NEWS Apple has confirmed that it has scooped up SchemaSoft, a small Canadian company that helps software makers translate rival file formats.
"Apple has acquired assets from SchemaSoft, a developer of software components for facilitating digital information workflow," the Cupertino company said in a statement. The Mac maker added that it plans to use SchemaSoft's technology in future products but did not offer specific details.
SchemaSoft's tools are capable of extracting data found in a variety of formats including those used by Microsoft Office documents, Adobe Systems' Portable Document Format as well as those used by Quark and others, the software maker states on its website. The tools can also output into those formats as well as into HTML and XML.
Those tools could be beneficial for Apple, which already offers such features in its iWork suite. The Office rival includes the Keynote presentation program, which can read and write to Microsoft's PowerPoint format, and Pages, a word-processing program.
Apple is already a customer of SchemaSoft, according to the Canadian company's website. Other well-known customers include Microsoft, Adobe and Corel.
Apple made several purchases a couple of years back in its professional audio and graphics units but has been relatively quiet of late on the acquisition front. In 2002, it bought German music software maker Emagic, acquired the assets of Prismo Graphics and purchased technology from digital effects company Silicon Grail.
SchemaSoft has about 40 workers, according to its website. Apple did not say how many of those employees would be retained nor say whether they would remain at the SchemaSoft's headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Word that Apple was buying SchemaSoft first came in a report on Mac enthusiast site ThinkSecret.
Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com
Comments
There are 4 comments. Join the discussion
1. Apple_Master
>Word that Apple was buying SchemaSoft first came in a report on Mac enthusiast site ThinkSecret.
I understand that this is not the place to argue this issue, so I won't....but how funny is that?
2. SmartITGuy
Despite what Apple says, I wouldn't put it past them that they bought them for the sole purpose of shutting them down.
Since Steve Jobs seems to believe that the biggest threat to Apple is people taking Apple proprietary-format files and converting them into something that can be used by RIVAL products and services.
Hey, Why doesn't Apple just BUY "DVD-Jon"?
Then maybe they can eliminate the apparent SERIOUS threat to Apple that NON-iPod users may be able to buy music from the iTunes site.
...I too wish I could have a monopoly company who can pick and choose it's customers...
3. SmartITGuy
Apple_Master writes:
"Word that Apple was buying SchemaSoft first came in a report on Mac enthusiast site ThinkSecret"
I'm not sure that's true, after all there have been no further reports of new charges being brought against ThinkSecret...
4. OS11
"Despite what Apple says, I wouldn't put it past them that they bought them for the sole purpose of shutting them down"
That wouldn't make any sense, and has never been Apple's style. They bought them for their XML translation expertise.
"SERIOUS threat to Apple that NON-iPod users may be able to buy music from the iTunes site"
Earth to Earth, the Music store does not require an iPod, you can burn CD's as normal or simply stream purchased Music directly into your Stereo with the Airport Express.
"SmartITguy" doesn't know much about Apple it seems.