“According to sources, the ban will impact all forms of screen film, including completely clear film, anti-glare film, and mirrored film, regardless of whether the purpose of the film is protective, decorative, or both,” Starrett reports. “It will also prevent sales of film for iPods, iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.”
Starrett reports, “One vendor speculated that the ban is an Apple marketing attempt to suggest screen durability…”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Could Apple’s move to oleophobic touchscreens that started with iPhone 3GS have something to do with this?
Is sun screen okay? I mean Al with “I-invented-the-internet-and-global-warming” Gore on Apple’s board that kind of screen should be in the iStore.
just my $0.02
I’d HARDLY call it a ban…
I’m a dumbass fanboy like all of you and of course I strongly support this ban!!!!! If Steve says I don’t need a screen protector, who are any of us to think for ourselves??
Goooooo Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really? What is this?
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TS504LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0NA&mco=MTA4Mzk0ODM
macdaddy:
“beginning in May.”
Learn how to read, dude, and chill.
I will support it if Apple warranties scratches on my iPhone glass.
Oh Hell!
That means I can not get that screen clear thin armor for the iPhone! If someone shoots my iPhone the 45 caliber round, it will destory it!
Aw come-on Steve!
I need protection from speeding projectiles just like President Clinton needs to protect his iPhone from “stuff.”
That does it. I’m waiting for WM7.
I’m still rocking my original 4GB Phil Schiller Special Edition iPhone and i’ve never used a case or a screen protector. I typically carry my iPhone in in my pocket with loose change, keys and whatever, I toss it in my carry around and sit it in the cupholder in my car that also contains loose change.
After 2.5 years I can honestly say the thing has held up like a champ. Only one small scratch on the screen that is only noticeable if you hold it in the light a certain way and even then it’s hard to find. The back is a little scuffed, but nothing that would even prevents someone from wanting to buy it if I decided to sell it.
If Apple is trying to suggest durability with this policy, then I can’t say I’d argue with them a bit.
Ray, Ray — quite spreading the right wind, fascist line about what Al Core said. He never said what is attributed to him (I dare you to find actual quote in context) and he was in fact a major supporter of legislation that helped get the internet, as we know it, developed. So please, stop repeating the same lame stuff. I am sure you are better than that.
‘Apple has banned protective screen film from its retail and online stores’. This all sounds a bit dramatic and over emotive.
Wouldn’t it be more accurate, albeit more prosaic, to simply say Apple has ceased selling……, or Apple has stopped stocking…..?
I 100% agree. My iPhone screen scratched within a week of me having it. I have no idea what got near it. To be fair, it hasn’t scratched any more since.
There is a difference between prohibiting/banning and just not carrying the item anymore.
To all the loose wordsmiths (not) please make the distinction.
There is indeed a HUGE return rate of these to the Apple stores. This because when they don’t always apply properly, they then get damaged – They aren’t cheap and Apple accepts returns unconditionally for 14 days. Apple is losing money and time by carrying an item that is regularly returned because of mis applications. It makes all the sense in the world, what’s so hard to understand?
I’ve mentioned this before, but I don’t have a case or protective screen for my iPhone 3G; in my opinion it just doesn’t need it.
… but extra screen protection won’t hurt, and if there’s a market for it (regardless of actual need, real or perceived), why the hell wouldn’t you offer screen protectors?
And in response to the anonymous coward “Right”;
Not ALL of us who frequent MDN are mindless fanboys. Troll.
That’s a good point, Breeze.
Hell, I am even pulling the protective screen off my iPhone to be totally complaint with Apple’s move….
NOT!
Those films are a waste of money anyhow… I have had a Black 32GB 3GS since within a couple weeks of their going on sale and never put it in a case (though I have a DLO holster). The only visible marks on it are on the chrome bezel and a couple tiny little marks in the Apple log on the back. Absolutely nothing visible on the black polycarbonate or the glass screen whatsover.
My wife still has her first generation iPhone 16GB and it has a couple small dents (hardly dents – more like the slightest indentations, which are only visible from certain angles, scratches on the chrome bezel and not a mark on the glass… It is definitely easier to clean the 3GS than the original one due to the addition of an oleophobic coating.
In all, those films are great for all the other products out there with plastic screens, but a total waste on iPhone screens and they make them look bad too.
@Amazin1
Since you asked, here it is:
Al Gore’s exact quote is…
“During my service in the United States Congress I took the initiative in creating the internet.”
This was in response to the interviewer’s question of why should democrats nominate you over Bill Bradley?
I think an honest interpretation of that statement is that Al Gore is indeed taking full credit for “inventing the internet”. There is wiggle room and some truth in that statement, but let’s call a spade a spade.
Protective screens are so Palm, I’ve had each rev of the iPhone starting with the OG, never used, never needed them, and laugh at you OCD sufferers that are sweating this…Clean your greasy fingers already, wash your face, you dirty birds..
NEWS FLASH! Deciding not to sell something is an entirely different matter than telling you you cannot use one. Go to office depot and buy some dummies..
I never had and sort of firm, cover or any other protective thing on my original iPhone for more than 1.5 years and when I finished with it there was one faint scratch. The case on the other hand had a few dents from drops.
I just got a new 3GS do to a hardware failure, but my orignal 3GS from day one of availability until two weeks ago lived without any protection without a single blemish of any kind.
Having used the new 3GS for a bit though, I do have to say that the new screen seems more slippery. I wonder how long that coating lasts that Apple puts on.
I was in a Best Buy (Bloomington, MN) store today and was looking for a set of DLO branded matte screen protectors for my iPhone 3G. The entire shelf was replaced by Zagg InvisiShield stuff! Meh. Indeed, as you can tell, I’m not a fan of InvisiShield and liked the DLO ones as they are fairly thick and durable. And as far as I can tell, does not diminish the touch capability.
As to the demise of of screen protectors, available at the Apple Store, I guess the bright side is at least Apple won’t void the warranty if you come in to get your Apple product (i.e. iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) with a screen film attached. Still, I do find it odd they would turn down revenue as such. Indeed, is there any harm in using them?
My 3GS has had a screen cover and it’s been in a case from day one. I’m about to get an iPad and a cheaper phone, then sell my pristine old iPhone on eBay. They go for around $450. Mine is in excellent condition. I’m finnickity.
@ RAY :
“Is sun screen okay? I mean Al with “I-invented-the-internet-” “
This is why you right-wing fundamentalists are so laughable. You will repeat things over and over again in spite of the fact that they ar not true.
Gore NEVER said “I invented the internet.” He was, however, instrumental in getting funding for it.
To me it is hilarious how you guys keep repeating the deceptions perpetrated by the right-wing think tanks that are funded by the industries that continue to rip you off. All they have to do is whisper the word “socialist” and you guys run around in frantic circles like rabid miniature poodles, lathering at the mouth and repeating anything they have fed you no matter how absurd!
IMHO
Sorry, by “case” I meant the body of the phone, not some sort of external case.
What I was trying to say is that while the body of the phone showed a good amount of wear and tear, the screen was still almost perfect. I intend to keep my iPhone naked.
Who’s afraid of oleo? Not me!