“Apple has acquired FoundationDB, a company that specializes in speedy, durable NoSQL databases,” Matthew Panzarino reports for TechCrunch. “A notice on the FoundationDB site notes that it’s no longer offering downloads of its database software. Financial terms of the deal were not available.”
“FoundationDB’s attractiveness came in the speed at which it handled ACID-compliant transactions and coupled that with strong scalability,” Panzarino reports. “It seems likely that this was an acquisition designed to bolster Apple’s server-side technologies for the App Store, iTunes Connect or iTunes in the Cloud. With millions of apps now in the store and billions being served to users, there is undoubtedly room for improvement in those systems. Of course, there is always Apple’s rumored over-the-top TV service, which some reports claim is coming our way later this year.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and they generally do not discuss their purpose or plans. 😉
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jeff L.” for the heads up.]
NoSQL databases <–Yes please!
Speaking of databases, I still think Apple should put FileMaker Pro into iWork in some form.
Yes, but don’t force the bundling. I like the way Apple allows each program to stand on its own.
What prevents Apple from doing more with Filemaker is probably the current intense focus on the luxury ultralight portables market. Cook doesn’t use professional-level software, so he’s spent no time figuring out how to make a better value for the people who do. That’s a shame. But at least Cook didn’t turn FileMaker into a lightweight iCloud-focused app and he didn’t give it to a designer to flatten and hide functions.
All that’s needed is re branding from “FM Pro” to “Database” or “Table”. Apple could own the office market if they cared to set it’s teeth into it.
Filemaker is a separate subsidiary and should stay that way lest some genius at Apple takes it into their little pointy head to “update” it like they did Final Cut and OS X Server. Given the current level of incompatibility between OS X Server and FileMaker Server, I am frankly pleased to see that nobody at Greater Apple is interested enough in Filemaker to seriously consider meddling with a great product.
I’d like it if they bought Helix and turned that into a viable product. It’s been around since the original Mac, but for various reasons never got the traction it deserved.
We just a ramping down our use of Helix.
Bento anyone?
I’m SO glad Apple did not buy a fragile database company! 🙂
I still use Bento…great little database program…guess it was a little too great and cannibalizing FM Pro. Come on Tim! Bento would be a great cloud based addition to iLife!
No, it died out because there wasn’t enough customer uptake to keep it around. Apple doesn’t kill products because they’re cannibalizing sales of previous products.
-jcr