Apple introduced an oleophobic screen with the iPhone 3GS that repels fingerprints and other minor oil stains. The iPad and next generation touch products will likely also carry this technology.
Apple introduced an oleophobic screen with the iPhone 3GS that repels fingerprints and other minor oil stains. The iPad and next generation touch products will likely also carry this technology.
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the oleophobic screen that doesn’t work at all….
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I don’t care if they endorse screen protectors or not, i’m still useing one. It’s nice that their new technology keeps
most of the oil off the screen, but that doesn’t prevent scratches getting on the Screen.
Let’s do a poll: who here has a screen protector for their apple device, and of those who do, did you buy it at an apple store?
I’ve used a screen protector on my iPod Touch since day one. I’ve already ordered one for the iPad I’ve yet to receive. I’m all for ‘em.
Hi, can you tell me where you ordered your Ipad Screen protector?????
I don’t care if they endorse screen protectors or not, i’m still useing one. It’s nice that their new technology keeps
most of the oil off the screen, but that doesn’t prevent scratches getting on the Screen.
oleophobic screen works fine for me. Carry my 3GS in my pocket. no scratches. fingerprints wipe clean after eatin the Colonels Chicken
The oleophobic screen coating is listed on the iPad’s “Tech Specs” page as an included feature.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
No screen protector here…NO scratches & I keep in my right pocket all day.
I consciously place everything else in left pocket though. I’ve had my 3Gs since day 1 of release.
[QUOTE=DoNoHarm;9453799]these protectors are completely unnescessairy. I applaud Apple for this decision. Unless you have sapphire or diamonds hanging out in your pocket, your screen will not scratch from keys or other metal objects. If there is an impact of sufficient force to crack glass to begin with, there’s not that much that a thin screen protector will do – the force of impact will likely be transferred to the glass anyway.[/QUOTE]
I’ve always had a Power Support screen protector on my first gen iPhone and when I got the 3GS, I decided that I would forego one this time around. Well, after 2 months of ownership, I had 2 scratches that were toward the middle of my screen. It’s not generally noticeable but against a white background, it’s very annoying. Having a screen protector just adds another layer of protection for those who are a little more “rough” with their phone. What the hell is wrong with that? Is Apple claiming their screen is scratch-proof? Are they willing to replace scratched screens for free? I have “scratch resistant” lenses on my sunglasses yet they still have scratches.
Nothing is scratch-proof, they just don’t want to sell it. That’s all.
Get over it.
3GS Scratch within one week of owning – freaking pissed. Always keep in pocket by itself. Since my scratch I have had a screen protector on it but can still see the scratch! ArgH!
I wonder how much of this has to do with people bringing back things, having the protectors removed (ruined) and then not replaced. It’s made worse if Apple actually sells the product to you and then says it’s nit supported or whatever when they remove it. It’s not like BestBuy or websites are going to stop selling them.
I wonder if this related to an upcoming change to the screen on the MacBook Pros? I like almost everything about my MacBook Pro except the glossy screen. I know I am not the only one, and an anti-glare screen film can address that. I’m sure Apple knows that many people buy it for that purpose. So maybe they are going to have anti-glare screens on the new laptops?
My unibody MacBook Pro has no glossy screen… You had the option to get a matte finish when you bought it…
not on the 13 or 15 MBP
I think this has more to do with support staff getting annoyed by customers asking them to remove bubbles from the film, and returns.
Never had a need for them anyways. My 3 year old iTouch always gets mixed with coins in my pocket, and there still isn’t a single scratch on the screen.
God is with you, anybody else would have a ton of scratches on it.
Apple = Glare
“Apple = glare…”
CONCUR!
I have screen protectors on my iPhone and iPod Touch, and only occasionally do I have to wipe any smudges off. Zero scratches after nearly two years.
I DESPISE the prevalent glossy screens on just about anything. To already have to pay an extra $50 for an anti-glare screen is a joke.
For use at home or away, I need something that won’t be reflecting my surrounding environment(s), and aside from the appearance of slightly darker blacks and higher resolution, I find glossy screens impractical and frustrating to look at.
My wife has iphone 3G with no screen protector and treats it like dirt – zero scratches.
I have the oleophobic 3GS and basically wrap it in silk everyday keeping it away from EVERYTHING and it has 5 scratches on it. Go figure. Very VERY disappointed with the “wonder coating” of tomorrow.
I will keep my screen protector unless it becomes a functional issue. I use my iPhone in work environments that are less than ideal – outdoor, dirty, greasy. It is an invaluable tool and my respect for it continues to increase after 1.5 years. It is excellent for taking notes and pictures, then emailing them to yourself at work.
By the way, you can put it in a plastic zip lock bag and it works fine! Maybe a little difficult to see in sunlight, but some protection if you drop it in the mud or from rain.
This has more to do with customers requesting Apple Store employees to put the screen protectors on their devices. If the employee got the installation wrong it would create a return. Apple first response to this was to now allow employees to install them. I assume this forced customers to install the screens themselves but still created a return situation when the customer could not get it right. Apple latest (and last) response to this is now to stop selling them completely.
