cell phone accessories, what do you buy?

[FLA]

I just bought a new phone. I always used to put a film over the screen, my brother says do tempered glass ($20 at a mall kiosk) or just be careful. Has anyone else done tempered glass?

I know Otterbox is a great phone protector but they are so ugly and bulky, I don't want one.

Do you have a case you love or a good site where you buy them?

TIA

[disneysteve]

I'm a minimalist (and I'm cheap ). No screen cover and a silicone case I bought on Amazon for about $3 I think.

I carry my phone in my pants pocket and nothing else ever goes in that pocket so no issues with scratching. This may sound condescending, but I also just make it a point not to drop my phone so I've never had any issues with cracked screens. I'm always baffled by all of the people I see walking around with broken screens. I don't know what the heck they are doing to their phones to cause that. When I'm holding a multi-hundred dollar item in my hands, I'm very careful with it.

Of course, I'm also baffled by all of the people I see letting their toddlers play with their smartphones. Sorry, kid, but I wouldn't let you anywhere near my iPhone.

[FLA]

yeah, I am super careful with phones, they last me at least 2-3 yrs when the battery starts to die or it's too small to handle the latest upgrade. The only time I ever had a problem was it fell out of my purse at WDW and I didn't notice. Someone stepped on it and then turned it in. It was toast. My heart was in my stomach because I did not have Applecare, it was over a year old and we had just spent all that money at Disney. Went to the nearest Apple store and they said I was a good customer and handed me a new phone, not even a refurbed one. I was in shock, they can be really great sometimes.

[bjl584]

I bought a hard case and a screen cover.

I figured it was a minimal investment considering that I would be shelling out much more if I dropped and broke my phone. Plus, I keep my cell phones until they stop working, so I try to keep them in working order as long as possible.

[bjl584]

I don't know what the heck they are doing to their phones to cause that. When I'm holding a multi-hundred dollar item in my hands, I'm very careful with it.

Well Steve,
There is a reason that you have your finances in order and most people don't. It's more than just balancing your check book. It's a mindset that threads its way throughout everything that you do in life. Taking care of things is just an extension of that. Tons of people don't take care of their houses, their cars, their phones, or themselves.

[disneysteve]

Well Steve,
There is a reason that you have your finances in order and most people don't. It's more than just balancing your check book. It's a mindset that threads its way throughout everything that you do in life. Taking care of things is just an extension of that. Tons of people don't take care of their houses, their cars, their phones, or themselves.

Hmm. I never thought of it that way but that totally makes sense. So many people don't take care of their stuff and then whine and complain when their car breaks down or an appliance dies or their phone screen cracks when it is only due to their own negligence. I think it's the whole victim mentality, something I definitely don't share.

Getting back to the phones, I definitely keep mine until it dies. The only reason I replaced my iPhone 3 was because they stopped supporting it so many of my apps stopped working giving me no choice. I've had a 5 ever since but I have no doubt that the time is growing near when the same thing will happen. I have noticed the battery life dwindling, though, so one way or another, I'll probably have to replace it within a year.

[creditcardfree]

My understanding is that the glass on Apple phones is part of the problem. I'm not sure how you get tempered glass on one.

I have an LG phone, my daughter has a Motorola. We have dropped them with some frequency and have had no issue with a cracked screen. We only have screen protectors and basic cases found on Amazon. Apparently these particular phones have Gorilla Glass...maybe that is a type of tempered glass?

[FLA]

my brother, a very smart man in many areas of his life, is horrible with money and taking care of things like basic home and car maintenance. His car died, dead, done because "I don't believe in oil changes." And it died on a Bostonian street where you alternate sides of parking every day or something like that, which he could not do. So for a year he collected parking tickets that he ignored, he ignored the boot and did not even open letters that said if he didn't pay his tickets, he would serve jail time. I got the mess under control but the amt of money spent disgusted me, it was $55 a day plus all his penalties for non-payment, over $10,000. All because he didn't get some people together and push the car into his private driveway or even had it towed. Lives in Boston with a private parking spot, pays 10k to let car linger right 20 feet from it.

