Reuters: Apple buys startup focused on lenses for AR glasses

Gearing up for the next big thing.

This moved on the business wires Wednesday evening:

Apple Inc has acquired a startup focused on making lenses for augmented reality glasses, the company confirmed on Wednesday, a signal Apple has ambitions to make a wearable device that would superimpose digital information on the real world.

Apple confirmed it acquired Longmont, Colorado-based Akonia Holographics. “Apple buys smaller companies from time to time, and we generally don’t discuss our purpose or plans,” the iPhone maker said in a statement.

Akonia could not immediately be reached for comment. The company was founded in 2012 by a group of holography scientists and had originally focused on holographic data storage before shifting its efforts to creating displays for augmented reality glasses, according to its website…

Akonia said its display technology allows for “thin, transparent smart glass lenses that display vibrant, full-color, wide field-of-view images.” The firm has a portfolio of more than 200 patents related to holographic systems and materials, according to its website.

My take: This is the kind of acquisition Apple makes when it needs talent or IT in a particular area of interest. Contrast it with all those stories about why Apple needs to buy (in order of Google hits) Tesla, Disney, Nintendo, Sonos, Snapchat…