UPDATE: Please see my updated review, following my original review.
There currently aren't too many screen protectors available for the 4th Generation iPod Touch, and I've used three of them so far: splash Masque Screen Protector Film Matte Clear (Anti-Glare) for iPod Touch 4 4G 4th Generation (3-Pack) NEWEST MODEL, splash Masque Screen Protector Film Clear (Invisible) for iPod Touch 4 4G 4th Generation (3-Pack) NEWEST MODEL, and this one.
I am very satisfied with the results after installing SGP's screen protector. The clarity is fantastic! There is no rainbowing that sometimes occurs with other protectors. Provided you avoided trapping dust and air bubbles underneath your screen protector, you literally cannot tell there is a screen protector installed. Initially the surface was slightly tacky and finger movement wasn't as smooth, but that seems to have gone away after a day of usage. Fingerprints still show, but their appearance is greatly reduced, and cleaning just involves a quick wipe of your shirt or even a swipe of your finger. I've read that the oleophobic coating wears off after a couple weeks, so I will update in case that happens. For more details, continue reading...
SGP costs twice as much as either of splash Masque's current offerings, and only includes two films instead of three. However, I found that the Matte Clear (Anti-Glare) resulted in too much of a grainy interference with the display, especially considering the clarity of the Retina display. I've used matte screen protectors on my 1st Generation iPod Touch, but since the resolution was lower, it didn't have as much of an effect. I switched to their Clear (Invisible), and while the clarity was spectacular, it attracted fingerprints like kids to free ice cream.
After doing a bit of researching, I stumbled upon SGP's Oleophobic offering. Some of the more recent iPhones/iPods come with oleophobic glass screens, which basically means they're oil-resistant, and significantly reduces oil from clinging to the screen. Ordered this screen protector to see if their claims would hold true...
Installation is your typical "dry install"; the screen protector itself is sandwiched between two films, peel one side off, exposing one sticky side then slapping it onto your iPod's screen, then peel off the other side. You have to make absolutely sure your iPod's screen is clean and dust-free, or else you'll be struggling with bubbles and other imperfections, which is very difficult to remedy after you apply the screen protector. A good way to help ensure a dust-free environment is to do an install after a steamy shower/bath in your bathroom, as the steam will help pull dust out of the air, and you'll also happen to be clean. I managed to align the holes for the front-facing camera and home button on my first try, but many users have a very difficult time doing this. Some users recommend doing a "wet install" that involves wetting your screen protector with a bit of soapy water before applying so that you can shift its position around a bit before it dries and sets, but I wanted to avoid this as some people have gotten a "rainbowing" effect once the water evaporates.
UPDATE as of 12/18/2010:
While the oleophobic properties of this screen protector was great at first, it seems that it has lost is effectiveness over time. About a month in, fingerprints and oil began showing up pretty well. While it isn't as oil-resistant as it used to be, it's not any worse than other non-matte, non-oleophobic screen protectors. In fact, I'd say even at this point, it still handles fingerprints better than Clear splash Masque ever did, and you only really need to go over the screen once or twice with one of those eyeglass cleaning cloths and it's pretty clean.
Since the oleophobic coating wore off in a couple of weeks, I docked a star off my review, but it's still a pretty good screen protector nonetheless. SGP iPod Touch 4G Screen Protector Steinheil Series [Ultra Oleophobic]
This screen protector bests the ZAGG protector in several ways: it's oleophobic, more clear, installed with a dry technique, covers more glass, has a smoother finger-glide feel, and less prone to smudges. While I won't argue about the ZAGG's protective military-spec quality, I don't put my phone in a pocket with a set of keys, an open pen or pocket knife, so I'm sure the SGP film protects just fine.'
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