Which company would you most like to see Apple acquire?

[Unspeaked]

It feels like not a day goes by where someone in the forums doesn't comment on Apple buying this or that.

What company would you most like to see Apple buy and why? Let's try to be realistic here - with $24 billion in the bank, they certainly can't afford a Microsoft or Disney and even a company the size of Adobe would all but deplete their entire cash reserves, so I'm thinking smaller companies.

Personally, I'd love to see them buy out Electronic Arts. It fits right in with their push towards games with the iPod Touch (and presumably future tablet) and at $6 billion, they're a relative bargain.

Any thoughts?

[Tilpots]

TiVo or Elgato. Id like to see Apple become the "Living Room '*****' Masters.".


Dish Network. A complete, end to end Apple experience. No cable or wireless companies to deal with, just a straight beam to the mothership.

[Sun Baked]

Coca Cola, just so we can get rid of corn sweetner and move to a premium sugar-based product replacing the entire line.

Of course, only finding the product at the 1-2 Coca Cola stores in each city may be a slight pain in the ass.

[TheBritishBloke]

Granny Smith. Then we can just call them Apples. :)

[Unspeaked]

TiVo or Elgato. Id like to see Apple become the "Living Room '*****' Masters.".

I really like this idea.

Elgato, especially, seems like a small enough company that Apple could buy them up like you or I would pick up a candy bar at 7/11 and build on the technology; maybe implement it into the AppleTV?


Of course, only finding the product at the 1-2 Coca Cola stores in each city may be a slight pain in the ass.

Not to mention the extremely limited availability in Canada...

[NT1440]

Maybe not aquire, but I'd LOVE a full partnership with netflix (as in, full library access for streaming/buying). Maybe have them be the supplier for itunes or something like that.

[Unspeaked]

Maybe not aquire, but I'd LOVE a full partnership with netflix (as in, full library access for streaming/buying). Maybe have them be the supplier for itunes or something like that.

Nice idea, but I could see Microsoft buying them before Apple does - they've already got the XBox deal in place and Reed Hastings (Netflix founder & CEO) is on Microsoft's board of directors...

[NT1440]

Nice idea, but I could see Microsoft buying them before Apple does - they've already got the XBox deal in place and Reed Hastings (Netflix founder & CEO) is on Microsoft's board of directors...

Damn. I just want netflix!

[spillproof]

Stark Industries or equivalent.

[jeremy.king]

I've heard rumors of Apple buying Sprint - so they can own the entire cell phone experience - with a better network(US) to boot!

More realistically, I'm with Tilpots - Tivo for sure, and possibly some cable/sat provider would rock.

[tofagerl]

How about a Display manufacturer? They just bought a fabless chipmanufacturer, surely there must be fabless displaymanufacturers?

[Not Steve Jobs]

How about Intel and Nvidia?
That way only Macs would get their hardware so PCs will be super slow and Apple could keep everything streamlined and flawless.

They should also get Verizon or someone to supply cell, internet, and some sort of better cable service with a new Apple TV.

[jaw04005]

They should acquire Adobe, stop Windows development and watch the content industry move over to Mac in masses. It would be mass hysteria, but worth it nevertheless. Adobe’s market cap is roughly 18 billion and Apple has some 30 billion in reserves. Keep in mind, Adobe’s stock price is around $33 a share, so they could easily offer stock and cash. For the record, Apple’s market cap is 169 billion and stock is at $188 per share.

Personally, I think Apple now considers itself a consumer electronics company and will make future acquisitions with that in mind.

[Unspeaked]

They should acquire Adobe, stop Windows development and watch the content industry move over to Mac in masses. It would be mass hysteria, but worth it nevertheless. Adobe’s market cap is roughly 18 billion and Apple has some 30 billion in reserves. Keep in mind, Adobe’s stock price is around $33 a share, so they could easily offer stock and cash. For the record, Apple’s market cap is 169 billion and stock is at $188 per share.

Personally, I think Apple now considers itself a consumer electronics company and will make future acquisitions with that in mind.

Apple has $25 billion in cash. With a market cap of $18 billion and the added premium of a take-over, pursuing Adobe would likely deplete Apple's entire cash reserves.

