Database Develop

[Q] Can you protect the screen without a case?

Having come over from HTC phones I have been reading with horror how easy it seems to be to shatter the screen on a Streak.
My previous phone, the Desire, was probably dropped a dozen times; back comes off, battery flies, but the screen is intact.
Personally, I find these neoprene / plastic cases hideous and really feel that they not only detract from the elegant lines of the Streak but make it look really cumbersome and unpockeable. The leather ones just make it another thing to carry around in your hand as you would not get one of those into your trouser pocket, and lets face it, bits of leather dangling off from your phone during a call can only add to the impracticality.
I really want to keep the phone as small as possible and to feel the quality materials in my hand, not rubber. Otherwise, why was it not made of rubber in the first place? I really cant see how Dells form plastic case protects the screen either?
My main concern is the screen (I am not worried about scratches on the body) and am wondering if a good screen protector could give the screen added resilence to cracking if dropped, because at the end of the day, those cases still leave the screen exposed dont they?
Has anybody a product to recommend or does this phone really need to be wrapped in cotton wool all the time?

i used mine withouta case for a good few munths drop it lots without any damage to sreen and been lucky i geuss but got a tuff love now

Yet you read some accounts of people dropping theirs once as soon as they get them and the screens shattering at relatively low heights.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

tbh ive got inshurance against acidental damage so never realy that carefull with phones and its been flung across a brewers fair floor and survied when it flew out my jacket pocket as i was putting it on .good job it didnt hit anyone idd of been done for gbh

Your first drop

Well I had mine today.
I knew it would come as I started to use this tab more and more for my only device. I was trying to get it into a coat pocket that was a bit tight and wham, before I knew it I saw it crashing onto a sidewalk FACE down.
I cringed as I watched it bounce. I didn't hear the screen hit the ground even though it bobbled around face down a few times so i was a bit relieved, but I was still worried picking it up as it hit a corner first.
Happy to say it came through scratch free.
I bought a simple cheap case that does not add much in size and has good grip.
Here it is if anyone is interested. The stylist doesn't work that well and I haven't put the screen protector on yet, but after today I will.
http://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-P1000-GALAXY-COVER-CASE/dp/B0047K40EG

I dropped mine on day one as I hadn't put it into my pocket properly, small ding in the corner. I was not happy.
I managed to leave it on the car roof the other day, it fell off & got ran over by 2 cars before it was retrieved, the case mostly saved it, a bit of the plastic on the other corner is damaged, but it still works fine and the glass is unmarked. A bit of touch-up and it's not a big deal.
Good build quality!

my 5 yr old dropped it 2x times already but its taking it great no scratches or anything

Just like my Galaxy S, the Tab too has been on "Extreme Adventure's"!
The SGS has been seen to slide off a kitchen work surface onto a stone floor and shoot out of my car window (after leaving my dashboard at warp 5.0) onto the road....
The Tab has shown great tenacity in following the SGS enduring 'blind maneuvers' by being sat-upon, knocked off a desk and found in an argument with one of my dogs (my grand daughter had been using the App 'Talking Tom' and put the Tab down to then come out and join me in the next room but left Talking Tom waiting for the next voice to come forth.... It did in the guise of Rags, one of our dogs who took an instant dislike to his barks & growls being played back by Talking Tom the Cat)!!
Thank goodness for Gorilla Glass and the Ebay case's I purchased....

I've decided to get the Otterbox Defender case to prevent any accidental drops and hating myself afterward!
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

I've dropped mine around 4 times so far - the worst being off a shelf around 4 feet high onto a fairly hard bathroom floor. So far it's survived intact - unlike an iPad one of my kids dropped and which now has a nice dent in the aluminium. Maybe plastic was a better materials choice after all....

maxima0002 said:
I've decided to get the Otterbox Defender case to prevent any accidental drops and hating myself afterward!
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
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What case are you using for the times you plan on dropping the case on purpose.
Sorry couldn't resist.

Dropped mine while on a call, it had a gel skin and screen protector so i though it was ok, continued the call but the other person said they could not hear me very well after the drop. I was devestated and thought it would have to go for repair.
Looking at it after the call i noticed the case had come apart near the microphone, i carefully with light pressure snapped the front and back casing back together and now everything if working perfectly and calls are clear again. Phew!

knightnz said:
I dropped mine on day one as I hadn't put it into my pocket properly, small ding in the corner. I was not happy.
I managed to leave it on the car roof the other day, it fell off & got ran over by 2 cars before it was retrieved, the case mostly saved it, a bit of the plastic on the other corner is damaged, but it still works fine and the glass is unmarked. A bit of touch-up and it's not a big deal.
Good build quality!
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I don't believe this.

