The technology that powers Microsoft’s Kinect accessory for the Xbox 360 was first offered to Apple, according to the executive of the company that makes it. Leander Kahney recounts a conversation with Inon Beracha, CEO of PrimeSense. PrimeSense’s “3D machine vision” is what enables the Kinect to “see” people standing in front of it and interact with Xbox 360 games.

“Obsessed with secrecy, Apple had already asked Beracha to sign a stack of crippling legal agreements and NDAs.“He shook his head. Why didn’t he want to do a deal with Apple? No need. The technology was hot. He could sell it to anyone.”

How Apple almost got Microsoft’s Kinect game controller [Cult of Mac]