Metaio: Apple buys German software startup – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The technology group Apple has bought the Munich-based software company Metaio. The company has confirmed the purchase of the German start-ups.

“Apple buys from time to time smaller technology companies,” the company commented on the acquisition. Was so far nothing is known about the purchase price.

Metaio must refer to the section “Augmented Reality” (“AR”) specialize, so make sure to connect the real world with views digital information. This additional information, for example, appears to objects on the screen, after they have been captured by a camera.

In recent applications of Metaio users could see, for example, on your smartphone, such as pieces of furniture would look in the apartment , So Metaio sat example projects for the furniture chain Ikea. Moreover Metaio developed a software for Volkswagen, an AR user manual.

Even Apple’s rivals are working on concepts for Augmented Reality. Microsoft as presented recently the data goggles HoloLense ago, with a user virtual objects can be shown that interact with the real environment.

Apple’s acquisition also fueled speculation that the group allegedly with the iCar a car developed , The rumors now promoted again Apple manager Jeff Williams. After future product areas surveyed, he said on Thursday: “The car is the ultimate mobile device.” About the quote that makes a lot of attention in the US media, wrote, among other things, the “Wall Street Journal”.

According to the report, Williams was referring to demand initially but the potential of the Services “CarPlay” which is intended to allow drivers to use Apple applications such as iTunes or Siri directly from the touch screen of the car.

Shortly after, to intend to integrate CarPlay in most Chevrolet cars General Motors chief Mary Barra announced. The same is true for Google’s Android car.