CaseandCover.com reviews OtterBox cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Today for review I’ve got the last case from our friends at OtterBox for the Apple iPod nano 4th Generation, the Armor case. This case is the ultimate in protection for your iPod, not only is it rough and tough, but it’s waterproof as well. The OtterBox Armor is clear so you can see your iPod, it features a membrane over the click wheel to allow access to the controls, a built-in cable management belt clip, and a lanyard as well. If you’re looking for something to truly protect your iPod from most anything then this is the case for you.
The OtterBox Armor for iPod nano 4th comes packaged in an easy open plastic clamshell style case with a cardboard insert inside that has directions for installation inside, also included is a cord style lanyard as well.




The case is clear so you can see your iPod though it, there is a membrane over the click wheel that allows access to the functions of the iPod while it’s in the case. Through the front of the case you can see the 3.5mm jack which your iPod gets hooked up to, the case has a built-in pass-through to allow connectivity while still keeping your iPod safe.





The back of the Armor has a belt clip that acts as cable management so you can wrap your headphones around it when not in use.

On the back, on the bottom is where you’ll find the other side of the 3.5mm headphone jack, the female side.

The top of the case is located a heavy duty clip, unlocking the clip allows access to the inside of the Armor for installation.

The lanyard has T shaped posts on the ends of it that fit in the top corners of the Armor, they slide into a hole in the case and get secured when the case is closed.
When we get the OtterBox Armor open we can see the seals on both the top and bottom that keep out water, dust and dirt, when the case is open we can also get a better look at the 3.5mm jack.


Specifications:
iPod nano 4th Generation (4G) Armor Case

The OtterBox Armor Series for iPod nano 4th generation case has a NEW look and a NEW feel. The ergonomic shape was redesigned for ultimate grip; your hands will love being wrapped around this case! Following in the original Armor Series tradition, this case offers waterproof, dust-proof, sand-proof, drop-proof and scratch-proof protection for your iPod nano 4th generation. The Click Wheel is covered by a PATENTED, thin membrane which remains fully functional through the OtterBox. This newly-designed, CRYSTAL CLEAR iPod nano 4th gen case has white overmolding, white latches and a belt clip for cable management/carrying convenience.

Compatability/Features: Fits the iPod nano 4th generation only (both 8GB and 16GB).
* Waterproof, dust-proof, dirt-proof, sand-proof, and drop-proof protection for your iPod nano 4th gen * Click Wheel is covered, yet fully functional * Impact-absorbing rubber on all sides * Included belt clip for carrying convenience * External headphone jack usable with any style headphones with a standard mini stereo plug * Includes removable neck lanyard

Dimensions (case only): 5.15" x 2.32" x .64" Weight (case only): 3.5 oz.
Price: $39.95
Installation is very easy you just slide you iPod into the Armor, lining it up with the 3.5mm jack so it goes into your iPod.

 
The lanyard is optional, but if you wish to use it, it installs easily.

The OtterBoxArmor truly lives up to its name, this case will protect your iPod from most anything out there including dust, dirt and water. You can truly use your iPod anywhere you go and in most any conditions. The Armor offers protection from shock as well, so you shouldn’t have to worry if you accidentally drop it either.
The OtterBoxArmor case does add substantial bulk or size to your iPod, so when it’s in the case you won’t have a sleek, thin iPod anymore, but I guess that’s the price you pay for protection, so it’s a trade-off really.
When your iPod is in the Armor case you don’t have access to the lock or data/charging port either, but I’ve not sure how big of a problem that is.





Conclusion: If you’re looking for a case that will fully protect your iPod, then you can’t get much better than the OtterBox Armor, it truly lives up to its name as Armor for your iPod. 


by: Kristofer Brozio Published 2/05 - 2009

Pros: +Clear and well made +Full protection for your iPod from most anything +Allows access to controls while protecting iPod +Easy installation +Includes lanyard
Cons: -No access to docking port or lock -Large and adds bulk to iPod

Grades:
Overall

Design

Performance

Search Tags: iPod, iPod nano, OtterBox, Clear, Military, protection, Case, Cover

CaseandCover.com reviews Griffin cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Staggering is the only word we'd use to describe the number of hard plastic iPod and iPhone cases we're reviewing today -- over 20 different models that we've been comparing to one another, as well as past cases, over the last few weeks. To help you sort through all the options, we've assembled a few statistics that are worth knowing up front. All of the iPod nano cases in this roundup run from $20 to $30, with most at $25 or less, while the two iPod classic cases sell for $25 to $30, iPod touch cases range from $20 to $30, and iPhone 3G cases go for $20 to $35. Virtually every case offers at least partial back and side protection, but they vary widely in front, top, and bottom coverage. Though all use plastic as their base material, they differ considerably in color options and secondary materials. This review looks at Griffin's highly similar Elan Form for iPod nano 4G and iPod touch 2G ($30 each), Nu Form for iPod touch 2G ($25), and Wave Cases for iPod nano 4G and iPod classic ($25 each).




