Screen Protector for Gtab from XO Skins full detailed review - G Tablet Accessories

Like many of you I got my Gtab from woot.com I searched around for a screen protector with the perfect fit and couldn't find one until someone on here posted that xoskins.com made one for them http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1005240 where I said I would write a review once I got it. Its a holiday so I have time, here we go. I have used their skins in the past and I am a huge fan. At the time they were the only ones who did the cutouts correctly and their stuff is by far the best. No orange peel, no rubbery texture, and a lifetime warranty.
Packaging:
The skin came in a padded envelope with a snakeskin (not real snakeskin, but some texture printing very cool) box inside. The box had the skin, a spray bottle, squeegee, and instructions. The instructions are detailed and show you how to do it. They also have a youtube channel with install videos/guides if this is your first time.
Installation:
The install took me about 5 minutes. I have done these before so I am not a n00b. Just take your time and installing any skins are easy. Try and do this at night so that way you will leave your skin time to dry over night. I always steam up my bathroom before installing a skin, this drops all the dust out of the air. Wash your hands very well so that you don't have oils that will leave a finger print. Spray a fair amount of the spray on the sticky side to make sure its completely covered. Lay it down on the gtab and line it up. Then spray a lil on the surface of the skin where you will squeegee. I make one light pass over the whole screen to get it lightly tacked down and once I know its in place I press firmly and squeegee out the rest of the spray. It may leave some streaks but those go away after a day or so.
Look and Feel:
These usually take a day or two to completely cure. After they are installed they sometimes look hazy but after the day or so they clear up and look crystal. These skins are my fav because they don't have an orange peel/rubber texture to them. They feel as smooth as the plastic skins, but they are as strong as any polyurethane one. They do not turn yellow because of a uv coating which is also what hides fingerprints. On a big reader screen these are a must because of that alone.
Care:
DO NOT spray windex on these! I sprayed some on my evo skin and it kind of eats at it. I contacted their customer service and they sent me a new one and recommended using just the spray it came with to clean the screen. Windex has some acidic properties to it that are not nice to any urethane or plastic. They also said if it runs out fill it back up with water and a drop or two of dish soap.
I highly recommend these skins. I have used many in the past and I install these for everyone at work. Check them out.​

Related

Invisible shield...

I was thinking about purchasing an Invisible shield at a mall nearby, but just to make sure before i buy it, are there any bad things about it?
davidst3r said:
I was thinking about purchasing an Invisible shield at a mall nearby, but just to make sure before i buy it, are there any bad things about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only use it for the screen, not the full body coverage (thought it looked better unglossy)
It applies really well if you take your time and follow directions.
Looks as if you didn't use a screen protector at all.
Nice texture, nothing funny feeling.
Not really plastic more of a rubbery shield that doesn't break.
Doesn't blur or scratch (scratches can be buffed out basically.
Can easily be replaced through zagg (they will send you a new one for almost any excuse haha)
Only funny thing is that it kind shows a different looking effect when viewing at a small angle and when the phone is off (not a problem at all really...)
If you get it professional installed (like I did) it's well worth it. I got the full body and I notice that the little pieces that are cut to fit around corners come up over time, and the corners can fill with dirt and also peel up.
Since InvisibleShield comes with a lifetime guarantee against anything, it's well worth it. You can get it replaced anytime, question-free, just a $10 fee for installation. I've gotten it replaced 3 times over the 7 months I've owned my phone and it's well worth it :]. Fun to show off too!
i bought it online when they were running a promo on it (full body+screen).
after a afternoon of chilling and bbq'n i decided i would install it that same night.. bad move. i mean a few beers weren't gonna hurt right? lol
Its easy to install "after" you have tried it with a few pieces lol.
took me like 45mins and it came out good overall. the back corner piece does suck and is peeling off somewhat.
i would do this again but would rather have it done by a pro though
if your gonna do this yourself make sure you get it really wet and don't pull too hard on the material when your peeling it off the paper as this will look bad when you install it and after it dries.
lol i got a shieldskin, pretty much same thing as the invisishield, it covered 95% of the phone. A few weeks later i dropped my G1 on the pavement and it landed on a small jagged pebble on the 5% that wasn't covered. FML.
