Before I was a genius, I was a drudge - Ignacy Jan Paderewski
|
|
|
Apple buys Terminator metal
FRUIT THEMED PEDDLER of broken phones, Apple is looking at making its toys out of something called liquid metal, which we thought was last seen chasing Sara Connor and her son.
According to the AP, Liquidmetal Technologies, a Caltech spinoff in California, has announced that it's granted Apple a perpetual, exclusive license to use its technology in consumer electronics.
Of course Apple is not telling anyone anything about the deal, although apparently there are some problems with using the material.
While it fits into Apple's design ethos it's tricky to work with and expensive because it is uses rare metals.
Although Liquidmetal makes us think of the film Terminator 2, the reality is a little more dull. The metal is mixed in such a way that when it cools it is similar to glass.
While you can't see through it, it can be cast so precisely that parts made with it need little or no machining afterward. It is also very hard.
Apple likes using metal in its designs and Liquidmetal could mean that parts it now machines could be cast. The problem is that it needs exotic raw materials, including beryllium and some Liquidmetal alloys contain platinum, which costs more than gold.
We guess you can expect Apple gadgets to get even more obscenely expensive. µ
Share this:
Share
It's a sure hit then! hahaha! who cares if it does'nt work? Apple's customers don't! It looks shiny and Steve says it's the best thing since sliced iBread!
Steve never lies!
Apple used it to make the iPhone4 antenna.
HP went to liquidmetal (mostly of the fake plastic kind) on it's laptops back in 2008. They still sell a few of them with the stuff, like the dv8t.
It's not that great, and always gets mentioned in reviews as being a fingerprint magnet, the same as most other glossy surfaces.
Whats Apple going to call it? The I-Terminator?
Maybe now they can feature the ability to morph into something useful.
Oh joy. Flaming ipod nanos with beryllium casing. Hopefully they'll be using some of the more recent alloys instead.
Yes an Apple terminator means instead of being killed they will instead make us all wear turtlenecks.
Far worse than having humanity killed off.
POP - Planned Obsolescence Policy
Considering that, what's the point of having an Apple product that's indestructible, when it's already obsolete during the period it's in the design phase?
Liquidmetal, just like my 8GB Sandisk Sansa had years ago. Which I might add is still going strong in daily use (With one easy 4 little screws battery change last year) for years yet i expect.
No doubt it will be 'magical & revolutionary' (c) when its wrapped around a Granny Smith.