Apple Buys Primesense, Designer of Original Xbox 360 Kinect

Apple has confirmed its acquisition of PrimeSense. PrimeSense is the company behind Microsoft’s motion-sensing Kinect peripheral and last week brought rumors that Apple was looking to acquire the company. This past weekend, Apple confirmed the deal. AllThingsD on Sunday reported receiving confirmation from Apple that the Cupertino-based company had completed its acquisition. Though the company didn’t offer any details on the financials (as usual), AllThingsD sources say it was around $360 million.

PrimeSense was founded in 2005 by Aviad Maizels and is head-quartered in Israel. It also has offices in North America, Japan, Singapore, Korea, China and Taiwan. Though the first iteration of Kinect is the most notable example of PrimeSense in action, the company's 3D sensing technology is present in numerous different devices across TV, entertainment, retail and healthcare.

Now the question is: What is Apple going to do with this new company? Where will motion-sensing equipment fit into Apple's product line? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!

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therogerwilco 4 years ago

Maybe they'll come out with 'new' tech now, like the fingerprint sensor, that's 'new' too.
TeraMedia 4 years ago

They probably got all of the IP - including patents - as part of the deal. Look for lawsuits against anyone trying to use a Kinect in a way that differs even slightly from the basic video game and home page navigation features. Then look for a variant of Kinect to appear "exclusively" on AppleTV or iTV.
eklipz330 4 years ago

this is great. primesense came to apple before going to microsoft, and they refused their offer. now they have to play catchup. microsoft better go above and beyond with the kinect, and try and get it in as many homes as possible
warezme 4 years ago

Interesting, cubify just came out with their all PC, for now, 3D scanner based on this technology called Sense. I bought a scanner and it came in on Fri. It is pretty good for the price compared to a high end laser scanner. I'm wondering if there will be any issue with this new product and Apple copyright laws?
Pummel 4 years ago

Apple TV.
enewmen 4 years ago

Anonymous said:

this is great. primesense came to apple before going to microsoft, and they refused their offer. now they have to play catchup. microsoft better go above and beyond with the kinect, and try and get it in as many homes as possible

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Microsoft-Kinect-Inon-Beracha-PrimeSense-Project-Natal,news-8673.html
FFH 4 years ago

I sense a patent lawsuit against microsoft for making the kinect.
Osmin 4 years ago

It will probably be used for future hand recognition sensors to control the user interface on their future mobile products. Think of their future project glass hardware, iPhone, iPad, or MacBook with modified Minority Report style hand gestures, without the necessity of gloves, to control the OS.
bmwman91 4 years ago

Look out Microsoft, you are going to get sued for patent infringement with your Kinect device when Apple invents it in a year or two.

But seriously, I do worry a little about this. It seems that Apple is now highly litigious when it comes to anything that smells like competition, and rather than try to make a better product in response, they seem to be more than happy to abuse the patent system and shackle their competitors instead. Gesture controls in daily life would be cool, but users lose if there is not a healthy competitive environment among tech companies.
AndyTheAndroid 4 years ago

Anonymous said:

Pretty obvious it's going into their iTV. I can also see it in iPads, iPhones and MacBooks...instead of having to swipe the screen itself just wave your fingers above it or just move your hand infront of the webcam. Good move on Apple's part. They have $140B in the bank...might as well start spending it.

What Apple doesn't steal, it buys! Apple almost never ever invents anything itself.
AndyTheAndroid 4 years ago

Anonymous said:

Anonymous said:

Look out Microsoft, you are going to get sued for patent infringement with your Kinect device when Apple invents it in a year or two.

But seriously, I do worry a little about this. It seems that Apple is now highly litigious when it comes to anything that smells like competition, and rather than try to make a better product in response, they seem to be more than happy to abuse the patent system and shackle their competitors instead. Gesture controls in daily life would be cool, but users lose if there is not a healthy competitive environment among tech companies.

How is it abuse when a jury found Samsung guilty and awarded Apple a billion dollars? Apple went to Samsung and wanted to go into a licensing deal but Samsung refused. The award was reduced to $400M I think, but just in the past week or two... Apple got another $290M out of Samsung. HTC went into a licensing deal. Samsung is just being stupid.

1) Apple can only win in the US in Apple's backyard with a packed jury and a dishonest judge who refuses to let samsung show evidence of prior art.
2) Apple has lost everywhere else in the world.
3) Apple had some products banned in the US but once again Apple is helped by the US government and the ban is overturned.
4) Samsung will not pay to use bogus patents. Samsung will continue to grow while Apple market share will continue to shrink hooah!
southernshark 4 years ago

I'm sure that Microsoft already bought all the patents for the Kinect.

If anything I suspect that MS will be suing Apple.
sirskeetsalot2013 4 years ago

fuck Apples, Oranges are better. Least I can mix that with vodka.

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