I dropped mine on my way out my front door the other day. Luckily it was in a padded sleeve that I had just bought the day before from Walmart. No damage, but it got me thinking about what could have happened if it wasn't in the sleeve. The only protection it has when it's in use is a Zagg Invisibleshield and Zaggskin. Great for scratch protection, but there's no shock protection. So I've ordered an Otterbox for it. I'm sure it'll be tested at some point.

Dropped mine once and ordered the otterbox
Sent from my SGH-T849 w/ otterbox case using XDA App

Same here - is there any source for spare parts already?

Dropped mine glass side down on the corner of a metal box. Destroyed the antiglare cover.. my heart was in my throat while I removed it to see if there was permanent damage and to my surprise not a scratch.
Very resistant device

Scratch on the frame
Dropped mine first face down on a tiled floor. No problem. The Gorilla glass is great. Second incident was not so much a drop as an unforseen injury. My Tab was naked in my big old Samsonite wheel bag for a longhaul flight while I slept and the top edge of the frame was pushed by the other stuff in the bag against a metal rivet head inside the bag. The result is 2 little patches of scribble in the coating near the head phone jack. I can confirm the frame is aluminium.
Any reccomendations as to the neatest touch up?

Mother told me to use protection, but I'm going full on nude...

I've gone through a few different cases and sleeves now. But while changing cases recently, I happened to stop and look at my Nexus without any protection. It felt a lot thinner and looked freaking sexy. I don't know if I'm crazy, but I think I'm going to go naked (minus a screen protector).
Is anyone else here using their Nexus without a case or cover? What has your experience been?

I use mine most of the time naked heh. But put it in a cheap fake leather smart cover case when I take it anywhere, and then take it out usually to use it.

Naked with a screen protector. I have a roocase for travel. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

using a TPU case, just because when I play, it gets really hot...

I was lightly using my tablet naked for the first time today and it was amazing. Call me crazy, but the extra thinness that I got from removing my hardshell case was a totally new experience.
What has your experience been like? Is your Nexus damaged as a result of not using a case?

I use it naked too. Not even a screen protector yet. Not sure how i feel about sticking a plastic sheet on it. The screen already looks kinda dim and washed colors.
For when not in use, I have on the way a Peli hard case.

Naked here as well, but I'm in the market for a hard-case / sturdy case for transportation mode. I hate screenprotectors (I never can get them on without dust/bubbles) they make any device they're applied to less responsive in my opinion. For now the tablet is mainly used indoors, but I'm planning to start using it outdoors for photography purposes (combined with dslr controller app).

Naked, no issues yet.
If it's getting hot when gaming, a case isn't going to make that any better...

Haven't put a screen protector on my HTC ONE X phone or the N7 as I feel their screens are good enough. Use a case so I can do stuff while using the N7 as I have a badly damaged shoulder and arm.
If I used my 'good arm' to support the N7 i can't do much else so a case that stands up in portrait or landscape is a must for me. I guess for others it probably isn't a hassle to use an arm to hold the N7. At least I get medical insurance for my injury so I can afford goodies like this which helps me pass time less painfully when the kids and wife aren't keeping me busy ;D
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

I use mine fully naked, no screen protector or anything. I got a caselogic sleeve for transporting and wrap it in a microfiber cloth mostly to keep dust off and having it handy to wipe fingerprints and stuff off

O_O
There are some brave people on these forums. I could never use my tab without a screen protector. I'd be too paranoid. As for dropping my tab, I haven't dropped an electronic device in years so I'm not too worried about that.

What's the best practice to keep the microfiber cloths clean? They do gather dust and small particles in time which can scratch the screen when using them? Is it enough just to shake them really hard or need to wash them often?

i use mine naked prefer it, i also use glasses cleaning wipes to clean my screen cheep to

My Nexus 7 and galaxy S3 are used naked.

I got a great case on Amazon that is a wallet, a handgrip thing, and has a smart cover so it locks when i close it. i only paid $10 for it.
It looks a bit cheap in the picture but when you actually get it its nice.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UZW8XY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

xdacuc said:
What's the best practice to keep the microfiber cloths clean? They do gather dust and small particles in time which can scratch the screen when using them? Is it enough just to shake them really hard or need to wash them often?
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A quick google search says the most practical way is to hand wash them in a bucket of warm water, let soak for 1 hour and hang dry if they are small, which they probably are. No real reason to put a couple of small microfiber cloths in the washer and dryer unless you really want to. Also you SHOULD NOT wash them with other loads. They pick up and hold dust/dirt and if there are other clothes then they will just pick up and hold that from washer and dryer, which would probably make them dirtier than cleaner.

I just received a fantastic case that works well with the naked tab. It doubles as a stand. I'll post a review in the next week or so.

I always go naked with my devices. I think about cases and sometimes they sound nice but in the end I like the slimness, the less extra bs to worry about.

