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Apple Officializes Purchase of Motion-Sensor Firm PrimeSense

Posted by timothy on from the have-it-wrapped-and-delivered dept.

The reports that Apple was to buy Israeli 3-D sensor maker PrimeSense have turned out to be correct; the BBC reports that Apple has confirmed the purchase, though it is mum both about the price it paid and about where 3D sensors are likely to show up first in the Apple lineup. Also at the Register and Apple Insider, among others.

34 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. The next UI by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't know what form the next wave of UI will take, but I do hope it doesn't involve me carrying around miniature semaphore flags.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:The next UI by noh8rz10 · · Score: 1

      The future is now. Siri + PrimeSense + iBeacons = Minority Report

    2. Re:The next UI by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 4, Funny

      A loud clatter of gunk music flooded through the Heart of Gold cabin as Zaphod searched the sub-etha radio wavebands for news of himself. The machine was rather difficult to operate. For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch-sensitive—you merely had to brush the panels with your fingers; now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope. It saved a lot of muscular expenditure of course, but meant that you had to sit infuriatingly still if you wanted to keep listening to the same programme.

      --
      Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
    3. Re:The next UI by Nerdfest · · Score: 1

      ... and remember that Adams was a big Apple fan. Maybe he really could see the future.

    4. Re:The next UI by jones_supa · · Score: 1

      Sadly, they seem to have gone with the low-frequency PWM route for their laptop screens.

  2. Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff... by RandomUsername99 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff... I can see it now: Screen real estate and click blocking modal screen that says "Hello! You appear to be masturbating! Would you like me to a) order you a lube refill from amazon.com, b) give you a list of porn sites based on Alexa ratings, c) turn on your webcam, or d) enact your FREE TRIAL to e-harmony..."

  3. Officializes??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Really?

    1. Re:Officializes??? by Jimbookis · · Score: 3, Informative

      Timothy, you complete numpty. "Officially Confirms" is perfectly cromulent.

    2. Re:Officializes??? by u38cg · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or indeed, just "confirms".

      --
      [FUCK BETA]
    3. Re:Officializes??? by Krymzn · · Score: 2

      They clearly meant "officificates".

    4. Re:Officializes??? by khakipuce · · Score: 2

      Completes? makes official?

      Although apparently some US Professor once said "any noun can be verbed"... ... not on this side of the pond matey!

      --
      Art is the mathematics of emotion
    5. Re:Officializes??? by TooTechy · · Score: 1

      Wow. This certainly embiggened my vocabulary today.

    6. Re:Officializes??? by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      Another perfectly good adjective verbified.

      Oops. I just adjectivified a verb. Damn, now I just... sigh. Never mind.

    7. Re:Officializes??? by DNAgent · · Score: 1

      In the immortal words of Calvin, "verbing weirds language".

  4. Awesome, looking forward to it by OhANameWhatName · · Score: 1

    where 3D sensors are likely to show up first in the Apple lineup

    My bet is on the iPod shuffle. Adjusting the pounding base depending upon muscle constriction in the surrounding environment.

    1. Re:Awesome, looking forward to it by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      Adjusting the pounding base depending upon muscle constriction in the surrounding environment.

      So, teledildonics then?

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  5. Motion sensor? by WarJolt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Calling PrimeSense technology a "Motion-sensor" is like calling an iPhone a music player. Technically true; It can do that, but it doesn't really describe the product very well.

    1. Re:Motion sensor? by iMadeGhostzilla · · Score: 1

      This is true. PS technology is depth sensing. A webcam-based device can sense motion and still have no clue about anything but changes in illumination, where Kinect (1) knows distances of solid surfaces from itself.

      Also it's interesting that yours is one of the few posts here related to the technology and not grammar. I think it shows the tech still needs a killer app to occupy the mindspace of the public.

  6. Officializes? by Thong · · Score: 2

    Are you serious?

  7. Bypass touch screens by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    It will keep the greasy fingers off.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  8. Re:Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff by Horshu · · Score: 1

    Still holding on to Clippy jokes, are we?

  9. 'Officializes' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I didn't think it was possible for little Timmy to get any worse but this officializes it.

    1. Re: 'Officializes' by binarylarry · · Score: 2

      The word's been encromulized by the holy roman officiate of wordulisms.

      They've ruled it's too legit to quit.

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    2. Re:'Officializes' by Richy_T · · Score: 2

      It's "keeping mum" too. Idioms should be used properly.

  10. Re:Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Some things just never get old.

  11. Re:Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff by TrollstonButterbeans · · Score: 2

    Your stereotype of Clippy is less helpful than the Clippy I remember.

    Any proper Clippy should offer to improve on technique because he was all about maximizing productivity of the task you are focused on.

    --
    Priest: "Universe from nothing, no laws of physics, sped up time"+ huge discrepancies. Creationism? No. Big Bang Theory
  12. Kinect by the_cosmocat · · Score: 1

    This is the company that have developed the Kinect for Microsoft. What do you think is the future of the Kinect? Is it in the Microsoft's hands, now?

    1. Re:Kinect by tlhIngan · · Score: 2

      This is the company that have developed the Kinect for Microsoft. What do you think is the future of the Kinect? Is it in the Microsoft's hands, now?

      Yes, it is. A few years ago Microsoft purchased a company doing 3D imaging - they didn't have anything in time for the original Kinect, so Microsoft went PrimeSense there.

      However, the Xbone has Kinect 2, which uses a time-of-flight (!) camera to determine depth instead of using structured light. Microsoft basically owns that technology which means we'll probably see tons of Kinect 2 upgraded robots once Microsoft releases a Windows version.

  13. Re:Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff by gstoddart · · Score: 1

    Your stereotype of Clippy is less helpful than the Clippy I remember.

    You remember a 'helpful' Clippy? I mostly remember "it seems you are type, would you like a tutorial on that?".

    In other words, completely useless and quite the opposite of 'helpful'.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  14. Re:Where will the 3D sensors show up first? by Goffee71 · · Score: 1

    I guess you don't mean lawyers doing dance battles to Psy's latest remix during coffee breaks... since everyone will have a bunch of sensor patents that they want to wave at each other.

    --
    If he's the Walrus then can I be a penguin please?
  15. 2008 says hello by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Yeah, that might have been an issue back in 2008 when your link was from, but time heals all wounds - and repairs many electronic defects.

    Here in modern times we have LED displays that do not have that issue.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:2008 says hello by Pinky's+Brain · · Score: 2

      That's the point though, they both fuck up pretty often when introducing new technology. Apple suffered from NVIDIA chips solder joint problems as well. Magsafe, great idea for connecting power cords to deep friers, shame that when Apple used it on laptops they forgot about strain relief. etc.

      They both have no shortage of disasters.

  16. verbification strikes out by kermidge · · Score: 1

    Officializes?

    No, thanks.

  17. Re:Good thing clippy never got ahold of that stuff by drakesword · · Score: 1

    You forgot chatroulette