All of these cases share the same basic design idea, borrowed from Incase’s Slider Case for the original iPhone: you get a two-piece plastic shell that slides apart low on the iPod’s body, rendering its bottom Dock Connector port compatible with any accessories that might be otherwise incompatible with the bottoms of the cases. As we’ve noted before, the idea was bright for the first iPhone because there actually was an accessory—Apple’s iPhone Dock—that required access to the bare bottom of that model, but it’s largely unnecessary for iPods, which generally fit without issues into the myriad Universal Dock accessories that are now available.



These slide-off bottoms, then, are an insurance policy against really oversized cases and plugs, but in our testing, you’re unlikely to actually need that feature for most accessories. It’s now mostly appealing as an easier way to get the iPod in and out of the case than using a fully open top, bottom, or face.




Nu Form for iPod touch 2G is the most basic implementation of the idea. The top half is semi-glossy gray plastic, with a collection of rounded squares floating in a pattern on the back left side, while the bottom is coated in soft touch black rubber; as with all of the products here, Griffin includes a screen protector and cleaning cloth in the package. While standard-sized headphone plugs and Dock Connector cables work just fine with holes in Nu Form’s bottom, oversized ones require you to pull the bottom off for connection. Universal Docks work with or without the bottom piece attached.




Elan Form for iPod touch is the exact same case, only with a thin layer of black leather coating both the top and bottom shells, and a $5 higher price tag. Our review sample’s leather was not precisely flattened in the corners, but generally looked pretty good anyway; it is no different in terms of accessory compatibility. The iPod nano 4G version sells for the same $30 price, and replaces the film screen protector with a hard plastic front shield. Once again, the leather wasn’t perfectly flattened in the corners, but it looked fine, and there was no need to pull the bottom off to use most accessories. In fact, the bottom here is compatible with every accessory we tested, including oversized headphone plugs and cables. All that’s missing from this case is Click Wheel, Hold switch, and full bottom protection for the nano; everything else is covered.




The real stars of this collection, in our view, are the $25 Wave Cases for iPod nano 4G and iPod classic, which though highly similar in concept are superior to the others in execution—some of the nicest cases we’ve seen for either of these iPod models. The iPod nano version is sold individually or in $35 two-packs, one translucent white or black, the other black or green, while the iPod classic version comes in a single translucent black version. Both use soft touch rubber on the outside, combined with a completely clear hard plastic face protector that’s held in place by the interlocking top and bottom halves. All that’s exposed, again, are the headphone and Dock Connector ports, Click Wheel, and Hold switch.





As with Griffin’s prior Wave designs, the design twist is a helix-like motif on the case, overlapping different colored shells, but here the waves are found on the back rather than the sides. We seriously love the way that these cases look in person; our only major gripe is that their face protectors are too easy to scratch, in some cases leaving streaks or blemishes that can be seen overlapping the iPods’ screens. Additionally, the iPod classic case’s headphone port hole looks generous, but doesn’t work with the very largest plugs we tested; it’s fine for most, not all. Both cases work with Universal Docks even if their bottoms are left in place.





Though different users’ tastes will obviously vary, the variations in price and materials between these otherwise similar, good designs weigh in certain models’ favor. Nu Form struck us as a plain but nicely protective design, slightly pricey for its quality, while Elan Form looked legitimately handsome as a hybrid plastic and leather case, but also felt a little expensive given that it wasn’t ideally executed, especially for the iPod nano. Wave, with its cool curves and overlapping colors, was the best executed of this bunch, offering identical protection at more reasonable pricing. It’s worthy of our high recommendation, while the others fall into the general recommendation category.
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Search Tags: iPod, iPod classic, iPod touch, iPod nano, Griffin, Black, Clear, Case, Cover, Review, Nu Form, Wave, Elan Form, Apple

CaseandCover.com reviews ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.