I tap all my bitc-I mean... Devices raw.
I'm thinking of strapping the N7 up, though. She's wifey material...
http://android-gz.com

I'm not a nexus never-nude either.
Have a timbuk2 envelope for when it's in my bag, and prob going to order a rickshaw sleeve so I can slip it in and out of my messenger bag's fortuitously N7-sized outer compartment easier but with some padding.
But when actually using it, no case, no screen protector. I don't want bubbles, don't want adhesive residue, don't want a less smooth surface for my mesh stylus and fingers, don't want a less-clear screen...
And I like the nexus' grippy back, sexy design (everyone who sees it says oooh is that the iPad mini? How are you liking your iPad mini? Fools :laugh: )
I can however see benefit of a case for those who don't mind bulk, but I don't see much point in screen protectors...

Dust proof note 2 case ?

The best case so far is the Griffin survivor knockoff but it is very cheaply made. The screen protector scratches very easily. Does anyone have an idea where I could get the material used for the screen protector that Otterbox uses ?
Otterbox defender has a good quality protector but unfortunately it has cutouts for the home button as well as the top Speaker.
ARE there any other options ? Does anyone have any ideas how to dust proof the Otterbox?

Dust definitely is a problem with this case. I end up taking it apart to clean a couple of times a day, which sounds worse than it really is, even to me - When I think about it, I'm like, "Ugh, what a pain", but then, after, I'm like, "That wasn't so bad".
Anyway, in response to your question, I do have an idea, but haven't tried it and probably won't because I don't mind the cleaning.
You could cut to size and glue rubber washers to the inside of the screen, outlining the cutouts.

Tape. Put a small piece non sticky side up over the home button opening then tape it down from the inside do the same with the speaker cutout and use a needle to perforate it. If you're good with an exacto knife you could cut colored tape to fill the opening then use a small strip of crystal clear packing tape to seal it into place. It's cheap and easily replaceable when dust gets stuck to it. It'll serve 2 purposes of helping block the dust and catching what sneaks by.
☆SoA: Son's of Android™☆
I like to break stuff!

What is the point?? You might as well put it in a glass case and never touch it. It's not a mickey mantle rookie card, it's a frikin phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

LittleRedDot said:
What is the point?? You might as well put it in a glass case and never touch it. It's not a mickey mantle rookie card, it's a frikin phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
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Some people work in environments with lots of silica dust which will destroy the screen in no time. It's no fun to have a hazy scuffed up screen on your $700 phone.
☆SoA: Son's of Android™☆
I like to break stuff!

If I worked in an environment prone to dust/sand, I'd have an otterbox no doubt!

I don't mind a few scratches on my phones body/midframe but my screen must stay relatively pristine. Scratches on my viewing area drive me insane :thumbdown: luckily I have an office job, but I do live in Florida and there's lots of sand around to wreak havok on your screen. For that reason alone I never put mine in a pocket cuz I prefer my glass naked, so I use a microfiber/microsuede lined leather holster with the bottom corners open so the sand and dust can fall out easily.
☆SoA: Son's of Android™☆
I like to break stuff!

apallohadas said:
If I worked in an environment prone to dust/sand, I'd have an otterbox no doubt!
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Defender for Note 2 won't save you from dust. For someone working in such harsh environment, I wouldn't even recommend getting N2 but rather S3 with Otterbox Armor soon to be released. Seidio OBEX might work as well. But those are not for N2

+1 for survivor case..that is what we can get for now on our note 2..
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

Delete

I guess I don't see how taping over the speaker and the punching tiny holes in the tape solves anything. Also tape would peel and get dirty. Just put a quality sp on and buy a good case, then leave everything else up to the gods.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Tape costs a few bucks for a big roll. When it peels you replace it, same with getting dusty. Thats the whole point of using tape so the dust sticks to it instead of getting and and being able to move around. As for perforating the tape, a few small holes is much harder for dust to get thru than a large opening, but will let the sound thru fairly well. Obviously you've never had to protect electronics in a harsh environment. One of the most common things done to protect ordinary electronics in the desert is put tape over the ports to prevent sand from getting in. Same in wet environments only you use heavier tape like no residue duct tape.
☆SoA: Son's of Android™☆
I like to break stuff!

I found this on Amazon and remembered seeing this post. Figured I'd bring it to your attention. I was looking at the zero lemon battery and stumbled on this. Waterproof and dust proof.
summercomm-- Waterproof Skin Case for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100 Multi Purpose Protective Skin for Underwater Activity, Fishing, Ski, Snowboarding, Sand-proof, Dustproof, Bath Tub
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5A16R0/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8
Sent from the lab whilst Pinky and the Brain try to take over the world.

