Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"How do you turn $24 million into $200 million? Become a strategic purchase for either Apple or Google, apparently. Word is Apple has paid between $150 to $250 million for the two and a half year old app start up, according to TechCrunch. The San Jose-based company is listed as having only 19 employees with four venture funders."

Siri is an interesting app, but it never worked for me because the tone of my voice is such that it never registers with these types of programs properly. Calling 411 and trying to work through the voice recognition is the same thing. I want a number in Portland and I get referred to Pendleton. Frustrating. But this does open up a lot of speculation as to why Apple decided to buy them. What does this mean for future versions of the iPhone OS or does it mean anything at all? Is this one of the steps they are taking to rid themselves of Google? Only Apple knows at this point but it sure generates a lot of buzz, just like the purchase announcement yesterday of Intrinsity. Intrinsity is a bit easier to understand, for me anyway, since they are rumored to be part of the design team of the new A4 chip. The only thing I know for sure is the venture capitalists hit the jackpot on Siri.

"Apple Inc., the biggest Internet-music seller in the United States, acquired Lala, adding a Web-music service to its iTunes song-downloading business."

Apple didn't disclose details, but did confirm they purchased LaLa, which is a web-based service that lets you listen to music (either album or son) once for free, then requires you to purchase it if you want to hear it again. If you just want to listen online, the cost is $0.10 USD, but if you want the MP3 it is $0.79 USD.

No word on Apple on what they intend to do either, in typical fashion spokesman Steve Dowling said "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not comment on our purpose or plans." What are your thoughts? Covering bases? Good move, bad move?