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Lots of the things on this list could be accomplished with a partnership rather than an acquisition. Can anyone elaborate as to why Apple might choose to acquir

Lots of the things on this list could be accomplished with a partnership rather than an acquisition. Can anyone elaborate as to why Apple might choose to acquire over simply buying in?

JohnTHaller 12y ago
Because Apple has a habit of buying companies to ensure that no one else can use the same technology. That's the reason the Nexus 6 doesn't have a fingerprint reader. Apple didn't invent that technology, they bought the company that did so no one else could use it.
- avinassh 12y ago
  So no phones can ever have fingerprint recognition? There is no other way around? Or Do they have to pay royalty to Apple?
  - mfisher87 12y ago
    Under U.S. law, that doesn't seem like a stretch to me at all.
  - krisgenre 12y ago
    The one that Apple bought are the best in the tech and so not many want to go with a sub par supplier.
  - mschuster91 12y ago
    Back in the Windows CE days, I used to own a Toshiba smartphone with a fingerprint reader on the backside. Apple were not the first, but definitely their solution is the sexiest.
- aroch 12y ago
  You're being disingenuous, Apple buying AuthenTec prevented the N6 from having a fingerprint reader but not for the reasons you're implying (ie. patents). It prevented the wished design for the reader (touch instead of swipe) on the back dimple but the N6 could still have had a fingerprint reader. AuthenTec does not have patents that would prevent other companies from making touch-based readers they were just first to market, in fact there are currently devices that have similar sensors (Huawei Mate being one of those: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/huawei-ascend-mate-7-fingerprint-reader/ http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/huawei-ascend-mate-7-fing...) In anycase, Apple has put out specs for a handful of standards and freely licensing the IP for them. It is in Apple's benefit to make open standards that become adopted by everyone else. They get the market leader hype + guaranteed accessory market and, in some cases, royalties.
  - JohnTHaller 12y ago
    Right, Apple bought them so no one else could do the same type of touch fingerprint reader. Having to instead rely on the older swipe style which doesn't work as well.
  - maxerickson 12y ago
    disingenuous usually implies intent, it's not a great word choice where you aren't certain of that (I think on discussion boards being misinformed is at least as common as attempting to mislead).
- intopieces 12y ago
  If this is the case, wouldn't an acquisition by Apple be against the interest of Tesla? I thought the idea behind the Superchargers and the upcoming Gigafactory and the release of Tesla's patents for other company's use was that it was a way to get the industry to shore up his own business. The Apple "walled-garden" doesn't seem to fit with that.

Lots of the things on this list could be accomplished with a partnership rather than an acquisition. Can anyone elaborate as to why Apple might choose to acquire over simply buying in?

JohnTHaller 12y ago

Because Apple has a habit of buying companies to ensure that no one else can use the same technology. That's the reason the Nexus 6 doesn't have a fingerprint reader. Apple didn't invent that technology, they bought the company that did so no one else could use it.

avinassh 12y ago
So no phones can ever have fingerprint recognition? There is no other way around? Or Do they have to pay royalty to Apple?
- mfisher87 12y ago
  Under U.S. law, that doesn't seem like a stretch to me at all.
- krisgenre 12y ago
  The one that Apple bought are the best in the tech and so not many want to go with a sub par supplier.
- mschuster91 12y ago
  Back in the Windows CE days, I used to own a Toshiba smartphone with a fingerprint reader on the backside. Apple were not the first, but definitely their solution is the sexiest.
aroch 12y ago
You're being disingenuous, Apple buying AuthenTec prevented the N6 from having a fingerprint reader but not for the reasons you're implying (ie. patents). It prevented the wished design for the reader (touch instead of swipe) on the back dimple but the N6 could still have had a fingerprint reader. AuthenTec does not have patents that would prevent other companies from making touch-based readers they were just first to market, in fact there are currently devices that have similar sensors (Huawei Mate being one of those: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/huawei-ascend-mate-7-fingerprint-reader/ http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/huawei-ascend-mate-7-fing...) In anycase, Apple has put out specs for a handful of standards and freely licensing the IP for them. It is in Apple's benefit to make open standards that become adopted by everyone else. They get the market leader hype + guaranteed accessory market and, in some cases, royalties.
- JohnTHaller 12y ago
  Right, Apple bought them so no one else could do the same type of touch fingerprint reader. Having to instead rely on the older swipe style which doesn't work as well.
- maxerickson 12y ago
  disingenuous usually implies intent, it's not a great word choice where you aren't certain of that (I think on discussion boards being misinformed is at least as common as attempting to mislead).
intopieces 12y ago
If this is the case, wouldn't an acquisition by Apple be against the interest of Tesla? I thought the idea behind the Superchargers and the upcoming Gigafactory and the release of Tesla's patents for other company's use was that it was a way to get the industry to shore up his own business. The Apple "walled-garden" doesn't seem to fit with that.