Reported by Techcrunch, Apple has purchased a company called LuxVue Technology that develops micro-LED displays that could be found in a variety of future consumer electronics. Recently raising $25 million in funding during December 2013 on top of a previous $18 million, LuxVue created a display technology that requires significantly less power than current OLED technology while providing an even brighter screen. Assuming Micro-LED tech was integrated into popular Apples devices, it could improve the battery life of hardware like the iPhone considerably.
It could also indicate that Apple is becoming more open to the wearables market. This type of technology would be perfect for small devices like an Apple “iWatch” smartwatch device or even a tiny display readout on a music device like the Shuffle. Transitioning to this type of display technology in the future would also mean that Apple would be less dependent on rivals that build the displays currently used in Apple products.
Of course, Apple is being very tight-lipped about the purchase and any possible implementations of the technology.Commenting on the news, an Apple spokesperson said “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”
During an April 2014 earnings call speaking about acquisitions, Apple CEO Tim Cook said “From an acquisition point of view, we have done 24 in 18 months. That shows that we’re on the prowl, I suppose you could say. We look for companies that have great people and great technology and that fit culturally. And we don’t have a rule that says we can’t spend a lot or whatever. We’ll spend what we think is a fair price. What’s important to us is that strategically it makes sense and that it winds up adding value to our shareholders over the long haul. We are not in a race to spend the most or acquire the most. We’re in a race to make the worlds’ best product that really enrich people’s lives.”
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