Tech Haus

I purchased the Developer’s G1 the second week in May 2009. I quickly installed Jesusfreke’s cupcake build and started playing around with it. I also began looking at the various protective coverings (skins, cases, etc) to keep my G1 in immaculate condition. I settled on the Zagg InvisibleSHIELD due in part to its claim to a “Military grade” scratch resistant cover. Price seemed a tiny bit steep ($26), but I figured if it managed to do the job and was as durable as other reviews claimed – it’d be worth it.

Judging from the reviews I found Zagg is one of three main types of skins currently available for the G1. The other two options are the RealCoolSkins and the BodyGuardz. Doing some preliminary research, the RCS and BG are made from a 3M product, whereas the Zagg is its own proprietary formula for its skin. The biggest complaint across the board is how difficult it is to properly install. As one reviewer put it, “You need the patience of a kindergarten teacher, and the hands of a surgeon.”

I have worked with tedious projects in the past, so I assumed I could handle it. It arrived roughly 4 days after I ordered it online. Install time clocked in at roughly an hour and a half. The corners were a pain to install, but I was able to hold them in place using plastic wrap.  Some small bubbles were present immediately following the install, but as other reviews said – the bubbles disappeared. slight “orange peel” was visible in the days since.

I’ve attempted to purposely scratch the back, and couldn’t. There are some left over pieces from the install and I attempted to use my exacto knife to cut the scraps… only with significant pressure could I cut through. If my phone goes up against something like an exacto knife – nothing will protect it.
Evaluation
Was it worth the money? Hells yes. I’m no longer worried about keeping my phone in a separate pocket from my keys. The touchscreen isn’t impaired by the skin, and the overall glossy look seems to actually add to the aesthetics.