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Apple'sAAPL +2.74% 2013 acquisition spree continued this week. The iPhone maker reportedly purchased search analytics firm Topsy for “more than $200 million.”
On his third quarter conference call, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said that the company had made 15 acquisitions in 2013.
Dealogic tracked down 10 of the companies purchased by Apple this year. Apple typically keeps it acquisitions quiet and rarely discloses a purchase price.
Here’s a rundown of what Apple is getting from its busy year. Apple did not return requests for information on the additional deals:
#1 Maps: Apple appears to be seeking out 21st century cartographers. Four of the Apple’s 10 2013 acquisitions (captured by Dealogic) were mapping/location companies.
  • In March — WiFiSLAM. It’s a mapping company that figured out how to track a user’s location indoors. 
  • In July — HopStop.com. Riders of the NYC subway system know this one. It helps a commuter plot travels around New York City (and now other cities) via public transit.
  • In July — Locationary. The Canadian startup has been described as a “Wikipedia for location.”
  • In August — Embark. It’s another app that helps commuters navigate mass transit.
#2 Chips (semiconductors): Apple has been acquiring companies with the chips to help its product function more powerfully using less memory. Much more exciting: a chip that gives devices “eyes” or sensory powers.
  • In August — Passif Semiconductor. The startup built chips to help wireless devices use less power and battery life.
  • In November — PrimeSense (listed as pending by Dealogic). Forbes described the Israeli company’s chips as potential “eyes” for Siri that create 3D sensors in devices.
  • In November — AlgoTrim. This Swedish company doesn’t make chips,  but its software helps devices run reams of data more efficiently by using less memory with its “compression technology.”
#3 Data: Apple appears to be hunting for companies that show what you’re doing online and why you’re doing it.
  •  In December — Topsy. The startup analyzes conversations on Twitter to measure “exposure.”
Others:
  • In August — Matcha.tv. The company offers proprietary online video recommendations.
  • In October — Cue. The company has software to turn the data in an iPhone or iPad into a personal assistan