One of the inevitable first questions that gets asked when laying out hundreds of dollars for a device with a giant, glossy, gorgeous touchscreen is, "just how the heck am I going to protect this thing?" It turns out that the iPhone
may not need any particular babying, but for the paranoid among us, Power Support is offering its "Crystal Film" through Apple stores. Ironically, Apple itself says that protective films aren't recommended since they can interfere with the iPhone's ability to register gestures, but sho' nuff, walk into any brick-and-mortar Apple Store and you're going to see these packs on the shelf. No matter how scratch-resistant it may seem, we figure there'll be plenty of people willing to lay out the $14.95 sticker price for the marginal additional peace of mind Crystal Film offers, so we wanted to take a look at just how user-friendly the stuff is.
Installation was a breeze. Anyone used to applying products like WriteRights to their Palms, Pocket PCs, and other touchscreen devices from days of yore know that it can be a harrowing process fraught with dust particles, alignment issues, and impossible-to-remove air bubbles no matter how careful you think you're being, so the Crystal Film is a breath of fresh air in comparison. Somehow, the film seemed to basically suck itself into place as soon as it started to touch the phone, so all we had to do was make sure it was appropriately aligned. Getting it lined up was easier than your typical screen protector thanks to the film's cutouts for the earpiece and home button.
On our first attempt, the alignment wasn't perfect. No biggie; Power Support recommends using cellophane tape to lift the film back off the phone, and that worked like a champ. Wash, rinse, repeat -- our second attempt was much more successful. The film can be removed and reapplied repeatedly for cleaning, though we imagine that won't be necessary in practice.
Once appiled, the film was barely noticeable to the eye (in fact, it would've been impossible if not for the seams around the button and earpiece). The feel of the film was almost indistinguishable from the naked screen for gesturing with our fingers, which we think is absolutely key to a product like this having any sort of commercial success.
Bottom line: probably not necessary, but if something like this helps you sleep a little easier at night, you won't regret the purchase. The installation process won't raise your blood pressure and once it's on, you won't even know it's shielding your precious cargo from sharp baddies.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
greyscale @ Jun 30th 2007 5:27PM
Typo, dude. You meant $4.95. What a rip, right?
HJKim @ Jun 30th 2007 5:30PM
actually, it is 14.95. Invisible shield charges about that much and it sucks.
Khris @ Jun 30th 2007 5:38PM
Invisible Shield is an amazing product!! I've got one on my iPod and my Treo and take comfort in knowing my devices are protected without adding the bulk of an additional case.
Andrew @ Jun 30th 2007 6:02PM
Agreed, Invisible Shield is the originaly and I've used it with several devices without any problems. It works perfect. I've had one on my 5G iPod for over 2 years now, and it only has one scratch in the actual shield (which they would replace it free for it it were that big of a deal), however I'm certain that if I took it off my iPod below would be in absolutely brand new shape still. Stick with the proven best!
bombastinator @ Jun 30th 2007 7:10PM
OMG! ENOUGH with the sucking up there! How do you even know it was "origional" in the first place? and whats with the shill tag line? The whole thing is starting to smell like astro turf.
I wonder if you could get the same effect by simply cutting up a portfolio binder from an office supply store? They appear to be the same type of plastic. That would get you a bit closer to the $4.95
Andrew @ Jun 30th 2007 7:36PM
Yes, I spelled original wrong. I'm sorry sir. I sit on my sofa and use my computer on my TV so occasionally when I mistype something I don't notice it. However, I'm not sure if you misspelled my misspelling, or tried to correct me and still misspelled it. Either way, get off your high horse just because I had one typo.
Additionally, I never sucked up to anyone, I simply stated my experiences and opinions. I claim Invisible Shield to be the original because it was the original screen protector of it's kind. When it was introduced, nothing else compared, and I still have doubts that others will. Please excuse me for being enthusiastic about a product that actually delivers what they offer.
A portfolio binder isn't anything close to the same thing, do a little research before you comment. Thanks for contributing absolutely nothing to the thread though.
Mike I @ Jul 1st 2007 2:05AM
Wow, Andrew owned you.
HJKim @ Jun 30th 2007 5:29PM
I thought this product might come up.
I bought this thing and on the first attempt it was PERFECT
Now after watching the stress test, i don't know whether i really needed it but it's WAY better than invisible shield (my nano still has bubbles in it)
NOW, IF AT&T CAN ONLY PORT MY NUMBER...............................
Common Core 2 Duo!! @ Jun 30th 2007 5:32PM
Hey Engadget
Can you set up a poll to see how many people terminated their contrasct with another company and transfered over to AT&T?
It would be interesting to see how many people took the 200.00 cancellation fee ( or less ) and jumped ship.
Jonathan Keim @ Jun 30th 2007 5:59PM
I second this
HJKim @ Jun 30th 2007 5:32PM
You forgot to mention it has 2 inside the pack.
