It appears Apple Inc. is looking to make a move toward 3D sensor technology, or at least that's the idea people are getting form its latest plan to acquire Israeli based fables semiconductor company Primesense, best known for making the technology behind Microsoft and Xbox's Kinect.
According to local newspaper Calcalist, Apple has offered to buy the company for $280 million following discussions over the embedding of its technology inside Apple products. In the past, Primesense has worked with Microsoft to include its technology, chips and designs inside the first Kinect accessory for the Xbox 360. Since that time, the Xbox's Kinect has taken off and become a pillar of in-home entertainment as well as the focal point of the new Xbox One design with almost full integration of Kinect into every aspect of the next generation console's workings.
It isn't clear exactly what Apple plans to do with technology from Primsense but early guesses believe it may have something to do with a new TV service the company has been flirting with in an off again on again production for quite some time.
This isn't the first time Apple has tried to find profit from Israeli based companies. The Verge reports in January of 2012, the company confirmed it had acquired flash storage company Anobit in a $400 million deal. Primesense's 3D scanning technology is currently used in more than 20 million devices around the world, including sensors that can be used in smartphones and tablets. The company's technology can also be found in new portable scanners that are used for generating detailed, color 3D models of interior spaces.
The company has typically focused itself on indoor gaming and perfecting comfort and technology in the living room in the past. However, recent projects include working with ASUS to make a 3D sensing technology for its WAVI Xtion PC, development of a 3D motion-activated games and collaboration with retail, robotics and healthcare industries. So far, neither company has been available for comment.