Everyone who owns expensive devices is always looking for a way to protect them. There is no shortage of cases, films and other protecting products out there, and each has its own benefits and downfalls. When Invisible Skinz reached out to me to take a look at the invisibleSHIELD, I was happy take another look. I say another, because I have used these products in the past, as I had one for my Motorola Q back in 2006. At the time, I ended up having to send my phone back to Verizon, and forgot to remove the shield before sending. Fortunately, I am able to take another look.


In the Box
Invisible Shield
Install Squeegee
Shieldspray



Installation/Thoughts

Installing the invisibleSHIELD on your device takes about 30 minutes, but it’s worth the time. The secret for Zagg is the shield spray that they include with the shields. The formula interacts with the adhesive on the shield to make the installation process easier, and more effective. The actual installation process is simple; peel off the shield from the paper backing, spray, apply and squeegee. Each invisibleSHIELD is created specifically for the device its sold for, so the longest part of the installation is getting each little piece lined up perfectly. The result is full device coverage that looks incredibly professional. Out of all the devices I have, I thought the iPhone 3G would be a great representation as a test device for the product. The capacitive touch screen was my biggest concern, as I wondered if the screen would still be sensitive to my fingers. Good news, there is no noticeable difference in user experience on the screen.

I’ve had the invisibleSHIELD on my iPhone for the past week and have been happy with the results. The full body coverage gives me the peace of mind that I my phone is protected. The texture of the shield gives it a “grippy” feel, which makes it less prone to being dropped, and overall is a very unobtrusive solution to keeping your device protected.




About the Invisible Shield

ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD™ is a thin polyurethane film originally created for the military to protect the leading edge of helicopter blades. What’s unique about this military-grade, patented film is how tough it is – it doesn’t scratch. What makes ZAGG’s exclusive invisibleSHIELD™ so strong, flexible and scratch-proof? Its Nano-Memory technology™. With this technology, it also allows it to curve and contour around an entire device (not just the screen) and adhere to the device unless you want to remove it (without leaving adhesive).

The invisibleSHIELD has been designed to protect over 2,500 handheld electronics, including the Apple iPod touch, the Apple iPhone 3G, the BlackBerry Curve and more.

from Mickey Papillion, 3/14/2009

Search Tags: iPod, iPod classic, iPod nano, iPod touch, Clear, InvisibleSHIELD, ZAGG, Military, protection, Case, Cover

CaseandCover.com reviews Agent 18 cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.

Wake up and smell the bandwagon. With more and more people and companies going “green” to help preserve our wonderful planet, it’s a logical step for consumer electronics and accessories to adhere to sustainable practices. This iPhone case by Agent 18 is probably one of the first of many to go this route.

Features:

Simple two-piece slide on/off design
Form-fitting and sleek
Full-access to bottom connectors, microphone, and touch screen
Docks with universal dock
Eco-friendly material with minimum carbon impact
Packaging made from recycled materials

Upon first notice, the case doesn’t add much extra dimension to the iPhone and conforms to the shape quite nicely. It also provides a little more traction to the slippery feel of the iPhone but not nearly as much as the heavy rubber INCASE covers. This can be good or bad depending on the tightness of your jeans, and I’m not sure if the Agent 18 plastic is all that shock absorbent in comparison. The only thing to be conscious of would be sitting in a car and being subject to loose change syndrome, as we all loathe that for sure. All in all, the Agent 18 feels nice in your hand and you’ve done your planet a favor. Just don’t drop it, and take it out of your pants pocket before you get in a car, especially if you are a thug with baggy ass pants. Eco friendly thugs…look for em’.

April 24th, 2008 1:31 PM | by Jeff Bordeaux

Search Tags: Agent 18, iPhone, Eco Shield, Review, Case, Cover, Clear, Black

CaseandCover.com reviews Speck cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.

OK, You just got the BlackBerry Curve – one of the slimmest, coolest and hottest Smartphones on the planet. Depending on the model, you paid anywhere from $99.00 to $250 or more for it. You hold it in your hand and it feels so nice, thin and…..fragile. You don’t want to drop it, but we all drop our BlackBerry at some point. So, you need a case to protect it…just in case (sorry about the pun). Luckily, there are lots of options at the ShopCrackBerry.com Store.

One of the things I love about my 8320 is the color – I don’t necessarily want to mask or cover that up in a case. Fortunately, I have a good option in the Speck Products SeeThru Case for the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series.

