On Sunday, Apple officially announced its acquisition of 3D sensor developer PrimeSense. As we reported earlier, Apple has been in talks with PrimeSense since the summer in a bid to grab the company. PrimeSense was the developer of the 3D tracking technology used in Microsoft’s original Kinect device that shipped with the Xbox 360. Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the PrimeSense deal to AllThingsD, with Apple’s standard footnote;
“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”
AllThingsD followed up with a spokeswoman for PrimeSense who said;
“We can confirm the deal with Apple. Further than that, we cannot comment at this stage.”
Sources say that the purchase price for PrimeSense was in the neighborhood of $360 million. Speculation is that Apple may use the technology in the long rumored Apple branded television, or perhaps as an accessory to the AppleTV.