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A sight nobody wants to see. Shutterstock/Jan Faukner

Apple's idea for a screen protector involves bumpers popping out of your phone

The four retractable ‘tabs’ would be located at each corner of a phone’s display, activating anytime it senses a fall.

DESPITE THE MANY advances they have made, smartphones are still just as vulnerable to a bad drop as they were years ago.

Apple is one company looking at ways to prevent cracked screens from happening with future devices, and its latest idea is a mechanism that activates when a phone is dropped.

The patent, which was issued earlier this week, would use protectors or ‘tabs’ at each corner to absorb the fall.

When the phone senses it has been dropped, the tabs would pop out, functioning as a shock absorber and preventing the screen from hitting the surface.

When it absorbs the fall, the tabs retract after a period or when it knows the danger has passed.

The ‘tabs’ could be made from different materials like plastic, polymers or thin metals.

iPhone bounce patent US Patent & Trademark Office US Patent & Trademark Office

iPhone patent 3 US Patent & Trademark Office US Patent & Trademark Office

The screen is the most vulnerable part of a phone and while manufacturers have opted for tougher glass and metallic frames, dropping it can still undo those measures.

This isn’t the first patent Apple has issued as a way of solving this problem. A similar one was issued last year where a phone would reorient itself if dropped, similar to how a cat would land on his/her feet when dropped.

Read: Facebook admits its app is draining your iPhone’s battery >

Read: This secretive company backed by Google is in the spotlight again >

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27 Comments
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    Mute All Hail Bukowski
    Favourite All Hail Bukowski
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    May 1st 2017, 1:07 PM

    Cue victim blaming brigade and more waffle about how cyclists are the cause of or contributors to their own death. 6 people who ride bikes, 6 father, mothers, grandparents, children killed so far this year. This compares to 10 for the whole of last year. Driver education and safer riding environment are needed. The latter would benefit all including pedestrians and city residents. Very sad statistics.

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    Mute Mr. G
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    May 1st 2017, 1:52 PM

    Should everyone blame the lorry driver instead?? We are all responsible for our actions on yhe roads. The roads are shared but you must keep in mind that it would be easier for the cyclist to see the lorry than the lorry driver see the cyclist. Theres alot to be said for common sense. I certainly wouldn’t like to be in that lorry drivers shoes. Its alot to carry for the rest of your life. Regards to the lorry driver and the cyclists family.

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    Mute Terry McSweeney
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    May 1st 2017, 1:59 PM

    @All Hail Bukowski: most drivers dont cycle and most cyclists dont drive so neither has an appreciation of the difficulties of the other and hence everyone thinks they are right.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    May 1st 2017, 2:10 PM

    @Terry McSweeney: while a lot of motorists don’t cycle, most cyclists do drive. Some motorists cocooned in their cars have no idea what’s going on around them.

    45
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    Mute prop joe
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    May 1st 2017, 2:12 PM

    @Mr. G: yes. People turn left and don’t look up. Watch out you could kill someone.

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    Mute Brian O'Loughlin
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    May 1st 2017, 2:21 PM

    I think everyone should be made cycle in Dublin at least once to appreciate what cyclists have to deal with every day. Are they all angels? Of course not but at the end of the day they’re vulnerable road users.

    33
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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    May 1st 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Mr. G: the compete blame lies with the officials who have failed time and time again to provide a safe environment for the massive numbers of people who choose to cycle in the city. Like the incident in templeogue, the truck drivers (while more than likely racked with guilt) did not drive in a way that is safe for other road users and failed to show caution for the absolutely rubbish cycle paths that councils think is sufficient to meet some performance indicator. I accept that the normal empathetic response is to absolve the drivers, but like speeding and drink drivers, they are in command of giant machines that can kill people if not operated correctly, as happened here.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    May 1st 2017, 3:39 PM

    @Brian O’Loughlin: was thinking about this earlier. Great idea. Should form part of learning to drive to go through the experience of another road user. As a cyclist I am more aware of what is going around me when I drive.

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    Mute Steve Mac
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    May 1st 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Terry McSweeney: well that’s bull for starters. Most cyclists do drive.

    12
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    Mute Larry Doherty
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    May 1st 2017, 9:39 PM

    @All Hail Bukowski: This is what cyclists are up against from bullying and ignorant lorry drivers – probably texting as usual. See link…

    http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/watch-frightening-handlebar-footage-shows-10279094

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    Mute Alison Morgan
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    May 1st 2017, 2:40 PM

    Since when is Harolds cross in Crumlin?

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    Mute declan burke
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    May 1st 2017, 2:54 PM

    @Alison Morgan: parnell road is in crumlin

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    Mute Lukey
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    May 2nd 2017, 11:39 AM

    @declan burke: If by crumlin you mean Harolds cross then yeah

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    Mute Patricia Delaney
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    May 1st 2017, 3:12 PM

    Address is misleading junction is Harold’s Cross Bridge which is in Harold’s Cross not Crimlin

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 1st 2017, 5:00 PM

    @Patricia Delaney: the truck proceeded towards Parnell road.. which is in Crumlin. ..

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    Mute Frank Brennan
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    May 1st 2017, 7:14 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: The truck was turning left off Grove Rd onto HAROLDS X RD the cyclist RIP was proceeding straight on from Grove Rd onto Parnell Rd according to the report that’s given in this report.Just for your info.That section of Parnell Rd the cyclist .RIP was going towards is in HAROLDS X up to Clogher Rd.

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    Mute Tori Burke
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    May 1st 2017, 5:14 PM

    HGV Trucks are much to big to no on the canal roads there are many other safer routes to take Dangerous junction also used by a lot of school children I had a very young femily member killed by a H G V many years ago they must use safer alternative routes

    17
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 1st 2017, 10:43 PM

    Never, ever get caught on the inside of a HGV. Stay out.

    5
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    Mute Larry Doherty
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    May 1st 2017, 9:43 PM

    HGV drivers are inclined to bully other road users because of their size. See link of recent near miss by cyclist in Donegal.

    http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/watch-frightening-handlebar-footage-shows-10279094

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    Mute William Kelly
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    May 2nd 2017, 7:27 AM

    And require commercial goods & service vehicles to operate off peak, preferably 20.00- 06.00.

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    Mute William Kelly
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    May 2nd 2017, 7:24 AM

    I have to observe that DCC is very negligent in providing proper bike lanes & general traffic streaming for the safety of cyclists.
    Erratic lanes, vanishing & poorly maintained, on street car parking, unregulated truck & van deliveries are obvious failings.
    When will they impose the principle that roads are for travel, not for the storage of cars & other vehicles? Is it not blatantly obvious that if you need or opt to use a vehicle within cities, that you must have somewhere other than the public street to put it when not in use?
    Safety &environmental objectives seem to be second fiddle to parking revenues, & the actual traffic management seems to be minimalist & amateurish.

    1
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