Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is a great product! That said, the instructions left a couple of details out that should have been in there. These small steps made my installation experience easier and better. PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU DO ANYTHING THAT I MENTIONED BELOW. ALL ACTIONS TAKEN BY YOU ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY SOLELY. Here are the things that I found out:
Cleaning the phone - The instructions say to wipe the phone well in order to clean the surface for the phone. Instead of just using a tissue, I used q-tips and a reasonable amount of isopropyl alcohol. This degreases the surface and evaporates fairly quickly.
You have to spray the phone! I know that the instructions say "Never let the film touch anything that's not sprayed", but just so you understand, that means more than just spraying your fingertips or the film. I actually needed to spray the phone. Unfortunately, I put the skin on the front first (instead of the back cover). Consequently, the front did not come-out as well as the back because I made mistakes on the front skin. Spraying the phone (the back cover) made the application of the skin on the back MUCH easier and created a better quality bond.
Do NOT use any tool as a squeegee other than the plastic squeegee that is supplied with the phone! I used a metal tool (the smooth part of the mini-spoon in my Swiss Army knife) to push the air bubbles. While this did not damage the skin, it did push the bonding agent unevenly, thus leaving uneven surface across the skin. It did not change the functionality of the phone or skin in any way; it just looks uneven. Of course, had I sprayed the phone w/ the supplied liquid, I would not have needed to use the metal tool to move the bubbles.
I know the instructions say to avoid pushing the bubbles towards the speaker and microphone holes, but I ended-up doing that anyway. The key was to work carefully and slowly. I kept an extra paper towel on-hand to wipe-up any adhesive that was pushed out so that the speaker or microphone holes were not clogged.
Once you've finished applying the skin, HAVE PATIENCE! The skin actually looks better a full week later after I applied it. The chemical absorbs the micro-bubbles and the skin tightens over the course of several days. Don't worry about the micro-bubbles. I used the squeegee to push the micro-bubbles down over the next couple of days long after the 12 - 24 hour drying time. Don't push too hard w/ the squeegee or you might put divots into the adhesive (not the plastic skin). It won't damage the skin; it'll just look uneven.
As the instructions say, Skinomi really needs the 12 - 24 hours to adhere / cure. I did not wait a full 24 hours for the front to dry before using it and it came-out a little wrinkly. I did wait the full 24 for the back cover (I did the front and back cover separately) and it was PERFECT. I am very glad that I waited the full 24 hours.
I separated the back cover from the phone when I applied the skin to the front and the back. This made it easier to handle the phone and apply the skin.
There are bare spots that the Skinomi does not cover. Specifically, the corners (the areas MOST PRONE TO DAMAGE) are not covered adequately. To remedy this, I used clear nail polish to seal-up the bare areas of the cover. In case you're wondering, I can use nail-polish remover (acetone) to remove the clear nail polish. I tested the nail-polish remover on a small spot on the phone and it does not damage the phone. That said - I DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU DOING THIS TO YOUR PHONE. I AM ADVISING YOU AGAINST USING NAIL-POLISH ON YOUR PHONE. This is just something that I DID. If the Skinomi skin ever rips or wears-out, I'll just pull it off and use the nail polish remover to get rid of the clear nail polish. Then, I'll have a clean surface for the next skin.
Skinomi did a great job w/ this product. I plan on using it again. I have been advising my friends and family to use it, as well.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Skinomi TechSkin - Skin Protector Shield Full Body for Palm Pre
This kit includes: Skinomi film for your device, installation squeegee, application solution, detailed instructions, and Lifetime Replacements program.Skinomi TechSkin goes beyond traditional screen protectors, skins, covers, and cases. This protector is made from clear thermoplastic urethane film - the same film used to protect military aircrafts and NASA space shuttles. It has the ability to resist high levels of abrasion, making it the ultimate protector for gadgets and devices. The film ""scratch-proofs"" your device without adding bulk like traditional cases. Skinomi TechSkin is designed to provide lifetime protection for your device. If the film ever wears or scratches, Skinomi will replace it under the Lifetime Replacements Program, for as long as you need it for your device. If you ever need to remove the TechSkin, it peels off easily leaving no residues unlike other screen protectors or skins.