Further, if they went the route you suggest and eliminate the Windows product, all that would happen is the Adobe subsidiary would have locked themselves out of 90% of the market. I know their sales breakdown between Macs and PCs isn't nearly 90/10, but it would hurt them (especially short term) just as much as it would help them.

Still an interesting idea, just one I find highly unlikely. Like I said with Netflix above, I could see Microsoft buying Adobe long before I could picture Apple doing so...

[SwiftLives]

They should acquire Adobe, stop Windows development and watch the content industry move over to Mac in masses. It would be mass hysteria, but worth it nevertheless. Adobe’s market cap is roughly 18 billion and Apple has some 30 billion in reserves. Keep in mind, Adobe’s stock price is around $33 a share, so they could easily offer stock and cash. For the record, Apple’s market cap is 169 billion and stock is at $188 per share.

Personally, I think Apple now considers itself a consumer electronics company and will make future acquisitions with that in mind.

Nah. They should acquire Quark, develop a competing desktop publishing suite, and make Adobe sweat a little. Adobe needs competition. Not an acquisition.

[rdowns]

None of the above.

Let's remember that Apple is a hardware company and earns the vast majority of their revenues from hardware. That said, Adobe, Quark, EA etc. are out.

As for Tivo, forget about it. Apple's content providers would never allow it. You'd see content pulled from the iTS so fast.

Look at Apple's history. They don't make big acquisitions. They buy small companies that have technology that extends what Apple already does. Aside of NeXT at $404 million, PA Semi was their largest acquisition at $268 million.

Apple will continue to hoard their billions.

[Unspeaked]

Let's remember that Apple is a hardware company and earns the vast majority of their revenues from hardware. That said, Adobe, Quark, EA etc. are out.

Yes, Apple is (and always has been) a hardware company, but one that has relied heavily on software to push those hardware sales.

It has made software purchases in the past: Soundjam, Final Cut, Shake, Logic, etc. These lead to both pro and consumer apps along the way, but none developed to stand on their own so much as to help along Mac sales.

I can't see why they wouldn't do this again...

[rdowns]

I can't see why they wouldn't do this again...


Nor do I. I never said they don't so acquisitions. I simply pointed out that their acquisitions to date are generally small. Posters above are talking about companies worth billions. Not gonna happen.

[louis731]

I'd like see Apple to get OpenGL consortium

[Tilpots]

As for Tivo, forget about it. Apple's content providers would never allow it. You'd see content pulled from the iTS so fast.


This argument doesn't make sense. You're saying that because a hardware maker makes good hardware, content companies will pull their products from their virtual shelves? I don't buy it. It's like saying Sony would pull their Music titles from Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart sells LG Televisions. It doesn't work like that. No company would pull their offerings from iTunes. They are too big of a content retailer and make the content companies way too much money.

EDIT: Just want to note that I don't think buying TiVo or dish Network really has a chance of happening, possibly Elgato, but most likely not. I was merely pointing out "in a perfect world" which direction I'd like Apple to head. As mentioned, they buy small tech and make it their own, not buy big tech and re-brand it.

[Unspeaked]

Nor do I. I never said they don't so acquisitions. I simply pointed out that their acquisitions to date are generally small. Posters above are talking about companies worth billions. Not gonna happen.

Ok, I totally get what you're saying. I even made clear in the first post that Adobe sized companies are out of the question. I admit I'm the one that named EA, with a $6 billion market cap, but the whole point of the thread is speculation and I figure that's small enough a figure that it's not totally, 100% inconceivable (maybe closer to 99.9995% inconceivable). But again, it's just a thread for fun speculation and opinion...


This argument doesn't make sense. You're saying that because a hardware maker makes good hardware, content companies will pull their products from their virtual shelves? I don't buy it. It's like saying Sony would pull their Music titles from Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart sells LG Televisions. It doesn't work like that. No company would pull their offerings from iTunes. They are too big of a content retailer and make the content companies way too much money.

This brings up a good point. The Apple of today is a very different beast than that of the 80s, 90s or even the early 00s. With the build up of iTunes, the name change, the wider product offerings and such, I don't think it's out of the question to think that Apple would make a large acquisition today that it would not have even considered 10 years ago because of it's new scale and product focus.

