.. who to trust? :P

xaeron, what do you think of the invisible shield now that people have posted their opinions?

Tricky question, I have read quite a few reviews, or more like comments, of the invisibleshield and most of them have been positive.

The only thing that bothers me is the water part. I can't imagine myself wetting my nano, not at all :I

For the time being I have cancelled my invisibleshield order and wait for other ilounge users' comments. Or maybe some other clear 'case' is coming soon enough.

One thing I know: I want clear vinyl-like protection.