Anyway, I ditched that for a full body case. Better coverage for a bigger phone, im okay with it.
i put the whole cover on, screen piece is excellent..feels good, doesn't scratch, can't even tell its there. the other parts are ok, the corners do collect a lot of gunk, and it is a fingerprint magnet, but easily cleaned up. kinda tricky to install yourself though. if you just set it down all over, or put it in your pocket, its great, if you're the kind of person who drops things a lot, go with something else for the body and just get the screen piece.
I personally cannot stand invisible shield. I have never had any luck with them. They always end up feeling like orange peel to me. I know that its not me, because when I install a bodyguardz it never orange peels. Its always perfect. Plus you get 2 for the price of one!
I recommend Bodyguardz hands down.
http://www.bodyguardz.com/T_Mobile_G1_p/tmobileg1.htm?Click=9481
I like mine, a lot
I have on on my ipod that I guess I gave to my four-year-old. It's tough stuff.
I think it sounds wacko, but I am convinced the skin absorbs a little of the impact of a drop. It really is scratch proof, and if you put them on right, it should cover all of the unit except of the corners of the battery cover &($11 on ebay). It's 3D curved, so there really isn't a way to engineer it perfectly. I took my glasses off (hard core near sighted) and dabbed a bit of fingernail top coat in the cracks to match the sheen and protect a little. It hasn't chipped or peeled in the tiny cracks that were left.
Yes, eventually they do peel up, particularly if you're sliding it in & out of another really tight case, but even so, they stay put pretty well despite a corner or two coming up. If it's intsalled correctly and there are no regular spots where it's worn really hard, I can't imagine anything peeling up unless you pick at it.
I put mine on myself, entirely sober and well-slept. I was really concerned about the job I did at first, but the skin settles into place after a day or two. Now it looks pretty good (i.e. I'm happy with it, so it's notably invisible to other people).
I like the "StickyPad" effect it has, particularly on the back, but it's handy on the front for when I have it face down (I like Face of Ring in market). It's very rubbery, so it doesn't slide around on a desk, nightstand or dashboard, and with foam on car mounts, etc. it really stays put.
If anything, I would get a screen protector from another manufacturer that isn't so glossy. It has a bit of a wavy texture if you look closely, so on the screen it looks a little odd if you're thinking about it, and looking at it. A slippery screen for finger gestures makes more sense, but I'm leaving mine in place becuase I know it's rock solid screen protection (and it's cut to fit the rest of the skin).
I'm looking forward to putting on my next one because I know it'll turn out better. I'll put the screen protector on first, then line up the surrounding screen-edge side peices to match it at the top and the bottom of the screen, so that then I can line up the top-edge and bottom edge pieces with a straight line from the screen side & corners, rather than the bottom edge of the screen assembly. The rest was really straightforward, tedious, and not for people who don't have a knack for fine motor movement and estimating sall measurements fairly acurately. But I can't even pay someone to replace my brake pads, much less put on a phone protector.
And what that other guy said: REALLY, REALLY WET. I think I'll be more liberal with the spray next time. You can slide it around for about a second without stretching it. If you have a lint free towel, it handy for keeping the spray out of the unit but still have enough to slide around until it's right.
I had trouble with the corner opposite the camera button. The phone curves in the back, and the dart (the v-shaped cut to make the corner) wasn't quite deep enough, so I used Swiss Army knife scissors and trimmed the extra that just wouldn't stick down because it was just too much. I'm glad I did.
I know there's lint under my screen protector, but I can't see it. The bubbles, if they're tiny, just seem to disappear. It's really a cool material, and worth a try just to see the stuff.
Besides, it fits inside another case.
(I do sew, but I refuse to knit.)

Review: Zagg - Invisible shield (Full body)

Well not really a review but I've been using this on my hero for a few months and thought I'd share some thoughts about it.
What is a Zagg Invisible shield?
The invisible shield is a screen or full body transparent plastic film that you apply on your phone to keep it safe from scratches.
Price: 25 usd for the full body
15 usd for just the screen coverage.
More info: zagg.com (new user so I can't post a link)
Why did I buy this?