His tech stuff he takes care of. But letting his car totally die because of oil changes not done over ten years and the parking thing drives me crazy to think about. He makes a good sum of money, he didn't bat an eye over the $10,000. I tried to tell him how much that money would grow until retirement age if he had put it in his very small 401k or for God's sake even donating it would be better than what he did. He didn't even bother to listen.

[Like2Plan]

I used to have the plastic type screen protector on my iPhone, but I wasn't happy with the way the screen looked--so, I took it off. Everything was fine for quite a while until my phone did a face plant on a cement sidewalk. The screen was cracked. <sigh> It worked for a while. I was going to have the Apple store replace the screen, but the price to replace the screen was too expensive (I think it was $200). And, they stopped selling my 4S, so replacing the phone at the Apple Store wasn't an option. So, I found a local store that does iPhone repairs. (They did the screen replacement at a fraction of the cost that the Apple store quoted.)

The same store that did the repair also sold the tempered glass screen protectors--I think it was $10 for the 4S and $20 for the 6S. (Anyway, it was a lot cheaper than the Apple store) They also put it on the phone--which they won't do for you at the Apple store. I am completely satisfied with the way the tempered glass looks/works on my phone.

I also bought a silicon type cover for the outside of the phone that doesn't add a lot of bulk to it.

[FLA]

My understanding is that the glass on Apple phones is part of the problem. I'm not sure how you get tempered glass on one.

the lady in the mall kiosk charges $20 to put it on. I'm used to the film to prevent scratches. I don't drop my phone and have no reason to think I'll be breaking screens. Plus, I have Applecare. Not sure I want a kiosk lady messing with a new phone, if she broke something I would be upset.

I was looking at Amazon, such beautiful cases for so cheap! I found a small vintage wallet on eBay, really like an old quilted change purse with the metal balls at the top to open it, reminded me of how my grandmother stored her cigs. It fits perfectly in that until I buy a case and makes me think of her.

[FLA]

The same store that did the repair also sold the tempered glass screen protectors--I think it was $10 for the 4S and $20 for the 6S. (Anyway, it was a lot cheaper than the Apple store) They also put it on the phone--which they won't do for you at the Apple store. I am completely satisfied with the way the tempered glass looks/works on my phone.

I also bought a silicon type cover for the outside of the phone that doesn't add a lot of bulk to it.

thanks, I will look for a store like that

[97guns]

Why pay $20 to have someone at the mall install a screen protector, they are $3 items on eBay and free step by step installation instructions on YouTube, I got better things to do with $20 than to keep a mall kiosk in business

[FLA]

well, I didn't know that, the other day is when I first heard about glass being applied. And I have no idea if it is hard or easy. I'll have to look it up

[creditcardfree]

the lady in the mall kiosk charges $20 to put it on. I'm used to the film to prevent scratches. I don't drop my phone and have no reason to think I'll be breaking screens. Plus, I have Applecare. Not sure I want a kiosk lady messing with a new phone, if she broke something I would be upset.

I was looking at Amazon, such beautiful cases for so cheap! I found a small vintage wallet on eBay, really like an old quilted change purse with the metal balls at the top to open it, reminded me of how my grandmother stored her cigs. It fits perfectly in that until I buy a case and makes me think of her.

Cleaver to use a vintage wallet as a case!

If you have Applecare AND it covers screen breakage. I'd just leave it as is at least until coverage ends.

[Like2Plan]

well, I didn't know that, the other day is when I first heard about glass being applied. And I have no idea if it is hard or easy. I'll have to look it up

I don't think it is hard, but you have to make the screen is clean and smudge free. Then, it depends on how fussy you are (like if it is a little bit off, would it drive you crazy?). It looked like it might have been easier than the plastic ones because it is more rigid. For me, it was the same price either way-- the fellow was very practiced at putting it on. But they do seem to be less expensive on Amazon.