Frobes has an article on Apple’s recent moves that hint at their targeting the gamin industry.
Apple appears to be preparing an all-out assault on the handheld gaming market, moving to snap up gaming industry insiders from Microsoft to go with its growing team of graphics-chip specialists.
News that Apple has poached Richard Teversham from Microsoft’s Xbox business this week is only the latest sign Apple has gotten serious about the gaming business. Teversham, who was senior director for insights and strategy at Microsoft’s Xbox Business, drove the “three year strategy for the Xbox business” in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Earlier this week Apple ( AAPL - news - people ) hired Bob Drebin, chief technologist at Advanced Micro Device’s graphics group and the creator of the Nintendo ( NTDOY.PK - news - people ) Gamecube’s graphics processor.
That move came as IBM ( IBM - news - people ) chip designer Mark Papermaster began his role as head of Apple’s iPod business last month after a long legal tussle with IBM.
Apple is also putting some of its huge pile of cash into semiconductor technology. In December, Apple purchased 3.6% of U.K.-based ImagInation, licensing its PowerVR graphics technology. And last year Apple purchased processor designer PA Semi for $378 million (See “Apple Buys Chip Designer “).
Where will those investments be put to work? Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in an interview last year that he plans to put his PA Semi designers to work building silicon for the company’s iPhones and iPods. And while Apple keeps its hardware roadmap to itself, iPhone developers such as Damon Allison figure the iPhone and iPod’s hardware will evolve in at least three areas.
First, the iPhone will almost certainly get a better camera and multi-media capabilities. That could unleash a new generation of applications that integrate video and still images into games and social applications, as Nintendo’s new DSi has done.
Second, sooner or later the iPhone and iPod touch will get a new, faster processor, most likely an ARM-based design customized by Apple’s in-house designers. The result will be snappier, better looking games.
Earlier this week Apple ( AAPL - news - people ) hired Bob Drebin, chief technologist at Advanced Micro Device’s graphics group and the creator of the Nintendo ( NTDOY.PK - news - people ) Gamecube’s graphics processor.
That move came as IBM ( IBM - news - people ) chip designer Mark Papermaster began his role as head of Apple’s iPod business last month after a long legal tussle with IBM.
Apple is also putting some of its huge pile of cash into semiconductor technology. In December, Apple purchased 3.6% of U.K.-based ImagInation, licensing its PowerVR graphics technology. And last year Apple purchased processor designer PA Semi for $378 million (See “Apple Buys Chip Designer “).
Where will those investments be put to work? Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in an interview last year that he plans to put his PA Semi designers to work building silicon for the company’s iPhones and iPods. And while Apple keeps its hardware roadmap to itself, iPhone developers such as Damon Allison figure the iPhone and iPod’s hardware will evolve in at least three areas.
First, the iPhone will almost certainly get a better camera and multi-media capabilities. That could unleash a new generation of applications that integrate video and still images into games and social applications, as Nintendo’s new DSi has done.
Second, sooner or later the iPhone and iPod touch will get a new, faster processor, most likely an ARM-based design customized by Apple’s in-house designers. The result will be snappier, better looking games.
, the mobile ad platform that has been especially popular on the iPhone, for $750 million. This is a big win for the company’s early investors, which include Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners (this is a huge day for Accel — they were also investors in Playfish, which was just acquired by EA). More recent investors include DFJ and Northgate Capital.
