Mikah SargentApple might have some new plans for the mysterious Liquidmetal it's been playing around with since late 2010.
If you've never heard of Liquidmetal, here's what you need to know: Liquidmetal is a somewhat misleading name given to a series of metal alloys that are stronger and more elastic than typical metals. The metal's molding process and elasticity are why it's been given the name.
So, it's not quite like this:
"T1000, liquid metal," said Emilia Clarke in "Terminator Genisys."
Apple entered into an exclusive contract with Liquidmetal Technologies (the company that makes Liquidmetal) in 2010. It renewed the contract in 2012 and again last year. But we've never really seen anything cool come out of the contract — certainly not a T1000.
Speculation insisted the metals would be used for an uber-strong iPhone casing or a drop-resistant MacBook, but new patents suggest a different function entirely.
The resilient, elastic metal could be used to make a resilient, elastic home button. Apple has been awarded a patent for a home button mechanism using Liquidmetal in place of the less stress-resistant metals that are currently used.
Given the company repairs or replaces faulty hardware regularly, it's a cost-saving move for Apple and a reassuring feature for iOS users.
Especially for the allegedly hundreds of people outside the U.S. who refuse to use their iOS home button at all for fear they might break it — opting, instead, to use an accessibility feature called Assistive Touch.
A Liquidmetal home button could mean your phone's battery — or any number of other pieces of hardware — would break before your home button ever did.
This video includes clips from Paramount Pictures / "Terminator Genisys" and TriStar Pictures / "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."
