Apple Acquires Rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' Advanced Metal Alloys

[Vulpinemac]

To which my counterpoint is the lack of mercury in use for its conductivity. Normally, when you use metal with the intention of it being a conductor, its going to a pure metal or an alloy like gold, silver, aluminum etc.

While you may not remember this, it wasn't all that long ago that liquid mercury was in almost every home, in the thermostat temperature controller of your furnace/air conditioning system. Each thermostat had a tiny glass vial containing one fairly large drop of Mercury and a pair of contacts at one end. This vial was attached to a bi-metal coil that would tighten or loosen with the relative air temperature. As it tipped one way, it would move the drop away from the contacts, breaking a circuit and turning off the furnace; tip it the other way and the drop would envelope the contacts, turning on the furnace. In other words, it was used as a completely automatic power switch. This was normal. As you can see, there can be many kinds of conductor, depending upon the use for which you intend to put it.

It can if the entire case is conductive. Antenna placement is also crucial. What I would be interested in is the relative strength measurements of this material vs. aluminum. It could be more rigid per unit thickness, meaning it would be preferable over aluminum where form factor is crucial such as in iDevices.

Or it could be more flexible, meaning that it would be preferable over plastic where resiliency and strength combined are more important, such as in iDevices. Really, it's almost worthless to guess at the moment, since Apple as signed for exclusive use under certain circumstances, which almost automatically excludes already-produced concepts by anybody else.

 

[quagmire]

I HIGHLY doubt that, as much as an APPLE fanboy I am, the GIANT raw blocks of aluminum they get may be Aircraft grade, but after they cut the aluminum down to pretty much 2mm thin, and use a WAY less expensive finishing process it is lightyears away from aircraft Alu.

No doubt there is some traditional Apple stretching of the truth in there, but that is what they claim.

 

[Salacion]

Umm... Your point?

 

[Vulpinemac]

Scotty gave them the formula for Transparent Aluminum in exchange for the large pieces of Lexan-like material that they needed for the whales but had no way to pay for. They did not have time to wait for the company to actually manufacture panels made of TA.

Now turn in your geek card.

Back to the movies, my friend. The specification as stated in the movie was for so many square feet of Transparent Aluminum, for which Scotty proceeded to give the formula in return for the first pieces cut to his requirement as payment. It seems you need to renew your 'geek card.'

 

[Vulpinemac]

Typical fanboy speaking. You do know that macbook is made of 'cheap China plastic' right ? and 100% of all products that Apple designs are made in China ?
and that's not the reason why Apple products are so expensive; is because Apple slaps a 200% or more profit margin on each product, and make it look like it's made out of 'magic' and they're somehow better than all other manufacturers.

I still to this date can't understand what's so 'premium' about Apple products. They use the same if not worse components and materials, but yet they cost much more.

Your logic fails in so many ways. Assuming you are correct with "... Apple slaps a 200% or more profit margin on each product," how is it that every single teardown report states that Apple only makes 40% profit? What happened to the other 160%?

 

[Salacion]

I HIGHLY doubt that, as much as an APPLE fanboy I am, the GIANT raw blocks of aluminum they get may be Aircraft grade, but after they cut the aluminum down to pretty much 2mm thin, and use a WAY less expensive finishing process it is lightyears away from aircraft Alu.

You doubt it, but you don't really know. Huh, interesting...

 

[Corbin052198]

That is cool. Can't wait for an Apple T-1000.

Dell will be also in the robot business. Aiden Shaw will say, it is 200$ cheaper and offers better value for money.

I have that! Granted I lost it, but I have it!

 

[nkllr]

 

[Salacion]

They cost more because people buy them anyway.

Yes... because they're absolutely not worth it. And it has nothing to do with the software, nor the customer service, or the design. Yup yup.

 

[nkllr]

You doubt it, but you don't really know. Huh, interesting...

Really? Don't act childish.
And from viewing your posts on this forum which all are putting down peoples posts and acting like a 12 year old kid, I will not feed the troll.

