Apple Acquired Keyboard Startup 'Dryft' in 2014

Wednesday April 8, 2015 2:28 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Over the last few weeks, several previously unknown Apple acquisitions have surfaced. In March, Bloomberg shared news of the company's purchase of data analytics firm Acunu, and earlier this week, TechCrunch reported that Apple had acquired search technology startup Ottocat in 2013.

TechCrunch has now shared news of another acquisition that happened in 2014 -- the purchase of Dryft, a startup that specialized in creating keyboard apps. Dryft chief technology officer Randy Marsden, who also co-founded Swype, is listed as an "iOS Keyboard Manager" that joined Apple in September of 2014, suggesting the acquisition may have occurred around that date.

Dryft's technology was a keyboard that appeared only on the screen when a user placed a finger on the display, and as described by TechCrunch, it's "essentially a keyboard for tablets that tracks your fingers' movements," meaning it appears wherever your fingers are placed on the screen.

dryft
It is not clear if Apple plans to incorporate this specific technology into iOS or if it made the purchase of Dryft to acquire the company's employees to work on other keyboard features. As of iOS 8, Apple's operating system supports keyboards created by third-party developers, but the company has continued work on its own keyboard. iOS 8 brought keyboard improvements like QuickType, which offers word predictions to speed up typing.

Apple confirmed the acquisition to TechCrunch with its standard purchase statement: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Tags: Apple acquisition, Dryft
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JeffyTheQuik
64 months ago
I'm looking forward to the Japanese Keyboard, aka Tokyo Dryft.

(I'm here all week, folks... try the veal, and don't forget to tip your waitstaff...)
Rating: 14 Votes
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DavidTheExpert
64 months ago
The major difference between Apple and Google is that when Apple acquires a small startup company like this, they usually merge the technology with their own, or at least absorb the talent from the acquisition like Mr. Marsden in this case, whereas when Google acquires a small startup they shut down all operations and strip it for scrap parts.

Google tends to acquire their competition and shut them down whereas Apple acquires useful technology and talent.
Rating: 12 Votes
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l00pback
64 months ago

I'd rather Apple implement this in a physical keyboard.


So, just so we understand, you want a physical keyboard that appears when the user touches the screen?
Rating: 5 Votes
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Max(IT)
64 months ago
A Swype type keyboard integrated into iOS would be great.

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The major difference between Apple and Google is that when Apple acquires a small startup company like this, they usually merge the technology with their own, or at least absorb the talent from the acquisition like Mr. Marsden in this case, whereas when Google acquires a small startup they shut down all operations and strip it for scrap parts.

Google tends to acquire their competition and shut them down whereas Apple acquires useful technology and talent.


Correct.
Rating: 2 Votes
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cppguy
64 months ago

when Google acquires a small startup they shut down all operations and strip it for scrap parts


Fortunately that hasn't happen to Nik Software.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Roessnakhan
64 months ago

I've never really seen the need to explore other keyboards than the stock one on my phone. What is the best one to use?


PopKey
Rating: 1 Votes
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GangstaGehard
64 months ago

The major difference between Apple and Google is that when Apple acquires a small startup company like this, they usually merge the technology with their own, or at least absorb the talent from the acquisition like Mr. Marsden in this case, whereas when Google acquires a small startup they shut down all operations and strip it for scrap parts.

Google tends to acquire their competition and shut them down whereas Apple acquires useful technology and talent.


Wait. What? How is there a difference between the two? They both acquire companies to get the talent and technology to use in their core products.

Where do you get off on defaming Google for doing the same thing Apple does?
Rating: 1 Votes
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thekeyring
64 months ago

i'm looking forward to the japanese keyboard, aka tokyo dryft.

(i'm here all week, folks... Try the veal, and don't forget to tip your waitstaff...)


ha.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Bigsk8r
64 months ago
I've never really seen the need to explore other keyboards than the stock one on my phone. What is the best one to use?
Rating: 1 Votes
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bobenhaus
64 months ago

The major difference between Apple and Google is that when Apple acquires a small startup company like this, they usually merge the technology with their own, or at least absorb the talent from the acquisition like Mr. Marsden in this case, whereas when Google acquires a small startup they shut down all operations and strip it for scrap parts.

Google tends to acquire their competition and shut them down whereas Apple acquires useful technology and talent.



What you said sounds totally redundant because both companies do the same thing with their purchases. I didn't know you were an analyst
Rating: 1 Votes

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