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Have we found ANY solution to protect the chrome bezel?

W

wongulous

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 7, 2002
952
2
There's InvisibleShields (and similar products) that cover the face, the back, even parts of the sides (in some cases less than ideally); we can get silicone or rubber cases (which can damage with dust/sand/dirt particles), acrylic cases (which can do even further damage as well), and lovely leather cases or pouches, and there are inward-facing padded non-abrasive belt holsters and such.

But so far there has been no good solution for covering what has proven to be the most-easily-damaged and visible parts of the iPhone (besides the screen obviously), the chrome bezel. If you drop it once, there could be dents, gouges, or deep scratches... or if you get particulate matter between the case and the iPhone, your chrome will have tiny weird-looking scratch patterns or look like you took a brillo to your baby iPhone!

Is there no good solution to protecting the chrome? Does anyone have any ideas, or have any companies committed to finding a better way to protect this beautiful-yet-damage-prone part of the iPhone design?

All I can think of is if a shield-type company can make a highly-adhesive, flexible stick-on shield that would cover only the chrome and not warp at the rounded edges... but it would be so small and encounter such moving forces that the edges might peel up like some screen protectors do after a while and get gunky... Or else if you could apply some kind of clear coat like cars (and ladies' nails!) have to protect their surfaces, or have it done by a professional...

Does anyone know if it's real chrome or stainless steel or what, by the way? Maybe it could be electrostatically-plated. I know there are businesses in most cities that can do that, right?
 
i bought this leather holster at the apple store yesterday

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elanholster/

its great because i usually toss my iphone in my shoulder bag. this protects the whole phone.

its also good while youre listening to the ipod. you can still access the volume up and down and sleep buttons.

its not a solution for those who want to be able to use their iphone while its in the case since the holster covers nearly the entire phone.

the inside of the holster is padded, so it wont harm the screen. but it also comes with its own clear screen protector for added protection.
 
Try one of these. Just put the phone inside (on a velvet pillow of course) and you can wheel it around.

Stainless_Steel_Dog_Cage.jpg
 
Har-de-har-har. :)

I'm honestly not overreacting to how I'd treat the iPhone. I would not put an invisible shield covering on the screen (unnecessary IMHO), I would not put it in an acrylic case (most of the phone would barely show damage or it wouldn't make a difference, unlike former iPod videos)... All I am desiring protected is the chrome bezel. It's basically a mirror and it shows all imperfections (though it's beautiful).

I've had iPods of all sorts, expensive PDAs, luxury phones, palmphones, digital SLRs, laptops, and other sensitive equipment and I can tell that the iPhone is probably the best-engineered of any portable device I've used. However, my iPod video that's a year-and-a-half old is truly showing its age, and I just replaced the faceplate and click wheel and now I'm finding that I wish the mirrored chrome back was satin like on the iPhone (or similar to a MBP/my aluminum PB12")... and the iPhone I'll have for at least 2 years!! In the first DAY, there were people posting photos online of their iPhones with cosmetic damage to the chrome bezel!

I did know about the InCase rubber-molded case, and reviews are saying that it stretches after a day or three, especially if removed to use the iPhone dock, and that doesn't appeal to me because with any molded skin case there's a danger of small particulate matter getting inside and causing MORE damage by rubbing constantly into the case and causing unsightly cosmetic damage. Plus most say it's not worth $30. At this point, though, it is my favorite of the case styles and I do like the funky red. I just wish there were something better and I thought a discussion might be good, but instead there's MR comedians. ;)
 
wongulous said:
There's InvisibleShields (and similar products) that cover the face, the back, even parts of the sides (in some cases less than ideally); we can get silicone or rubber cases (which can damage with dust/sand/dirt particles), acrylic cases (which can do even further damage as well), and lovely leather cases or pouches, and there are inward-facing padded non-abrasive belt holsters and such.

But so far there has been no good solution for covering what has proven to be the most-easily-damaged and visible parts of the iPhone (besides the screen obviously), the chrome bezel. If you drop it once, there could be dents, gouges, or deep scratches... or if you get particulate matter between the case and the iPhone, your chrome will have tiny weird-looking scratch patterns or look like you took a brillo to your baby iPhone!

Is there no good solution to protecting the chrome? Does anyone have any ideas, or have any companies committed to finding a better way to protect this beautiful-yet-damage-prone part of the iPhone design?

All I can think of is if a shield-type company can make a highly-adhesive, flexible stick-on shield that would cover only the chrome and not warp at the rounded edges... but it would be so small and encounter such moving forces that the edges might peel up like some screen protectors do after a while and get gunky... Or else if you could apply some kind of clear coat like cars (and ladies' nails!) have to protect their surfaces, or have it done by a professional...

Does anyone know if it's real chrome or stainless steel or what, by the way? Maybe it could be electrostatically-plated. I know there are businesses in most cities that can do that, right?
Click to expand...

Dude, use the www.bestskinsever.com protective color. THey use the exact same material as shieldzone but at a fraction of the cost. I know because I have one on my Iphone right now. EXACT same thing just less well known so they charge less.

http://www.bestskinsever.com/servlet/the-69/iPhone-Total-Body-Skin/Detail

That's the link to the Iphone SKin. $7.99 baby + 2 dollar shipping.

