iPhone 5 Rumors: Will ‘Liquid Metal’ Make for a Slimmer Frame?
- Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:30pm by
Liz Klimas
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This concept design was provided to Mac Rumors in 2011 when rumors of the iPhone 5 really got going. (Image: Mac Rumors)
As smartphones have gotten bigger and bigger for their multi-purpose use, the newest rumor for the infamous iPhone 5 is sure to please Apple fans. It‘s frame will allegedly be skinner but it’s how that will be achieved that is interesting.
(Related: Apple rumors: New iPad 3 pictures leaked, iPhone 5 speculation)
Computer World reports the rumor mill is churning out news that the next-gen iPhone will be made with “liquid metal” technology, meaning it will be poured instead of cast. With Apple purchasing the rights to some alloys of LiquidMetal Technologies in 2010, Computer World states Korea’s ETNews has “industry sources” that believe the tech may be put to use in this next design, cutting down on weight and freeing up pocket space.
Here’s more from Computer World that could be giving credence to these rumors:
LiquidMetal announced in March that it had begun shipping commercial parts to several of its customers. “Parts delivery began this past December with continuing shipments scheduled for the months ahead,” the press release said.
Given recent claims Apple’s iPhone factory partner, Foxconn, has begun recruiting staff to run its iPhone 5 production lines, is it possible the partners are beginning to create the production lines for new iPhones using LiquidMetal?
The Daily Mail describes the alloy as “a mix of titanium, nickel, copper and zirconium among other metals.” It also states rumors are that the new phone could be launched as early as June, while others maintain it should be expected in October. Apple itself, as always, has not announced anything formally about the iPhone 5.
Here is a video explaining the LiquidMetal technolgy (via Computer World):
Such a design would also use “in-cell touch technology,“ which Computer World explains would make the display thinner because ” the touch sensors are placed within the color filters, rather than on top of them.” Venture Beat explains this technology would be adopted from Sharp and Toshiba.
International Business Times also has experts speculating the phone will have a “unibody design.”
As always, we won’t really know what cool new features the phone will have until it is officially launched, but it’s still fun to speculate.
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telugufreevideos
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:31pmAnother article on iPhone 5. need to see when comes, what new features will it have :_)
telugufreevideos
Report Post »http://www.watchtelugumovies.net
TROONORTH
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:07amYet further proof that Apple is not a technological leader. They are great at taking existing technology and presenting it in a consumer appealing package. But new ideas? No. It is impossible for any company to remain at the top of it’s game indefinitely particularly when that company is not offering anything new, but is coasting on it’s inflated reputation. Apple has peaked and as is shown by it’s last several offerings which have been basically re-packagings of other products, the curve is now tending down. We have, just this week, seen the beginning of the decline of Apple stock values as the public begins to realize that the winds of change are blowing against Apple now.
Report Post »4a454f4949
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 1:38pmWant to invest in Apple? Not at $600+ a share. But what about Liquid Metal? One could look past the ‘news’ and gee whiz part of it and do some research into Liquid Metal. It’s a pink sheet stock (LQMT.OB) and was at $0.14 cents the day of the news breaking Wednesday night. Now, it’s $0.41 cents. Nice little bounce if you caught the news early and looked past the news.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 2:03pmI looked @ their website…neat stuff.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 1:04pmhow much better can these things get?
I would like a laptop computer that allows the screen to detach and become a tablet. therefore, you don’t have to decide if you want a tablet or a laptop. i’ve heard those are already around, and i just wonder why apple didn’t go with that from the get go. once microsoft and computer companies start selling windows 8 hybrid tablets/laptops, that will be a huge competition to apple. i assume apple is working on something like this.
Report Post »hi
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:39amWill we be able to get GBTV live on it?
Report Post »I can’t get it on my iphone. Can anyone else? Am i doing something wrong?
mzee26
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 12:26pmDid you get the GBTV app in the App Store? It works fine on my iPhone 4S.
