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Apple Purchases Prismo Graphics
An anonymous user writes "Digit mag reports that Apple bought Prismo Graphics, another company that does video software. Prismo Graphics is known as a 'developer of motion
graphics for broadcast and digital video projects, including their DVFonts
and India special effects software.' This, just after their purchases of Nothing Real and Silicon Grail."
The subject line is purposefully alarmist, mostly to make fun of the others who seriously think the subject line is true.
The difference I see between Apple and Microsoft in this respect is fairly simple: Microsoft bought up the competition while Apple is (presumably) buying up resources. You squash competition. You use resources.
If (and only if) Apple turns around and releases crap products in the same fields as the companies they're buying up will I conceed that Apple is using sleazy business tactics. Unfortunately, it's something hard to tell until it's too late.
For now, I applaud Apple's efforts to expanding their presence in their strongest professional market.
This now concludes our broadcast day.
I think that Apple is demonstrating that they have learned from previous mistakes. After years of keeping with their notorious tradition of the "Not Made In Cupertino" syndrome, they have the good sense to buy what they can't produce, and not just competition, but competitors with quality products. It wasn't that long ago that Apple bought Casady & Greene, and they got themselves an excellent mp3 utility in what used to be SoundJam. Then, as Apple's Digital Hub strategy emerged, it was shown that SoundJam, newly repackaged as iTunes, was at the forefront of the digital showcase. Apple already has iMovie, and I have no doubt that they have a vested corporate interest in continually upgrading their "Digital Hub".
You write, "So it is bad when Microsoft buys up resources, but good when Apple does it?"
Most of the people that I know do NOT criticize Microsoft for buying promising products and repackaging them under the Microsoft name, as they did with Front Page and then with Visio. That's a common business tactic, practiced by virtually all large software companies. What's true for individual developers is true for businesses as well - it's easier (and cheaper) to reuse (good) existing code than it is to write new code.
It is definitely a Good Thing for Apple that they are clearly articulating a cohesive, comprehensive business strategy:
"If you create digital media, buy a Macintosh."
Why is this behavior acceptable for Apple and not for Microsoft? Because Apple is NOT a law-breaking monopolist. Microsoft is. Apple is explicitly permitted to engage in behavior from which Microsoft is expressly forbidden.
Don't complain because Apple is doing something legal. Stop and think about why Microsoft isn't allowed to do the same any more.
(unfortunately in karelia's case, apple didn't buy them but instead remade their product)
Other shareware products/technologies apple bought: WindowShade, Internet Config.
Actually, maybe the titler will go in Final Cut, but the other thing this company makes is animated backgrounds for compositing into title sequences.
The next version of Jaguar will have Quartz extreme. Apple, the company that came up with the idea of the desktop picture, may be the first one with a desktop video-- since in Q Extreme, the entire UI is 3d Rendered textures, the desktop could easily be a quicktime movie loop.
That would be cool.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23
As the writer a few levels up in this thread said. The problem with Microsoft as well as several other companies is when they buy some product to eliminate competition rather than continue it. Microsoft has done this several times although they are hardly alone. Where I disagree with that writer is that Apple is doing this to a degree. With the companies they are purchasing they are typically halting Windows development. In that they are remarkably like Microsoft. (Bungie anyone? - I love Halo for my XBox but don't expect and OSX version any time soon) So while they aren't killing the products entirely, they certainly are kiling versions of the product. To make an analogy, how would you feel if Microsoft bought Macromedia and then said that they would in the future be Windows only products? (Yeah insert standard joke about speed of ports here)