Apple Renews Exclusive Rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' Alloys

[kdarling]

A concierge? You mean, like, somebody to sign for my parcels and stuff?

Concierge service, as in you just realized it's your anniversary, so you hit a button on your Vertu, tell the concierge who answers that you need last minute restaurant and theater tickets and a gift, and they take care of finding and reserving them.

That's the kind of service that Apple should've included with their $10K-$17K Watch. Not just a couple extra years of AppleCare.

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.

Perhaps LMT is really good at stringing Apple along with, "We're THIS CLOSE to a mass production breakthrough!" Hmm. That does sound a bit like GTAT sapphire, doesn't it. Except without billions invested.

In any case, I think Apple will eventually find a use. It would be perfect for the Watch, for example, because of its ability to be precision cast and resist damage. The problem is getting the cost down to where they can make their usual profit margin. From the look of their patent applications, mass production is what they're working on.

In the meantime, since they no longer have access to Liquidmetal from LMT, former users like Vertu have switched to alternatives like titanium.

 

[maflynn]

Perhaps LMT is really good at stringing Apple along with, "We're THIS CLOSE to a mass production breakthrough!"

I think its the other way around

Just look at the GT Advanced and the whole debacle with Sapphire

 

[mdelvecchio]

Yay, even higher tech tamper resistant screws.

Way to go Apple, No one else could innovate like you can.

Which is completely true and why Apple is the best selling, biggest, most profitable, most successful, most loved, and most copied tech company in the history of the human race.

That they aren't yet using this alloy means there's a reason for it. And it doesn't affect or bother my life in the slightest.

Your sense of bitter resentment reeks of entitlement. How strange.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I think its the other way around

Just look at the GT Advanced and the whole debacle with Sapphire

Meaning what? Unless you worked there we'll likely never know what happened. Tho many guess he sapphire process wasn't as good as GTA promised.

 

[powers74]

It's never been taken away.

That's weird. My iPhone 5 didn't come with one.

EDIT:

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.

ahHA!

 

[Four oF NINE]

Sim removal tool should be included with ALL iPhones.. How cheap is that, to not include this tool? I'm still using the one I got with my iPhone 3G, but still, not including it with all iPhones reeks of unnecessary cheapness.

 

[Apple Corps]

I think its the other way around

Just look at the GT Advanced and the whole debacle with Sapphire

How is that "the other way around"?

 

[Apple Corps]

It's never been taken away.

View attachment 563445

That is not correct.

 

[OllyW]

That is not correct.

Not all people live in the same country as you.

All iPhones sold in the UK come with the SIM removal tool and have done since the 3G.

 

[maflynn]

How is that "the other way around"?

Apple kept stringing them along, where as kdarling mentioned LM was stringing apple along

 

[Benjamin Frost]

What would be the benefit of a Mac being made out of liquid metal?

The usability would become more fluid.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Maybe they want to use it for the Apple Car

 

[66318]

any other evidence besides just looking at it?

Liquidmetal housing was a pretty rampant rumor leading into the iPhone 5 launch. Rumors were off on what housing meant, interpreting it to mean the case of the phone.

 

[mazz0]

Concierge service, as in you just realized it's your anniversary, so you hit a button on your Vertu, tell the concierge who answers that you need last minute restaurant and theater tickets and a gift, and they take care of finding and reserving them.

View attachment 563719

That's the kind of service that Apple should've included with their $10K-$17K Watch. Not just a couple extra years of AppleCare.



Perhaps LMT is really good at stringing Apple along with, "We're THIS CLOSE to a mass production breakthrough!" Hmm. That does sound a bit like GTAT sapphire, doesn't it. Except without billions invested.

In any case, I think Apple will eventually find a use. It would be perfect for the Watch, for example, because of its ability to be precision cast and resist damage. The problem is getting the cost down to where they can make their usual profit margin. From the look of their patent applications, mass production is what they're working on.

In the meantime, since they no longer have access to Liquidmetal from LMT, former users like Vertu have switched to alternatives like titanium.

Surely that's more a PA?

 

[Piggie]

Which is completely true and why Apple is the best selling, biggest, most profitable, most successful, most loved, and most copied tech company in the history of the human race.

That they aren't yet using this alloy means there's a reason for it. And it doesn't affect or bother my life in the slightest.

Your sense of bitter resentment reeks of entitlement. How strange.

Most loved.... hmmmm, if you say so
Apple not using something could mean anything, from they have no found a suitable use, they can't work out how to make enough money from it. They are holding it back, using cheaper materials, They want to stop others.
All manner of things.
You really should stop thinking Apple does anything in the interests of normal people. That is just a marketing spin.
They don't care about you, me or anyone here.

 

[oplix]

I thought that the Apple logo on the iphone 6/6 plus was made from liquid metal?

 

[Gjwilly]

Surely that's more a PA?

If you pay them and they work only for you they're a PA.
If they're provided as a sort of amenity with an other service, like checking into a hotel, then they're a concierge.

 

[Glideslope]

can't wait for the next generation SIM tool

You would be amazed to actually see the amount of alloys in just a simple iPhone 6 based on Liquid Metal. Don't imagine little balls of liquid metal rolling around. It's a another element in creating new alloys.

 

[mazz0]

Most loved.... hmmmm, if you say so

I know he sounded very fanboyish, but doesn't he have a point? What other tech company has as much popular regard as Apple? I know they have a lot of haters too, but I think most of that s actually in response to their popularity.

 

[iKrivetko]

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.

That was a joke, implying that I had lost it.

 

[Apple Corps]

OllyW - Your post #19 was and is incorrect. You made a blanket statement that did not specify any country.

 

[WelshDog]

I wonder too. The SIM removal tool feels like it's stamped out of cheap sheet metal. Yes, once you mess around with it, you realize that it's quite sturdy. But it still feels cheap. I don't want my Watch or iPhone made out of this stuff.

Are you sure you are able to discern the difference between design and materials?

 

[OllyW]

OllyW - Your post #19 was and is incorrect. You made a blanket statement that did not specify any country.

I was replying to post #7, which was also made without specifying any country.