Report Post »freedom_gurl35
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:21amAm I the only one who immediately thought about “Terminator” when I read this? Downright creepy, if you ask me.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 6:48amThe new phone book is here! The new phone book is here!
Report Post »Conservative_T-Rex
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 4:38amIts gonna be tight, thats for shizzle.
enjoy:
Report Post »http://www.sporcle.com/games/Bohnfather/fox-news-personalities
Tracy Y. Andersen
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 1:45amIt is “liquid’ in the same sense that glass is a liquid. Supercooled, of course, so it doesn’t flow visibly. Old glass windows are thicker at the bottom than the top, due to the slow flow.
This liquid metal is called liquid since it isn’t composed of crystals, as usual metals are in solid state. Liquid metal is actually amorphous, that is, not crystallized when solid.
In the demonstration, the bouncing ball is very likely a normal crystalline alloy ball-bearing, and the losses causing it to decay in the bounce would be almost entirely due to energy losses in the ball, rather than in the block it is bouncing upon. A while back, I read of this phenomenon, and a ball bouncing on a block of liquid metal, when dropped from about three feet, kept bouncing for several minutes. Five to ten minutes, I can’t remember exactly. Mind-boggling, nevertheless.
Strength is the prime consideration, as well as forming technology, that make liquid metal so desirable. As I also (poorly) remember, production costs for this method were much less expensive, another plus for it.
Report Post »howardroark1165
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 12:25pmActually, the reason why old glass windows are thicker at the bottom is because the table the glass was poured on was not level. Taking advantage of this, the glass was installed with the thicker end down. More weight on the bottom – more stable pane.
WTS
Report Post »BubbaCoop
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 12:04amThese seems like a really bad idea…I’ve seen Terminator 2.
Report Post »shotzie
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 11:41pm“will allegedly be skinner”?? That’s a little macabre.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 10:51pm“I’ll be Mac”…
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 10:31pmVive le disposable technology!
This is why I’m a steampunk. This modern plastic junk has no style, no soul.
Report Post »Mannax
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 6:49amExcept when it comes to repainted Nerf Guns. :)
Report Post »Watchingtheweasels
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 7:41amThat’s why I have a 10 year old desktop computer and a 28 year old pickup. I can take either one apart and put it back together for next to nothing.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:34am@ Mannax:
Report Post »Even a soulless fluorescent monstrosity can have style once it’s dressed up in steampunk finery.
Itsjusttim
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 10:17pmBig deal Aluminum is a liquid before it becomes hard, and so is mercury a liquid metal. Hey, has anyone ever told you that glass actually flows really slow but you can’t see it move?
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 10:48pmYeah, but from the looks of this video. If you drop it you’ll be chasing your phone all over the place as it bounces and bounces and bounces.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 11:12pmWow, if I was a cat I might care so I can chase it around. Pretty soon you’ll be so dumbed-down that I can sell a pet rock all over again, and maybe impress you with a barbed-wire fence.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 1:10pmitsjusttim
do you just look for reasons to be an absolute pompous jerk***?
Report Post »LOL@Liberals
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:55pmYAWN. Another article speculating on the iPhone 5. There’s a new article like this every day on the internet.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 10:29pmYes, by all means, let‘s just keep trying to keep up with the Jones’ and keep laying up treasures here on this earth, since wherever your heart is….
Redemption draweth nigh……….
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:50pmThere are downsides to anything you own or want, not letting them own you is the key. That being said I like the look, more like the older 3gs iPhone with the ergonomically curved case just in metal not plastic. Very nice, sleek. If the fit and finish is up to Apple standards they have a winner on their hands.
Report Post »dkin
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:50pmLiz, why is the iPhone 5 “infamous”?
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:40pmSign me up for 13 or 2400 yeah give what ever … make it 3. Apple fritters away .
Report Post »I wouldnt take a free apple .
Must have learned a lesson along the way.