Belkin Protective Screen Overlays for iPod 5G, 5.5G (Clear) Reviews

• Good Product, Bad Price

  
  By A14K6VFGB42DWU on 2007-02-05
  Wow, people are really having a hard time with this, judging by the reviews. Look, it does take some finesse to put this thing on properly. Before you do anything, figure out exactly where on the iPod you need to put the corner (it doesn't fit exactly from edge to edge, there is a tiny gap all around, to account for the iPod's curved bezel). Use the cleaning kit on your iPod, and try to find a relatively dust-free place to do this. I didn't put my first one on quite right, and tried to peel it back off to reposition it, but that just ended up creating bubbles. I also got a speck of dust under it, which created a bubble. But guess what? IT'S OKAY. I don't really care about the few tiny little bubbles. It's not the end of the world; I can still see the screen just fine. Of note: I did manage to put the back piece on right, after learning from my mistakes with the front. Also, I don't use the cover on the click wheel (I find it unnecessary).
  Also, this thing is not going to permit you to throw your iPod around and expect nothing to happen to it. It's just a piece of plastic to help with scratches and surface damage. It's not a protective case. But it's a nice added layer of protection that's thin enough to allow me to still use my FM modulator in the car, slip the iPod out of that, and slip it into the armband I (sometimes) use at work. That's what I wanted, and that's what this is.
  All this being said, this is the most expensive PIECE OF PLASTIC I've ever bought. I ended up buying it, though, because I can't find anything else like this from any other company, and it's exactly what I was looking for. I'm sure Belkin could still turn a profit if they offered a 3-pack of these at the same price, but they're the only game in town, so they can go ahead and gouge us. Just make sure you don't try to buy this at one of the big electronics stores, as I've seen them there for about 3 times the price. Now that's just ridiculous.
  
  

• Good cover, but fits crooked on iPod

  
  By A23ZNGL704AW7O on 2007-12-30
  I bought the Belkin F8Z085 Protective Overlays for iPod Video recently and applied it to my new iPod. I was pleased to find the overlays a solid yet flexible plastic, sure to protect the iPod from most superficial damage such as scratches, etc.
  
  I was dismayed, however, to find that the overlay does not fit the iPod properly. While I did not expect it would cover the entire surface, I did expect it would align properly on the device. Instead, the front overlay fits the iPod crookedly.
  
  The front overlay has a cutout for the control wheel of the iPod, and if you center the cutout properly around the wheel, the edges of the overlay are definitely crooked. I had a bit that hung over the edge of one corner which I had to trim to prevent it from easily being peeled off of the mp3 player from that edge.
  
  I have had good experiences in the past with Belkin products, so I was surprised by how sloppy this overlay was cut. When it is time to replace the overlay, I will certainly be shopping other brands.
  
  Edited to add the paragraph below on January 3, 2008:
  
  Four days after I posted the review above, the front cover completely fell off with no hope of sticking to the device again. I keep this in a protective holder when in my purse, and only have the iPod out of it when it is actually in a dock, FM modulator, or speaker. The cover didn't last a week.
  
  I would lower the number of stars I awarded this product to 1 star if Amazon.com gave us that ability. This is a very expensive item to last less than 7 days. I'd be happy with the price if it lasted a few months, but it came nowhere near that close.
  
  

• Someone must make a better one.

  
  By A3BLX1Q94GWDWA on 2006-10-28
  Impossible to get even most of the air bubbles out. Poor fit (the back cover only covers about 80%) and getting the front to line up with the click wheel might be posable if the opening was the rite size. Another review said it does a good job of protecting the iPod, but so would duct tape.
  
  

• Ends justify the means.

  
  By A3REK65K1PEMOE on 2006-07-16
  So far these overlays are a great investment. After a month or two of use, I feel totally fine carrying my black iPod video around otherwise unprotected. The kit includes cleaning wipes, and a lint free towel to dry. For the cleaning wipes you can probably do better. In the right light I can see an oily sheen under the film. But 98% of the time I do not notice it. Otherwise the overlay is an excellent way to keep the iPod feeling "naked" while at the same time preventing scratches on both the front and the back (two overlays are included in the package).
  
  

• Good IDEA Bad Product

  
  By A1KP84MZW5UYPU on 2006-11-20
  Okay so I was excited to get these... Thought they would work great protcect my entire ipod from scratches and be an all around good product... Well... Duct tape will protect your ipod also... but i wouldn't use it nor would i use these again...
  
  So you clean your ipod great... You go to put on the covers and they are pain to line up and next to impossible to keep all the dust out (a vaccum envrioment like found in labs might work). Then lets get to the click wheel cover... So you put it on... well if you move the click wheel it pulls off... So i am not sure how long it would stay on...
  
  As i said before duct tape will protect your ipod too... I would not buy these again.
  
