Apple May Have Considered Purchasing Tesla, Researching Audio to Predict ... - Mac Rumors

Apple's interest in vehicle and medical integration for its products is well-known, but a new report from the San Francisco Chronicle claims some new details on both fronts, including word that Apple may have explored a potential purchase of electric car manufacturer Tesla last year.

The specific claim that Apple was considering a purchase of Tesla seems to be primarily speculation, but the report notes that Apple's head of acquisitions Adrian Perica met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk early last year. According to the report's source, Apple CEO Tim Cook was probably also involved in the meeting.

In October 2013, German investment banking analyst Adnaan Ahmad created a media stir when he wrote an "open letter" to Apple CEO Tim Cook and board director Al Gore, urging the company to acquire Tesla. [...]

Six months before Ahmad's letter, Musk met with Perica and probably Cook at Apple headquarters, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect business relationships. While a megadeal has yet to emerge (for all of its cash, Apple still plays hardball on valuation), such a high-level meeting between the two Silicon Valley giants involving their top dealmakers suggests Apple was very much interested in buying the electric car pioneer.

One analyst suggests that discussion of a deal to integrate iOS devices with Tesla cars may have been a much more likely topic for the meeting, but it is unclear why such a discussion would directly involve Musk and Apple's acquisitions chief.

On a separate note, the report claims that Apple's interest in medical functions, rumored to be linked to its iWatch initiative, includes an innovative effort to predict heart attacks using audio sensors. That effort is reportedly led by Tomlinson Holman, the audio pioneer behind the THX sound standard who joined Apple in 2011.

Though Apple has never confirmed it, the company hired Holman in 2011 to "provide audio direction," according to his LinkedIn profile. At the time, observers assumed Holman would focus his efforts on boosting the audio quality of MacBooks and iPhones.

But under Holman, Apple is exploring ways to measure noise "turbulence" as it applies to blood flow. The company wants to develop software and sensors that can predict heart attacks by identifying the sound blood makes as it tries to move through an artery clogged with plaque, the source said.

The report also points to Apple patents covering heart-related biometrics such as the ability to authenticate a device based on a user's unique heart rhythm.

Apple's iWatch has been rumored to include an array of sensors for monitoring a wide variety of health-related statistics, and reports have indicated that the device could arrive later this year.

I'm picturing a Tesla charging through a lightning connector off a MacBook Air. :D

The Magic Trackpad for steering takes some getting used to.

Apple could also simply buy a stake in Tesla to get access to technology and engineering expertise to help Apple in it efforts to integrate iOS into automobiles. That would give Apple a testbed to determine how best to integrate iOS as well a show to build the associated diagnostic equipment using Apple products. Tesla is small enough and less likely to take a NIH approach as well as being a high profile showcase for technology to be an attractive partner.

In a much more speculative vein, Apple stores could become Tesla dealerships in select locations; circumventing existing manufacturers' dealerships efforts to keep tesla out of their home markets.

Apple was very much interested in buying the electric car pioneer.

You may want to reconsider your definition of pioneer, because electric cars aren't any new.

Porsche P1 (http://ift.tt/1b1a4PA)

Oh Boy.. How much will cost an Apple branded red Tesla ???

I highly doubt this. It's almost laughable.

It's funny how many people are focusing on the Tesla part of this article, while the second half says that Apple is looking into preventing heart attacks. That's kind of a huge deal.

It's silly season and probably will be until WWDC. Then when Apple announces stuff that doesn't match fantasy land everyone will be disappointed because Apple didn't announce a cure for cancer.

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Tesla is the biggest hype job in automotive history.

Tesla stock one year return is 430%. Hype indeed.

Posted from the future:

iOS 8.1.1 Release Notes

- Fixes a bug which causes potential heart attacks to be reported incorrectly.

:eek:

I'm picturing a Tesla charging through a lightning connector off a MacBook Air. :D

The Magic Trackpad for steering takes some getting used to.

It's a little easier once you've got the hang of the multitouch gestures. Simply swipe right with seven fingers whilst tapping the thumb on the left-hand side of the trackpad, and the car will turn right. Swipe with three fingers horizontally to change gears. Swipe with two fingers horizontally to apply the handbrake.

It's highly intuitive and there's no chance anything could go wrong.

The famous 1984 TV ad becomes more and more ironic.

Will you lot just please overthrow the government if you feel that strongly about it instead of uselessly venting in front of everyone on the internet?

Jeez I've had it with NSA/Big Brother is watching/1984 comments, do something about it already!

via apple - Google News http://ift.tt/1jIJZtV