Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:
Movement: A report from an Israeli newspaper says that Apple (AAPL) has acquired the developer of the motion tracking technology used in the Kinect sensor for Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox 360 console, CNET notes. Rumors emerged over the summer that Apple was pursuing an acquisition of PrimeSense with a $280 million price tag. The new report says that the iPad-maker will pay $345 million for Israel-based company. Neither Apple nor PrimeSense has yet confirmed the deal. Other media sources say that a deal has not yet been finalized, but that talks are continuing and that the final price could be higher. PrimeSense’s technology is featured in a variety of other products, including iRobot’s (IRBT) video collaboration robot, Ava. Venture capitalists have invested $85 million in PrimeSense.
Fewer: A report out of Asia lends more support to rumors that Apple is quietly scaling back iPhone 5c production. Sources tell DigiTimes that Foxconn will halt production of the iPhone 5c at its large factory in Zhengzhou, China, so that the facility can concentrate on manufacturing the iPhone 5s. Foxconn is the lead producer of the iPhone 5s, but only produces 30% of the 5c, which has reportedly underperformed expectations with consumers. The latest report says that Foxconn will continue to make iPhone 5c units, but at a lower rate. The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launched last month. Despite very constrained launch-time supplies, the more expensive flagship iPhone 5s reportedly outsold the more colorful 5c by 2-to-1 immediately after both became available. Recent reports suggest that the 5s is now outselling the 5c by a 3-to-1 margin.
Gold Fever: Chinese buyers are flocking to Apple Stores in the U.S. to snap up the gold version of the iPhone 5s, leaving some American shoppers fuming, the New York Post notes. Consumers say that Chinese buyers have been spotted waiting on long lines outside the company’s stores across the Big Apple. Some of those buyers said they were sending the gold iPhones to family members in China, but many suspect the handsets are actually headed to the Chinese resale market, where the gold iPhone 5s is a hot seller. Supplies of the gold iPhone 5s remain very tight, especially in Asia where the model is particularly in demand. Apple Stores in New York are limiting sales of the gold iPhone 5s to two per customer.
For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.
