More rumours about Apple’s possible decision to start making HDTV’s has surfaced again after an industry analyst claimed that the Cupertino company is likely to launch internet connect televisions in March 2012.
It’s been rumoured several times that Apple might be considering putting their Apple TV directly into a monitor and analyst’s reckon it could happen next year. It’s thought that Apple is considering a new line in TV’s after a rather slow take up of their Apple TV set top box.
Global Equities Research’s Tip Chowdry suggests that Apple will not only get into the TV market, but will launch three different sized sets in March Next year.
Each one apparently will come with a mind boggling amount of speakers – 16. Which will mean the sets have near-surround sound audio.
You will be able to connect the sets to both Macs and iDevices via a cable or wirelessly via Apple Airplay. It would mean that the TV’s would be similar to Apple’s Cinema display – but with more bells and whistles.
The real reason for Apple getting into TV’s would be so they can put iTunes baked into the sets from the ground up, so that users could rent movies, buy TV shows and listen to music. Chowdry says the sets will most comparable to Bose’s VideoWave web and media TV.
With the success of Apple iDevice ecosystem they have devised an established and robust manufacturing and distribution system with Foxconn.
So, Apple could easily move into large HD display manufacturing with minimal risk and a high degrees of production quality.
It’s is thought that LG would make the sets for Apple so the cupertino company wouldn’t have to bear the burden of developing the components itself.
An iOS display would create an entirely new revenue stream as its own native app platform, in the same way that native iPad apps have.
Presumably, data and purchases could be shared across the iOS ecosystem, allowing users to access media they’ve rented or purchased anytime, anywhere. A picturesque scenario would be an iTunes movie rental that begins on the Apple HDTV and can be seamlessly continued on the go on an iPad or other iOS device.