Overview
Speck Holster Case for Blackberry 8300 8310 8320 8330

Here is the “Official Overview” of this case:

Speck Products SeeThru for BlackBerry 8300 Series - Protect your BlackBerry Curve and keep it slim and sleek! Get great protection and functionality with the SeeThru case and holster. SeeThru cases are made of translucent hard plastic to beautify and protect. 2-piece snap together SeeThru case includes screen protection and removable swivel holster.

• great screen protection
• removable swivel holster (belt clip)
• full phone functionality while your phone is in the case
• protects yet keeps a slim profile
• Design and Function

The Speck SeeThru case is designed to snap over the BlackBerry, giving it a clear, hard outer shell. The case is totally see thru – as the name indicates. There are cutouts on the sides for the convenience keys and charging ports and on the top for the standby/mute key.


Speck’s version of the Seethru case has plastic over the screen as well – to provide an added layer of protection. Included is a plastic swivel clip for attaching to your belt and securely holding your Blackberry.

I found that I had access to pretty much every button and key while the BlackBerry was in this case. The screen protector did get in the way, just a little, when I went to press the trackball. I also found that the convenience keys were a bit tricky to push and the mute key was very tricky to push when this case was put on the BlackBerry.

One thing I appreciated was being able to clearly see the nice Pale Gold color of my Curve through the case. I also appreciated that little bulk was added by using this case.

The holster has a very minimalistic design, but it does hold the BlackBerry securely. Unfortunately, this holster/case combo does not contain a magnet to put the BlackBerry into "sleeper" mode when inserted into the holster. This means you can't utilize the BlackBerry Operating system's In Holster sound profile settings. It also means you will want to hold down the mute key for 2 seconds to manually put the phone into standby (save battery life and prevents accidental keyboard presses) when inserting into the holster.

Fit and Finish
Speck Holster Case for Blackberry 8300 8310 8320 8330

The Speck SeeThru case fit perfectly onto the BlackBerry. I did feel some “sharpness” around the cutouts of this case. Very important was that the camera lens was not obstructed nor were any of the keys on the front of the phone. There was no added glare by having the screen covered. One curious thing about the finish of this case was that there was a seam in the upper left hand corner of the case – sort of small square. This was in the area where the case seals together – so, my guess is that it was simply re-enforcement of the plastic.


Protection

This is a hard case. It seems like it would protect the Blackberry in a fall – but there is no padding, so I don’t’ know how the fall would be absorbed. What it did protect against were scratches and scuffs = both on the screen and on the device.

Overall Conclusions
Speck Holster Case for Blackberry 8300 8310 8320 8330

This is a nice, inexpensive way to protect your BlackBerry and not lose any of the “luster” of the nice color. I happen to really like the feel of the rubberized sides on the new BlackBerry curve. When using this case, I lose that for the feel of hard plastic. It doesn’t add a lot of bulk which is a good thing and it preserves the general look of the device. If you simply want a hard “skin” for your BlackBerry, this could be a fine alternative for you.

14 Mar 2008 by Gary Mazo

Search Tags: Speck, Clear, BlackBerry, Case, Cover, 8300, Review, Holster

CaseandCover.com reviews ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD screen protector cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.

from thechipchick.com

The problem with iPhone cases is that they cover up the beautiful design of the iPhone. But if you don’t put a case on your iPhone and you end up damaging it, you’ll never forgive yourself either. Think of the invisibleSHIELD as a happy medium. Kind of like the emperor’s clothing, the InvisibleSHIELD is designed to protect your iPhone without covering up its lovely curves.

Initially, I was a little skeptical about using the invisibleSHIELD on the face of the iPhone because I was worried that it would interfere with the sensitivity of the iPhone. Fortunately, it hasn’t interfered at all with the iPhone’s usability. The package included a piece that covers the face of the iPhone, and the back of the iPhone. However the piece for the back of the iPhone doesn’t wrap around far enough to cover the metal edges on the iPhone’s face. I find that a little disappointing since, since I think that the metal edges are the most delicate area on the iPhone and mine have already been getting a little scuffed up from use. The invisibleSHIELD also claims to be scratch proof. Admittedly, I am to chicken to test that theory out on my precious, however I’ve been carrying it around for a couple of days and it has kept my iPhone safe and sound so far.

Applying the invisibleSHIELD was simple enough, though it did take concentration in order to take some effort to make sure that no air bubbles got in. A spray on solution is included with shield that makes the invisibleSHIELD movable on the iPhone’s surface, so that you can align it as perfectly as possible without much hassle. I succeeded in aligning the front and back piece of the invisibleSHIELD pretty well, minus a bubble that I couldn’t manage to get rid of on the back side.

