Apple 'in talks' to buy developer of technology used in Xbox 360 gadget Kinect
APPLE are reportedly in talks to acquire PrimeSense, who are the Israel-based developers of the technology used in the Microsoft Xbox 360 gadget Kinect.
The iPhone and iPad maker are allegedly looking to buy the manufacturer of computer chips which enable 3D sensory inputs for over £185 million.
A delegation of Apple exectives visited the company's Tel Aviv offices earlier this month to negotiate the deal, according to business paper Calcalist.
The company's sensing technology was used to power the Microsoft Kinect peripheral for the Xbox 360 and the forthcoming Xbox One console.
PrimeSense CEO Inon Beracha said: "We can't comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and we’re not commenting on rumors."
Israeli paper Calcalist have a strong track record of breaking news about acquisitions of startup companies.
The publication reported on Google's purchase of Waze and Samsumg's acquisition of Boxee before they were officially announced.
The Kinect peripherial enables users to control a character in a game or a navigation screen simply with a gesture of their hand.
It has been used in motion control games such as golf titles where a player immitates a golfer's swing, or boxing games where a player throws a punch to control a computer counterpart.
Apple have long been rumoured to be thinking of releasing their own videogames console and this latest development will send the rumour mill into overdrive.
Technology rival Google are also thought to be developing their own Android based console to compete with Apple's rumoured device.
Apple already have their own presence in the living room with their Apple TV service.
And CEO Tim Cook has said the company have a number of 'game-changing' products lined up for release.