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Apple Acquires HTML5 Web Firm Particle

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Apr 12, 2001
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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.
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particle_logo.jpg
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.
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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.

Article Link: Apple Acquires HTML5 Web Firm Particle
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/17/apple-acquires-html5-web-firm-particle/
Good to know that iCloud will get better. I would like to be able to upload files there.
 
"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.
 
lilo777 said:
"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.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised how persuasive Apple Stock Options are...
 
samcraig said:
You'd be surprised at how many people aren't really motivated by money - but by their creative freedom
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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...
 
JS77 said:
You'd be surprised how persuasive Apple Stock Options are...
Click to expand...

were you mean? When I joined Apple I bought stock at 14 bucks a share. Employees are entitled to the 52 week low. At this point Apple Stock options are too expensive to be worth anything unless you can buy tons of them. You are better off putting that cash in your 401k.
 
lilo777 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
aajeevlin said:
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...
Click to expand...

Right - because the employees, I am SURE, were offered millions.

Doubtful. And as another said - with stock options - the price to enter isn't exactly cheap. We're talking options. Not "free" stock.
 
lilo777 said:
"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.
Click to expand...

Usually this type of acq involves large bonuses to key employees that are contingent on them staying for some amount of time.
 
The company owners made the bank. The key employees that are not owners had to make a choice whether or not Apple was their gig. The fact someone would get such an offer and decline it means they either anticipate or have a better offer. Whether that involves money or lifestyle notwithstanding.

http://www.webpronews.com/apple-acquired-justin-timberlake-backed-particle-2012-10

"Apple has acquired Particle, an HTML app company, which has received funding from superstar Justin Timberlake in the past."

http://finance.paidcontent.org/paidcontent/news/read?GUID=8746325

Rocketman
 
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samcraig said:
How sad for you that you think that.
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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.
 
I don't know why, but I immediately thought of Portal when I saw that logo haha.

It kind of, sort-of, looks to me like a connect-the-dots companion cube :D
 
samcraig said:
Right - because the employees, I am SURE, were offered millions.

Doubtful. And as another said - with stock options - the price to enter isn't exactly cheap. We're talking options. Not "free" stock.
Click to expand...

Stock bonuses have replaced options as the corporate incentive of choice. There's no price on stock bonuses.
 
JS77 said:
You'd be surprised how persuasive Apple Stock Options are...
Click to expand...

They were. But it's over now. AAPL is not going anywhere (but down).

----------
ollyb said:
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.
Click to expand...

So, what's your point? People join startups to profit from acquisition and not as a back door way to employment in a large corporation.
 
WestonHarvey1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I have a family. I understand priorities. I understand about commitments. I just disagreed with your general statement that "Which you can't really have without money."

Who said the company's money had dried up? Just because they accepted an offer from Apple?

Lots of assumptions. I merely stated that "You'd be surprised at how many people aren't really motivated by money - but by their creative freedom "

That also doesn't mean they don't like money or need money. That just means that if it's between money and being in a work environment that they love - they will choose the work environment.

p.s. you can have both you know. And you don't have to "join" Apple to do so. My point.
 
Why argue with reality ? The key Particle folks joined Apple. Done deal. For all we know, they may be motivated by stock bonuses, new Apple projects, or exposure to new technologies, or a combination of various reasons. It does't really matter what people here feel about it. It's their career and relationships. We can probably look forward to their work.
 
samcraig said:
You'd be surprised at how many people aren't really motivated by money - but by their creative freedom
Click to expand...

And the vast majority of these people will stay at Apple for the vesting period of their options/bonuses. They will get their money, then never have to worry about money again and only then will they have total creative freedom.

That's exactly what I did in the late 90's. The small company I was a part of was bought by a larger company with a 1 year vesting of stock options. We all hated the new larger company. We bided our time, and about 80-90% of the original employees left in the month after the vesting occurred. We all bought expensive cars and had a lot of money saved for us to be financially secure.

It was well worth it to waste 1 year of my time to be able to turn down jobs now, and not be forced to live paycheck-to-paycheck. I still need to work, but not for the same reasons as before - to IMPROVE my quality of life, not to be forced to have a job just to live. It's amazing the difference.
 
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