Digitimes, a site that has a hit-or-miss track record when it comes to Apple rumors, reports that Apple is continuing to develop a TV that is likely to sport an Ultra HD 4K display (3840 x 2160). According to the sources, a standalone Apple TV set could launch by the end of this year, but it is more likely that Apple decides to unveil it in early 2014.

The sources said that Apple and Foxconn Electronics have been in discussions for quite some time in terms of the TV’s mass production schedule, but that Apple has been considering where panel supply for the TV will come from, as Ultra HD TV panel makers, most of whom are based in Taiwan, are expected to be producing at nearly full capacity in 2013 in order to meet demand from China-based TV vendors.

The sources added that Apple is banking on LG Display to be able to mass produce Ultra HD TV panels by the second half of the year.

According to Digitimes, the upcoming Apple HDTV will also feature voice and motion control functions.

Find more on a long-awaited Apple TV set.

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There is an ever growing number of people eagerly awaiting the news of an Apple HDTV release. The Apple TV set, we believe, is the product that Apple is working on to help them in the process of taking over the worlds living rooms. Though there are many who doubt that Apple will ever make this leap, Apple fans, and investors alike, are following this story with great interest. Thanks to the folks over at CNN NEWS, we were able to get some information found in a note to clients, Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty, issued Tuesday about what she calls “iTV.” Note the difference between an iTV (a TV set) and an Apple TV (current set-top box).

Essentially Huberty put together the results of a proprietary survey of 1,568 U.S. heads of household that she’s been sitting on since September. Key findings

Though we may all continue to debate the reality of Apple launching into the television market, which they will, there is no denying the numbers. Apple is what I like to refer to as an “on purpose” company. Everything they do is investigated, perfected, and responds to a real consumer need, both known and unknown. Granted the infamous iOS 6 Maps app, Ping, and Mobile Me are a few places where this may have fallen short, I would argue that when it comes to hardware they always succeed.

[Source: CNN Money]

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The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple it testing several TV-set designs. According to WSJ, “officials at some of Apple’s suppliers” said the company has been working on testing a few designs for a “large-screen high-resolution TV”:

Two people said Hon Hai Precision Industry (known by the trade name Foxconn), which assembles the iPhone and iPad, has been collaborating with Japan’s Sharp on the design of the new television.

“It isn’t a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing,” said one of the people.

Apple, which works with suppliers to test new designs all the time, has been testing various TV prototypes for a number of years, according to people familiar with the efforts. The company generally tests and develops products internally before doing so with outside suppliers.

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Rumors have been swirling for nigh on a year now about what would come to pass when Apple finally delivers its television. Not that the Apple TV is any slouch mind you, but visions of a fully integrated Apple HDTV have had experts and fanboys alike drooling. News about a possible release schedule and what could be expected of this hardware has been slow to nonexistent in recent months leaving many people filling that informational void with speculation. One particularly juicy daydream was just delivered by our friend over at The Verge and we simply had to pass it on. So here is one die-hard’s dream of the perfect Apple TV.

The goal is to explore what would be possible if the software manufacturers and the cable providers could hold hands and work together. After all, the HDTV technology today has plenty of punch behind it, but 2K or 3K resolutions wouldn’t mean a thing unless there was a way for subscription-focused live internet streaming to link without limitations to Apple’s superior content delivery system. So the Apple TV would seamlessly integrate with all of our mobile devices, while maintaining a more friendly relationship with non-apple products as well.

When it comes to hardware, it’s obvious what should go on the ‘must’ list. You’ve got to have Bluetooth and AirPlay, as well as integrated WiFi technology that passes muster. That beautiful HD quality FaceTime camera and software should make an appearance, as well as 3D technology if they can get it right (which means losing the terrible glasses, of course). Resolution should bottom out at 1080p, and outputs should include USB, Optical Audio, HDMI and Apple’s new Thunderbolt. That will allow for an expanded hard drive, though inclusion of a DVR with at least 1TB of storage should be in the conversation.

Of course, FaceTime won’t be the only iOS App to make an appearance. What would be perfect is a fullscreen App store, where you could buy and utilize many of the apps that make the iPhone, iPod and iPad so fantastic. But you would also be able to download one-click access to the various players you most frequently use (Hulu Plus, VUDU, Netflix, etc.) AND to purchase subscriptions to pay cable networks. Ideally you’d be able to pick a monthly or yearly subscription to ShowTime or AMC, while also paying for membership to HBO Go or one of the other fantastic cable streaming sites.

As with your other Apple hardware, the Apple TV would certainly utilize Spotlight for searching. But in our ideal device it would be able to search not only your library’s content, but anything available on iTunes, within an app Store, or upcoming in a TV guide listing. That way you’d immediately see any free and paid options. If Siri was integrated to help remind you of subscribed shows or TV Guide alerts, that would just be the icing on the cake.

And as far as that TV guide is concerned, the closer the resemblance to our app screen the better. All the channels could be listed vertically, with click-through descriptions. The guide would cleanly integrate with iTunes, so you could see all upcoming releases the same way. Previews would be available for all movies (as on Apple Trailers), and anything you bring to the party through an external drive would upload to the same guide and be visually cataloged.

Is all of this probable, or even possible? Who really knows. This is the Apple TV that will live in our dreams until we are given one in real life. It’s going to take Apple becoming more willing to accept non-Apple products, and the cable providers choosing the joy of the user over maximizing advertising profits. If you think it’s probably not going to happen, you can dream at least. It’s what Steve Jobs would have wanted.