Overall, the invisibleSHIELD has proved to be a great way to protect your iPhone and I believe that the $24.95 price tag is a fair one for it, especially since they include a lifetime guarantee. My only gripe is that it doesn’t cover the iPhone completely. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that while the invisibleSHIELD is strong, it’s not strong enough to protect your iphone from the impact of a bad fall. The invisibleSHIELD is also available for other iPod models and other popular cell phones and gadgets.

Search Tags: iPhone, InvisibleSHIELD, Clear, Case, Cover, Fitted, Film, Military, Scratch

CaseandCover.com reviews ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD screen protector cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Posted By Brandon on March 7, 2008


So - Anyone else tired of the post-SDK launch hype? Personally, I’m really excited but waiting until June is going to be like waiting for paint to dry. And 20 posts per site on each little thing in the SDK event is driving me crazy. So, lets break up the “news” for a little while and give you a look at the Zagg invisibleSHIELD for the Apple iPhone. Note: I bought this myself. This is not a review unit supplied by Zagg … so any glowing (or not so) praise is all me.

Alright - not too exciting, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. Of course boxes are never too exciting but the packaging for the invisibleSHIELD is pretty nice compared to some of them that I receive. More on that in another review coming soon.

Here’s what you get. In the first picture is the “solution” and the squeegee. In picture 2 is the invisibleSHIELD itself, a product registration card (not needed if you buy from their site) and some instructions/tips. Now frankly the boxed instructions could have been a bit more helpful, but there’s videos on the ZAGG website to help you out if you need it. I decided not to use the videos - one because I’m a guy and we don’t stop to ask for directions and two because chances are good none of you folks are going to either. So - I’d rather get the same experience you folks will. Note: Use the videos and follow the tips on the installation page. You’ll be glad you did.
More after the break

About the installation. TAKE YOUR TIME. And take lots of it. Most “screen protection” only takes a couple minutes to prep and apply. The invisibleShield Full Body shield is NOT one of those. It took me almost an hour to really get things applied properly and at least another hour of “perfecting”. By perfecting I mean going back every once in a while over multiple hours and re-sticking various parts and pieces - especially the corners - to make sure I didn’t have a lot of bubbles or loose edges sticking up. I figure I spent a few minutes here and there for a couple hours… so again don’t think you’re going to do this in 20 minutes and then be done.
There’s not enough solution by the way. Not to really do it the way I did and not for the full body application. I’m not sure if they short change this to save cash or what, but they could have filled the whole bottle and saved me the hassle for less than a penny I’m sure. I mixed a bit more and rolled on.
Back to the pictures. The ones above and the ones following were all taken shortly after the application. Notice the tiny air bubbles.


During application make sure you’re in a fairly lint free area. If you aren’t - get in one or at least clean up the area you’re in by spraying some Pledge and having some paper towels around. I did it in a house that has 2 dogs and 2 cats … so if I can get a clean area so can you.

Also - use a lint free cloth to help you soak up the fluid and hold things in place. The corners need a lot of love to get them stuck right and you don’t want a lint covered dust mop to hold them down! I have to thank my friends at Proportafor sending out a cloth a while back for another product - talk about a life saver!
So … after a couple hours of fiddle farting around with the application I finally got it all how I wanted it. Seriously … application is a pain in the arse. (It’s a family site - or I’d be a little more frank.)

Now … sit back, relax and don’t touch it for another 24 hours. Yea. You read that right. 24 fricking hours!! Luckily for me I have another phone to use so it wasn’t a big deal to put my iPhone down and pick up the AT&T 8525 I keep around. Honestly, it sucked. I used Windows Mobile for 12 hours - and I wanted to take it out back and shoot it to put it out of its misery. For those of you not so lucky to have another device floating around… call your friends before you start and tell them you’re out of commission for the rest of the day. You really don’t want to handle this thing for at least 12 hours. Once you get started you’ll see what I mean, but suffice it to say that handling a half dried device can lead to things “shifting” and “un-sticking”.

Anyway, sit back and relax. There’s drying time involved, as well as setup time, bubbles disappearing, and all of that jazz. Magically, the bubbles really do disappear! Well, for the most part.

As you can see the back is almost completely bubble free. The front isn’t perfect - but darned near. I’ve got one tiny little bubble on the left side in roughly the middle. Not bad considering how many pets I have and how many bubbles I started with!