Get a friend and split the price.
Greg Koenig @ Jun 30th 2007 5:34PM
Ok guys...
I'm a huge Apple fanboy. I waited in line for an iPhone yesterday. I got one. I am pretty obsessed with information about this thing...
But seriously, the obsessive over-coverage of this device is getting really stupidly annoying. Sure, it is probably the biggest product launch in history and all, but there is only so much that can be written about the damn thing. At this point, your over-coverage is becoming an embarrassment to the Engadget name.
SeanD @ Jun 30th 2007 5:46PM
I disagree, I enjoy the coverage and look forward to hearing more. Especially on the weekend when the news is slow.
Zadillo @ Jun 30th 2007 5:48PM
Why should Engadget be embarrassed about covering one of the major news stories in gadgets in recent memory? I don't think it even has anything to do with Apple fanboyism either - any other gadget that generated this much interest and controversy would warrant a similar amount of coverage.
And Engadget has made it incredibly simple to just filter out all iPhone related stories, so it's not like anyone has to see it or pay attention to it.
Jon @ Jun 30th 2007 6:46PM
@ SeanD, this is about a screen protector. A screen protector! In existence for PDAs and phones since 1997!
And air bubbles are easy to remove. Never had a problem with them.
Twitchy @ Jul 1st 2007 8:35AM
Considering I won't get to see one here in New Zealand until 'sometime' in 2008 I am eager to hear/read what I can. Plus no-one is forcing you to read the news about the iPhone as much as someone forces you to watch Next Top Idol.
Ryan @ Jun 30th 2007 5:53PM
I agree with this review. I bought a pack of Crystal Film yesterday with my phone, and once you get it on, it's barely noticeable and gives some peace of mind. The only caveat I had was that I kept getting air bubbles on my first two attempts. It was probably just me, though. Third time worked like a charm.
interpol @ Jun 30th 2007 6:04PM
on certain protectors (like one i had for the PSP) it has a horrible effect on the lcd screen, in that the pixels become more noticeable. Does this product do the same thing or is it like looking at the without it.
Chris @ Jun 30th 2007 6:06PM
I've got one of these on my iPod and it has been worth every penny thus far. One look at other iPods reaffirms this.
JZ @ Jun 30th 2007 6:26PM
http://www.sybarites.org/2007/06/30/iwood-mahogany-case-for-the-iphone/
This case comes with a polycarbonate screen protector.
AirStrike X2 @ Jun 30th 2007 6:57PM
Forget the crystal film... That wallpaper looks awesome in the 4th picture... Can u please send me that wallpaper?.... with an iPhone..? :P
Mike @ Jun 30th 2007 7:10PM
The Invisible shield is the BEST protector, I've had it on every phone, ipod, and macbook I've owned over the last 2 years and it works much better than advertised and you can't beat the lifetime warranty, one of my iPods died and I got a replacement shield for free.
HJKim @ Jul 1st 2007 4:31AM
um.. have used the crystal film?
I have used them both and crystal film beats the shit out of invisible shield.
not that it's bad but the invisible shield is really hard to apply.
Almost as hard as trying to use windows: it's easy for that one person who knows how to use it but hard for everybody else.
Mike @ Jul 1st 2007 12:02PM
Yes I have used the crystal film and it is a mediocre product at best, it is easier to install than the invisible shield but the film takes the scratches whereas the invisible shield itself is scratch proof. Also there are only a few devices that crystal shield is made for, the invisible shield has a list of over 700 devices so almost any gadget I buy I know I can get an invisible shield for.
morty @ Jun 30th 2007 7:24PM
didnt it come with igloves ad iwipes????
Christopher Marty @ Jun 30th 2007 7:30PM
Charms don't work.
Barry @ Jun 30th 2007 8:03PM
Does it interfere or make it harder to type and use the touch screen? Will i have to push harder and will it miss a lot more touches when typing?
Debo Hobo @ Jun 30th 2007 8:35PM
I have a $60 phone and it receives calls just fine. Not sure what the jsutification for an iphone expense would be. Umm,does it fetch martinis?
Taylor @ Jun 30th 2007 11:05PM
People who get iPhones don't just want calls. They want a nice UI, a camera, YouTube videos, recieve e-mails on their phone (that's a few things your $60 phone doesn't do.)
HJKim @ Jul 1st 2007 4:34AM
watch steve's keynote.
and if you still don't need it that's cool
you just have to understand that other people want to have everything in one package and you don't mind carrying every electronic around in your 8-pocket cargo pants.
hell, somebody wouldn't see the justification for carrying a cellphone.
you have a phone at home, USE THAT ONE.
Vinay @ Jul 1st 2007 4:38AM
I was a skeptic too, until I saw that browser and Google Earth working on the iPhone. Amazing!