I don't know how much they'd look at buying a traditional tech company (computer hardware/software) but something that gives them an edge in content outside of regular computing - movies, music, games and the like - seems to be the path they're heading down.

Is it that far fetched to think that now that they have the infrastructure in place, they would try to develop content rather than just distribute it? Maybe it is; I'd love to hear some opinions.

[Buzz Bumble]

They should buy The Beatles' company so there won't be any more silliness over "Apple" and music.

Then they should buy the PayStar and similar idiots selling "Mac clones" and put the owners in front of a firing squad for "insufferable stupidity".

Or ... maybe they should just buy the Goverment ... Steve Jobs for President (of the World)!! ;)

[MisterMe]

They should acquire Adobe, stop Windows development and watch the content industry move over to Mac in masses. It would be mass hysteria, but worth it nevertheless. Adobe’s market cap is roughly 18 billion and Apple has some 30 billion in reserves. Keep in mind, Adobe’s stock price is around $33 a share, so they could easily offer stock and cash. For the record, Apple’s market cap is 169 billion and stock is at $188 per share.

Personally, I think Apple now considers itself a consumer electronics company and will make future acquisitions with that in mind.If Apple were to make an acquisition, then Adobe makes an awful lot of sense. PostScript, PDF, Flash, ... the list goes on. For all of its success, Adobe is a very mercurial company. Mac users have suffered mightily because of it.

Quite frankly, the money appears to be the least of Apple's challenges in buying-out Adobe. The greatest challenge are the antitrust implications of such a move. Apple would probably have to divest some parts of the company in order for the deal to go through. If the divested parts are opensourced rather than sold to a competitor, then it would make a lot of people very happy--except for the people who work in Redmond.

[jaw04005]

Apple has $25 billion in cash. With a market cap of $18 billion and the added premium of a take-over, pursuing Adobe would likely deplete Apple's entire cash reserves.

Further, if they went the route you suggest and eliminate the Windows product, all that would happen is the Adobe subsidiary would have locked themselves out of 90% of the market. I know their sales breakdown between Macs and PCs isn't nearly 90/10, but it would hurt them (especially short term) just as much as it would help them.

Still an interesting idea, just one I find highly unlikely. Like I said with Netflix above, I could see Microsoft buying Adobe long before I could picture Apple doing so...

While I don't agree with all of your assessment, I do agree Apple would never buy Adobe anyway. Adobe has very much become the Microsoft of the content creation industry.

Apple wouldn't want Flash (it's antiquated, processor intensive and has no hardware acceleration). They already dropped display PostScript once (in favor of Quartz in OS X). And PDF is an open standard anyway.

Most of Adobe's other IPs are riddled with legacy code/features and would be very difficult to maintain (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, etc.).

Like I said above, I think Apple has moved past being a content creation/computer company into more of a consumer electronics company. Adobe wouldn't help them in their new direction.

[UltraNEO*]

They should acquire Adobe, stop Windows development and watch the content industry move over to Mac in masses. It would be mass hysteria, but worth it nevertheless. Adobe’s market cap is roughly 18 billion and Apple has some 30 billion in reserves. Keep in mind, Adobe’s stock price is around $33 a share, so they could easily offer stock and cash. For the record, Apple’s market cap is 169 billion and stock is at $188 per share.

Personally, I think Apple now considers itself a consumer electronics company and will make future acquisitions with that in mind.

ROFL!!! If this ever happened (not sayingit would), can you still see Apple developing those applications for both the PC and Mac platforms? Or will it go the way of Notator Logic and be Mac only?

[nick1516]

They could always try to make their own cell service and call it skynet.

[spillproof]

They could always try to make their own cell service and call it skynet.

Anything named Skynet has a 99% chance of becoming self-aware and trying to kill users who tether and jailbreak.

[Kebabselector]

McDonalds, you could then order a Big iMac

[Unspeaked]

McDonalds, you could then order a Big iMac

So awful it's almost funny.

:p

[belvdr]

Apple Corporation, then the Beatles could be on iTMS.

[lenchnikin]

I was thinking of this after watching some deleted scenes from "Pocahontas" in Youtube. The song "If I never knew you" sung by Smith and the Indian princess under the moon... oh, sad moment... Maybe it would be a longer and slower movie with that scene but... beautiful

[juanm]

Wayne enterprises
Eye on (the makers of Digital Fusion and Fusion)
Whoever makes Perian.

