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Apple signs metal alloy deal with Liquidmetal Technologies
Apple has gained an exclusive license to use unique, amorphous metal alloys created by Liquidmetal Technologies. The deal, revealed in an SEC filing and reported by AppleInsider, gives Apple “a perpetual, worldwide, fully-paid, exclusive license to commercial such intellectual property in the field of electronic products in exchange for a license fee.” The alloys feature an amorphous, non-crystalline structure that gives them a greater strength than comparable aluminum or titanium alloys, or even stainless steel, while offering a scratch and corrosion-resistant exterior. Liquidmetal also licenses its alloys to defense contractors, sports equipment manufacturers and medical suppliers.
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1
You see, this is the sort of thinking that keeps Apple ahead - way ahead- of it’s competitors.
Rather than wait for someone to make something cool/new/useful and copy it, they’re going out looking at how they can improve THEIR products.
If you don’t own AAPL, you might wanna give it a shot - it’s put a roof over my head and bought some nice things for my family over the years, not to mention the cool products I use and love.
Posted by sb on August 9, 2010 at 10:54 AM (PDT)
2
Hmm new back casing for ipod touchs and future ipads and iphones perhaps?
Posted by JD on August 9, 2010 at 11:15 AM (PDT)
3
Sandisk had used this technology years ago on their memory stick and MP3 players. Check out the now discontinued Sandisk “E” series, and Cruzer Memory sticks.
So how is this “the sort of thinking that keeps apple ahead” when the technology had been used by a competitor 5 or 6 years ago
Posted by Duckee on August 9, 2010 at 12:44 PM (PDT)
4
Ah, Duckee. Keep thinkin’ like that and you’ll be CEO of MS or Dell any day now.
To compare anything Apple does/is going to do with the likes of Sandisk is laughable.
Come back when you learn WHAT they plan on doing. And I’ll tell you how much more I’ve made since then in AAPL.
Posted by sb on August 9, 2010 at 3:18 PM (PDT)
5
It will be interesting indeed. I own most of the Apple products old, and new. Can’t live without them, but I just can’t help wondering why it is everytime I look at one of their devices it developes scratches.
You would’vw thought that apple would have invested long ago in the metal technology, givin the number of scratch complaints.
I also own multiple Sandisk MP3 players and they are quite superb in their functionality, and they don’t require case to prevent scratches. Even their “Clip+” which is entirely plastic has excellant scratch resistance. If apple completely overshadowed Sansa player I wouldn’t be using it still and would just listen to on of my various iPods, and Sansa wouldn’t still be in the MP3 market.
Maybe some day when apple has an High capacity SD slot to supplement the internal memory of their devices I can truely give up my Sansa player. I’m sure they will make that announcement in September when the new iPods are announced, once again another first to the table for apple(not)
But I have to give it to Apple, they do have a very valuable name and the $$ to back it up, but this does not mean that they are always first to the table with available technologies. After all 6 years later with a Liquid Metal announcement is by no stretch first to the table.
Posted by duckee on August 9, 2010 at 7:18 PM (PDT)