In the hands of a true geek, the Ion has the potential to see its feature set put to full use, but that close-knit niche isn't likely to be eyeing a mid-2012 Gingerbread handset with an outdated processor.

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Conducting polymers are known as intelligent materials with the unique behaviour of trapping an ion into their structure and release the ion by an electric potential.

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One problem though, it's powered by lithium ion batteries, which have a potential to, erm, explode (if built by Sony, anyway).

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The potential cost savings clinched the decision to switch to lithium-ion, Gray said.

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Those regulations include strict guidelines for the lithium ion batteries on the 787 because of concerns about the batteries' potential flammability.

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