Apple buys software startup from Munich – Merkur.de

Updated: 05/29/15 – 17:27

Cupertino / Munich – Apple gladly accepts small businesses in order to improve its services. Now the iPhone group struck at a software specialist from Munich to.

Apple has bought the German software company Metaio that specializes in, the views real world to connect with digital information. In previous Metaio applications a user could see, for example, on your smartphone, such as pieces of furniture would look in his apartment.

The iPhone Group commented speculations about takeover on Thursday evening with the usual formulation for takeovers: “Apple buys from time to time smaller technology companies, and we express our principle not to our objectives or plans”. Previously, a register extract had surfaced on the Internet in which Apple was listed as Metaio partner.

Metaio from Munich is a leading provider in the so-called “augmented Reality “. This additional information will be displayed on items on the screen, after they had been captured by the camera for example. Metaio implemented projects to, among others, for the carmaker Ferrari and Ikea. Apple could use the software, for example, in its mapping service -. Or in the future for all new mobile devices

A year ago Metaio also questioned the idea before, Touchscreen -control expand to the real world. For this is a special camera to register the heat that leaves a finger on an item. Software can derive various actions.

Apple’s rivals are working on concepts for Augmented Reality. So, Microsoft recently the data goggles HoloLense before, with the user for a virtual objects can be shown that interact with the real environment. In test examples about virtual balls were seen, who stopped when they encountered obstacles in the real environment.

Apple bought in the past year and a half, 27 companies, as CEO Tim Cook recently said. The acquisitions are often kept secret as long as possible. Some of the companies disappear from the market and its products are integrated into Apple services. Others, like the headphones Beats provider remain present with its own brand. In Metaio it says on the website that no new business would be adopted more and previously acquired software products may still be downloaded until 15 December.

Germany is an important market for Apple and the company makes a lot of business with German suppliers, such as the glass specialists soul, the large panels for the Apple stores and the new headquarters in Cupertino produced. A German company with Apple’s acquisition targets, however, is a rarity. Last time was in 2012 been speculated Apple could the television equipment manufacturer Loewe buy, but this never happened.

report “TechCrunch”