And I managed to get all the corners to stick!! Or course they may not look like a “pro” did it … but I’m proud.


So overall I think it looks alright. As you can see in the above pictures, there’s a lot of what I would call orange peel looks to the invisibleSHIELD. This is definitely going to be a drawback for a lot of people since the screen on the iPhone is one of the biggest draws of the device. But, can you take a razor blade or keys to the screen of your iPhone and not worry about it? Trade offs my friends - trade offs.

The invisibleSHIELD also adds a bit of reflection to the screen itself which should be evident in these last pictures. But its really not as bad as I read around the web. I’ve used the Otterbox Defender on my iPhone for a looong time now and frankly I think between the two (screen only) the invisibleSHIELD is a lot easier on the eyes. The Defender however is still my favorite case… because it can take a serious beating and come back for more.
Another thing the pictures don’t show and I can’t take a picture of is how it responds to fingers all over it. Obviously the iPhone is a “touch” screen device. All interactions are mainly done through the screen. In all honesty it’s a bit tacky, but overall not really tough to get used to. You’re not sliding across glass anymore so there’s definitely some increased drag. If you’re used to sliding your finger along the glass and having your fingernail drag along behind it (ladies) you might want to trim them up a bit because it’s going to catch on the invisibleSHIELD. I figure this will take some getting used to, right along with the orange peel.
Anyway, here’s the wrap up. I just put this on yesterday so I don’t have any long term thoughts quite yet (I’ll follow up in a week or so) but here’s what I’ve got so far:
Pros:
Keys, Razor Blades, Pens, Pockets … you name it, you don’t have to fear it.
Lifetime Warranty. 30 Day Money Back.
Peace of mind.
“Grippy” - compared to the slickness of the sides on the iPhone itself, I’m a lot less worried about the iPhone sliding out of my hands.
Cons:
Installation/Application is a pain
Looong dry time
Orange Peel looks, Reflectivity of the screen, “grabby” feel if you’re a fingernail slider.

Search Tags: iPhone, InvisibleSHIELD, Clear, Fitted, Film, Cover, Case, Military, Scratch

CaseandCover.com reviews ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD screen protector cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
By Chad Shmukler - Published July 10th 2007

Though it came as a surprise to absolutely no one, along with the Apple iPhone has come an absolute barrage of accessories and other products to pair with your iPhone, leaving all of us with a sea of merchandise to sort through and evaluate. Slowly but surely, feedback will be available on all of these products. Some things, however, are important to be informed about right from the get-go. Depending on the person you're asking, virtually any mobile phone accessory can be considered essential. One that should be, without argument, considered essential for all PDAs is a screen protector. When considering that typical PDAs are commonly more expensive than less featured mobile devices and the usage more intense, protecting one's investment should be considered a must. Thus, the first accessory each one of you should buy for your iPhone (yes, before the fancy Bluetooth headset), is a screen protector.

The problem is, you've got dozens to choose from, most of which aren't worth your money or effort to apply. I've had experience with numerous different brands, all of which came at a relatively high cost (usually around $20 a pack) and offered extremely disappointing results. One other thing that each of these brands had it common was that each required, through various suggested methods, that they be cut to fit your device once arriving home. Consistently, each offered bubbly application results, poor clarity, and a short life span due to the fact that the protectors themselves were easily marred and scratched.



A few weeks before the iPhone was released, I decided to try moving up in the world of screen protectors. After talking to a few trusted colleagues, I decided to make my first foray into the screen protector upper crust with ShieldZone's line of screen protectors, the invisibleSHIELD. Suffice it to say, I was skeptical. The invisibleSHIELD typically costs between $15-$25 for one protector, a price for which I was used to getting a pack of 8-12 protectors.

ShieldZone makes an extremely boastful array of claims for it's flagship product line, the invisibleSHIELD. Specifically, ShieldZone states, "invisibleSHIELD is the toughest, most durable gadget scratch protection film available on planet Earth" ... and they're just getting started. They describe the protectors as "invisible", "invincible", strong enough to protect helicopter blades traveling hundreds of miles per hour, and even go so far as to impart "self healing" properties to the urethane plastic which the invisibleSHIELD is made of. The website features pictures of someone attempting to tear the protector apart and even puncture the shield with a pencil, failing on both accounts. Finally, according to ShieldZone, each protector comes pre-cut to custom fit your device perfectly.

Okay, enough, I'm sold. Let's check these out.


