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Overview
Shieldzone Corporation offers their product invisibleShield for over
400 gadgets. The shields are made from an ultra-tough, thin and
transparent film that was originally developed to protect military
helicopter blades. After applying the invisibleShield I of course
tried to scratch it. I used a sharp end of a paper clip, a screw
driver, keys nothing left a scratch (see photo below). The material is not hard, it is
actually soft. So when you drive a screw driver across the surface
you shortly see a streak and then it disappears again. So here is my
question, why cannot Apple right away use such a material on the iPod casing from the get go? Why do consumers have to go and buy it
and install it themselves?
Installation of the InvisibleSHIELD
The iPod nano Shield comes with a full body protection foil,
SHIELDspray and a squeegee. To apply you need to spray both sides of
the foil with the spray. You should also spray your fingertips to
make things easier. I am not very talented when it comes to working
detailed, but it was actually easy for me to apply the front
shields. The back side is trickier, because of the edges. I could
not get them to stick. After watching this
instruction
video from Shieldzone, it finally worked. There are several
tips in the video for the corners that are very useful. You need to
let the edges dry for a couple min. so they start to get sticky. Also
if they do not stick then, you need to press the corners in your
hand balm for 30 seconds to mold them.
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Applying SHIELDspray on shield |
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With the supplied squeegee (a credit
card works too) I could easily get out the bubbles. There have been
some tiny ones, that just went a way after the 24 hour setting
period Shieldzone recommends.
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Positioning shield on iPod nano |
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Using squeegee to remove bubbles |
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The final result. I actually did
not apply a shield to the click wheel as I like the surface as
it is. Maybe I apply it later. |
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Even when pressing down hard with
a paper clip or screw-driver the invisbleSHIELD does not
scratch. |
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The
iPod nano I used here actually already had scratches on it. (it
was a
tough photo shoot) After applying the invisibleShield those are
not visible anymore.
Conclusion
To apply the complete invisibleShield on the iPod nano has its small
difficulties, that can be managed though after watching the
instruction video. The end result is worth it. The shield is really
extremely tough. Apple should look into making surfaces for their
products like that.
How to Buy
The nano iPod Full Body Shield sells for $19.95 on the
shieldzone site
and comes with a lifetime warranty.
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