Apple Acquires HTML5 Web Firm Particle

CNET reports that Apple has acquired Particle, a small San Francisco-based startup firm specializing in HTML5 Web and Web app work. The acquisition is said to have been for the company's talent rather than any specific project it was working on.

The company has done HTML5 work for Google, Motorola, Amazon, Yahoo, Sony, and Apple. The group has also created some "labs" projects including Intervue.me, an asynchronous video interviewing project. [...]

The deal went through late last month, though not all its less than a dozen employees stayed on to work at Apple. Those who did are listed as "creative technologists" as well as one "user interface engineer," according to their public LinkedIn profiles.

particle logo
The report speculates that Particle's Web expertise makes it likely that the new Apple employees will be working on such projects as Apple's website, iAd, and iCloud.com. Particle's About page outlines some of its work with Apple prior to the acquisition:

Particle brings positive and energetic relationships with Google and the Chrome team specifically, as well as great Apple relationships and execution experience around iAds, iTunes Extras, and Apple.com. We have participated in and piloted much of the technology which will display the next generation of advertising and deliver media content for the next decade.

TechCrunch has documented five of Particle's former employees who are now listing Apple as their employer on LinkedIn, with all of the transitions listed as having taken place in September.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...

Top Rated Comments

WestonHarvey1 Avatar
154 months ago
How sad for you that you think that.
Ok, ramen noodle eating artsy guy. Some people have families to support.

Startups have a burn rate. The creative freedom ends when the money is gone. Acquisitions add cash but tend to decrease creative freedom. Can't have it all, no free lunch, etc.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JS77 Avatar
154 months ago
"The acquisition is said to have been for the company's talent rather than any specific project it was working on."

You can't buy people (at least not in this country). People who opted to work for startup are highly unlikely to stick around and work for a large corporation.

You'd be surprised how persuasive Apple Stock Options are...
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WestonHarvey1 Avatar
154 months ago
You'd be surprised at how many people aren't really motivated by money - but by their creative freedom

Which you can't really have without money.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
samcraig Avatar
154 months ago
You'd be surprised how persuasive Apple Stock Options are...

You'd be surprised at how many people aren't really motivated by money - but by their creative freedom
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aajeevlin Avatar
154 months ago
You'd be surprised at how many people aren't really motivated by money - but by their creative freedom

I agree, however I think there is a break point that you will be willing to work in a less free environment (or something you don't enjoy as much) in exchange for millions in stock option and a very well pay. Sometime people have other things in life to look out for wife, kids etc...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ollyb Avatar
154 months ago

You can't buy people (at least not in this country). People who opted to work for startup are highly unlikely to stick around and work for a large corporation.

Company: Hey come work for us!
Person: No, you're a small rubbish startup!
Company: We're hoping to be bought by a big company like Apple someday.
Person: Oh, OK then.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)