Yes, everyone is still talking about the iPhone 4S (and talking to Siri), but that doesn’t mean that we’ve forgotten about the next true generation of Apple’s smartphone. We all know that the iPhone 5 has to be in the works, but what will it look like? Designer Antonio De Rosa has taken it upon himself to show you what could be the new iPhone 5.

Coming by way of ADR Studio, De Rosa had previously shown off his iWatch concept. For his iPhone 5 concept, he culled together the most current rumors and put them together in a clever package. That includes an aluminum or “liquid metal” unibody type body, a capacitive home button in an oval-like shape, a larger 4.3-inch screen that goes nearly edge to edge, an upgraded Apple A6 dual-core processor, and improved versions of both iOS 5 and iCloud.

I don’t know about you, but the stretched out iPhone 5 is starting to look a fair bit like the Android superphones that are out there with their 4+ inch displays. Something like the HTC EVO 4G (sorta, but not really). The edge to edge display looks nice, but I’m not sure I’m a fan of that grey-ish curved back. What do you think? Is this going to be the first iPhone in a post-Jobs era in Cupertino?

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In 1960, the first metallic glass was developed at the California Institute of Technology. A metallic glass is an alloy that’s been heated up and then cooled down very quickly so that it doesn’t have a chance to form crystals, allowing the material to keep its amorphous structure. Thus, metallic glass is stronger than steel or titanium and just as tough, and 20 times stronger and stiffer than plastic. Metallic glass is an ideal material for everything from cellphone cases to aircraft parts.

The problem with metallic glass is that it’s difficult to mold and shape. Heat takes time to distribute through it, so the glass is generally molded at temperatures above 1000 degrees Celsius, which is hard on molds and is too expensive and impractical. However, now researchers have found a cheaper way to produce metallic glass. The researchers found that if they heated and processed the metallic glass fast enough, they could heat the metallic glass to a liquid state that’s fluid enough to be injected into a mold and can freeze before it crystallizes.

“We’ve taken the economics of plastic manufacturing and applied it to a metal with superior engineering properties,” says William Johnson, the Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Engineering and Applied Science. “We end up with inexpensive, high-performance, precision net-shape parts made in the same way plastic parts are made—but made of a metal that’s 20 times stronger and stiffer than plastic.” A net-shape part is a part that has acquired its final shape.

To heat the material uniformly and rapidly, they shot a high-energy electric pulse into a small rod of metal alloy, to a temperature of 550 degrees Celsius in only half a millisecond. Then, the softened glass was injected into a mold, the desired shape formed and cooled in 40 milliseconds. Because the material can be heated uniformly, only half the temperature is needed. This also means the materials needed to form the mold can be less expensive and replaced less often.

With metallic glass being 20 times stronger than plastic and potentially becoming just as cheap to produce, we would most likely see it replace plastic in products to make them stronger. Like Apple is using a type of Liquid Metal in the iPhone so their screens don’t break so easily. The researchers are publishing their findings in the journal Science.

Photo: A metallic-glass rod before heating and molding (left); a molded metallic-glass part (middle); the final product with its excess material trimmed off (right). [Credit: Marios D. Demetriou]

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The current Acer Liquid E is starting to look pretty dated next to its newer Android stablemates, so it’s about time for an upgrade. We first saw the Acer Liquid Metal in November, but now it’s back with a different name: the Acer Liquid mt. Because, you know, lower-case letters are cool.

The physical appearance of the phone, as you recall, isn’t exactly a huge departure from its predecessors. The main different, I guess, is that chrome finishing to provide a slightly more upscale look. Specs include Android 2.2 Froyo, 800MHz Qualcomm 7230 processor, 5MP camera, and 3.6-inch capacitive touchscreen.

The dealio, it seems, is that the Liquid mt will hit Rogers some time in the first quarter for $49.99 on a three-year contract. If you’re not one for contracts, you can get the Android phone for $399.99 outright. In the face of all these 1GHz and even dual core smartphones, the Liquid mt is the bargain-minded alternative.

No word on whether Roger’s pet dog will be getting the upgrade too, but I imagine Fido will get the hand me down a few months after Rogers has had its fill.

[Mobile Syrup, Acer]

The post Liquid Metal In Your Pocket – The Acer Liquid mt On Rogers appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Naturally, the phone is only half of the equation. If your chosen HSPA carrier doesn’t do the 14.4Mbps dance, you’ll get slotted down into 7.2 of 3.6 anyhow. That said, it’s good to know that this phone can blaze along at those speeds.

The Acer Liquid Metal is the official successor to the Liquid E and the Android 2.2 smartphone comes with a series of upgrades. It gets the same 800MHz MSM7230 Snapdragon processor as the HTC Desire Z, a “rounded” 3.6-inch 800×480 touchscreen, 5MP camera with 720p video, Dolby Surround sound, DLNA media sharing, and 802.11n Wi-Fi.

The Android base gets overlaid with Acer’s Breeze user interface, giving you “weather and other details” on the lock screen, as well as a quick way to launch recently used apps. Look for the Liquid Metal in the UK for GBP 299 around the middle of November. Nothing’s been confirmed, but since the Liquid E is already with Rogers and Fido, I’d imagine that big red and its little puppy will get it at some point too.

SOURCE: Electronista

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Liquid metal terminator from the movie

Liquidmetal Technologies has just licensed all their rights to their patents to none other than Apple. What this means is all speculation, but Apple will now have access to the companies technology for “future” developments.

The crazy plastic-metal that Liquidmetal has made is nothing but mind-blowing. In the video below you can see how stainless steel, Liquidmetal, and tried, tested, and true titanium respond to a bouncing metal bearing.

What makes this metal so special? Well, it’s an “amorphous atomic structure” that has a chemical composition which can be fine-tuned depending on the manufacturing objectives. In other words, future iPhones and even MacBooks could utilize this material which would allow you to drop it without any ill effects, to the exterior atleast. And it may even bounce back for you to catch.
Here are some of the Liquidmetal properties:

• 2.5 times the strength of commonly used titanium alloy with less weight
• 1.5 times the hardness of stainless steel with less weight
• 2-3 times more resistant to permanent deformation than conventional metals
• Non-corrosive
• Stain and rust proof
• Allows thinner walls in casings, with greater strength
• Allows for large surfaces maintaining thin skins without deformation
• Scratch resistant
• High thermal and electrical conductivity

And yes, you better watch the hell out for liquid metal terminators because this stuff is not bio-degradable.

[Gizmodo via Liquidmetal]

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