This is a discussion thread for the "Rumor: Liquidmetal iPhone to Launch at WWDC 2012" story posted on the front page.
I never really found out what "liquidmetal" was. To me, it just sounds it can morph. Which, seems like an extremely stupid idea for something supposed to be solid. But I'm just uninformed.
From Wikipedia: Liquidmetal and Vitreloy are commercial names of a series of amorphous metal alloys developed by a California Institute of Technology research team, now marketed by a firm that the team organized called Liquidmetal Technologies. Despite the name they are not liquid, but solid at room temperature, and the maker claims they are hard wearing and withstand thermal cycling. Liquidmetal alloys combine a number of desirable material features, including high tensile strength, excellent corrosion resistance, very high coefficient of restitutionand excellent anti-wearing characteristics, while also being able to be heat-formed in processes similar to thermoplastics. Liquidmetal was introduced for commercial applications in 2003. It is used for, among other things, golf clubs, watches and covers of cell phones.
What did I say? ISAID THEY MIGHT DO THIS JUST WEEKS AGO??? I said they might, here's the proof I was semi-correct!
Well, it's way more stronger than glass, looks good, doesn't wear and tear much, conducts heat well, etc.
Well, from the little knowledge that I somehow got out of Chemistry class, I remember a metal that is solid at room temperature but melts when you touch it due to your body temperature. And it looks a lot like that picture, but I obviously must be thinking of something else.
