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Apple Renews Exclusive Rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' Alloys

69Mustang said:
See post 51 and get back to me about this being a fairly new material. It's been used in all sorts of products, including phones.
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It being used in the past for a few select things doesn't mean we know exactly how it works.
 
Very interesting read: http://liquidmetal.com/properties/properties/

Apple probably see potential uses for the metal but hasn't yet realized them in production. This agreement gives them extra time. If they don't end up being able to use the technology, they'll walk away with the knowledge that probably nobody else will either. If they do...maybe we'll see an acquisition. :)
 
farewelwilliams said:
same here. GTAT hurt badly.
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Man I had my finger on the trigger during the conference call for GTAT for after hours sale. Lost $800 in 2 minutes, but I think I got off light. Know a few people that lost 5 figures and up cause they slept til the next morning. Hopefully that class action goes through and gets some people back.
 
BlazingSword said:
Apple is really taunting me with the endless re-upping of their exclusive rights to this material.

it's lighter than aluminum but stronger than titanium. it's virtually scuff-proof. it can be used in molds to create complex forms one would normally need a CNC machine for. It can, depending on how its treated, it can also be radio transparent...so no more antenna lines or plastic inserts required.

C'mon apple. I know you paid a truckload of money for all those milling machines, but screw it...this is the future. waterproof your circuitboards with vapor deposit before tucking them into a case made of this stuff, and you'll have a slam dunk. Better still, it will take years before the competition gains enough competency to even start using it themselves.
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They first need to be have the competency to mass produce products with that themselves before they one up the competition.
 
I'm too lazy to research it and have forgotten... Isn't this just MIM?

Why waste money on patents and exclusive rights, when you can not innovate with it... As it sits in the bank.
 
Crzyrio said:
It being used in the past for a few select things doesn't mean we know exactly how it works.
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It had been used in the past 13 years ago, (probably for exactly what Apple will be using it for). We’ll never know exactly how it works. Are you saying that once Apple have had it exclusively for eons that it’s now worth mentioning?
 
You just know Apple is a crack-pot when a simple thing just as a SIM removal tool is "specially crafted" to remove that SIM card. I bet Johny ive was behind this tool.

They do know a pin would also do right ? And that's not made of Liquid metal. :D
 
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happydude said:
wonder what would have been created with liquidmetal had apple not continuously sat on it...sim tool aside...
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Apple only has exclusive rights to the use of that particular company's metals in consumer electronics. The Swatch Group has a similar exclusive on Liquidmetal in watches. Items in other categories (medical, industrial, sports) can be, and are, made of it.

liquidmetal_club.png

Also note that Liquidmetal Technologies is not the only maker of amorphous metals.

BlazingSword said:
it's lighter than aluminum but stronger than titanium. it's virtually scuff-proof. it can be used in molds to create complex forms one would normally need a CNC machine for. It can, depending on how its treated, it can also be radio transparent...so no more antenna lines or plastic inserts required.
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All true except the radio transparent myth, which apparently got started when some people misread this interview with one of the LM inventors, who said:

First order of business is an iPhone case that incorporates a new antenna. The alloy case could be structural as well as functional. In other words, a Liquidmetal case could also function as a big antenna. And because different mixtures of metal can produce alloys with different characteristics, Apple could blend an alloy that is optimized for receiving radio signals. - Dr. Atakan Peker
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People saw the last sentence and confused "optimized for receiving" with transparency.

Also, bloggers mixed up a patent for making an enclosure from zirconia (zirconium dioxide)... which is a ceramic material that usually IS radio transparent... with the very different practice of using the metal zirconium as part of LiquidMetal, which would be electrically conductive and thus NOT radio transparent.

Parr said:
One should also note that Apple describes the back of the Apple Watch, as being made out a ceramic. My suspicion is that the back is not a conventional ceramic, but instead made out of a special formulation of...(You Guessed it!) *** LiquidMetal***
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See above. You're confusing ceramics with Liquidmetal, which is more of a metallic glass.

BlazingSword said:
Better still, it will take years before the competition gains enough competency to even start using it themselves.
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I'll repeat an old post here:

Vertu started using LiquidMetal and sapphire displays back in 2004 with their $10,000 Ascent collection:

2004_vertu_liquidmetal.png

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:

2008_samsung_ego.png

Both were touted as being corrosion and scratch resistant, as well as very strong. (In one review, the reporters drove a car over their loaned phone to prove the chassis strength.)

However, note the prices. Apple's been working on ways to mass produce LM blanks for die-casting large quantities of items, so yes, that's where they might have a leg up on the competition.
 
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What would be the benefit of a Mac being made out of liquid metal?
 
BruiserB said:
I think if you buy a carrier specific iPhone (ATT, VZ, T-mobile, Sprint) you don't get a SIM removal tool, but if you buy the designated "unlocked" iPhone, you get one.
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You get the tool with all iPhones in the UK, even if they are locked to a network. Most UK networks will unlock the iPhone if requested so there is a lot more SIM swapping going on here, compared to the US where phones from the carriers are pretty locked down.
 
kdarling said:
Complex shaped, nearly seamless cases that are scratch resistant, light, strong and flexible.

Pretty much Ive's dream material :)
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I won't deny it, but are they even using the product. They keep renewing the exclusive rights but I don't seem them using it.
 
kdarling said:
Android, these days.

As for looks, they're meant for Russian billionaires, not common folk :)

Also, unlike some $10K+ products like the Apple Watch Edition, Vertus come with 24/7 concierge service at the touch of a dedicated button.
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A concierge? You mean, like, somebody to sign for my parcels and stuff?
 
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