>the real question is why they avoid the research community so strongly. Along the same vein, does Apple even employ any 'brand-name' researchers? From what I'

>the real question is why they avoid the research community so strongly. Along the same vein, does Apple even employ any 'brand-name' researchers? From what I've seen, all they do is take research invented somewhere else and just apply it. I think Alex Acero is the biggest recognizable researcher that Apple employs. So to answer your question, they don't publish and don't attend conferences because they simply don't have many researchers on board.