 

[Macpowered]

Oh, my god! Nanomorph mimetic poly-alloy next. This means Apple will become self-aware this decade. Run for your lives!

 

[nkllr]

Oh, my god! Nanomorph mimetic poly-alloy next. This means Apple will become self-aware this decade. Run for your lives!

And they will take over at a BAR NEAR YOU!!!!

 

[gauchogolfer]

I used to play a golf club made by Liquidmetal, never thought I'd see them in the computer hardware business.

 

[Hyata]

Dude,
Low temp means lower than the current melting temp of metals..
PLastics melt at a much lower tempurature...
this metal must melt at a higher temp than plastics and will be made a injected pressure cast unibody or a hot forged unibody.
Both of them would make them exponentially stronger than current setups..
(I'm an industrial engineer, and don't want to introduce too complex terms for confusion)

Sarcasm owns you, you just couldn't wait for the chance to mention your occupation could you. Your engineering degree means nothing, you're just another educated fool.

 

[jouster]

Enough already with the Terminator stuff.

 

[Vulpinemac]

I HIGHLY doubt that, as much as an APPLE fanboy I am, the GIANT raw blocks of aluminum they get may be Aircraft grade, but after they cut the aluminum down to pretty much 2mm thin, and use a WAY less expensive finishing process it is lightyears away from aircraft Alu.

Cutting it, machining it and shaping it does not change the structural makeup of the aluminum itself. Aircraft-grade aluminum is a specific aluminum alloy formulated for a specific strength. The skin of an aircraft is much thinner than 2mm, and yet it's still Aircraft Grade aluminum.

What I'm expecting to see here, though, is not just the strength of aluminum, but the resilience of certain plastics as well, so that an all-metal shell won't hold a dent even after a significant (relatively speaking) impact. It almost looks like Apple is trying to find a way to compete with Panasonic's 'Toughbook' series.

 

[chrmjenkins]

While you may not remember this, it wasn't all that long ago that liquid mercury was in almost every home, in the thermostat temperature controller of your furnace/air conditioning system. Each thermostat had a tiny glass vial containing one fairly large drop of Mercury and a pair of contacts at one end. This vial was attached to a bi-metal coil that would tighten or loosen with the relative air temperature. As it tipped one way, it would move the drop away from the contacts, breaking a circuit and turning off the furnace; tip it the other way and the drop would envelope the contacts, turning on the furnace. In other words, it was used as a completely automatic power switch. This was normal. As you can see, there can be many kinds of conductor, depending upon the use for which you intend to put it.

Okay, solid state then Point is, besides this technology, conductors are exclusively crystalline conductors in solid state electronic devices.

 

[neonmd]

Transparent Aluminum on the way

Beautiful Star Trek reference

 

[PstLMac]

COOL shape shifting Apple products!

 

[NetScheduler]

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.

Yep, 13" "Entry Level" Macbook $1599 with a Core 2 Duo!!

But it will be SO PRETTY and Elegant!!

 

[gri]

Must you say this in EVERY post of yours? It'll happen when it happens if it happens. Give, it, a, REST!

Cetero censeo Carthaginem esse delendam...

 

[0092762]

In 10 years, we'll all just buy a single Apple product, the "i" that will be a liquid metal blob. It'll take the shape of an macbook pro, iphone, or ipad, depending on which one you need at the time.

 

[Salacion]

Really? Don't act childish.
And from viewing your posts on this forum which all are putting down peoples posts and acting like a 12 year old kid, I will not feed the troll.

You took the time to read some of my posts? Aww, that's so nice of you.

 

[NetScheduler]

MS IS DEAD. AND SO IS DELL.

You know BRLawyer, you ought to quit making such a silly statement. It makes you look like a 5 year old at best and a total moron at worst. This is the reason "fanboys" get a bad name - - - people equate all Apple users with senseless blowhards like yourself.

 

[gri]

In 10 years, we'll all just buy a single Apple product, the "i" that will be a liquid metal blob. It'll take the shape of an macbook pro, iphone, or ipad, depending on which one you need at the time.

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1811646