When I first got my Hero I wanted to keep it safe so I first bought a Golla universal pouch. When I got home and tried it out the hero was a few millimeters to big so I had to modify the pouch a bit (made a cut on the short side). Even then it was a big hassle to remove it from the pouch every time I needed the phone. Then I saw the invisible shield on a site and decided to try it out.
- Review -
Applying the shield
After watching the installation movies and reading the instructions I started applying it. You apply it by spraying a liquid they provided on the sticky part of the film and then sticking the film on the hero. After that you use the supplied squeegee to even it out.
The flat parts were easy to apply, like the screen and some pieces around it. The bottom part (around the buttons and trackball) were a bit harder since you have to bend it around the corners. However this was pretty easy compared to the backplate. It might just have been my rough handling but I got some creases around the curved parts and corner.
4/5 points
Look and feel
The shield makes the phone look almost gloss black (I have the urban brown version). First when the shield is applied you will probably have some air bubbles below the plastic film but they disappear after about a week.
The shield on the backside makes the phone very grip-able, however the Hero's original grip is fine as it is.
3,5/5 points
After a few months usage
I've been using it for about 5-6months now and I'm satisfied with the shield. It protects good, no scratches on the shield at least but I haven't looked under it for obvious reasons. The screen shield have a few more creases now that wont be smoothened out, basically the shield is durable against scratches but not pressure along the screen, then creases appear. However if I didn't have the shield those creases would probably by big nasty scars in the screen instead. The top part of the front of the phone (above the HTC logo) didn't stick as good as the other parts so it collected dust under it so I removed it. You might want to change the parts or the whole shield after 10-12months of usage.
4/5 points
Conclusion
If you want good protection without getting a bulky case for your phone, you should seriously consider this shield.
Total:
11,5/15 points
is it hard to apply the shield on, and i always get air bubbles, will it leave a mark if you have to remove it?
The application of the shield was pretty simple, spray on a special liquid (supplied) - apply - smooth things out with a squeegee (supplied). No air bubbles whatsoever, there was some at first but they disappeared after a week. There are no marks after it either, just some dust/glue that you can easily remove with a cloth.
The biggest problem I had with the invisible shield was on the chin. The part that covers the trackball, I understood where it needed to crease, but it would not stay put on the creased part. After I put the rest of the shield onto the phone I ended up taking a piece of tape and putting it on that part and leaving it overnight, this proved to work fine.
I'm not sure if I like the glossy black look myself, especially after having gotten used to the way the phone looked, having had it since August. The glaring problem is that it is obvious where, especially on the back, where the invisible shield ends and the rest of the phone begins, as there are a few parts that are not completely covered.
I do plan on using it for a few more weeks, although I think I may decide to try to remove the back invisible shield and just leave the front components (the part I'm really the most worried about anyways. Not too shabby with my 75% RadioShack employee discount.

Skinomi Screen Protector Review

The following will run through the experience of the installation process and comparison with EXiM PET dry install screen protectors and Wrapsol Wet apply body protection.
(Reportedly, Zagg is also similar to Skinomi)
Type:
Installation: WET
Light Permeability: High (ultra clear, glossy)
Prior to Installation:
The protector material is packaged in a tube. Opening the package cap reveals a rolled up screen protector, an instruction guide, squeegee and spray solution. The protector was unrolled and flattened for several days prior to installation.
Installation:
bathroom was steamed up to settle the dust, the screen was cleaned with a mircofibre cloth dipped in 99% Isopropyl.
Compressed air was used to blast off any dust particles on the screen
The protector material was peeled and sprayed with solution
The protector material is elastic / stretchy.
-If my experience with Wrapsol's body protection material that was also stretchy is any indication, caution must be used during installation to avoid accidental excessive stretching which caused permanent deformation of the material. Once the material is over stretched, the holes, edges, etc will be unaligned, rendering the protector useless.
-There is no stretchiness with EXiM PET or any dry install screen protectors
Installation took a few tries before perfect alignment was achieved.
-on several occasions when I tried to realign one part of the screen protector (hoping the rest of the material would follow as with ridged dry PET protectors), the material would instead stretch, so I had to lift the whole screen protector for alignment to avoid stretching and deformation.
