- Apple (AAPL +0.4%) has bought BookLamp, a startup that delivered personalized book recommendations by tagging books based on theme and content (i.e. the book equivalent of Pandora's Music Genome Project).
- TechCrunch reports the purchase price was in the $10M-$15M range. BookLamp's technology, which is based on natural language analysis, could be used to improve iBooks' recommendation features and categorization.
- Meanwhile, re/code reports Apple is close to buying talk radio/podcast app Swell for ~$30M. Swell offers personalized recommendations for content from sources including iTunes, NPR, ESPN, and BBC.
- Swell would complement the music-focused iTunes Radio. It might also serve as a replacement for Apple's oft-criticized Podcasts app (1.5/5 stars in the App Store).
- Tim Cook mentioned on the FQ3 CC Apple has closed 5 more acquisitions since the end of FQ2; aside from BookLamp, LuxVue and Spotsetter are the known purchases. The Beats deal is expected to close this quarter.