Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple acquired Rabbit 3 Times, creators of the Play app, a SwiftUI prototyping tool that won an Apple Design Award in 2005.
- This acquisition matters for developers as Play enabled interactive prototype creation with real-time syncing across Mac and iPhone devices.
- The move suggests Apple may integrate Play’s functionality into Xcode or develop new companion tools to enhance SwiftUI development capabilities.
According to a filing with the European Commission, Apple has acquired Rabbit 3 Times, the makers of Play, a software development tool that allows for the creation of interactive prototypes with SwiftUI frameworks. Play was a recipient of an Apple Design Award for Innovation in 2005.
In its announcement of the 2025 award winners, which all offer “a state-of-the-art experience through novel use of Apple technologies that set them apart in their genre.” Apple describes Play’s “thoughtfully crafted user interface” as “both powerful and easy to navigate, helping designers create interactive prototypes and collaborate across Mac and iPhone, all synced in real time for seamless creativity.” The app is no longer available in the App Store.
Apple often buys companies that create software that it deems valuable to the Apple experience, or that provides core functionality. Apple has not commented on the acquisition, which was spotted by MacRumors, though the company will likely incorporate Play’s functionality into the Xcode development tools or issue it as a separate Xcode companion app.
For what it’s worth, there’s an old superstition of unknown origin, where saying “Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” or some variation during the morning of the first day of the month ensures good luck for the rest of the month. Though I have not confirmed this, it appears that the “Rabbit 3 Times” name for the company refers to this superstition. Something to keep in mind for Wednesday morning.