You see how it actually covers the CHROME?

iPhone-1-low.jpg
 
Wow! All of the others (at least three) that I've seen don't cover the chrome. NIIIIICE. :D

Thanks for sharing this... it's a good start, and I'm definitely ordering it.
 
wongulous said:
Wow! All of the others (at least three) that I've seen don't cover the chrome. NIIIIICE. :D

Thanks for sharing this... it's a good start, and I'm definitely ordering it.
Click to expand...

Yea, sure, no problem. Keep this a secret though because once a lot of people start ordering, they might jack up the price. Sounds like ummmm Apple.

:D
 
eye.surgeon said:
Try one of these. Just put the phone inside (on a velvet pillow of course) and you can wheel it around.

Stainless_Steel_Dog_Cage.jpg
Click to expand...


i dunno... if you hit a speed bump or pothole i can see the phone jumping up and smashing into the metal grates and that might totally scratch up the bezel.
 
chemistslime said:
Dude, use the www.bestskinsever.com protective color. THey use the exact same material as shieldzone but at a fraction of the cost. I know because I have one on my Iphone right now. EXACT same thing just less well known so they charge less.

http://www.bestskinsever.com/servlet/the-69/iPhone-Total-Body-Skin/Detail

That's the link to the Iphone SKin. $7.99 baby + 2 dollar shipping.

You see how it actually covers the CHROME?

iPhone-1-low.jpg
Click to expand...

I have one on order. How difficult is it to put on? Any bubbles? I know things say easy, but then reality is quite different.
 
drew0020 said:
I have one on order. How difficult is it to put on? Any bubbles? I know things say easy, but then reality is quite different.
Click to expand...

I've used these on 2 iPod nanos I own and they are very easy to put on. No bubbles.

Can't believe I didn't think to look at them for iPhone protection.
 
rdowns said:
I've used these on 2 iPod nanos I own and they are very easy to put on. No bubbles.

Can't believe I didn't think to look at them for iPhone protection.
Click to expand...

Once, you put them on, is it permanent? Is it difficult to take off? If you want to take it off, will THAT damage the phone's surface? Also, going in and out of your pocket several times a day, will it unravel slightly over time and show evidence of dirt at the edges of the protective skin?

I know, it's a lot of questions. It's just that my Incase rubber case is beginning to stretch a LOT, and I noticed a few tiny tiny marks from microparticles and whatnot.
 
bestskinsever

Applied for first time this weekend. Took a while to get the hangof it, especially in the corners. Read the instructioni!!!

Anyways, impressed with the protection. There are still open spaces in the corners. The chrome bezel is not 100% covered, but more like 70-80% covered. The bottom and top pieces to not completely touch each other at the face part of the chrome.

Otherwise, it is sleek. Holding up preety well. I do miss the smooth feel of the iphone but the touch screen seems OK. Actually, for typing, the extra resistance may be better.
 
Had my iPhone since Day 1, no protection, naked in my pocket. The chrome bezel looks great and the screen is flawless, and I get to touch and see my iPhone, not some case.
 
ZBoater said:
My wife bought one of these today at the Apple store

http://goincase.com/products/detail/protective-cover-cl59030

Pretty sweet. And hers is red. I am getting the black one. That way we know which iPhone is which and she doesnt grab mine by mistake (like she did yesterday - which explains the trip to the Apple store today... )
Click to expand...

Damage from that popular case, by the way, happens to be one of the primary reasons for this thread. Reports of scratching are coming in droves on Apple's discussion pages. My iPhone has suffered terribly after just 2 weeks of use with that molded rubber case.
 
chp5592 said:
Applied for first time this weekend. Took a while to get the hangof it, especially in the corners. Read the instructioni!!!

Anyways, impressed with the protection. There are still open spaces in the corners. The chrome bezel is not 100% covered, but more like 70-80% covered. The bottom and top pieces to not completely touch each other at the face part of the chrome.

Otherwise, it is sleek. Holding up preety well. I do miss the smooth feel of the iphone but the touch screen seems OK. Actually, for typing, the extra resistance may be better.
Click to expand...

sounds great! as for the lack of smoothness, i think this might work well for me because the iphone (when naked) is soooo slippery.

question: is the film removable? if so, does it cause damage? also, do the edges/corners of the film get dirty and are they susceptible to peeling over time? does anyone know?
 
megfilmworks said:
Had my iPhone since Day 1, no protection, naked in my pocket. The chrome bezel looks great and the screen is flawless, and I get to touch and see my iPhone, not some case.
Click to expand...

I have to kinda agree w/ this statement. While protection of such an expensive device is important, having to "feel" ur phone is part of the experience. What fun is touching someone's boobs w/ gloves on :D

In all seriousness, I like to protect my iPhone too, but only partially. How does Best Skins Ever feel? Does it feel like gliding on glass? Any resistance? Grippy? Feels like the iPhone itself?
 
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