Best Iphone 3g Protection which doesnt make your iPhone Bulky / Ugly !

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Level 1

0 points

Best Iphone 3g Protection which doesnt make your iPhone Bulky / Ugly !

Hi,
Im trying to find the perfect protection for my iphone... In general, i really dont like the big ugly colored hard cases, or the soft one either ( it makes ure iphone harder to slide out of your pockets ) ... not only do i find them ugly, but they add bulk to the iphone, which is already a bit big to my taste ive always had thin and slim phones before... Anyways i guess hard/soft cases main advantages is providing protection against falls...

Since i want my iphone to look like and iphone ( not like an ugly case ) i think what i need is a protection "skin" and after some research i think ive found the best one : http://www.zagg.com/invisibleshield/apple-iphone-3g-cases-screen-protectors-cove rs-skins-shields.php
the invisibleshield ... it covers the iphone completely and looks pretty efficient against scratches...

However i dont know if it makes the iphone touch screen less responsive, also i dont know if it needs to be replaced often or if it leaves stickyness or marks when removed. finely its a bit pricey , 25$ , but still within my budget...

Can anyone help me choose some protection for my iphone 3g 🙂

Thanks

iphone 3g

Posted on Jul 30, 2008 9:34 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 30, 2008 9:38 PM in response to Louno

I heard many complaints about it, and couple of people are satisfied. I was looking to get one too for my phone but i heard too much crap about it so i didn't. People say it has an orange peel texture, the front is pretty easy to apply, but the back is difficult and the edges won't stick well due to how the 3g was built.

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Answer 2

rimshaker

Level 3

520 points

Jul 30, 2008 9:56 PM in response to Louno

The bottom line for the Zagg Invisibleshield is if it's installed correctly, there's no other better protective film for the iphone. I mean, the polyurethane material they use is literally used in some military applications.

The one other thing people underestimate with the Zagg shield is that it takes at least a week or 2 for it to fully cure/bond. The first couple days after I installed mine, it looked like any other cheap protective film... grainy look, rubbery texture, air bubbles stuck here and there. I thought for sure this wasn't gonna work. Luckily I didnt' lose patience and decided to leave it on for as long as I can stand to look at it. Well lo and behold, almost 2 weeks later the film actually "repaired" itself. Most all the air bubbles went away, the grainy look on the screen became totally clear, and the even the texture all around became smoother and not so rubbery/tacky.

But the warning is this:
Due to the way the new 3G is contoured and shaped, the backside film is very difficult to perfectly align. Zagg has some stores/kiosks in certain states that provide professional installation for you instead. I'd recommend that.

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Answer 3

Jul 30, 2008 10:08 PM in response to Louno

I purchased Ghost Armor ( http://ghost-armor.com/apple/apple-3g-iphone/prod_83.html). My brother purchased the product for his 1st gen iPhone and my sister purchased it for her iPhone 3G. Mine just came in tonight and I got done installing it after about an hour (that's the painful part -- assuming you want things to line up very nicely).

It is just as expensive as the Zagg invisible shield. There are some YouTube videos of people abusing their Ghost Armor covered electronics. I personally wouldn't take a weed whacker to my iPhone...

Mike

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Answer 4

Amped365

Level 1

20 points

Jul 30, 2008 10:25 PM in response to Louno

I am totally for the Zagg Invisible shield..... I've seen what it can do to protect my iPhone. A little over a month ago I flipped and rolled my car with my iPhone sitting in the cup holder. Luckily for me I was fine and thanks to that invisible shield so was my phone. You should have seen the protector, there were shards of glass sticking out in all angles.... After I took the shield off, not a scratch. And thanks to their lifetime warranty, I got a new one for free! =]

As far as the use goes, the screen sometimes doesn't look quite as good, feel is slightly different but both of those issues are extremely minor.

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Answer 5

xcess007

Level 1

10 points

Jul 30, 2008 11:01 PM in response to Louno

I don't recommend the invisibleshield. I tried a few times to get the back on the phone and it was next to impossible. I let it sit for a few days and nada, the edges still won't stay down. Last I checked the zagg forum was shut down (under construction, yeah right) because of so many complaints on this product. They even admited at one point that the pattern specs they used to make the product were wrong and that is why the 3G complete shield doesn't quite fit. It's a little small.
It took me a LOT of hassle to get them to refund my money. I ordered 4 products and they charged me for all of them. I got one product (the 3G) in the mail 3 weeks later and they weren't going to send the other 3 products until I called and complained. Then 3 days later after realizing the 3G shield wasn't working I couldn't get a hold of anyone to tell me how to refund my money. It took about a week and me doing a charge back on my paypal payment to get them to respond. Horrible customer service. Just warning you.

The front went on well enough but yes, it's a lot thicker then most screen protectors and there is a bad glare. I like the Power Support Anti Glare Film they sell at apple. I had that on my old iphone and it worked amazingly well and you can't tell it's even there! I recommend that for screen protection. Easy to put on and a lot cheaper then the zagg stuff.

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Answer 6

Jul 31, 2008 1:36 AM in response to Louno

Front shield Invinisble Shield I recommend. No I dont work for them. But **** I am impressed. Sure is not too easy to install. and as people said the back shield needs to be improved.

In any case lets stick to the facts, if you recommend another brand, let others know about the rear protection.

I am only being fair that IS does work well in front but not for the back.

