Apple Buys Kinect maker PrimeSense

Deal reportedly worth $360 million

Apple has confirmed the acquisition of PrimeSense, the Israeli-based motion sensor company.

The business is best known for providing the sensors for Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral for the Xbox 360 although it did not contribute to the new Kinect model found in the recently released Xbox One.

The deal has been rumoured for some time, with some reports suggesting Apple paid  $360 million for the firm.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” said a spokesperson.

Speaking to the BBC, Nitin Bhat of consultant firm Frost & Allen said Apple wants to bring its business up to date with current tech trends.

“Usage of gesture-based, touch-less control of devices is one of the big mega trends in the industry right now,” he said.

“From Apple’s perspective it looks like an attempt to make its current gadgets a lot more attractive by offering such a feature on them. It could also look to incorporate this technology in future portfolio of devices which could include an Apple TV.”

 

Apple Considering Buying PrimeSense, the Firm Behind Kinect Technology

Apple is reportedly interested in acquiring a company called PrimeSense, which helped develop the technology that originally powered Microsoft’s Kinect motion controller, Israeli news outlet Calcalist said recently.

The Cupertino-based company is reportedly willing to spend up to $300 million – though possibly around $280 million – for PrimeSense, and we imagine it would use the technology to build out its Apple TV, or possibly the iTV, for motion-based controls in the living room. Sony, Microsoft and TV makers such as Samsung already offer this sort of technology in the living room, though Apple has yet to enter the 3D interactive environment space. PrimeSense provides the 3D digital sensors for several such products on the market and also offers its NiTE software control platforms, development libraries and more.

Apple’s use of PrimeSense doesn’t have to be limited to the living room, however. The company also provides technology for “natural interaction” with LCD screens on laptops and tablets, so it’s possible we could see new controls added to the iPAD, MacBooks and more. PrimeSense also provides solutions to retail, healthcare, industrial and robotics partners.

Calcalist said that engineers from PrimeSense visited Apple for a secret meeting in early July, during which they discussed optical hardware and noted that the high-level meetings point to the possibility that these talks are in advanced stages. The news outlet said earlier this month that Apple and Sony were also interested in making bids on PrimeSense.