After alignment, I used a micro cloth to push all the solution (which is hopefully demineralized to prevent electrical conductivity)
-a micro cloth was used instead of the squeegee provided to minimize damage to the overly soft protector material.
-the material is dentable even with mere accidental stab of a finger nail (not so with ridged dry install PET protectors).
I noticed it's almost impossible to see remaining dust specs due to under lying liquid solution, so you'll just have to hope you did a good job of cleaning prior to installation
First day of application:
-Foggy screen (reportedly disappears after a few days)
-Dented protector (the material is too soft and is pretty much useless to protect itself) (unless this characteristic ALSO disappears and becomes hard material in a few days..., can't recommend)
Second day:
-Majority of the fogginess from the microbubbles have disappeared, a minority of it remains, ~2% of the screen
-material remains soft and malleable
-one dust spec found
Fourth Day:
-Several dents on the screen protector remain from the installation process and more will come from even the slightest impact of a pointy object.
-This material is simply too soft. It is a poor choice of material if longevity is the aim of the protector.
-all microbubbles disappeared
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This stuff is a joke.
the EXiM PET protectors are half the price and twice the quality.
I used to have a manually modified Apple IPAD EXiM PET protector installed for their lack of the Transformer version available on eBay for $12. Now I can tell the EXiM is definitely better both in installation process and usability.
Light permeability might be a little better with this Skinomi protector as it is thinner than the PET dry install protectors. But I can not be completely sure. I am comparing an old PET installation with weeks of accumulated finger prints and other grime to a brand new installation of Skinomi. So the comparison isn't on equal footing.
PROs:
high light permeability, thin
more Fingerprint resistant (more so than Dry Apply EXiM)
CONs:
difficult installation
-hard to realign (due to stretchiness, requires total lift of material for realignment)
-stretchiness (prone to accidental deformation during installation)
-difficult to see dust specs until a while after installation due to necessary spray solution
poor usability on 1st day post installation (delay in fog dissipation)
poor longevity (soft material very vulnerable to dents and scratches)
-extremely vulnerable to vinegar (cause permanent blur smear)
-extremely vulnerable to isopropyl (cause permanent blur smear)
RECOMMENDED?: No
I just bought my Eee Pad Transformer about two weeks ago and finally got the keyboard dock with it also. I also got this purchase on the Skinomi Screen Protector but has yet to arrive to my doorstep but thank you for the review. I'll see if I want to to test this on my Eee pad Transformer.
Thanks again for a good detailed review.
klau1 sorry if the Skinomi didn't work out for you. The vulnerability to dents is one of the problems I have with it, but I can live with it. Thanks for the review. Oh well if anyone else need a video how-to I have made one below for reference.
http://youtu.be/vWj9Uss65cQ
I would add to the cons... getting the thing off after you've had it on for a few weeks is ridiculous... I thought I was going to break the damn screen. To me that's just unacceptable. I replaced mine because where it touched the dock, the surface marred... agreed that this is crap.
I did end up buying this one on amazon and am very happy http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-P...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1309202152&sr=8-1
Easy to install, no fingerprints, cuts the glare, and easy to lift up with scotch tape and remove any dust deposited during install.. and it's not that expensive.
lopan said:
I would add to the cons... getting the thing off after you've had it on for a few weeks is ridiculous... I thought I was going to break the damn screen. To me that's just unacceptable. I replaced mine because where it touched the dock, the surface marred... agreed that this is crap.
I did end up buying this one on amazon and am very happy http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-P...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1309202152&sr=8-1
Easy to install, no fingerprints, cuts the glare, and easy to lift up with scotch tape and remove any dust deposited during install.. and it's not that expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually Matte ones that cut glare, also cut contrast or clarity. How does the picture quality compare with the Skinomi ?
lopan said:
I would add to the cons... getting the thing off after you've had it on for a few weeks is ridiculous... I thought I was going to break the damn screen. To me that's just unacceptable. I replaced mine because where it touched the dock, the surface marred... agreed that this is crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try to put a mild soap solution on the protector before removing it? It might help get it back to becoming more flexible.
klau1 said:
Usually Matte ones that cut glare, also cut contrast or clarity. How does the picture quality compare with the Skinomi ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one of these from posr.us. Really does cut on the glare, but is not very smooth on the fingers and also reduces clarity/contrast like you mentioned.
