Oh no, man. You licked the phone. I told you not to lick the phone. Why didn't you listen to me?
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Apple Continues Work on Liquidmetal Alloys for Use in Future Products
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Oh no, man. You licked the phone. I told you not to lick the phone. Why didn't you listen to me?
man seeing as this thing is radio transparent, imagine a monolithic truly unibody metal iphone. Just liquidmetal and glass. none of this bendable thin aluminium crap
TIMN
TIMN
Since Apple announced the acquisition people are talking about soft metal phones and parts. I know some make fun of it but some really think it is some kind of soft bending metal material.
Since Apple announced the acquisition people are talking about soft metal phones and parts. I know some make fun of it but some really think it is some kind of soft bending metal material.
While I say it'd make for a terrible phone, a part of me does think a bit of flex could be interesting if done well.
...but, unfortunately, liquid metal won't be making that happen. It's only soft and pliant during the manufacturing process.
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
Starting around 2007, I began lamenting Apple's software decisions and competencies. In that time, they also seem to have almost become like industrialists of the early 20th century. It's more interesting now to follow their alchemy with sapphires, liquidmetal, and processors than anything they seem to be able to do in the software arena. Doesn't make their software any better, but at least they're doing something interesting.
Outside the USA at least, every iPhone I have bought has included the Liquidmetal SIM eject tool. iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5 and 5s.
Not sure why the "iPhone 3G" claim keeps getting repeated.
It is NOT... REPEAT NOT... radio transparent. That myth started with some bad reporting.
However, it might be possible to use the metal case itself as an antenna.
Duhhh....
Right... so what's the other manufacturers has given to you btw? hmm.. still the same old word? "plasticky cover with faulty Android OS which is cost you exactly the iPhone price"? Wow... You're so mature.
Right... so what's the other manufacturers has given to you btw? hmm.. still the same old word? "plasticky cover with faulty Android OS which is cost you exactly the iPhone price"? Wow... You're so mature.
Dude, did you read my signature? I'm Apple to the core. All I'm saying is that this article did not say anything at all that hasn't already been said, in previous posts.
You're all idiots
Looks like nobody here actually knows what amorphous metals are lol. They're just metals with a glass-like structure to make them harder.
Looks like nobody here actually knows what amorphous metals are lol. They're just metals with a glass-like structure to make them harder.
This whole idea of making an object with such a huge and fast obsolescence like an iphone, into a jewel is just plain absurd.
Make it plastic and cheap, AND DURABLE. I will have to change it jsut after two years... Lot of people use and apreciate 20 years old Leica camera, or BMW motorbike or OMEGA watches. Their value increases with time. Not an iphone though, and not an ipad either...
Make it plastic and cheap, AND DURABLE. I will have to change it jsut after two years... Lot of people use and apreciate 20 years old Leica camera, or BMW motorbike or OMEGA watches. Their value increases with time. Not an iphone though, and not an ipad either...
Of historical note:
Vertu started using LiquidMetal and sapphire displays back in 2004 with their $10,000 Ascent collection:
Meanwhile, Samsung started using LM in 2002 for hinges and trim parts. In 2008, they released a limited edition $1600 dual-SIM luxury phone with a chassis of LM:
Although it can be polished up, LiquidMetal defaults to looking more like a powdery pewter than the shiny Terminator metal that people get excited over.
Besides its molding qualities, it's mainly known for its strength and resistance to injury.
I worked for Apple for 3 years, and the only thing I know of that uses the liquid metal is the little tool that opens the sim tray for iphones.
Apple could make a 3D printer that prints liquid metal
THIS.
It has been obvious for a while that Apple and 3D printing would fit together like hand and glove, both being the domains of creative people, and Apple has even made their own printers in the past. The business model for printers however has always been to sell the printer cheap and make back the cost on the ink. Apple has not jumped on the 3D printing bandwagon because, even though they could probably make a kick-ass 3D printer, they would never make their money back if it was just using plastic.
But given that Apple owns the patents to liquid metal, they could make a printer that prints with liquid metal - it would make awesome looking things in a user-friendly way - and still make a profit on it. (Insert the "shut up and take my money" pic here).
THIS.
It has been obvious for a while that Apple and 3D printing would fit together like hand and glove, both being the domains of creative people, and Apple has even made their own printers in the past. The business model for printers however has always been to sell the printer cheap and make back the cost on the ink. Apple has not jumped on the 3D printing bandwagon because, even though they could probably make a kick-ass 3D printer, they would never make their money back if it was just using plastic.
But given that Apple owns the patents to liquid metal, they could make a printer that prints with liquid metal - it would make awesome looking things in a user-friendly way - and still make a profit on it. (Insert the "shut up and take my money" pic here).
They do own (or jointly own) some for manufacturing and using it.
As for the metal itself, Apple bought a perpetual license to use whatever Liquidmetal Technologies invents... up through 2014 (could be extended later)... in consumer electronics.
Liquidmetal Technologies reserves the right to license the same tech for any other purpose.
I think the idea was for phones and laptops, but perhaps a 3D printer would count as "consumer electronics" as well.
How many times has this been repeated?
Liquidmetal: the radio transparent, finger-print repellant, water absorbent wonder material that's both a structural component in high tech gadgets and a sandwich topping...