  
• Is this really a problem???
  By A1D8NJI8LT9SZ2 on 2007-01-13
  This is a great product! YES, it's true that - if you aren't patient and apply it to the surface slowly working from one end to the other - "bubbles" get trapped under the film... isn't that to be expected? So, considering a slow and patient hand even if you do get a bubble or two under the film it's EAAAASSY to pull back off and reapply as it doesn't bond by adhesive but by molecular bonding. Not only that but if you do have a few bubbles you can't even see them when the backlight is active (i.e. watching video). I love this product! I will buy 50 more of them as needed, if needed!
  
  
• Want to protect your iPod? Get something else.
  By A3P2RMAC6YQ51V on 2006-12-21
  I just put this on 5 minutes ago, and I don't like it. Like some other reviews, I couldn't get out many of the air bubbles (13 of them) after putting it on (this is bad since two are on my video screen, and many are on the click wheel) and the back only covers a modest portion (the "about 80%" from another reviewer suggestion seems about right). You also have to be VERY careful putting it on. The only reason I even tried it out was because it was a gift from one of my coworkers, and she got them cheap in a 3-pack.
  
  To add insult to injury, the overlay is actually harder to clean than the iPod by itself. It has fingerprint marks all over it; usually fixed by a wipe with a clean cloth. I'll probably be taking this protector off relatively soon. Shame on Belkin for selling this product!
  
  If you want to protect your iPod, get something else that will protect it from impact as well. I have a slight chip (less than 4 mm) on mine on the front side after dropping it. It slipped out of my hand onto a concrete corner from about 5 feet. I figure that's pretty good protection on Apple's part, but that may have been avoided with a durable case. If you're going to get something, go for all around protection and not this.
  
  
• Other users need patience...
  By A21JU5ZBLK0UXD on 2007-04-13
  This isn't a product that you can expect to put on in 10 seconds & expect it to be perfect.
  
  Did anyone who gave a bad review, read the directions? Or maybe use some common sense? You can't just put something on & push it all down & then complain about the air bubbles. You have to put it on slowly, squeezing the air bubbles out as you go. I don't have one air bubble on mine and it took me a few minutes to put on.
  
  I agree that the back cover could be a bit bigger, but I absolutely love the front cover. It fits PERFECTLY! I can't believe how smooth & clean my IPOD looks with it on, even on the click wheel.
  
  Fingerprints? Of course there are fingerprints, just as there were on your IPOD and everywhere you touch. If you have a problem with it, keep the 'dry' cloth that came with it & buff them out.
  
  
• Ipod protective cover
  By A2YUB5ALFN4HOM on 2007-05-10
  I worked okay but an older Ipod does not allow the product to stick so well.
  
  
• Good protection for use with another case
  By A2FJQGIJREUZK7 on 2007-11-13
  I bought this product for use with my iSnug armband. Someone had commented that the clear plastic window on the armband could scratch the iPod screen, so I bought these inexpensive overlays to protect the screen.
  
  They were fairly easy to apply (the package comes with a piece for the front, the back and the click-wheel), although I did end up with a couple of bubbles (hence the 4 star review).
  
  A good product to protect the device from scratches when using another case.
  
  
• Covers for ipods
  By A39OJ2P7TAUVB8 on 2007-11-16
  Not a very good product. The front cover is not very transparent and clouds the screen. Does not stick well, either. Not very happy with this product.
  
  
• Buy it if u want it (worth the money) ..and how to keep the bubbles away!
  By A2FQ4B6G9M436U on 2007-12-07
  Basically, it is what you think you want. The price is pretty good and i heard it lasts a long time on your ipod without coming off or getting ruined. The biggest problem people seem to be having is that it leaves BUBBLES! Fortunately, I took biology...and when you use a microscope and put something on the slide you're going to look at, you want to drop the cover slip at a 45 degree angle. On the cover slip for this, do NOT drop it but simply get something like a credit card, and push it along as you lay it down.
  
  Don't expect the back to be fully covered, but other than that, i think it's great so far!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  added after a few months:
  
  Good part: protects ipod very well from scratches. it looks like u have a bunch of scratches wen u have it on after a while, but if you take it off, there really arent any!
  
  Bad part: the back side doesnt get covered all the way because it curves off, but it definitely prevents scratches in the middle!
  
  i recommmend this product. oh and my front cover peeled off after a couple of months but i think it's cuz my brother jammed it into my ipod case, otherwise it sticks very well.
  
  also use a credit card to push air bubbles out. and if u've ever put a cover on a slide in a microscope, use the same technique. 45 degree angle drop
  
  
• Bad accesory for ipod
  By AZNS00QOJD1LJ on 2007-01-08
  I pay 15 box for Protective Overlays for iPod Video and 2 weeks before i have to remove for my ipod... is a bad sell
  
  
• Buy it if you don't like scratches in the iPod screen
  By AM131WYYNYBLX on 2007-07-05
  It is a very good item to keep the screen of my iPod safe of scratches.
  
  
• Great Product
  By A3CK2ZIJ7FB710 on 2007-08-05
  Contrary to some reviews of this product, I think it is fantastic. The kit includes a wet and dry cloth used to wipe the ipod with before sticking the protectors on. The protectors themselves were very easy to attach - just line them up with the top or bottom of the ipod and slowly let them fall into place. The wheel overlay doesn't affect the sensitivity of the wheel at all and it has yet to come off. I didn't have any problems with air bubbles or dust in between the ipod and the overlays. Just make sure you use both cloths before putting the protectors on.
  The only thing I would suggest to the manufacturers would be to also include thin overlays for the top, sides and bottom. Though not as common, these areas are also prone to scratches.
  