I think I am still going to try the skinomi.
THIS SH*T IS A JOKE and SCAM!!!
Use a bit of rubbing alcohol or 99% isopropyl and it blurs over.
There is now a blotch of blurriness on the spot I briefly rubbed with the alcohol and quickly stopped.
DO NOT BUY!
klau1 said:
THIS SH*T IS A JOKE and SCAM!!!
Use a bit of rubbing alcohol or 99% isopropyl and it blurs over.
There is now a blotch of blurriness on the spot I briefly rubbed with the alcohol and quickly stopped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This also happened to me - don't use anything other than a mild vinegar solution to clean the screen w/ this protector on it or else you'll get this blur/white patch effect - it ruins the entire screen protector.
Great review, thanks lots of useful information.
I got the silver carbon fiber back from skinomi and I love it. It makes the back of the TF look so cool. I only installed the back because I didn't like the pieces for the side and stuff. I kept the screen protector for future use because I got a SGP anti-glare protector which I love also. The finger prints just disappear, well almost lol.
I couldn't disagree more with this review. My skinomi went on without any problems and looks great, can't even tell there is a protector on it.
How on earth do you get 'dents' on it during installation is beyond me......did you put it on with a knife and fork? There are many reviews and installation videos showing how easy it is and how good the skinomi looks when installed properly.
klau1 said:
THIS SH*T IS A JOKE and SCAM!!!
Use a bit of rubbing alcohol or 99% isopropyl and it blurs over.
There is now a blotch of blurriness on the spot I briefly rubbed with the alcohol and quickly stopped.
DO NOT BUY!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATE:
CAUTION
ANOTHER Blur smear created by SubWay's (TM) Sweat Onion Chicken Terriakyi sub.
I was eating a sub when I accidentally made contact between the sub and the skinomi protector screen, some "sweet onion sauce" was smeared on the screen, when I wiped it with a napkin, ANOTHER blur was left behind just like with the isopropyl.
so even light vinegar will ruin this piece of crap.
I got the Skinomi for its full body skin... of course im already using something else as a screen protector...
thanks for the update!
would love to read anyone else's reviews on this product!
Added:
After weeks of usage, it's proven to be:
Pro:
more Fingerprint resistant (more so than Dry Apply EXiM)
I bought two for my gtab....the first one had a deep scratch in it right out of the box and the second one went on like crap. I also see what appears to be bubbles in the material in spots.
you can pretty much just duplicate this review for the bodyguardz ultra clear screen protector. the same rolled up packaging. the same pain in the ass installation with alignment issues(although this isnt their fault ill admit.) i did the same tactics minus the cleaning with alcohol before hand and after a week I still had these ugly " blotches" on my screen. after a week. emailed bodyguardz and the rep said it was from lack of solution used. thats funny because i used 2 vials of the solution. ( i had one left over from my phone screen protector) anyways, i think im just gonna rock the tab without a screen protector. i have a decent case which it never leaves, i should be good.
while the Zagg is similar in installation i never had any of the problems you had installing it. The zagg doesnt come in a tube its flat out of the box. i Swear by the zagg, i have installed it on 4 iphones , a n1, ipad, Inspire 4g and now my transformer. while the zagg stretches ever so slightly you shouldnt be pushing so hard on it with the squeegee thiers is a rubber squeegee and works great. The Zagg also allows alot of light to come through and seems almost as good screen clarity as if it wasnt on. It cleans easily and resist finger prints, i have never noticed any denting either with the Zagg.
^ if you can confirm that the zagg doesnt have the " orange peel" feel on the transformer screen protector i will order one right now.