The Package
The invisibleSHIELD comes with the shield components, a tapered black plastic squeegee, and a small, misting bottle of spray solution which is intended to aid in the application of the protector to your device. The iPhone full body protector, unlike the other full body protector we received, comes with two bottles of the solution.


Durability
Considering ShieldZone's momentous claims about the durability of the invisibleSHIELD, I decided to test that first. As mentioned above, ShieldZone shows images depicting plenty of different stress tests on their protectors. So, I figured I'd try a couple of my own. Instead of their pen test, I figured I'd try to bust through the shield with a fork. Using some test material sent along by the company with the actual protectors I ordered, I placed the material over a four pronged fork and pulled. Much to my delight, the material performed as promised. Until I could no longer keep a grip on the plastic, the urethane stretched and stretched, ever more conforming to the fork, but not puncturing.



My scratch test yielded similar results. Using first my trusty fork and subsequently a pair of scissors (opened to expose the sharp blade), I scraped away at another sheet of the invisibleSHIELD scrap material. Again, as promised, the shield performed as touted. None of the fork or scissor strokes left any observable scratches on the material. Later, once I had applied my invisibleSHIELD to my iPhone, I worked up the courage to try a few fork strokes along the screen of the protected iPhone. Much to my delight, the iPhone and the invisibleSHIELD emerged unscathed.

Since you might not believe the scratch test took place, at least this photo shows how
smooth and clear the invisibleSHIELD is even with my hasty application

Application
The installation instructions that come with the invisibleSHIELD urge both care and patience. Due to my lack of the latter, I tend to abandon the former. So, what follows is a description of a hasty application of the invisibleSHIELD. Luckily, I had my Samsung Blackjack handy to try first, hoping to get better results out of the iPhone as a second victim.

Both applications turned out to be far easier than expected. Using the provided spray and squeegee, it was surprisingly simple to correctly position each piece of the protector. More importantly, smoothing air bubbles out from under the plastic was a breeze. Though other protectors may ship with a similar accompaniment, the invisibleSHIELD application spray is presumably the lifesaver here. Having only performed dry applications before, and achieving less than desirable results, the liquid made the application smooth and effortless. The included squeegee, in my opinion, is heads and tails above using more credit card like tools to smooth out wrinkles and bubbles.

One common sense tip - start with the back first. That way you can get your feet wet on an area of the device where you won't offend yourself by not doing the job perfectly.



Fit
The invisibleSHIELD for the iPhone fits perfectly. It's almost shocking how well it handles the fluid shape of the device. The protector I tried on my Blackjack faired almost as well, but there were a few pieces that I couldn't figure out where to put.

Clarity
So, is the invisibleSHIELD truly invisible? Of course not. Will you, at times, almost forget it's there? Probably.

Once you've completed a modestly capable application (I got good results on my first try), you'll be surprised how clear and unnoticeable the invisibleSHIELD is, even on the non-screen areas of the device where illumination from the LCD doesn't help hide the protector's presence. You'll mostly notice the protector by it's feel, rather than by sight.The screen protector will begin to become more apparent as it dirties, and the invisibleSHIELD is quite good at picking up fingerprints, dust, and smudges. This, however, is likely no different than the surface of the device your protecting had you not applied an invisibleSHIELD to it.

Texture/Touch
Though this probably isn't a topic of interest in most screen protector reviews, for the iPhone it is. As the iPhone is operated almost exclusively via it's touch screen - it's important to know what a prospective protection material feels like. Something incredibly sticky could potentially inhibit use as might a material that roughs up easily or becomes scuffed.If there's one area where the invisibleSHIELD is less than ideal, and there almost isn't, it's here. After application, once any residual application spray dries off, the screen protector becomes quite tacky. Though light, graceful strokes of a finger won't bother it at all, heavily pressured strokes can drag or "stutter" across the tacky surface. Women (or men, I suppose) with long fingernails might also find invisibleSHIELD catchy.It's worth noting that in the 10 or so days between applying the invisibleSHIELD and writing this review, that the tackiness seems to have reduced significantly. That, or I'm getting used to it.
Overall
Put simply, I've been introduced to a whole new world in screen protection. After a couple of years of dealing with what are apparently bargain basement screen protection products from companies like 3M and Fellowes, ShieldZone's products have significantly upped the bar.