I just had a marvelous idea. Put the phone in a zip lock bag and use a bluetooth earpiece. :good:

-EViL-KoNCEPTz- said:
Tape costs a few bucks for a big roll. When it peels you replace it, same with getting dusty. Thats the whole point of using tape so the dust sticks to it instead of getting and and being able to move around. As for perforating the tape, a few small holes is much harder for dust to get thru than a large opening, but will let the sound thru fairly well. Obviously you've never had to protect electronics in a harsh environment. One of the most common things done to protect ordinary electronics in the desert is put tape over the ports to prevent sand from getting in. Same in wet environments only you use heavier tape like no residue duct tape.
☆SoA: Son's of Android™☆
I like to break stuff!
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Yes obviously, because you know me, I've never had to protect my device in the desert.
But you would be wrong, I did 4 combat tours in Iraq and I never had a problem with a screen protector and a case. I been in sandstorms so bad you couldn't see in front of your face and I've never damaged a device. So before you go assuming things that you know nothing about maybe you should stop and think before you put your foot I your mouth.
In fact I still have the ipod I took with me and it works perfectly, as did my mates.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

I have the book type flip case with holes on the flip cover for accepting calls and all that stuff but its not dust proof and I hate it..dust gets to my screen everytime and it damages my chrome bezel and back cover

New Type Screen Protector

Has anyone yet tried out this "new type" of screen protector yet?
http://www.cultofandroid.com/26901/...or-borrows-technology-from-bulletproof-glass/
Doc

Sounds neat, but anyone describing a screen protector as 'magic self healing' as a technology makes me skeptical.
I look forward to someone else reviewing it!

My screen is so hard it doesn't pick up scratches. Extra layers are just extra junk. Now if it provides some protection from breakage that would be useful. If I drop it on the ground is it any less likely to crack?
I don't disbelieve the article though. They have been working on self healing films for a few years. You can get self healing clear coat and paint on some cars. Maybe this would be useful for a construction worker who has to touch his screen with abrasive sandy grit. That WILL scratch our screen even though car keys and normal handling doesn't.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

I'd be interested to see how it heals scratches after some real abuse, like sandpaper. Keys and such are a worthless test at this point. It seems everyone has moved to something that can prevent scratching from those. But even the best current screens can't stop being scratched by a single grain of sand in your pocket. That alone is why I use screen protectors. It's not like I roll around in a sand dune then put the phone in my pocket, but even being VERY careful with a prior "Gorilla Glass" type screen, I got a couple scratches on it from sand. The only "glass" I know of that can prevent that is the Sapphire crystal that you can get on nicer watches. Those are probably far too expensive to use on phones.
For now, I'm using a Clarivue glass protector. It's really nice, but does have some tiny lifting at the top corners. And it will scratch from sand, like any glass. But it's a lot cheaper and easier to replace the protector than the phone screen.

This is the only video of it I can currently find: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hosHv5k0IKI&feature=player_detailpage#t=764s
Not much of a review but it does show the "self healing" capability against a wire brush.
I'm considering getting one as I haven't yet bought a screen protector for my phone but feel I should do at some point.

KEYofR said:
My screen is so hard it doesn't pick up scratches. Extra layers are just extra junk. Now if it provides some protection from breakage that would be useful. If I drop it on the ground is it any less likely to crack?
I don't disbelieve the article though. They have been working on self healing films for a few years. You can get self healing clear coat and paint on some cars. Maybe this would be useful for a construction worker who has to touch his screen with abrasive sandy grit. That WILL scratch our screen even though car keys and normal handling doesn't.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
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I think that it is great that you don't pick up scratches but some people keep the phone in their pocket with keys, coins and other crap so something like this does make sense. I may try to go to a T-Mobile store and check it out.

DocEsq said:
I think that it is great that you don't pick up scratches but some people keep the phone in their pocket with keys, coins and other crap so something like this does make sense. I may try to go to a T-Mobile store and check it out.
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So do I of course.
Keys and coins don't hurt this screen.
They haven't hurt most screens the last few years. My og evo after 2 years of rough careless handling with no case or screen protector was scratched up but only lightly and not enough to matter. That is, a lot of fine scratches but none of them deep, and the screen is still clear so they don't matter in any functional way. And it took 2 years to even get that way and it's not worth anything by then to try to sell it even if it were new and never used. My evo lte after 1 year of the same did even better and is almost unblemished. Only 1 year but it looks better than the og evo did at 1 year. My girlfriends iphone4 after 2 years of the same looks almost unblemished, although she handles hers a little more carefully than I do, but still, no screen protector and it rubs up on keys and hair clips and paper clips and coins in her purse and in the cup holder in the car.
The lest few years of hard glass screens are very hard just for this reason and they work pretty well.
The reason I mentioned sand is that sand or other hard mineral abrasive will scratch it. Most metals won't. Especially not chrome plated brass keys or copper/silver alloys in coins. My stainless steel multitool doesn't even. The tungsten carbide cutting wheel of a glass cutter would with enough concerted pressure.