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Answer 7

squarejp

Level 1

64 points

Jul 31, 2008 2:17 AM in response to Louno

The new redesigned invisibleShield for iPhone 3G addressed the difficult to install issue and also able to cover the silver chrome edges. I only applied it at the back of the iPhone 3G, it was pretty beautiful if you installed it correctly. It does require some experience and skills.

I don't recommend using it on the front, because it's tacky, however the redesigned invisibleShield has the best coverage when you order the full body cover, because the front shield covers the top and bottom silver chrome, while the back shield covers the left and right chrome area. What you want to do is to customize it further, cut out the top and bottom pieces from the front Cover and apply them individually.

Get a crystal clear or anti-glare screen protector instead, because they provide the smooth control for your touch screen. If you play games like Enigmo, you will understand what I mean by tacky control problem. If you don't play games, I think the front and back cover is the best on the market to prevent from scratch.

Remember, Zagg redesigned the invisibleShield 2 weeks ago after people like myself complained about it.

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Answer 8

Jul 31, 2008 5:19 AM in response to squarejp

I find nothing wrong with using the IS flim, tacky?
Seriously, if there was a big problem locking and unlocking the phone with IS surface then I think is an issue.

I am playing games with it, and I dont see any problems.

The only issue is probably my version of the back shield is not a good fit.

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Answer 9

mdifilm

Level 1

15 points

Jul 31, 2008 5:59 AM in response to Irwin Pang

I have the full body IS, I did fine with the front and back but the corners it got some 'opening' that it won't stay stick to the iPhone. It's not bad, it feels weird with the film on but it's not bad.

With the case I have, the IS is the only thing that would work.

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Answer 10

Jul 31, 2008 7:21 AM in response to Louno

Have a look over here
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1603255&tstart=0

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Answer 11

Louno Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 31, 2008 3:45 PM in response to agent_s87

hi thanks for the link,

however there is no clear all around winner...

If i could, id keep my iphone naked, but, i dont want to be paranoid all the time about how and where i put my iphone.

So to sum it up, ive got 5 choices :

Best Skin Ever skin
Cost : 8$
notes : Apparently this one is ok, it has front and back coverage. however i dont think i like the way the corners are being covered, it seems very obvious that there is a "skin" on and i am guessing that dirt can collect easely on the corners like that.
http://www.bestskinsever.com/servlet/the-88/iPhone-3G-Skin/Detail

Power Support Crystal Film Set
Cost : 15$
Notes : Only has protection for the front ( screen ) , and it comes with 1 antiglare film and 1 normal "clearer" film. Apparently it is somewhat "hard" being compared to thin plexiglass material as opposed to the other skin material which are more like plastic skins...
http://www.powersupportusa.com/products/iphone_filmset.php

InvisibleShield
Cost: 25$
Notes : Apparently the back side is very hard to install, very often the corner will not be good and look ugly, also the texture of the material is not the clearest and it is also more "rubbery" adding grip, it has a somewhat noticable "orange fruit peel" skin texture under certain angle... on the other hand it is very very resistant and long lasting, does not leave any residu when removed. has lifetime waranty. It also has the best coverage apparently.
http://www.zagg.com/invisibleshield/apple-iphone-3g-cases-screen-protectors-cove rs-skins-shields.php

BodyGuardz
Cost : 25$
Notes : this one is apparently good, apparently it is clearer than the InvisibleShield and easier to install. It cover front and back. and comes with 1 replacement set.
http://www.bodyguardz.com/AppleiPhone_3Gp/nl-baip-0608.htm

FullBodyFilm
Cost : 17$
Notes : Apparently the clearest and smoothest and overall best according to iLounge. Their website is HORRIBLE however, it looks like a scam. It covers the whole iphone, you have 2 face piece, one is glare resistant and the other is normal.
http://www.fullbodyfilms.com/Home_Page.html

My Options :
Currently im thinking, maybe i should go with the fullskinfilm.
OR
Maybe i should get the back side from either BestSkinEver or from InvisibleShield ( you cannot order the back side only from the other brands ) and then buy the front from the power support crystal set.

What do you guys think ?

Message was edited by: Louno

Message was edited by: Louno

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Answer 12

Jul 31, 2008 3:58 PM in response to Louno

I've used the Crystal Support shields and really like them. I have the anti-glare and a friend has the shiny one. I like anti-glare because you don't see fingerprints. Relatively easy to install and leaves no residue when removing...just use a piece of Scotch tape and attach/pull. For me, Crystal makes it EASIER to use the screen...very smooth surface.

If you're looking for a cool case, I just got the Contour Flick. Really nice fit. If it had an Apple logo on the back, you'd barely know it was on your phone.

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Answer 13

Louno Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 31, 2008 9:04 PM in response to Steven Schipper

id like to see the difference between the 2, im kinda indecisive !

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Answer 14

Louno Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 2, 2008 9:55 PM in response to Louno

no one else has opinions ?

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Answer 15

xcess007

Level 1

10 points

Aug 2, 2008 10:32 PM in response to Louno

I would say if you bought the first IS for the 3G, return it for the newly redesigned one. For sure. The original one was just a tad to small front and totally on the back.

I've just ended up using the incase leather case. I loved it on the firt gen and its working for me on the 3G. I bought the apple Power Support anit glare Film Set for iPhone 3G from apple but it seemed to make the screen darker and harder to see in dim lights. I'm going back for the Power Support Crystal Film Set for iPhone 3G.

The Contour Flick for iPhone 3G does look interesting, i too wish it had the apple logo on the back.

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