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A retractable motorized screen protector may be coming to the Apple iPhone soon

By Cookie Monster - on 23 Oct 2015, 8:00am

A retractable motorized screen protector may be coming to the Apple iPhone soon

 Image source: AppleInsider

Cracked screen displays due to accidental drops continue to be a major headache for consumers and Apple hopes to address the issue with its new invention.

According to AppleInsider, Apple submitted a patent application titled "Active screen protection for electronic device" in April 2014 to the U.S Patent and Trademark Office. By relying on a series of sensors such as the accelerometers, gyroscopes and even cameras to detect drops, several retractable tabs can be activated to deploy outward above the display.

Image source: AppleInsider

These retractable tabs will create a gap between the display and the contact surface by acting as a shock absorber. The tabs can be made from flexible and rigid materials such as plastics, polymers and thin metals. Once the sensors detect that a drop event has ended or a preset timer has expired, the tabs will be retracted to their original positions around the display.

If Apple brings this invention to consumer products such as the iPhone and iPad, it could spell the doom for third party case manufacturers. For now, consumers either have to pay S$228 for the AppleCare+ warranty service for the iPhone 6s/6s Plus or spend on bulky cases to protect their devices.

Source: AppleInsider

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