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I got an ipod nano before Xmas and was frightened by all the reports of scratched screens. A friend told me about InvisibleShield (www.invisibleshield.com) so I ordered one. They're a bit expensive at $19.95 but it's a one-time application. My friend even had to send his ipod video into Apple under warranty and he got a replacement and IS sent him a free replacement shield (not like plastic and postage costs that much) even though it was not their fault. It changes the feel of the ipod, it's not smooth slick like it was, but I'm quite happy that I'm not getting any more scratches.

Check this stuff out...

http://www.theinvisibleshield.com/

Works like a charm on my Nano.

My daughter has a black iPod nano. She carried it around for three days like it was a newborn child, trying desperately to keep it from scratching. It has scuffs all over it. We eventually bought Invisible Shield which is a plastic applique that covers the iPod nano. What a pain in the butt to apply. So tedious. But the iPod is protected now. No more scratches. I don't like the fact that the click wheel is covered. The skin interferes with the tactile feedback of the click wheel, but wouldn't you know Invisible Shield just came out with a skin that has a hole cut out for the wheel... Such is the life of an early adopter.

Apple was clueless in this case. They released a product that scratched easily. One would think that making lab techs walk around with the iPods in their pockets would be part of the product testing. When complaints hit a fevered pitch Apple offered to fix the worst of the lot, but told everybody else to go buy protective coverings like the ones that would soon be available by Apple . That was utter gall. They offered a solution that wasn't even available yet and one that would cost people more money. Invisible Shield set me back an additional $20 and I shouldn't have had to pay for that to protect the product. I walk around with my Zire in my pocket all the time with only minimal scuffs after over a year. The nano was picking up scuffs at an alarming rate in comparison.

Still, suing Apple for part of the profits just shows the real intent of the suit.

Check out this protector. Damn. I know what I'm getting for my next iPod. The current one I have, which looks like a giant condom, works well enough for now.

I've had my Nano for a week now and there are no mystery scratches appearing on its surface, but then again I keep mine wrapped in a lens cleaning cloth.

As soon as my Invisible Shield shows up though, I'll be able to keep it in the same pocket as my grit, rough diamonds and emery boards.

• Protecting Nanos with nanofabrics.
  
• Protecting a Nano with ordinary LCD camera screen protectors.
  
• The InvisibleSHIELD (the best protector I've seen).
  
• Removing scratches from your iPod with GS27.
  
• A review of various iPod scratch removers.

You can also use plain tranparent vinyl sheets made for inkjet printing. They can be found alongside regular printer paper. Then, use the pattern at this site to cut out your own custom cover.

My friend Nick just bought an iPod. He went ahead and got the mini instead of the nano and I'm glad he did after reading this article. I really like the iPod interface, and if it played oggs I'd probably have one myself.

I think what makes this design flaw so bad is that it really should have been picked up during the testing phase. If you get a group of test subjects to use it for a month, how could they not get feedback when the screens start to scratch and break.

I've read some post talking about nice cases you can get for your iPod such as this one:
http://www.theinvisibleshield.com/ipod_screen_prot ectors.html

It's a nice case, transparent and looked like a good solution, however its something that should have come with the unit itself.

I have a feeling this device was rushed into the market on its coolness factor and not enough time was spent testing and developing it for real world use. It reminds me of those Apple cubes that came out years ago with a touch sensetitive power button that had the tendency to turn of if you waved something warm across them.

I love Apples. I wish I could affoard an iBook, however they do seem to place a lot in style and looks over actual preformance and cost in many cases, which I think has been one of the short falls of many of their designs.

Sumdog

All this bitching is useless. Protect your investment.