Apple Patents Point to Liquidmetal in Future Products

The SIM card ejector tool is no longer shipped with new iPhones, however this small accessory made big headlines thanks to its composition. The tool was made of Liquidmetal, an amorphous metal alloy. These metals can be molded into thin, unique shapes while retaining incredible strength and durability, which could be perfect for mobile devices.

Apple liquidmetal SIM ejector

Liquidmetal Technologies inked an exclusive deal with Apple a few years ago, and now it looks like their work is bearing fruit. Patently Apple details five patents involving Liquidmetal, proving Apple is moving closer to manufacturing with this material. Two of the technically complex patents revolve around using Liquidmetal in a 3D printing process to create parts.

Siri Changes iOS 7 Settings in a Snap

The Control Center makes it simple to toggle commonly used settings in iOS 7. But what if you're in a hands-free situation, and need help changing something in a hurry? Siri has your back. With the right voice command, Siri can change settings or enable specific features of iOS while you're driving or otherwise unable to use the screen.

Settings help Siri

For example, tell Siri to "turn on airplane mode" and voilà, the radios on your iPhone switch off. Other toggles such as "turn on Bluetooth" or "turn off Wi-Fi" will also immediately change these settings. If Siri is asked to turn something on that's already enabled, the personal assistant will let you know this is the case.

Ask Siri to Read Your Messages in iOS 7

The list of commands recognized by Siri gets longer with every major iOS update. Many of the best features of Siri can easily be overlooked or forgotten. One thing Siri can assist with is checking up on new messages and email. This is especially helpful in a hands-free situation such as driving.

Messages help Siri

When it comes to email, simply activate Siri by holding the home button and say "read my email." New messages will appear and Siri will begin to read everything out loud. By everything, that means the date, sender, receiver and all text within the message body. While this can be tedious, it beats taking your eyes off the road.

This Tape Recorder is an iPhone Speaker [Retro]

Rewind to the 1980s with the perfect gift to complement the iPhone. Music fans will enjoy the throwback look and feel of the portable speaker known as the iRecorder. Tactile buttons provide volume control, track skipping and play/stop functionality with the iOS device loaded into the old school cassette tape compartment.

iRecorder iPhone speaker accessory

To connect the iPhone to the iRecorder, a 3.5mm jack is provided. Plug into the headphone port on the iPhone, then insert the iOS device into the cassette compartment. Close the tape door, pull out the retractable handle, and your tunes are ready to go anywhere. The iRecorder fits both the iPhone 5/5s and iPhone 4/4s body styles.

Find My Friends App Redesigned for iOS 7

Apple has finally brought Find My Friends into the iOS 7 fold with a complete redesign. Say goodbye to the skeuomorphism that once adorned the free location sharing app with stitched leather and colored textures. In its place is a flat, simplified look that matches the rest of the clean iOS 7 interface.

Find My Friends update iOS 7

Version 3.0 is compatible with iOS devices running iOS 7 and later. This means if your device is running an earlier version of iOS, the redesign will not apply. Other improvements are not listed under Find My Friends on iTunes, so it's possible the update is entirely cosmetic.

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