I have a screen protector for my 3GS. When I bought the phone, the Apple Store employee strongly pushed me to buy the protector, and even got nervous when I started taking off the plastic coating the comes on the phone. When I bought the screen protector a couple weeks later, a different employee offered to clean off the screen with a liquid cleaner and install the protector. So I’m surprised at this reversal of policy.
I don’t know if the iphone really needs this film. Fingerprints and oil tend to show up more strongly on the screen protector than on the plain oleophobic coating, from what I remember. And a number of people are claiming that keys and coins don’t scratch the glass.
The idea of Apple pulling them because of the returns makes more sense than anything to me. I don’t think it’s because Apple thinks their screens are 100% unscratchable, as many have guessed. Back in the days of the Handspring PDA I used screen protectors. They were a PITA to put on the device, and I never once got it bubble-free.
I’m on my second iPhone now, never have used a screen protector for them, and haven’t had problems with scratches, either. But I use a really slim slipcase for protection.
I also wonder if it’s not so much keys and coins that scratch the glass, but bits of sand or grit that do it. I dunno…
I used to work at an Apple Store and remember that at one point in time the managers forbade all of the staff from helping customers to put screen protectors on their iPhone/iPod touch because a lot the customers who didn’t like the way it looked wanted a new one. This just seems like the next level of that cause I know some stores will put screen protectors on for you. Putting one screen protectors takes patience which a lot of people don’t have. People just want things done quickly so they can be on their way. People need to slow down sometimes.
The iPad doesn’t “Likely” have an oleophobic screen. Apple confirms it.
On the Apple Website for Ipad under Tech Specs it says it does Have an oleophobic Screen
I think that an oleophobic screen is really good.It will be good that iPad will also carry this an oleophobic screen.I also think that there should have a screen protector for iPhone as I use screeen protector for my iPhone.
No fingerprints or oil stains but how will I prevent SCRATCHES???
And don’t anyone say be more careful
Be. More. Careful.
Trust me, it works
- iPod Touch 2nd Gen. No scratches, no protective film.
apple are still selling the screen protectors in the UK i went to the Apple store in Trafford Centre on Tuesday and it was on sale there and is still available on the online store Thursday 18 March 2010 15:38 UK
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/TS505LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0NA&mco=MTM3NTE3MzA
c’mon… screen protectors ARE useless…. i keep my iphone in my pocket everyday… with keys and stuff… no scratches at all. This glass IS hard! (heard it’s made in germany
)
In my opinion, anyone who spends money for a screen protector could have done better…. e.g. by spending it on some useless apps
i had a screen protector that came with the case i bought for my itouch, and to be fair it drove me nuts, i could never get it be buble free i got frustrated by it and took it off for good a long time ago more trouble than they are worth for me personally
I have tiny hair line scratches in the top right hand side of my screen. No idea why until I realises it’s when I make a call and my diamond earrings rub on the screen. Diamonds cut glass. No offence but screens must have been designed by a man!
The report is completely mistaken. I’ve been to at least four Apple Stores across the country in the last month—including the Cube—and not only does every one of them still carry screen protectors on the shelves, none of them have heard any talk of “banning” them from the Stores.
As far as the need, doubtful. Preference, however, is another matter entirely. I use the Power Support anti-glare screen protector in my 3GS and will use it on my iPad as soon as is available; I like the feel of it, I like of the lack of harsh reflection, and I like the fact I’m not compulsively cleaning the fingerprints.
The problem with all protective coverings for ipods, iphones, ipads is that dirt WILL find a way inside. That is, between the protective layer and the unit itself (more so with cases than film protectors). So what happens, is that the tiny particles of dirt that accumulate inside will begin to rub against the surface of the unit and cause scratching. This happens as a result of merely having the device with you – moving around in your pocket, purse, or bag, picking up lint, particles of dirt and debris. The metal bezel is especially vulnerable to this sort of thing.
But as far as the screen goes, I don’t think the film protectors do anything, other than giving the owner the illusion of peace of mind. I have all the iphones, an ipod classic and an ipad. The only screen that scratched was my 1st gen ipod. That screen, of course, is not glass.
What would be nice, is if the device housing was constructed with materials that would actually look better with age, gaining a nice heirloom patina on it. Wood, glass and polishable metals work well for this.
I personally think it has more to do with the fact that people tend to hang onto their iphones longer than most phones in large part because of the fact that the new iphone models are infamous for adding extremely minor changes/features from model to model. By not offering people screen protectors he’s banking on the liklihood that more people will get scratches on their screens and since Apple doesn’t allow their customers to purchase accidental insurance on their iphones, people would be more inclined to use their upgrade on another Iphone. This is a much more cynical and sleazy interpretation but seeing how Jobs treats/restricts his rabid fan base it wouldn’t surprise me a bit. Steve Jobs puts the G in Greed.