When the price comes down to about 400 to 300 dollars, I'm going in, baby!
Unless a better phone comes along the way, that is.
Debo Hobo @ Jul 1st 2007 5:16PM
I appreciate all of your coments. Thanks for giving me a different perspective:)
Tom @ Jun 30th 2007 9:29PM
Debo, what was the point in that? YOU know your wrong, and now loads of people are gonna tell you your wrong. Just seems a waste of time to me.
George @ Jun 30th 2007 10:20PM
Hmmmm, Could you guys test it in front of direct sun light or exposed to it?
Taylor @ Jun 30th 2007 11:00PM
Lookin' good. One thing I *could* see this useful for if the iPhone isn't gonna get scratched is at least making fingerprints a little easier to clean off, you could take the thing off and wipe it with a sponge without risking your precious iPhone's life.
Wil @ Jul 1st 2007 2:37AM
Awesome! Thanks for this review!! I bought this also at the Apple Store but wasn't sure it would work well considering the bubbles that often occur with other screen guards.
People really need to quit whining about your iPhone coverage. If it happened to be a product that they were interested in, would they want other people complaining about your "excessive" coverage? If they don't like it, they don't have to read it!
Jason Campbell @ Jul 1st 2007 9:56AM
I started to freak out a minute ago because when I answered my phone I couldn't hear anything, nothing from the other end of the conversation. So I turned on the speaker, ok there they are, I put in the head phones, which you shouldn't do in the middle of a conversation because for some reason it starts the itunes player and hangs up on the person you are talking to, but they work too. So I'm freaked right, I'm convinced that my speaker that was working fine earlier has somehow broken.
So I reset everything, turn it off and on, nothing. Then I notice that when I cover the ear piece with my hand the screen doesn't dim, this is what it is supposed to do, it's supposed to dim and switch on the ear piece, at least that is what I understand to be the magic there. Sitting there freaking and wiping the screen with my little cloth I start to get OCD about how straight my CrystalFilm is on the phone and I am lifting and straightening and of course I screw it up one of the two screens basically useless cause I got all kinds of crap on the sticky side.
So I take it off, and bam the dimmer starts to work and the speaker starts to work again. Scientific? no. conclusive? debatable. But one minute the fancy ear detector wasnt working and the next it was. I figure the oil build up plus the screen somehow started to interfere with that little bits operation. So I'm not using the film anymore it looks like, to me at least, under the right set of conditions it can contrbute to some things not working.
Just food for thought.
J.
jeffhas @ Jul 1st 2007 12:48PM
I have used invisible shield on many products, but when it comes to a glass like touch screen (Treo or Iphone) you just gotta have that glass like look, which invisible shield doesn't have, it has a slight 'orange peel' texture to the surface when you look at it at an angle.
I still use invisible shield completely for my ipods, macbook, but on my treo and now on my iphone, I find the best combination is to use the invisible shield to protect the unit (back/sides - especially the fine looking stainless/chrome bezel on the Iphone... but THEN, use the Crystal Film (or boxwave Crystal) on the screen itself - you literally cannot tell that the darn thing is covering your touchscreen it looks and feels like glass!!... I do agree over time, the Crystal Film (and Boxwave) do eventually scratch, so you'll need to replace them someday... but who cares, you're keeping your $600 unit looking gorgeous(brand new!) after all.
Also, the Invisible Shield adds a slight 'tackiness' that give you the feeling of a firmer grip, which is great for the body of the device... you don't feel like it could just slip right out of your hands.
Just my experiences.
sideswiped @ Jul 1st 2007 9:51PM
Is the 'tackiness' too much though? I know I had some problems with previous iPod skins being to too grippy. This made the simple act of pulling it out of my pocket a pain in the ass because it would grip my pocket liner.
jeffhas @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:01AM
It's hard to describe... It's like you've dipped your device in clear plastic, really super thin, and practically cemented on the device (although COMPLETELY removable if you want it to be back to brand new). I said slightly tacky, not rubbery like every grip I've ever used, and doesn't pick up lint, etc. It's really pretty cool!... you should give it a try. Pay close attention to the application instructions...it's a little tricky, don;t worry if you don;t get all the air bubbles out, after a few days they go away and like I said - it looks like it's been dipped in clear Plastic.
Good Luck
cameron gibbs @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:15PM
Crystal Film vs invisibleSHIELD
Price: CF: $16.00 IS: $14.95
Lifetime Warranty: CF: No IS: Yes
Scratch Proof: CF: No IS: Yes
Full-body Coverage: CF: Not available IS: Available
Qty Included: CF: Two (because it doesn't last) IS: One (because it does)
Site: CF: Difficult to use IS: Easy to use
Steve Hall @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:11PM
Regarding the price, if someone's going to drop 6 large on an iPhone, what's another 15 bucks to cover up the shiny screen?