Iirc, zagg will yelow over time, and it is thicker so might result in lower light permeability

Skinomi Screen Protector Observations

I got interested in tablets in early 2011. Started with a Nook Color and modded it numerous times with custom ROMS. Progressed through a Viewsonic Gtablet, then an Acer A500, and now the Asus Transformer (the best!!). I have installed screen protectors on all these tablets, needed or not. I used the Acer A500 without one for awhile. It has Gorilla Glass (as the Asus TF101 does also) and I never had any problems with scratching it. For the most part I have used the dry apply static-type screen protectors. With the TF101 I decided to try a wet-apply, ala the Skinomi. I first ordered Skinomi's "DryTech" version. Skinomi originally sent the wet version by error. When notified they immediately sent the dry apply version (Their customer service is great although their order fulfillment is error prone and careless). I tried the dry apply version and I advise anyone to avoid this technique. It seems to me that the dry-apply version is really a wet-apply they say "can be" applied dry. Well, let me tell you that it is impossible to apply this screen protector. The adhesive is very sticky and makes it impossible to re-position after first laying it on the screen. After about 5 minutes I removed it and promptly threw it in the trash. Skinomi either sent me the wrong version and said it could be applied dry or this "dry-tech" technology is really impossible to apply to any degree of satisfaction.
However, to Skinomi's credit, I am a fan of their wet-apply screen protector. I also use the Skinomi Carbon Fiber skin and love it. The skin also comes with a wet-apply screen protector in the kit. After trashing the dry-tech version I decided to try the wet-apply. I watched several YouTube videos on how to apply (I recommend you watch this specific video and follow. It will make your application go very well). Basically, liberally applying the wet spray to your hands, the bare TF screen, the apply-side of the screen protector and the exposed side made this a fairly easy install. Once applied, all the spray makes it easy to position the protector. Using the two camera holes as a guide I got it positioned perfectly almost immediately. I then wrapped the squeegee with the microfiber cloth and began to smooth out and squeegee out the air bubbles wiping off the excess moisture at the edges constantly with another microfiber cloth (Walmart brand). The YouTube video was very helpful as it advocated a repetitive process of smoothing out the application by constantly going over the surface with the squeegee working from the center to the edge. After about 10 minutes of doing this, I had no big bubbles and a nice smooth surface. Of course there were plenty of micro bubbles and some imperfections. However, the documentation said that given 2-3 days, all of these would disappear. Lastly, I took a dry microfiber cloth and wiped down all the edges one last time removing any residual moisture, then carefully wiped down the protector surface one last time with just the cloth and not the squeegee being careful not to move move the protector. However, I found that by this time it was very firmly adhered already and there was no danger in sliding it off center.
Then, believing it to be important to let everything dry and settle, I put the tablet away on a closet shelf exposed to the air. I did not look at it for 48 hours. When I retrieved it after two days I was shocked at what I saw. The screen with its new protector was PRISTINE!! No bubbles, no imperfections, crystal clear and smooth. I powered up the TF101 and the screen was beautiful. I am so impressed with this screen protector and the technique to apply.
Since then (one week later), I have found the screen to be a bit less sensitive but it's really not a problem (EDIT: Sensitivity is good now, no difference from stock without protector. Use attached App - TouchscreenBooster.apk - to really improve your screen touch sensitivity!!). Probably most people would not even notice it. The screen protector seems to get easier to do finger swipes every day. I am convinced that this plastic film has to "cure" out, meaning it takes something like a week for all the moisture to totally dry out.
Also, be advised that this film is "soft" in that the slightest thing will leave an impression. Example, sometimes I leave my microfiber cloth covering the keys and close the hinge (like a laptop closed) at night. The next morning when I open up the Tablet/keyboard, the screen has an imprint of the microfiber cloth. After about 4 hours it goes away meaning that the imprinted image smooths itself out. I read on the BestBuy site that the ZAGG screen protector "heals itself" meaning that surface "dents" and maybe scratches eventually go away. This Skinomi wet-apply is the same way. In fact, after watching some videos of folks applying the ZAGG version I am convinced that the Skinomi and ZAGG screen protectors are basically the same product.
