Rumor: Apple and Sony considered purchase of first-gen Kinect developer

Apple and Sony may be interested in purchasing PrimeSense, the company behind the first generation Kinect.

3

Microsoft has bet big on the Kinect technology, making it mandatory with Xbox One. As it turns out, Microsoft competitors Apple and Sony might be looking into acquiring similar technology, as a report states that they're both among parties interested in acquiring the technology company PrimeSense--the company that provided the tech for the first generation of Kinect.

A report on the Israeli Web site Calcalist (via VentureBeat) claims that Apple, Sony, and Samsung have fielded meetings with PrimeSense. According to the report, Apple recently visited the Tel Aviv headquarters to check out the facilities in technology. An acquisition from Apple would add another R&D facility to the three already located the country.

However, PrimeSense is only responsible for the first-gen Kinect, which used a stereo camera. The version created for Xbox One uses an entirely different time-of-flight camera. In our experience, the new model performs much better.

PrimeSense, for its part, neither confirmed nor denied the report, telling Mashable: "We can't comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and we’re not commenting on rumors."

Editor-In-Chief
Filed Under
From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 16, 2013 4:00 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Rumor: Apple and Sony considered purchase of first-gen Kinect developer.

    Apple and Sony may be interested in purchasing PrimeSense, the company behind the first generation Kinect.

    • reply
      July 16, 2013 5:49 PM

      Cant wait to hear the public's reaction to that...

    • reply
      July 16, 2013 6:00 PM

      Just don't make it mandatory!!

      • reply
        July 17, 2013 10:21 AM

        What kind of moron developer is going to make anything that uses it if its got a small base? NO FUCKING BODY THATS WHO

    • reply
      July 16, 2013 7:21 PM

      Apple will win out if they are serious. Can see implementing the tech into next gen Facetime camera. Those Photo Booth effects are about to get a lot crazier.

Hello, Meet Lola