Liquidmetal

Apple renews exclusive Liquidmetal license through 2016

Apple has renewed its rights to use Liquidmetal Technologies' unique metal alloys in its products, according to a new SEC filing. As noted by MacRumors, a document was submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today that extends the two companies' agreement.

The filing shows that Apple and Liquidmetal entered the new deal on June 17, and it's set to expire on February 5, 2016. The extension marks the third amendment the two firms have made to their contract, which includes exclusive rights to materials, since it was drawn up in 2010.

Apple renews exclusive Liquidmetal deal for consumer products

According to a filing with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), Apple has renewed its exclusive rights to use Liquidmetal Technologies' alloys in its consumer products through at least February of next year.

Apple originally purchased the rights back in 2010, and the agreement was set to expire in February. The company has thus far only used the alloys in smaller applications, but it's believed to have bigger plans for the tech...

Apple files for 5 new patents related to Liquidmetal, 3D printing

On Thursday, the US Patent and Trademark Office published five patent applications Apple has filed regarding the process by which it would use Liquidmetal to build next-generation products including smartphones, tablets and digital displays.

Apple has been rumored to be experimenting with amorphous metal alloys ever since it signed an exclusive deal with the California-based company Liquidmetal Technologies back in 2010. But like most rumors, this one has yet to materialize...

Apple patents advanced Liquidmetal processing techniques as new gadgets loom

We've been waiting and waiting (and waiting) for a Liquidmetal Apple gadget ever since that 2010 deal saw Apple acquire worldwide exclusive rights to use the amorphous alloy (also known as metallic glass) in consumer electronics applications. 2012 went and gone without a Liquidmetal iPhone, or iPad or MacBook for that matter.

At the end of 2012 Apple extended the deal with Liquidmetal Technologies (a Caltech spinoff) or another two years, through 2014. Still, the iPhone maker has yet to use the alloy in gadgets, even though it's owned the rights to it since 2010. This could change soon, if a new patent gain unearthed Wednesday is an indication.

That the United States Patent & Trademark Office awarded Apple's patent on a process for mass production of amorphous metals is a sign of Apple potentially moving to commercialize Terminator-like alloy. Liquidmetal iWatch, anyone?

Liquidmetal allows headphone wires to be stretched 8x their original length

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlVuIK5wAj0

A lot has been said about Apple's exclusive multi-year license for Liquidmetal, an amorphous Terminator-like alloy made from zirconium, titanium, nickel, copper and other materials. Liquidmetal is stronger, smoother and more corrosion-resistant than aluminum, but Apple is not expected to deploy it across its products until 2017.

In the meantime, here's a nice example of how the alloy might pave the way for new industrial designs. What you see in the above clip are conductive wires that can be stretched up to eight times their original length while still functioning, thanks to Liquidmetal that's twice as strong as Titanium and possesses the processability of plastics...

Apple extends deal with Liquidmetal for another two years

Back in 2010, Apple acquired the rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' amorphous metal alloys. The deal essentially gave the Cupertino company exclusive rights to the material, along with the corresponding patents, through 2012.

Yesterday, it was discovered that Apple has recently elected to extend that agreement another 2 years. According to a new SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) filing, the Mac-makers now own the rights through 2014...

“Breakthrough” Liquidmetal Apple gadget at least 5 years away

Apple's love for new materials and its penchant for innovative manufacturing processes is well documented and evident in shiny products it builds.

Perhaps no other material has gotten the rumor-mill as much excited as metallic glass, better known as Liquidmetal.

Apple owns worldwide and exclusive rights to use this new material in consumer electronics products. And while it has yet to build a Liquidmetal-based gadget, the company did buy the amorphous alloy for a good reason - and I'm not talking about the SIM ejector tool.

One of the creators of this Terminator material has now spoken about Apple's Liquidmetal plans, explaining how Liquidmetal's gonna make Apple gadgets even more exclusive and sexier than ever.

Apparently, a "breakthrough product" based on Liquidmetal could be in the works. Before you start jumping for joy, bear in mind it's gonna take years as plants and the alloy itself simply aren't mature enough for mass production...

This Liquidmetal iPhone 5 concept looks quite believable

As rumors about Apple switching to the all-new metallic glass material for a next-generation iPhone continue to persist, one designer has weighed in with own rendition of what the device might look like, both from the inside and the outside - and it's quite noteworthy.

As you know, Apple obtained a worldwide exclusive license to use Liquidmetal alloy in consumer electronics products. With previous rumors alleging a complete redesign, a Liquidmetal-based iPhone is certainly a plausible proposition...

Rumor: next iPhone will be machined from Liquidmetal and launch at WWDC

A new report out of South Korea alleges that Apple will be launching a sixth-generation iPhone at its annual developers conference this summer, likely taking place between June 11-15.

The phone is said to be a complete overhaul of the existing iPhone, with the biggest design feature being the use of the patented Liquidmetal amorphous alloy, presumably for its shell.

As you know, Apple obtained exclusive worldwide rights to use this zirconium-based alloy in consumer electronics products from Liquidmetal Technologies’  in August of 2010.

They already tested the substance with the SIM ejector tool that shipped with the iPhone 3G, but thus far the company did not switch its aluminum-based gadgets to Liquidmetal...

Spotted iPhone 5 Prototype With Metal Back Suggests a More Durable Design

A report claims that iPhone 5 prototypes have been spotted at Foxconn, and new intel confirms that the device will have a very similar design to the iPhone 4. Although the form between the two devices will remain similar, there should be two major design changes to set the iPhone 5 apart from its predecessor.

We've already heard that there will be a larger display, and a new rumor claims that the iPhone will have a metal back. This isn't the first time we've heard about Apple ditching the easily-breakable glass of the iPhone 4 for something more durable...

Apple Has Already Tested Their LiquidMetal Alloy

More and more is being revealed regarding a story we brought you last week concerning Apple's new purchase of Liquidmetal Technologies. Ars Technica reports that the futuristic sounding material isn't so bizarre after all. Remember those hand SIM ejector tools that came with the iPhone 3G? You guessed it, those were composed of the very morphing material that they recently acquired. We should have known that Apple wouldn't have spent a bunch of cash on an item they hadn't tried out.

The co-inventor of Liquidmetal's materials, Atakan Peker, had no doubts about the tool's composition when he unveiled his very own iPhone 3G. Peker said "I recognized it immediately" and "Take it from an expert, that's Liquidmetal". The mind behind the mastery predicts Apple could use the alloy to design a new and improved antenna than the current iPhone 4 sports. The light and rigid material could also be used to make some very creative cases he says, however I don't see Apple going that route.

I'm just glad that the facts behind Liquidmetal's abilities are having some light shed on them. Why you ask? I saw today that the company's stock is trading just under $1 which makes it a potentially lucrative investment. Perhaps there are many exciting plans for the new material and perhaps not. I see the alloy having a behind-the-scenes type use, based on the initial use in the SIM ejector. So now that you have seen it in action, where do you suppose we'll see it next?