Clear Protective Overlay for iPod video
It's commonly known that the displays on iPod Videos and iPod Nanos scratch if you look at them cross-eyed. I tried taking good care of my iPod video, but the screen got scratches all over it in a matter of days. Whatever they are using for the display, it is one of the softest materials known to man.
Being good at closing the barn door after the cows have gotten out, I bought a Macally IP-P802. It's a bad name for a nice product: a sheet of clear plastic that wraps around the iPod, protecting the display. The neat thing about it is that the plastic (or the undetectable adhesive on the plastic) covered up the scratches so that I barely notice them. I don't know how long this stuff will hold up to scratches, but at least they're cheap. Until Apple starts playing nice, you need to protect your iPod's display. $7.98 on Amazon
Comments
I picked up an Invisible Shield for my 5G iPod after I got it and I've been really happy with that too. It's a little scary getting the thing soapy and wet and slapping it on, but once it's on... Hoo-hoo! The thing is tough.
I saw a good how-to here (http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2005/GearNGadgets/September2005/RDMGG_InvisibleShieldFirstLook.htm) but it looks like they wanna make you pay to see it now.
Posted by: Andertoons | February 20, 2006 5:04 PM
I can't tell from the Amazon description; does it wrap around the entire iPod (minus the headphone jack, hold switch, and docking port), or leave some parts exposed?
Deciding that I wanted a protector that worked just like the sticker the Quickie-Lube oil place puts in my car window, I've been using a handmade protector cut from thin clear vinyl sheets purchased at the local craft store. It sticks great to a clean iPod and itself without any adhesive. I used the same approach to my first iPod, and it died after five years of use without a scratch on it.
I was initally intimidated by how many choices I had, but the different thicknesses of vinyl let you decide if you want light protection from minor scratches or something that might absorb the impact of a drop onto a hard floor. The thin stuff doesn't even require a cutout to let the click wheel move--it flexes just the right amount.
Posted by: strunkl | February 22, 2006 12:40 PM
I've been using a product called Screen Guardz that I'm really happy with. They (you get quite a few in the pack) go on/off very easily via only static and were cheap.
I put mine on and then a silicone cover for everyday use.
Mine were ordered in the UK but might be available anywhere.
Posted by: Kelly | February 24, 2006 5:49 AM
Immediately after getting my 5G (and right after my first minor scratch) I got a similar product from Decalgirl.com.
The good: It's stayed on pretty well (very minor lifting at the edges) and done its job protecting the iPod.
The bad: The tolerance around the outer edge and especially around the clickwheel are so tight, I couldn't get the thing on perfectly without smudging it with my fingers. So it ended up a hair crooked, which was enough to interfere with normal clickwheel operations. A big headache. I eventually took out tiny slices with a Xacto, but it was a real pain.
Posted by: Billy K | February 24, 2006 2:21 PM
Why do people pull off the one the comes with the ipod? It would seem like a good way to save ten bucks.
Posted by: Brandon Abell | May 11, 2006 4:06 PM