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Apple could have had Kinect but was a 'pain in the ass'

CultofMac is reporting today that Apple was first offered the technology behind the newly launched Kinect motion control system, but they were too much of a "pain in the ass" for a deal to work.

The site reports of a flight from Europe to San Francisco where the editor had a chance to meet with Inon Beracha, the CEO of PrimeSense, the company behind Kinect's motion control tech.



Engineers in the Israeli military created the technology and Beracha was trying to find a big time partner to commercialize it. The company expected it to "revolutionize" gaming and computer interfaces.

PrimeSense was shopping the tech in 2008, and went first to Apple, who seemed like a "natural" fit.

However, Apple, in Apple-esque fashion, asked Beracha to sign tons of NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) and legal agreements which the CEO would not agree to, saying the tech was "so hot" he could sell it to anyone.

"Apple is a pain in the ass," he concluded, with a smile.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 7 Nov 2010 1:50

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• 12 comments

• shortybob

  Apple knows better than that. Who wants to stand up and flail their body around to send an e-mail? That Baracha guy seems pretty full of himself.
  

  7.11.2010 01:31 #1

• david952 (unverified)

  That's funny lol apple must of had a worm that day.
  shorybob answer you can do so much with this tech ..
  DOCTOR MD ,security, AND MUCH MUCH MORE..

  7.11.2010 01:45 #2

• xtago

  Also got offered to sony before MS as well.
  
  Sony said not overly fussed about it as it's not the in thing.
  
  kinect won't last really, it's a kiddies toy the wii sold because mums and dads think it'll be great for the kids to play but adults don't play the wii.
  
  it's just 1 of those things MS will learn over time.

  7.11.2010 05:50 #3

• Xplorer4

  Originally posted by xtago:
  kinect won't last really, it's a kiddies toy the wii sold because mums and dads think it'll be great for the kids to play but adults don't play the wii.
  
  it's just 1 of those things MS will learn over time.
  
  That kiddie toy was killing the 360 and PS3 in sales at one time. Bash it if you like, but the numbers are the numbers. Not to mention I know quite a few adults who play the Wii, both with and with out kids.
  
  If they market this towards Kids, you have the potential to attract Wii families over to Kinect as well. On top of that, if they market it towards adults I know some adults will get in to it as well. The Kinect has the ability to attract both audiences where the Wii will remain kid friendly for the most part.
  

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  7.11.2010 10:32 #4

• Interestx

  I don't know why some people insist on pretending the obvious benefit Kinect can bring (and is, I think, only the start of) is no big deal.
  
  This stuff is going to be huge - and the fact it begins as cheaply as it does in Xbox & Kinect is a great indicator it will soon be open to all.
  
  From a 'Minority Report' style gesture control (combo'd with voice control & facial recognition) of our PC screen content to working your home a/v equipment to operating stuff around the home with gestures and voice command.
  
  It's an obvious step to operating an integrated computer control of the home.
  
  Gaming is just the development ground - and whilst the first games might not appeal to the so-called 'serious gamer' there are bound to be those that will as devs get the idea of what it can do and how to use it with a control pad, it definitely opens up interesting options.
  
  
  
  

  7.11.2010 20:01 #5

• Oner

  Originally posted by xtago: Also got offered to sony before MS as well.
  
  Sony said not overly fussed about it as it's not the in thing.
  
  kinect won't last really, it's a kiddies toy the wii sold because mums and dads think it'll be great for the kids to play but adults don't play the wii.
  
  it's just 1 of those things MS will learn over time.
  Ninty also passed up on this "so hot" tech...
  

  
  
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  7.11.2010 21:11 #6

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by Xplorer4: Originally posted by xtago:
  kinect won't last really, it's a kiddies toy the wii sold because mums and dads think it'll be great for the kids to play but adults don't play the wii.
  
  it's just 1 of those things MS will learn over time.
  
  That kiddie toy was killing the 360 and PS3 in sales at one time. Bash it if you like, but the numbers are the numbers. Not to mention I know quite a few adults who play the Wii, both with and with out kids.
  
  If they market this towards Kids, you have the potential to attract Wii families over to Kinect as well. On top of that, if they market it towards adults I know some adults will get in to it as well. The Kinect has the ability to attract both audiences where the Wii will remain kid friendly for the most part.
  Except that the Wii was only good for Nintendo...most 3rd party games sell like crap because they don't have "Mario" or "Zelda" or "Super Smash", etc. in their titles.

  7.11.2010 21:22 #7

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by xnonsuchx: Originally posted by Xplorer4: Originally posted by xtago:
  kinect won't last really, it's a kiddies toy the wii sold because mums and dads think it'll be great for the kids to play but adults don't play the wii.
  
  it's just 1 of those things MS will learn over time.
  
  That kiddie toy was killing the 360 and PS3 in sales at one time. Bash it if you like, but the numbers are the numbers. Not to mention I know quite a few adults who play the Wii, both with and with out kids.
  
  If they market this towards Kids, you have the potential to attract Wii families over to Kinect as well. On top of that, if they market it towards adults I know some adults will get in to it as well. The Kinect has the ability to attract both audiences where the Wii will remain kid friendly for the most part.
  Except that the Wii was only good for Nintendo...most 3rd party games sell like crap because they don't have "Mario" or "Zelda" or "Super Smash", etc. in their titles. That and they do not make very good use of the motion control system. Many 3rd party titles did a horrible job and just made stupid mini-game titles that had no real substance. Unfortunately I think the same will happen with kinect at least at first and you have to remember this is the first generation of motion control for all three console makers and maybe it will develop into something better over time. There are some really good titles for Wii that I would not want to play using the old controller sit on my ass method.
  

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  8.11.2010 18:32 #8

• KillerBug

  I was offered a free PS move the other day...I turned it down. The next person in line was a 8-year-old kid who could actually appreciate it. Sure, it might also appeal to the 40-year-old fat woman crowd and the 80-something "getting ready to die" crowd, but those people don't care about graphics, so the wii is still going to get these sales, even with inferior controls.
  

  9.11.2010 03:00 #9

• dodgersabotage (unverified)

  It's new tech, i remember every time something new came along people wouldn't think it would catch. started out with a wired controller, then a wireless one, now no controller? seems the potential is pretty awesome.

  9.11.2010 10:27 #10

• TrinUK

  Originally posted by Xplorer4: Originally posted by xtago:
  kinect won't last really, it's a kiddies toy the wii sold because mums and dads think it'll be great for the kids to play but adults don't play the wii.
  
  it's just 1 of those things MS will learn over time.
  
  That kiddie toy was killing the 360 and PS3 in sales at one time. Bash it if you like, but the numbers are the numbers. Not to mention I know quite a few adults who play the Wii, both with and with out kids.
  
  If they market this towards Kids, you have the potential to attract Wii families over to Kinect as well. On top of that, if they market it towards adults I know some adults will get in to it as well. The Kinect has the ability to attract both audiences where the Wii will remain kid friendly for the most part. Spot on comment. Some people just dont get it. Like a 5 year old can play Call of Duty on a PS3 or Xbox360! Which is exactly why Nintendo did so well with their device. Ha ha
  

  Trin - Making Digital Waves

  12.11.2010 09:41 #11

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by shortybob: Apple knows better than that. Who wants to stand up and flail their body around to send an e-mail? That Baracha guy seems pretty full of himself. Don't you guys know that they changed the base node from the base of the spine to the back of the neck? Now you can sit on your ass and use the thing.
  
  So Shorty it should be easy to send an email with it (with voice to text), you won't have to get up from couch.
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  16.11.2010 03:00 #12