Apple Buys Primesense, Designer of Original Xbox 360 Kinect

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Apple now has a motion-sensing company.

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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Jane McEntegart
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • therogerwilco
    Maybe they'll come out with 'new' tech now, like the fingerprint sensor, that's 'new' too.
    Reply
  • TeraMedia
    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.
    Reply
  • eklipz330
    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
    Reply
  • warezme
    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?
    Reply
  • Pummel
    Apple TV.
    Reply
  • enewmen
    12027672 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

    Reply
  • FFH
    I sense a patent lawsuit against microsoft for making the kinect.
    Reply
  • Osmin
    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.
    Reply
  • bmwman91
    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.
    Reply
  • AndyTheAndroid
    12030916 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.
    Reply