Like everything else in life, the BlackBerry isn’t perfect. Take the fingerprint smudges on your screen for instance. For CrackBerry addicts, it’s a source of constant annoyance. Not only are those greasy swirls unsightly, but it’s embarrassing to hand it to a friend in such a condition.
If you are anything like me, you just give the screen a quick wipe on your pant leg or pull the classic “shirt cuff un-scuff” move. In my experience, this has always fulfilled my screen-cleaning needs. I have never once needed to go out and purchase a special screen protector or screen cleaner. My screen is just going to get smudged up in the next ten minutes anyway, and my shirt cuff and pant legs are just a swipe away.
It is with a certain amount of skepticism then that I have decided to review a screen cleaning product in this edition of Geek Review. The Official BlackBerry Screen Cleaner (yes this is branded with the BlackBerry logo) was sent to a friend of mine by the good folks at the BlackBerry Owners Lounge. Said friend suggested I give it a try and show the results to you the readers.
I now present to you, the moment you have all been waiting for. An epic battle of cleanliness!
The BlackBerry Screen Cleaner VS. My Pant Leg
The packaging
The packaging for the BlackBerry Screen Cleaner claims to safely clean “all BlackBerry screens”. A slightly redundant statement, as there is only one type of screen for all models.
Closer inspection of the packaging reveals three simple instructions (steps). Peel, wipe, and stick. Stick?
I see. This little red swatch of fabric is the screen cleaner and it has a self adhesive backing.
NOTE: The self adhesive backing is semi sticky; however, I must add that the Screen Cleaner was dislodged from it’s temporary resting place on the back of my BlackBerry on three out of five re-holsterings.
How to use the BlackBerry Screen Cleaner
Using the BlackBerry Screen Cleaner appears to be quite easy. Simply Place the BlackBerry Cleaner print side down on the LCD screen and gently wipe the surface until dirt, dust and oils are gone. Once you are finished, you can stick the BlackBerry Cleaner print side up to the body of your BlackBerry for use anywhere, anytime.
How it works
The BlackBerry Screen Cleaner is claimed to be made of super special microfibers. Upon dragging the Screen Cleaner across the LCD screen, all dirt and oil will be trapped in these microfibers.
Putting the BlackBerry Screen Cleaner to the test
Time to get dirty! I have passed around my BlackBerry to a bunch of folks at the office in an effort to thoroughly gunk up the display. If this thing says it can clean, I am about to put it to the test.
BlackBerry Screen Cleaner
The BlackBerry Screen Cleaner supplied by BlackBerryOwnersLounge.com performed admirably. With just a few passes of the fabric swatch at medium pressure, my BlackBerry display was looking shiny and new. Minus the nicks and scratches I have managed to acquire over the last few months that is.
I tested a few stroke variations with the BlackBerry Screen Cleaner and have come to the conclusion that a broad swipe followed by a series of circular movements provided the best results in the least amount of time.
BlackBerry users are all about efficiency, are they not?
Traditional Shirt Cuff Un-Scuff Method
Apparently Foot Locker makes comfortable, relaxed fitting t-shirts which are made of incredible microfibers too.
A few quick passes of the shirt material across the display of my BlackBerry and again, I could see myself in it.
Similar to the Screen Cleaner, I found that a broad swipe and circular movements provided the most noticeable results. I must note however, that the pressure required for cleaning your BlackBerry display with your t-shirt is approximately double that required for the Screen Cleaner.
Then again, we all have strong thumbs from answering emails all day so this should not be a deal breaker.
Pant Leg Wipe
The pant leg is the closest location to most BlackBery devices that could serve a dual purpose as a cleaning surface. With most BlackBerries holstered on their owners hip, it takes only a few additional seconds to give the device a wipe down before reholstering after a call or email session.
For proper disclosure, I will tell you that I am wearing a pair of jeans today (brand unknown because I don’t really keep track of these things). The jeans have a much coarser texture than either the t-shirt or the Screen Cleaner. They are also of a medium washed/faded denim which is blue in tone.
Upon thorough re-gunking of the BlackBerry display, it is now time for the pant leg test.
I have found that with minimal pressure and a few swipes across the jeans the screen comes out looking just as clean as the previous two methods. The technique is somewhat different however.
Instead of going with one broad swipe and a few circular motions, I opted for a short up and down movement. This resulted in vertical smudging along the display. The vertical smudging was quickly remedied with a horizontal swipe across my pant leg. Clean as a whistle now!
Why not include the circular movements this time? Well, to be honest, rubbing your BlackBerry in circles on your leg just looks weird and could quite possibly be misconstrued as some form of illegal conduct. You don’t want your friends, strangers, police and government officials thinking you are a perv do you? Didn’t think so.
My Ultimate Conclusion
Hey if someone hands you one of these BlackBerry Screen Cleaners at a trade show, conference, or a really geeky pool party, by all means stick it in your pocket and give it a try for yourself later on. But if someone tries to sell you one, or even a whole package of BlackBerry Screen Cleaners, simply laugh at them, point, and then laugh some more.
You are smart enough to know that everything you are wearing is a BlackBerry screen cleaner. Hell, with some clever thinking, you should be able to use anything within arms reach that is not metal, plastic or hard wood to clean your BlackBerry display.
I am not kidding! Some other things I have attempted to clean my screen with in the past: wet-naps, my carpet, paper towel, post it notes, socks (clean of course), plant foliage, Chinese take-out menu . . .
The 3M version of the BlackBerry Screen Cleaner can be purchased from the BBGeeks Store here.