The invisibleSHIELD delivered handily on all of it's promises (though I can't speak much to the "self-healing aspect" since there's been nothing to heal as of yet). It's also more than worth mentioning that all of ShieldZone's products ship completely free and are all covered by a free lifetime replacement guarantee. Even if you need to send your phone in for repair, and have to remove the screen protector first, ShieldZone will send you a brand new one.

The Apple iPhone invisibleSHIELD is also available in a front only model for $14.95. The full body model costs $24.95.Update: This review also applies to the invisibleSHIELD iPod Touch Screen protector.

Search Tags: iPhone, InvisibleSHIELD, Cover, Case, Clear, Film, Fitted

CaseandCover.com reviews ZAGG’s invisibleSHIELD screen protector cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.


by Shane Pitman on 25 March 2009

During CES this past January, Neowin had the opportunity to catch up with the guys from ZAGG, makers of invisibleSHIELD, a polyurethane film designed to make your portable devices scratch proof. The invisibleSHIELD film was originally developed to protect the leading edge of helicopter rotor blades, and yes, it's that tough. They had numerous video clips cycling through a presentation that they had setup in a motorhome that depicted numerous stress and scratch tests.



After viewing their presentation and a couple of live demonstrations where they willingly threw their own devices into a bucket of nails and shook them around vigorously, only to emerge unscathed, we were impressed. But we've all tried some of these adhesive protectors before, and they were a pain in the butt to install. We always wound up getting air bubbles, wrinkles, or pieces that just didn't align properly, and consequently ended up curling up around the edges, sliding around instead of staying where they were put, or just flat out peeling off. So to show us just how easy it is to do a proper installation, the guys at ZAGG kindly offered to do a live installation for us, and I offered up my BlackBerry Curve.



And now, 2 months later, here is my Blackberry Curve, still scratch free.





So far, I'm impressed with ZAGG invisibleSHIELD. I've tried several other device protection devices for my Curve, including the neoprene sleeve (which was falling apart) that I disposed of in the video, other adhesive protectors, and non-adhesive "static stick" screen protectors. None of them lasted as long without complications as the invisibleSHIELD has, and none of them had a Lifetime Replacement Guarantee like invisibleSHIELD does. To quote their warranty policy:



The invisibleSHIELD™ purchase includes a lifetime replacement guarantee. We want you to feel safe and secure when investing in your digital life, and that you are confident the invisibleSHIELD™ is the strongest and most durable protection you will find. Purchasing an invisibleSHIELD™ will protect your investment for the life of your device. Proof of purchase and return of original product are required.

The Lifetime Replacement Guarantee is simply what it says: If your invisibleSHIELD™ ever becomes scratched, torn, or damaged in any way while protecting your device, we will replace the invisibleSHIELD™ at no cost to you, for as long as you own your device.

Search Tags: BlackBerry, InvisibleSHIELD, ZAGG, Clear, Military, Scratch, Film

CaseandCover.com reviews Speck cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
When I bought my iPhone, the last thing I wanted to do was cover its beauty in an opaque layer of stylelessness, robbing those around me of the opportunity to immediately identify the device, and robbing me of the opportunity to bask in that envy. For those as appreciative of the iPhone’s elegance and slick curves as me, a transparent case is the only option. And while Speck’s SeeThru for the iPhone falls in that category, it’s also plagued by the flaws typically inherent in that category’s products.

Posted on Oct 31, 2008 by Dan Pourhadi, Macworld.com

Namely, and most importantly, the case isn’t the most secure—or most protective, or sturdiest, or most confidence-inspiring—compared to the others in this roundup. In fact, the only protection the SeeThru really reliably offers is defense against scratches and scrapes. You insert your iPhone into the hard-plastic case by sandwiching it between the case’s snap-together front and back panels, but one good bump can cause the panels to pop open. Once that happens, all bets are off in terms of protection. Even when the case is on, it just doesn’t feel like the two pieces are securely and reliably attached—there’s too much wiggling and jiggling, and too little guarantee.

But the SeeThru isn’t all bad. It does have the same nifty belt holster as Speck’s ArmorSkin that we reviewed a while back; you can easily attach and remove your iPhone, case and all, from your belt. Plus, you have the option to insert the case onto the holster screen-side-in for maximum screen protection, and the holster’s belt clip transforms into an iPhone stand for hands-free video watching. The SeeThru also comes in some swanky translucent colors, and Speck includes a removable, thin-film screen protector that hinders the touchscreen’s responsiveness slightly less than other, similar products I’ve tested.

Search Tags: iPhone, Speck, Clear, Case, Cover, SeeThru, Apple