My girlfriend and I eat a lot of spinach. [ed. note-this is my official entry into the 2008 "Most Unexpected Opening Sentence in a Tech Review" competition.]

We joined a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, last year and receive a bushel of whatever is fresh off the farm every week from spring until fall. A side effect of this is the fact that until the succulent peppers and tomatoes start to ripen in July we often find ourselves buried under mountains of greens-chard, kale, collards, spinach and the like. We’ve learned to blanch them, sautée them, bake them and eat them raw in salads.

It also means that my girlfriend spends a lot of time checking her teeth for hangers. For years, we had a secret routine where she would turn to me and say with a big smile, “How’s your grandmother?” The correct answer is always, of course, “Deceased.” But the question is actually a cue for me to check her teeth and respond either “fine” or “she’s having a little trouble” and point to the corresponding part of my own grillwork where there might be an offending stray bit of greenery. An aside-When you’re pointing to your own face to let someone else know that they have a sesame seed in their teeth or maybe a stray bit of nacho cheese in the corner of their mustache, do you point to the same side or the mirror image? Just curious.

Anyhoo, it looks like technology has put me out of another job. Because my girlfriend doesn’t need to inquire about the health of my dead relatives anymore. I’ve been replaced by The Echo Mirrored Screen Protector.

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Every single device I’ve purchased now has an Invisible Shield on it. These thin protective skins are a big step up from other screen protectors because you put them on slightly wet. This lets you slide the protector into the perfect position. I just saw a great link that is going to save you 50% off the regular price. Keep reading for the details.

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When I first got my iPhone, Vincent said he was going to hook me up with a bunch of cool accessories from the MY iTablet store. I told him no problem, as long as he didn’t mind me writing reviews about the items he sent. I figured he’d send an iPhone case or two, but what I got instead was a box full of goodies. If I didn’t already know this about V, it would have all been confirmed with this shipment - the man does not mess around. What will follow are several reviews about the accessories he sent - including several that will feature prominently in a soon to be posted iPhone Clear Case SMACKDOWN.

So without further ado, let me tell you about the first product I opened and immediately used - the Smartphone Experts Screen Protectors for Apple iPhone, which is basically a full screen overlay for the iPhone. Since most iPhone case manufacturers seem to appreciate that users like to keep their touchscreen uncovered and as accessible as possible, having a clear overlay just makes sense.

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Since getting my Zune a few months ago, it has been in the very precarious position of having no screen protector, and only the supplied fabric slipcase to protect it from keys, pens and other devices. But when I use it to watch video, it has to go caseless. I was very happy to receive the Zune metal case and screen protector from PDAir, so that I could quit my worrying.

I received Black aluminium case and ultra-clear screen protector to try out on my Zune. I asked for the black to go with my black Zune and I am glad I did. They go together very well.

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This just in from Kat with Proporta…

Proporta’s brand new Universal Screen Overlay is unique to its current selection of screen protection accessories, as it can be cut to size to fit any of your devices - suitable for use on PDAs, Smartphones, MP3 Players, GPS units, Digital Cameras and other mobile device’s LCD displays.

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Mitchell and I recently reviewed the Proporta Advanced Screen Protector, a perfect example of a silicone-based adhesive protector with a matte finish providing anti-glare properties and a paper-like writing surface . Today I am going to go to the other extreme and take a look at the Brando Ultra Clear Protector Plus, which as the name implies is a very clear protector that provides an experience as close to that of writing on a PDA’s naked screen as possible - without the worry of scratching.

Let’s take a look…

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[Ed. note: For this dually, Judie's comments will be in Black, Mitchell's comments will be in italicised Blue.]

One of the first things I started worrying about when I unboxed the HTC Advantage was how I would keep the humongous 5″ diagonal screen from getting scratched. While it was nice that HTC included a screen protector in the box, I think you could probably tell by the expression on my face in the unboxing video that I wasn’t too impressed with it, and sure enough - once installed, I saw that my unenthusiastic response was warranted. Don’t get me wrong, the stock protector was better than nothing, and it did keep my screen safe until something better arrived; but it was a complete throwback to the sticky, thin, gouge-able, one-shot-at-correct-installation screen protectors of yore.

At least you HAD a screen protector in the box! My Samsung BlackJack didn’t have any screen protection in the box whatsoever, and based on the review unit I received a few weeks ago before I got my own, the screen definitely scratches and looks BAD. For the first few weeks I used a cut-down EXIM Dopod 838 Pro screen protector which while it was perfectly clear, it had uneven edges, didn’t extend right to the top of the glossy display area, and was slightly crooked and peeling up on one side.

Thankfully, a better solution soon arrived in the form of the Proporta Advanced Screen Protector (ASP) for the HTC Athena (or Ameo, Advantage, U1000, yeah…it goes by all of those names and then some, I am sure).

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Sometimes the best definition of a gadget is something cool that you never knew existed. But once you find out about it, you have to have it. Even though you don’t need it at all.

Mood Wrapz are that kind if product. Known as “a mood ring for your iPod, MP3 player, or cell phone,” Mood Wrapz are a great flashback to the 70’s for those of us caught between the LP and iPod generations. Besides a some minimal scratch protection, they are just the sort of fun accessory that serve absolutely no purpose other than to draw attention to your tech. And that’s what we gear heads are all about, right?

Mood Wrapz packaging are simple and understated.

[iPod not included. As a matter of fact, it's mine. Keep your grubby hands off.]

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It just looks like a naked black Zune lying there, right? But looks can be deceiving.This particular Zune has a Belkin ClearScreen Overlay in place, which means that even when it is rattling around the bottom of my Whiskey Chloe Edith, it’s screen will not get scratched by the keys or other pointy objects riding nearby.

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Ever since I applied my first screen protector on my XDA II Mini I have been hooked. Since then, I have purchased a screen protector for every device I own, from PDAs, to phones, iPods and cameras.

I have only ever used one brand of screen protector and I have not yet found any reason to change. That brand is EXIM. I have found these screen protectors to be excellent in all areas, including durability, clarity and application.

photo courtesy of EXIM

My latest EXIM screen protector has been for my Treo 750v. Due to its excellent size and rubberised casing, I carry the device naked. Therefore the screen is always out there, waiting for a bit of grit on the end of my stylus or some stray fragment in my pocket.

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