Apple has been steadily acquiring more startups as of late, and according to a report by Rapidus, a Swedish technology news site, the company has added AlgoTrim, a firm that specializes in data compression, to its growing portfolio. The purchase is seen as further evidence that Apple is trying to improve its mobile device functionality by absorbing the expertise of smaller startups with emphasis on the mobile experience.

AlgoTrim focuses on streamlining data compression and delivery so that media such as video and photos can be delivered with narrower bandwidth without degrading picture quality. The goal is to reduce the amount of power needed to process image data, which would increase battery life and make it easier to get more out of a processor without increasing the actual speed of the hardware.

For Apple, the advantage in acquiring such expertise would be that its mobile devices, such as the iPad mini or iPhone, would be able to handle higher definition video or graphic-intensive software without using up a battery charge so quickly, while incrementing processor speed would produce more performance gains.

Additionally, AlgoTrim was focused on developing what it calls "computational photography", an imaging technique that relies more on modern electronic hardware for capturing images, as opposed to current digital photography that essentially mimics the way pictures are captured on film.

The company never comments on startups that it purchases, but lately its appetite for firms related to mapping, navigation, semiconductors and now image compression indicate an intense concentration on those areas of mobile usage that are most important to users: Getting around and not having to charge their battery often.

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