I beg to differ. This material has ALREADY been used as an antenna (http://www.liquidmetal.com/index/) in the Novatel USB 727, a device that got great reviews for its reception.
They used to make golf clubs (metal woods). T-1000 reference had me thinking about those metal Wilson tennis racquets that Jimmy Connors used to use. First metal racquets perhaps.
So, Apple finally admits that using aluminum was a stupid idea. Other companies were using alloys for laptop cases for decades, now Apple decided to join them. Better late than never, I guess.
I believe this signals a move that future products will start with the T- designation to them as soon as they acquire Cyberdyne.
One thing this alloy will not be good for is electrical conduction. It is the strict crystalline structure of metal that gives it is good conductivity...
However, I do not know how permeable this will be to EM signals. Presumably, if it is better than aluminum, it would be preferable in making device cases out of this as they would get better reception. This would not solve the iphone antenna issue, as this solution would decrease the conductivity of the band and be counterproductive. However, they could potentially make an iphone out of this (a la the iphone 1's aluminum back) with less performance impact.
- The ability to form simple weapons
I believe this signals a move that future products will start with the T- designation to them as soon as they acquire Cyberdyne.
Interesting video from "OMEGA watches" showing the possibilities of Liquidmetal and ceramic
OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal (Limited Edition)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZcsWVqLC5I
Jonny Ive must be jumping![]()
That's really cool. I've been following Liquid Metal since it was announced over a decade ago. I always thought it was strange that so few companies seemed interested in this innovative product. The material is so unique and accurate they claim you could create a razor blade via injection molding. Pretty impressive.
Interesting ball bounce demonstration:
http://www.liquidmetal.com/media/ball_bounce_DSL.mov
That's really cool. I've been following Liquid Metal since it was announced over a decade ago. I always thought it was strange that so few companies seemed interested in this innovative product. The material is so unique and accurate they claim you could create a razor blade via injection molding. Pretty impressive.
Interesting ball bounce demonstration:
http://www.liquidmetal.com/media/ball_bounce_DSL.mov
So, this stuff already exists in some consumer electronics applications. Perhaps Apple would use this in the next Air? That would be 'a lot' of it though...perhaps for the iPhone next?
I disagree, a well ordered structure is a contributing factor to low resistance, but there's more to it than that. As a counter example, liquid mercury is a good conductor.
It's permeability to rado waves is probably similar to aluminum when it's thick enough to have the rigidity necessary for a case. A conductive case doesn't necessarily mean better or worse antenna performance, but does need to be considered as part of the antenna design.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/design/Created from our own alloy, then forged to be five times stronger than standard steel
LOL - We really are all alike -- Terminator was my first thought too.
Aluminum is a lightweight metal and yet strong. It is also highly recyclable.
It was depicted in Star Trek IV as being GE Lexan, if I recall. The old iBooks just so happen to be made out of Lexan![]()
No wonder why Apple products are getting so expensive. None of those cheap China plastic. Up next, glass will be replaced with diamonds and electrical components will be made of platinum.