Apple's Research on Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Again Hints at Future Titanium Devices

[Unregistered 4U]

Why use titanium on throwaway devices that can’t get upgraded? Recycling isn’t enough we need to Reuse products

Let’s see, quick search on Titanium...

Titanium metal connects well with bone, so it has found surgical applications such as in joint replacements (especially hip joints) and tooth implants. The largest use of titanium is in the form of titanium(IV) oxide. It is extensively used as a pigment in house paint, artists' paint, plastics, enamels and paper.

It appears that titanium is MOSTLY used in devices that can’t get upgraded. At least I don’t remember being able to update the firmware on my house paint.

 

[44267547]

Interesting. Well, we already know Apple offers titanium for the Apple Watch, and the feedback consensus generally is that it’s very light weight, and obviously very durable. But I also suspect it’s probably more expensive to manufacture, so I also would think inflation would be a part of Apple using titanium in larger scales for product like a MacBook in the future. I’m specific about metals that I like, [but then again I’m participating on a site like this], I think the majority of consumers probably don’t care the difference(s) between aluminum and titanium on Apple products.

 

[joecomo]

titanium would be really cool - some thinkpads were even made out of magnesium,
so no need to stick with aluminum

 

[BeefCake 15]

Titanium coating or Titanium Dust(TM)

 

[maxfromdenmark]

Last time I ordered a couple of very small titanium parts (mosty screws) for a foldable bicycle, they were super expensive. I wonder how Apple would make this equation work financially?

I’m guessing that it will be premium finishing for premium price. Titanium is indeed expensive.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I can tell you 3 weeks after this comes out they’ll be ‘wide’ scale reports of the coating chipping off. I can see the article now ‘multiple users are reporting their MacBooks are chipping’.

“Flakegate” looms.

 

[rafark]

Looks like an HP laptop.

 

[myrtlebee]

Almost anything with a brushed finish looks hideous to me. Highly polished like stainless steel or matte / anodized like the current aluminum is fine. Of course I don’t care if they offer this as an option, but not if they eliminate other finishes for it.

 

[McG2k1]

MacPro by Whirlpool.

 

[Mac_tech]

Bring back the TiBook! One of the best designed laptops ever, especially for it's time.

View attachment 1734173

I remember that!

 

[praetorian909]

But then I won’t get to hear Jony say “aluminium”
(I know he’s not with Apple any more...)

 

[KeithBN]

Really? Like AirPower?
Do you put metal in the microwave? There’s a reason why you do not...

Actually you can put metal in the microwave safely.
Indeed, chances are most readers do, depending on what they are heating.

 

[rafark]

Actually you can put metal in the microwave safely.
Indeed, chances are most readers do, depending on what they are heating.

Sorry but this video is bs. And I’m not alone apparently judging by all the dislikes it has.

I totally forgot you can’t put metal in the microwave until I was reminded a few seconds after I put a rack inside my microwave.

 

[e-coli]

The TiBook was the single worst product in the history of Apple. It was literally hot garbage. Here’s to hoping any new version isn’t even a tenth as useless.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I can tell you 3 weeks after this comes out they’ll be ‘wide’ scale reports of the coating chipping off. I can see the article now ‘multiple users are reporting their MacBooks are chipping’.

a repeat of the 1999/2000 TiBook

 

[sdf]

All or just the top? Seems the case has two different metals?

No, it was just edged differently. Top and bottom were both titanium.

That PowerBook taught me that I am mildly allergic to titanium.

 

[sbuntin]

Would be worth mentioning the original PowerBook G4 in this article... the TiBook! It was made out of titanium!

Exactly why I'm very leery of Ti Macbooks. The Powerbooks' Ti casing was horrible. Easily damaged, really bad paint job. The internal frame parts literally fell apart over time.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

WOW age 35 is now considered old? 😂. If your current charging solution works for you then you don't need wireless charging. It's a trendy way of charging and you'd be following a trend that really was unnecessary in the first place. The fact that the majority of wireless chargers require to hit the sweet spot before the phone makes contact is frustrating enough. I have one that I got from Apple and won't use it for that reason alone.

Wireless charging is far from trendy. It is the single most convenient charging mechanism there is.

MagSafe is 'trendy' though, but I think it's the worst implementation of Qi charging so far. Now if they put it in a car mount, that's another story.

I'm 49 years old and I haven't plugged in to charge my phone at home since I got my Galaxy Note5.

Now I have an iPhone 12 Pro, but I'm still using my old cheap Qi chargers I got from Amazon for under $15.

And every single Qi charger I've used has been ridiculously easy to drop onto and pick up from, and has quickly, inexpensively, and reliably charged my devices.

 

[Grey Area]

I have a lot of titanium items and never noticed any issue with fingerprints, regardless of whether the surface is polished, blasted or brushed. Titanium is a popular material for handles in higher end knives, and the nice thing about the metal is that it really does not need any coating. I wonder how Apple manages to stain theirs.

 

[Tech198]

If people used the same common practice of keeping their house clean, and applied that to their Mac there'd be no reason to do this coating..

However, i still wonder how titanium can be lighter. Although Apple only cares these days about strength..

 

[SFjohn]

Better if they stick with aluminum over titanium for the lighter weight. Carbon fiber would be a good option, but I think that may not work as well as aluminum for heat dissipation.

Can carbon fiber be recycled?

 

[Whathappened]

Apple should use Liquid Metal for the cases. You can mold the amorphous metal into any form and it would dramatically change the design of the units. Liquid Metal is light, strong and again moldable like plastic.

I am pretty sure they know about the disadvantages of liquid metal better than you.

 

[return2sendai]

I use a cloth.

 

[return2sendai]

Call me old fashion but Im 35 years old and I still havent used a wireless charging, not a single time.

I’m 55. I charge by eating food. Cake next Sunday, because I’ll be 56.

 

[DanTSX]

Last time I ordered a couple of very small titanium parts (mosty screws) for a foldable bicycle, they were super expensive. I wonder how Apple would make this equation work financially?

Ti screws are going to be very expensive due to how they are made. But that doesn’t mean that iPhone materials would be expensive as a result. Flat parts would be significantly less expensive, and Apple could harness economies of scale. Small scale replacement parts may also be a significant margin generator for the bike market, and not translatable as having to be costly for Apple (albeit more costly than steel or Al)