Apple antenna band that look like real metal

[jos]

Two strips of plastic that run across the back of the device. If Apple didn't coat that space with plastic, radio waves wouldn't be able to get through your iPhone's metal exterior to receive and send signals. The company described plans to develop a new composite metal material that looks and feels like anodized metal but is transparent enough for radio frequencies to pass through.

 

They have applied for patent. I cant even fathom the audacity of apple in applying for patent. Hope they wont be awarded. It is not like they have developed the method for making it and patenting it.. I remember old nokia phones with fake metalic finishes. Can i patent human travel other than moon.. since no one had gone elsewhere.. and ask NASA and other space agencies or royalty when they do so..

 

Source: http://www.businessinsider.in/Apple-invented-a-way-to-overcome-one-of-the-iPhones-biggest-design-hurdles/articleshow/47748386.cms

[Bensemus]

That seems valid to patent. They are working to create a martial with the feel and look of metal but the radio transparency of plastic. They are the ones who are going to be investing the money to develop the new material. If they patent it and then never invest in it then thats dumb as now no other company can make it.

[theKumba]

The way it looks like to me is, that they actually developed a new composition of metals that didn't exist before. The thing in your Nokia phone was most likely just plastic, or plastic combined with metal, but not just metal.

I think it's their full right to patent something they developed from ground up.

[MrDynamicMan]

The way it looks like to me is, that they actually developed a new composition of metals that didn't exist before. The thing in your Nokia phone was most likely just plastic, or plastic combined with metal, but not just metal.

I think it's their full right to patent something they developed from ground up.

[jos]

The way it looks like to me is, that they actually developed a new composition of metals that didn't exist before. The thing in your Nokia phone was most likely just plastic, or plastic combined with metal, but not just metal.

I think it's their full right to patent something they developed from ground up.

They have not developed it.. just planning to..they just mentioned all the posiblities to develop composite material

[jaggysnake57]

How dare apple patient something that has not been made before

[Bsmith]

well, this is just the way patents work for big companies, if they have a idea that they might try to work out they patent it, every company would make the same move apple made with this.

hell Canon has a shtload of lens patents they aren't using, but they still have them "just in case of"

[Guest]

IMHO, the antenna bands gave the iPhones their unique look. Starting from the iPhone 4, the antenna bands matched the color and thus "connected" the top and bottom glass portions of the iPhone while the rest of the phone was made out of metal, giving the iPhone a two-tone unique finish. I think this is one of the best designs for a phone (look at the white Galaxy S6 with for example) and I wished Apple kept this design philosophy.

However, since Jobs passed away, that characteristic look was ditched and the iPhone 6 came out with antenna bands that had a color that tried (very badly) to match the back of the phone. Now, this proves that they are trying to do away with the antenna bands completely. This saddens me a lot. And while I expect some Andriod phone manufacturer to quietly pick up that design philosophy (where do you think all the exposed antenna bands on the new phones root from? the Nexus 6, Moto X etc.), I don't expect anyone to execute this design philosophy as perfectly as Apple.

 

Just putting my two cents. Besides, without the antenna bands, the current iPhone would look like a rounded brick with a screen on top. I know I wouldn't want to have a phone like that.

[RedRound2]

Its a material developed by apple so they have all the rights to patent it. Legendary Nokia just used plastic that looks like metal (similar to what S4 & S5 had around their edges). Don't fanboy around here

[nims0c]

I don't like the bands on the back of the current gen iPhones. I hope this new material works out.

[Techhog]

Willing to bet that this negatively impacts the rigidity of the device.

[bcredeur97]

Well then let's make it and patent it before them and do nothing with it so they buy us out and we make tons of cash

[silberdrachi]

Interesting, i wonder how effective this is. Or if it will impact signal quality. But its something that has been an issue in a lot of products for a while, so kudos if it works.

[Samfisher]

Two strips of plastic that run across the back of the device. If Apple didn't coat that space with plastic, radio waves wouldn't be able to get through your iPhone's metal exterior to receive and send signals. 

 

You mean like how the HTC M7, M8 and M9 have went with an all-metal body with a plastic strip that looks like metal.....right?

[jos]

You mean like how the HTC M7, M8 and M9 have went with an all-metal body with a plastic strip that looks like metal.....right?

They are planning to make the band look same as metal. Trying to make it look like one piece of metal

[TroubleKlef]

Very cool. One of the biggest things I dislike about the 6's design.

[Suika]

If Apple invested a lot of R&D money in this cool and unique solution, I'd say they deserve the patent. It's not like anybody has done the exact same solution before since the patent doesn't exist.

[M156]

Apple developed a new method that was wholly their idea and they are fronting the costs associated with R/D for the new material, which isn't cheap. Why shouldn't they patent a new idea? 

[Ertman]

How dare a company patent something they are willing to invest money into!

Now I think the patent process and system do need to be overhauled, but half the reason they are patenting it now is so they can put the R&D into something and receive benefits for doing so.

I am guess the OP is either mistaken regarding the material and purpose of the patent it they are just an Apple hater.

[patrickjp93]

They have not developed it.. just planning to..they just mentioned all the posiblities to develop composite material

Actually that's how a lot of utility patenting happens. You get a great idea, patent it immediately so no one big moves in on you while you proceed to build it, and then sell your patented product/design until the patent expires, or you license.