If you watch the YouTube videos on applying this screen protector I am a proponent of a DIY application. You can do it! If you want a screen protector for your TF101, then I recommend the Skinomi wet-apply. It does reduce finger prints and when applied properly is invisible. I am very satisfied with this product.
nice review
Totally agree , i have been in IT for 25 years , have had a new gadget in my hands near on every 6 months , from the days of the humble PDA to my futuristic Asus TF i have used numerous protective products , and none come even near to the Skinomi , i to have the Carbon Fibre skin for tablet and dock , and the wet fit screen guard , i cant recommend them enough , even there customer care should be a benchmark for other companys, the top cover didnt have a cut out for the logo , within 6 hours i had an email back telling me one had been shipped , i expected a single top tablet cover , no , they go and send me an entire kit top dock and screen guard , great product , great customer service , great review , id buy shares!
Good to see some skinomi love. Although I personally hate wet apply protectors, their skin breaths some nice life into the dull brown color of my great Asus TF.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA Premium App

My Slickwraps Cork Back Install

A big thanks to several members of this community, biggest thanks goes to T-R as I followed much of his instructions here
My goal was to replace the back but also place metal plates for my CD tray magnetic car holder.
I ordered three of the factory second backs from SlickWraps, the dark leather, football leather and cork. My first try was going to be with the cork as I figured it to be the most forgiving. I ordered the same plastic sheeting and 3M strips that T-R ordered.
Tools I used:
Hair Dryer to heat back
Library card to help peel off back
Pick to start initial prying of back
1/16th drill bit for microphone hole
Xacto knife to cut plastic sheet
Dremel to cut metal plate
I'm not good at step by step instructions so I apologize for not walking through what steps it took to make this happen. Feel free to ask if you are curious. My first attempt at the metal plate was too big and the back kept popping off. I put only one of the plates back over the little divot under the camera but didn't take pics before putting back on again as I didn't think it would work, seems it did.
My pros and cons and pics.
Pros:
Love the feel of the cork
Feels close to stock when not being nit picky
My slickwrap experience was great, order on Wednesday, in my mailbox on Friday
Fit of the cork back is impressively good minus one issue, see below
Cons:
Buy extra stickers, I screwed up the first and was glad to have a second but will need more if I want to change it
Mic hole is no where near where it should be on the cork back, might be part of why it's a factory second
Stickers are not as strong as the Motorola goop
Rookie mistake:
I had left the screen naked while working on all of this and scratched the hell out of it (my standards, others ask where when they look at it)
thanks for sharing. always love to see pics of what others are doing. what kind of magnetic holder do u use? any pics of the damage to the screen?
sand1303 said:
thanks for sharing. always love to see pics of what others are doing. what kind of magnetic holder do u use? any pics of the damage to the screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried taking a pic of the scratches and they don't show up well; they are probably not as bad as I make them out to be. I switched over to this mount because it has the strongest magnet I could find in a CD mount holder.
I'm tempted to switch the back out for one of the leather ones, I'm never satisfied.
No matter how nice it looks, it's certainly not worth scratching the screen for. I never put my phone face down on any surface that is not soft and I've never scratched the screen on any of my numerous phones. I hate screen protectors because they always look and feel horrible but I am super careful about the screen. That's the bit you interact with all the time and it would really bother me to have even the slightest scratch on it.
Otherwise, good job.
Was curious on how the plastic backing under the skin was holding in terms of sticking. I was thinking about doing the same thing and wanted to know how good the plastic/tape combo was at holding over time. Any lifting occur?
Jawrduhn said:
Was curious on how the plastic backing under the skin was holding in terms of sticking. I was thinking about doing the same thing and wanted to know how good the plastic/tape combo was at holding over time. Any lifting occur?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My first install was my learning exercise and I can't say it would have survived long term, started popping up on the edges. Just this past week I installed the football textured leather back and am very happy with it. Thus far it is not popping up anywhere but I had learned a lot from my last install. New learnings:
Have a brand new x-acto blade, works so much easier making the plastic template back
Scuff the plastic backing before applying the sticker, it comes shiny and smooth
I bought a heat gun and found out quickly the plastic back can warp easily so be careful when heating it
Still heat it though and hold for a good 30-60 seconds after
Leave a small gap around around the sticky tape after applying to the back, if you try to cut it perfect you land up with a bare edge
Install the plastic back first to the phone, leave it for a day if you can. If it pops up, heat the hell out of it and hold as strongly as you can for a minute or so ( I wore gloves)
Heat again after applying the leather back, heat really helps the application stick
If you buy the regular leather be aware it's not treated with any water resistance or proofing and any water will mark it.
