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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/13/apple-in-talks-to-acquire-australian-startup-quest-magic-keyboard-reports-tim-cook-sonder
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| Apple in talks to acquire Australian startup Sonder in quest for 'magic keyboard' – reports | Apple in talks to acquire Australian startup Sonder in quest for 'magic keyboard' – reports |
| (4 days later) | |
| Apple is reportedly closing in on a Australian startup that has pioneered dynamic, customisable “magic keyboards”. | Apple is reportedly closing in on a Australian startup that has pioneered dynamic, customisable “magic keyboards”. |
| The Sydney tech company Sonder has designed a smart keyboard that can be customised to accommodate any language, shortcut or custom icon, using the same E Ink display technology used by Kindle. | The Sydney tech company Sonder has designed a smart keyboard that can be customised to accommodate any language, shortcut or custom icon, using the same E Ink display technology used by Kindle. |
| Apple’s looming acquisition of the company was first reported on Wednesday by a Reddit user purporting to have used an Apple prototype using Sonder technology at an event at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where she worked. | Apple’s looming acquisition of the company was first reported on Wednesday by a Reddit user purporting to have used an Apple prototype using Sonder technology at an event at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where she worked. |
| The Incubator Innoconn event was organised by Foxconn International Holdings, Apple’s manufacturing partner, for startups it has invested in. The woman’s identity was verified by Reddit moderators. | The Incubator Innoconn event was organised by Foxconn International Holdings, Apple’s manufacturing partner, for startups it has invested in. The woman’s identity was verified by Reddit moderators. |
| A representative for Sonder confirmed its chief executive, Francisco Serra-Martins, attended the event and that the startup was in talks with Apple’s procurement board. | A representative for Sonder confirmed its chief executive, Francisco Serra-Martins, attended the event and that the startup was in talks with Apple’s procurement board. |
| Separate to the Reddit report, the Guardian can confirm the Apple CEO, Tim Cook, met with Serra-Martins in China on Tuesday. | |
| Both Apple and Sonder have been contacted by the Guardian for comment. | Both Apple and Sonder have been contacted by the Guardian for comment. |
| The Reddit user said the prototype magic keyboard used an adaptive interface developed by Sonder, similar to that of a early demo unit it publicised on YouTube. | The Reddit user said the prototype magic keyboard used an adaptive interface developed by Sonder, similar to that of a early demo unit it publicised on YouTube. |
| The Reddit user said the chief differences between the Apple prototype and that shown in the Sonder clip was all the keys had a screen and lighting panel, and the display updated instantly with no slow transition from black to white. | The Reddit user said the chief differences between the Apple prototype and that shown in the Sonder clip was all the keys had a screen and lighting panel, and the display updated instantly with no slow transition from black to white. |
| As a design-for-testing model not due to be released before 2018, the design was far from confirmed but the Reddit user seemed optimistic about the early unit. | As a design-for-testing model not due to be released before 2018, the design was far from confirmed but the Reddit user seemed optimistic about the early unit. |
| “It’s really a solid indication of the future of input technology,” she wrote. “Apple has a reputation of making big leaps which are seen to be unpopular but then become the new standard. | “It’s really a solid indication of the future of input technology,” she wrote. “Apple has a reputation of making big leaps which are seen to be unpopular but then become the new standard. |
| “Dynamic keyboards are the standard for phones, they will be for laptops and desktops too.” | “Dynamic keyboards are the standard for phones, they will be for laptops and desktops too.” |
| The representative responding to her post said the company was also about to close on procurement contracts with three third-party laptop companies to integrate its technology into their products. | The representative responding to her post said the company was also about to close on procurement contracts with three third-party laptop companies to integrate its technology into their products. |
| Foxconn and E Ink Holdings, both strategic partners of Sonder, were assisting in the discussions with Apple. The company is partly owned by third-party companies and is in the middle of raising an investment round. | Foxconn and E Ink Holdings, both strategic partners of Sonder, were assisting in the discussions with Apple. The company is partly owned by third-party companies and is in the middle of raising an investment round. |
| Sonder’s own keyboard is due for release later this year, with preorders at US$199. | Sonder’s own keyboard is due for release later this year, with preorders at US$199. |
| Serra-Martins and his twin brother, Felipe, participated in the Genesis startup program at the University of Sydney’s business school last year with the concept for dynamic, affordable keyboards. | Serra-Martins and his twin brother, Felipe, participated in the Genesis startup program at the University of Sydney’s business school last year with the concept for dynamic, affordable keyboards. |
| They were later awarded a grant from the New South Wales state government, as well as the people’s choice award at the 2016 Good Design Australia awards. | They were later awarded a grant from the New South Wales state government, as well as the people’s choice award at the 2016 Good Design Australia awards. |