Apple has acquired HTML5 consultancy firm, Particle, according to AllThingsD and News.com. The company, whose designers and developers left their posts at Particle to join Apple last month, specialises in developing HTML 5 apps for web browsers and mobile devices.
According to Particle’s website (now just a homepage) before the acquisition, it has worked with Apple on iAd and iTunes Extras. It has also worked closely with Google on Chrome, and with Amazon, Yahoo, and Sony. Particle is best know for its video service, Robo.to and for its celebrity investor, Justin Timberlake.
Apple has long championed HTML5; Steve Jobs’ Thoughts on Flash open letter to Adobe ended by saying ‘New open standards created in the mobile era, such as HTML5, will win on mobile devices (and PCs too). Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind.’
Adobe has since done just that, its Edge platform focuses on creating content in HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS.
Apple uses HTML5 in several of its online products and services, including iCloud apps, iTunes Extras, and some of the content on the iTunes Store.
Apple hasn’t confirmed the acquisition, and the terms haven’t been disclosed.
