Data Hacking

88 Part I — Hardware Hacks
FIGURE 5-1: Normal wear and tear can take its toll on a GPS.
Screen Protectors
One of the simplest ways to protect your screen from minor damage is to apply a thin plastic
screen protector to it. These screen protectors protect PDA screens from minor scuffs and
scratches picked up during use. A screen protector set is shown in Figure 5-2.
Chances are good that you won’t find a screen protector exactly the right size for your GPS,
as most are designed for PDAs. Buy some that you can use for a PDA, and you can cut them
down to fit the GPS screen.
The trick to applying screen protectors effectively is to first clean the screen surface thoroughly. It
helps if the screen isn’t too scratched to begin with, but protecting a slightly scratched screen and
preventing it from getting any worse is better than doing nothing at all. Clean the screen with
nothing more than a slightly damp cloth, as solvents or detergents can cause the material to cloud
over or even melt. Make sure that you get into any scratches on the screen — a Q-tip is ideal for
this. Also get into the edges with a Q-tip or toothpick. I’m using a Q-tip in Figure 5-3.
After you’ve thoroughly cleaned and dried the screen, you can apply the screen protector. The
trick to attaching a screen protector is to work slowly and methodically, taking care to eliminate
air bubbles from within the plastic sheet as you go.