Apple acquires augmented-reality firm Metaio

Apple has acquired augmented-reality firm Metaio, a Munich, Germany-based company that was the winner of a 2012 FierceWireless Fierce 15 award. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple has had a small team exploring augmented-reality technology for a while. In addition, Senior Research Analyst Gene Munster has said that Apple could help develop AR products for consumers.

Metaio started out making solutions for verticals like the automotive industry and has a solution that lets developers create tablet apps that flash repair instructions across a screen when the tablet's camera is pointed at a car engine. In addition, the company's AR technology lets you wear Google Glass-like eyewear and turn any surface into a virtual touchscreen.  Article (sub. req.)