If you are buying the Factory Second versions buy a couple, they are only $10 each and $2 shipping total.
The bump near the camera is from the metal plate I installed for my car mount, I couldn't fully conceal it.
thepktrckt said:
My first install was my learning exercise and I can't say it would have survived long term, started popping up on the edges. Just this past week I installed the football textured leather back and am very happy with it. Thus far it is not popping up anywhere but I had learned a lot from my last install. New learnings:
Have a brand new x-acto blade, works so much easier making the plastic template back
Scuff the plastic backing before applying the sticker, it comes shiny and smooth
I bought a heat gun and found out quickly the plastic back can warp easily so be careful when heating it
Still heat it though and hold for a good 30-60 seconds after
Leave a small gap around around the sticky tape after applying to the back, if you try to cut it perfect you land up with a bare edge
Install the plastic back first to the phone, leave it for a day if you can. If it pops up, heat the hell out of it and hold as strongly as you can for a minute or so ( I wore gloves)
Heat again after applying the leather back, heat really helps the application stick
If you buy the regular leather be aware it's not treated with any water resistance or proofing and any water will mark it.
If you are buying the Factory Second versions buy a couple, they are only $10 each and $2 shipping total.
The bump near the camera is from the metal plate I installed for my car mount, I couldn't fully conceal it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, thanks for the tips. I'm actually using a skin from TOAST so I'll see how everything pans out.
thepktrckt said:
My first install was my learning exercise and I can't say it would have survived long term, started popping up on the edges. Just this past week I installed the football textured leather back and am very happy with it. Thus far it is not popping up anywhere but I had learned a lot from my last install. New learnings:
Have a brand new x-acto blade, works so much easier making the plastic template back
Scuff the plastic backing before applying the sticker, it comes shiny and smooth
I bought a heat gun and found out quickly the plastic back can warp easily so be careful when heating it
Still heat it though and hold for a good 30-60 seconds after
Leave a small gap around around the sticky tape after applying to the back, if you try to cut it perfect you land up with a bare edge
Install the plastic back first to the phone, leave it for a day if you can. If it pops up, heat the hell out of it and hold as strongly as you can for a minute or so ( I wore gloves)
Heat again after applying the leather back, heat really helps the application stick
If you buy the regular leather be aware it's not treated with any water resistance or proofing and any water will mark it.
If you are buying the Factory Second versions buy a couple, they are only $10 each and $2 shipping total.
The bump near the camera is from the metal plate I installed for my car mount, I couldn't fully conceal it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it a formed vinyl patterned or really leather? footballs are supposed to be made of pig leather right?
I'd like to see ostrich
LOL haven't seen Ostrich yet. It's definitely textured bovine leather not plastic and looks like it is treated as I haven't had any water stains yet.
Forgot to ask, when you said your first attempt had he edges raising, were you referring to the plastic or the leather?
lotus49 said:
No matter how nice it looks, it's certainly not worth scratching the screen for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Even the slightest hint of a scratch and I would lose a bunch of sleep. But unlike you, I use a glass protector which feels like the phone screen.
Jawrduhn said:
Forgot to ask, when you said your first attempt had he edges raising, were you referring to the plastic or the leather?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both but most of it was the plastic peeling off of the back of the phone. It was applied twice though and I'm certain that impacted the adhesion.
My Nexus with Cork back from Slickwraps.
http://kryon.smugmug.com/Purenexus/i-bRKJdsk/0/O/OPERATIONPNbanner5x1.png
Has anyone installed this without the replacement back? and if so can I get a pic?
How is the cork back holding out for you. Can you post any pics after wear and tear.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
I am at work so I can't post pics but I made the jump and got one a couple weeks ago. I like the way it looks but if you tend to work on cars or have dirty hands from working, this is not for you. My cork back is filthy but not too noticeable unless you've seen it beforehand.
I'm diggin' the cork look!

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