  
  
• Overpriced eh?
  By A1Z67I4KAH1V4N on 2007-08-22
  These are pretty expensive, I've seen the same single piece of plastic sold for $25!! Unbelievable. But I just found a place that sells 2 for $10... still outrageously expensive I think, but cheaper than a lot of these. Check out ClariVue at the same name with dot com on the end. clarivue.com
  
  
• It's ok
  By A19CDYRNK9ATIO on 2007-08-24
  It's not fit absolutely with your Ipod Video. But's it ok! You can buy it and should buy a case for your Ipod as well.
  
  
• hardly lasted a month
  By A3IECQ404LAMZL on 2007-08-30
  Got this hardly a month ago. Sticking the cover on the iPod Video was easy and all seemed fine at first. Then it started peeling. After two weeks the back sticker fell off and now the front is about to follow. Not recommended.
  
  
• great product
  By A3KTMSCIPTOBPR on 2007-09-30
  This product is great. I would gladly trade the time to put in on correctly and the slightly different look it gives for the amount of protection it provides.
  
  
• not really useful, due to not really stick on all area of the ipod video screen.
  By A2ZU5CUC6GLYT3 on 2007-12-27
  not really useful, when it cover on top of ipod video screen it not really stick on all area. Due to ipod video screen and it body not really flat each other.
  
  
• Good Screen Protector
  By A3NQ76I78GJMYU on 2007-12-30
  I have found that this is a good screen protector and it is not hard to put it on once you get the technique down. I know some people had problems with bubbles and it not aligning up right. But, here is what I did and I hope it helps other who have it or are thinking about buying it.
  First off put your iPod in the hold position so as not to turn it on. Now instead of starting at the top like the directions say. I first align the film around the wheel and the bottom corners, but, not pressing it down yet. Once you have it in position, press down from the middle of the wheel out to the edges about a 1/2" wide. Now pull the bottom toward the top until you get to the first part of where it is pressed down. Then slowly roll it back to the bottom while using a finger to press out the bubbles as you go. If you get a bubble, pull back and press it out with your finger. Once the bottome is set. Do the same with the top edge. Pull it back towards the bottomm until you get to the top part of where you pressed it down by the wheel, then roll it up to the top while pressing out the bubbles with a finger. Once it is on you can install the film for the wheel. There will be some lift along the edge of the screen, but, once it is on for reviewing or movie watching you can hardly notice it. Hope this helps. Good luck. Ron
  P.S. I also have a skin on my iPod which helps the egdes from pulling up.
  
  
• What a let down!
  By AMOVWOY2QYP0M on 2008-01-09
  OK, so I should have read the other reviews before buying this cover. I just got this in the mail and applied it to my iPod. As others have said, it is a poor fit and it is impossible to get the air bubbles out. But my biggest complaint is that it only sticks to the middle of the screen, leaving this limbo area around the screen edges. Also, I paid $14.99 and now I see that it is $2 and something, plus shipping. What a rip-off!
  
  
• Great Protection
  By A3133FS823W3EC on 2008-01-28
  If you're interested in protecting your iPod, especially the screen, but don't want to add any
  bulk to it, this is the best option! Inexpensive and easily replaceable.
  
  
• Most overlays are the same deal
  By A1VV5SARD15R23 on 2008-02-18
  Expecting these plastic overlays to be perfect on such a large surface is a little crazy. You will have bubbles no matter how careful you are. The back doesn't cover the whole thing, but that is by design. Since it is a curved surface it wouldn't stick otherwise. So with that in mind it covers the back as it should without lifting up on the curve. As for the front, bubbles all around. Try to avoid getting hairs under there. Use non-powdered gloves and if you have some kind of little card to help guide it would help tremendously. It takes some patience to get the thing on correctly. It's overpriced, but it does do what it is made to do. (Prevent screen scratches).
  
  
• Great idea, terrible on new Ipod Classic
  By A2X5TCM3F1NZHO on 2008-04-30
  I bought the product for my new Ipod classic. I've had a lot of luck with these screen protectors for other similar devices, keeping them clean and scratch free. However, this product simply does not do a good job for the Ipod Classic.
  
  The Ipod classic has beveled edges, and the material on the cover is a tough adhesive that is too big for the straight part of the surface. Because of this, there is an overhang of adhesive, which dust sticks to, which ultimately traps dust and dirt next to the ipod surface, destroying the point of the product.
  
  The covering surface for the back and click wheel work fine, due to the fact the sizing works.
  
  The product cost a lot for the fact that it only lasted about a week and a half before the dirt stuck to the front became too much and eventually the screen fell off on it's own. Perhaps this product would work better on old Ipod videos, without any bevels, but if you have the new Ipod Classic do not get this product - it's not worth it.
  
  

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