[mags631]

My first reaction is "no one". Then, I'd step back and say, "no one who has a consumer product."

Perhaps another chip designer or someone who has patents for similar or related technologies?

[Mexbearpig]

I say Microsoft/Windows. Then give out a free upgrade to the Ultra new software. And make sure every computer has to get it. Then corrupt it and then force everyone to buy a Mac.

Then the price of my MacBook would skyrocket. Sell it for profit. Then become an ultra genius and undo the windows shenannigan. Apple price goes down, rebuy, $1 billion dollars richer........What? Too much?:rolleyes:

[mysterytramp]

Apple likely to avoid merger fray despite war chest (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-unlikely-to-jump-into-the-acquisition-fray-2009-10-06).

mt

[whaled09]

Personally, I feel that Apple should put a gaming system far superior to the Xbox 360/PS3. If they were to put out a gaming system which had nice online play, a nice lineup of games, and a reasonable price, I would replace my 360 in a heartbeat. I feel that even though some people may think that this idea may never happen, it would be a great step for mac and could really get them into the gaming industry. :D

[VirtualRain]

I don't think Apple NEEDS to acquire anything at this point... unless they find some killer technology they need to make better products and an acquisition is the most efficient path forward.

Now that they own the digital music industry, it makes sense for them to drive towards similar domination in the smart phone and mobile computing markets. While I think a lot of people, myself included, would love to see them own the home theatre experience, it's just too fragmented with Sony invested heavily in bluray, and all the studios and networks trying to maximize their own profits on their content... making it nearly impossible for a single licensee to come in and lock everything up like Apple did with music.

I guess if I have to pick one, I wish Apple purchased my company. ;)

[MacMonster1985]

Personally, I feel that Apple should put a gaming system far superior to the Xbox 360/PS3. If they were to put out a gaming system which had nice online play, a nice lineup of games, and a reasonable price, I would replace my 360 in a heartbeat. I feel that even though some people may think that this idea may never happen, it would be a great step for mac and could really get them into the gaming industry. :D

Yeah, it's ridiculous how many Apple fans bought something from M$. Apple should release their console and show M$ what quality really means.

[pdjudd]

Apple Corporation, then the Beatles could be on iTMS.
Thats not going to make getting the Beatles on iTunes any easier - there are alot of interests in the various parts of their catalog.

[yg17]

Yeah, it's ridiculous how many Apple fans bought something from M$. Apple should release their console and show M$ what quality really means.


I think it's ridiculous how much you care about people buying the better product and ignoring brand names. Microsoft makes a great console. Apple doesn't make any console, therefore, Apple fans buy the Xbox.

[MacMonster1985]

I think it's ridiculous how much you care about people buying the better product and ignoring brand names. Microsoft makes a great console. Apple doesn't make any console, therefore, Apple fans buy the Xbox.

great console? more like cheap console just like with all the PCs. 50% failure rate anyone? I would have thought Apple fans who cared about quality would be willing to pay extra premium and buy the more reliable PS3. The total cost of ownership for Xbox 360 is off the charts. Just like PCs you spend more time fixing it than playing it. Typical MS product.

[Dagless]

I wouldn't mind a partnership with Valve to get Steam on OSX. It might not have the same products as the PC version but theres enough OSX games to get their own store going.

[MJGB]

great console? more like cheap console just like with all the PCs. 50% failure rate anyone? I would have thought Apple fans who cared about quality would be willing to pay extra premium and buy the more reliable PS3. The total cost of ownership for Xbox 360 is off the charts. Just like PCs you spend more time fixing it than playing it. Typical MS product.

Unlike Apple products though, paying premium doesn't give you a better product with regards to the PS3. Inferior development tools, inferior exclusives titles, inferior online play, inferior third party support, inferior company investment...

The failure rate is of course atrocious, but saw MS go into their own pockets to allow all 360 owners with the RRoD a 3 year warranty. Has Sony done this with their own Yellow Light Of Death? No.

[trainguy77]

Logitech. Keep the brand name but make sure every product from here on in has full OS X support natively.