Apple has acquired LinX, an
Israeli camera tech company whose most recent offerings include
multi-aperture camera models which can enable effects like background focus
blur, parallax images and 3D picture capture. TechCrunch received the following
from Apple, which is a statement the company provides in lieu of confirmation
when it has, in fact, acquired a smaller company:
The LinX acquisition was
valued at around $20 million. The Israeli startup’s hardware was targeted at
tablets and smartphones specifically, and could not only offer the kinds of
background defocus that’s popular on low aperture lenses paired with DSLRs, but
could also help achieve better low-light performance, ideal for taking pictures
indoors or at night without using flash.
Apple’s plans could also
include putting the tech to use in its notebooks, replacing those camera
modules with better performing parts while respecting size constraints. This
could be very handy in building devices like the MacBook, for instance, while
retaining better picture quality. They could also potentially help push image
quality while helping slim down camera design.
One of LinX’s big stated
hardware features, according to the company’s own communications, is achieving
selective focus post-capture. This is a popular option for modern devices, and
one that Apple could benefit from in future devices. Still, the big advantages
of the multi-aperture design for the iPhone maker are probably around producing
the best results in terms of low light, HDR and color fidelity with general,
everyday picture-taking.