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Amazing for a company with $21 million in market cap. I wonder why someone doesn't buy them already (unless that speaks to something about their product).

All of the IP was transfer to a different company (controlled probably by Apple). This other company licensed back rights to both Apple and Liquid Metal. So buying out LM will only get you a license to use their IP, but not own the IP.

.
 
So, why do they want to make large sheets of this material? I thought one of the advantages of Liquid Metal is that it can be molded into complex shapes eliminating the need to machine it. Are they going to cut up these sheets and then machine them into product? Were they not able to figure out how to mold large complex pieces? Or, is this just something they figured out how to do so they figured they might as well patent it?

I was thinking that too.
 
You mean like the unconfirmed incident by a Chinese woman who got an electric shock from an iPhone, right?

Also, +10 for finding racism in something that had none whatsoever. Come on, grow up.

I'll give those 10 points back because I wasn't even implying racism...seems like you are a bit sensitive to even bring that up. Hmm...

I must not have received the memo about trolling only being acceptable as long as Samsung is on the receiving end. hahahaha
 
Wow, you have to be fast to get your Terminator 2 references in nowadays, eh? :D

Anyway, this is good news, I far prefer metal hardware to plastics, for lots of reasons.
 
Whoever owns an Omega Planet Ocean watch is excited about liquidmetal. I am one of them.
 
So, why do they want to make large sheets of this material? I thought one of the advantages of Liquid Metal is that it can be molded into complex shapes eliminating the need to machine it. Are they going to cut up these sheets and then machine them into product? Were they not able to figure out how to mold large complex pieces? Or, is this just something they figured out how to do so they figured they might as well patent it?

The advantage is that the metal can be pressed and injection molded into intricate shapes that are light weight and reasonably scratch resistant. The sheet metal can be pressed into shapes like phone cases eliminating the need for costly machining processes that are used in manufacturing out of aluminum blocks. It's basically a cross between metal and glass and previously has been difficult to make and impossible on an industrial scale such as this.
 
Not only is it unconfirmed yet if it was the iPhone, it could've been a knockoff charger. China has a known major problem where people are buying cheap knockoff chargers and using them with smartphones that has a super-high risk of exploding, sparking fires, and so on.

I know there have been frightening incidents with faulty chargers. But this one seems to be a different situation. When a charger sparks fire, it means the electrical energy was used to destroy the charger; melt metal inside and so on. Energy diverted that way doesn't harm you (much). In this case, energy must have gone straight past the charger to hurt a human.
 
Amazing for a company with $21 million in market cap. I wonder why someone doesn't buy them already (unless that speaks to something about their product).

It could be that even though it is a product with some potential, the cost benefit may not be there yet. And you may be onto something about the product/material -- which has been in use for a decade in mostly bio stuff by other makers.

I guess if you want a new hip you get the very best. Is it worth it for a phone or imprinting? Maybe, maybe not.
 
Not only is it unconfirmed yet if it was the iPhone, it could've been a knockoff charger. China has a known major problem where people are buying cheap knockoff chargers and using them with smartphones that has a super-high risk of exploding, sparking fires, and so on.

And some knockoffs are virtually imperceptible from the real ones, from the outside.
 
Given Apple's figured out the metal unibody without signal issues in the iphone 5, it's pretty safe to assume we'll see something of the sort if it makes its way into iPhones. I'm not a materials guy, but I'm guessing it has unique durability advantages over aluminum, especially when it comes to scratching. I'm curious to see what they do with the look and finish of it too. I don't know much freedom and how many different alloy (and hence color) combinations are possible while maintaining the amorphous structure.
 
Liquidmetal just sounds cool

So did the lightning connector till people found out it ran at ye-olde USB2 speeds which came out in 2001 (12 year ago!)

There is a rumor they might add USB 3 speeds which came out to the public in 2010

Pretty rubbish I'm sure you would agree for Apple's brand new connector.

Still, it's title makes sounds fast. Ohhhhh "Lightening"

sigh :(
 
I know there have been frightening incidents with faulty chargers. But this one seems to be a different situation. When a charger sparks fire, it means the electrical energy was used to destroy the charger; melt metal inside and so on. Energy diverted that way doesn't harm you (much). In this case, energy must have gone straight past the charger to hurt a human.

Nobody said it was the charger that blew up. The battery is the most dangerous part that can explode in a very rare set of situations but again, it is the one of the most rarest things that can happen but it can.

If the charge diverted enough amps into the battery to cause it to explode, it can cause a lot of pain to the user. If the report is true, that could've been the situation here.

This has happened before in various type of phones. There was a guy who's MBP exploded internally because of the bad battery pack within it.
 
I know there have been frightening incidents with faulty chargers. But this one seems to be a different situation. When a charger sparks fire, it means the electrical energy was used to destroy the charger; melt metal inside and so on. Energy diverted that way doesn't harm you (much). In this case, energy must have gone straight past the charger to hurt a human.

Unlike North America (110V) the voltage in China (and Eurpoe) 220 and so is potentially more dangerous.
 
Come on Apple!

Microsoft use it in their Surface tablets BTW.

They do not. Different material.


So, why do they want to make large sheets of this material? I thought one of the advantages of Liquid Metal is that it can be molded into complex shapes eliminating the need to machine it. Are they going to cut up these sheets and then machine them into product? Were they not able to figure out how to mold large complex pieces? Or, is this just something they figured out how to do so they figured they might as well patent it?

Much like the impact extrusion process used on the new MacPro, I'd imagine the material would have to be partitioned into very precisely sized ingots of some sort, so when forced into the mold with high heat and pressure there is minimal waste. That's my semi-educated guess why they'd want big sheets of it.
 
Definitely. Be careful, though; all we need is one analyst to pull out a rumour about a liquidmetal iCyborg, and Samsung will come out with this:

Only, Samsung's cheap knockoff version will likely be mercury and end up killing half its owners.

You guys are silly. In spite of it being a joke, Samsung used liquidmetal for small parts on past devices.
 
This might be a noob question... and I haven't done any reasearch on this alloy... but since many say it is kind of in-between glass and metal, does anyone know if it blocks signals the same way aluminium does... If it isn't the case, then they'd be able to design iPhones and iPads without a glass/plastic window for cell signal etc.
 
Wow, you have to be fast to get your Terminator 2 references in nowadays, eh?

Showing my age, the first thing I thought of was what they created to transport those whales in one of the Star Trek movies. Wasn't that transparent aluminum? :)
 
It is really sad that Apple has taken control of this technology and yet has given the public nothing to show for it.

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Hopefully this Liquidmetal strikes the right balance of weight and strength. Holding and iPhone 4/4S next to an iPhone 5, you appreciate the aluminum. However, it dents fairly easily.

Looking forward to it.


Aluminum both dents easily and scratches easily. It is a cheap crappy material. That is why it is used in soda cans, but, with a few exceptions, is not commonly used in things that need to be durable.
 
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