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Tech bloggers, including ourselves, have been buzzing hard about the hush development of an Apple television set for quite some time now. While the Apple TV set top box has been quite successful, it still requires a non-Apple piece of hardware to operate. Well, according to some whispers overheard on Barrons, those days may be drawing to a close.

Apparently Apple is deep in conversation with cable operators about a new TV product. While they haven’t been any more specific then that, chances are they aren’t talking about making a smaller Apple TV to match the iPad mini that launched so successfully. The only real option is an Apple HDTV that comes with built-in internet connectivity and deals with the larger cable companies.

According to a new report from Jefferies & Co.’s analyst James Kisner, Apple wouldn’t be talking to these companies if its product release was anything but “imminent”. Basically, the networks are playing ball because they know any Apple television would be immensely popular, meaning additional data requirements on all of the major broadband networks and some serious infrastructure work. Naysayers declare this could just be a conversation about additional streaming services, and remind excited parties that Apple themselves have continuously turned away questions about a pending TV release.

Also, according to AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski, ” the idea that a “potentially … imminent” launch is in the works seems harder to take seriously.”

For starters, Apple has already steered analysts away from the notion that it will have something to say about a TV solution soon. More important: If Apple were close to launching a new service, it would almost certainly be in touch with TV programmers about new arrangements, and we haven’t heard anything along those lines.

In other words, there are still a lot of missing pieces here, and while a major cable provider running what-if scenarios on a rumored Apple product is certainly interesting, it’s not necessarily a trumpet fanfare announcing its imminent arrival.

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During yesterday’s Q3 earnings call Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company sold 1.3M Apple TVs in Q3 2012, up more than 170% year over year, that totals at 4M units so far this fiscal year and 6.8M since Apple began selling the iOS-based, $99 model (Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3). Tim Cook called these numbers “pretty incredible.”

Cook also said that “Apple TV is still at a level that we would call a >>hobby<<” but he admitted that the company continue to pull the string to see where it takes them. “There is a lot of people here that believe in Apple TV. We do it because we think it’ll lead us somewhere,” he added.

Where? Apple has been long rumored to be working on an Apple TV set, which, according to the latest rumors, could be released in 2014.

Back in May China Business News reported that Foxconn, Apple’s Chinese manufacturing partner, has already started a pilot production of the new Apple HDTV:

Insider sources told China Business News that a Foxconn factory in Shenzhen has received orders for an Apple “smart TV” and is producing them on a trial basis.

Other rumors claim that Sharp is set to begin delivering LCD TV panels to assembler Foxconn in order to begin building Apple television sets.

According to the experts at Stuff, when Apple HDTV does finally hit the market, it may start as a US-only release, because of the content rights.

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The industry has been buzzing for months now about the hotly-anticipated Apple TV set. But according to the experts at Stuff, when it does finally hit the market, it may start as a US-only release. Apple surely doesn’t want to leave its international fans in the lurch, but with the massive work involved in content rights, it could simply be a necessary step before a wider release.

Any internet-based television service, even the big boys like Netflix and Hulu, have struggled with blackouts and the huge price tag content distributors are demanding for their top rated shows. All rights are negotiated through a different agreement and separate contract for each country, so launching such a significant product in a timely fashion could mean a slower roll-out. Apple television needs to offer great content to be successful, so it simply doesn’t make sense for them to push into additional markets until they have that content in play.

Video streamers in the UK have enjoyed content through iTunes for quite a while now, even with the limited content available, and the strength of the Apple brand should lead content distributors to accept a deal rather quickly. But the real question is what Apple will have to spend to strike those deals. Apple TV is sold internationally, but does the bulk of its business in the US. Seeing that their content platforms aren’t performing as well outside of the States may discourage Apple from spending big on marketing and content before they see a real demand for it.

As of now, Americans won’t have access to Apple television until at least it’s rumored 2014 launch, which means international fans may have to wait much longer.

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[image: Stuff]

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“The mythical Apple television set that everyone talks about is already here,” said Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Brightcove, in an interview with The Verge. Brightcove, a provider of cloud content services, has just unveiled the App Cloud Dual-Screen Solution for Apple TV. The new solution enables media publishers to develop apps for the iPhone and iPad that simultaneously control content, data and information presented on an HDTV while displaying synchronized content on the iPad or iPhone.

The dual-screen solution leverages Apple’s AirPlay technology, which allows viewers to use applications that simultaneously present content, interactive options and data on both the touch device and an Apple TV.

Brightcove’s new Dual-Screen App Solution will be included in the new App Cloud SDK and available to the open source community, enabling content owners to build dual-screen apps for Apple TV.

The availability of the dual-screen solution coincides with Brightcove’s introduction of App Cloud Core, a free developer edition, also announced today. App Cloud Core enables developers to build an unlimited number of mobile applications using HTML5 and JavaScript.

Although dual-screen apps for iOS and Apple TV (AirPlay-enabled apps) already exist, thanks to an open source SDK, it will be now easier to create such apps for Apple TV.

[image: The Verge]

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It would appear as though Apple’s HDTV is set to be constructed by Foxconn, using Sharp components. Sharp, the electronics giant, has been in a process of being greatly invested in by Foxconn over the past year or two and it would seem that these steps are in preparation for the new Apple set top television. According to the folks over at AppleInsider:

A new rumor claims Sharp is set to begin delivering LCD TV panels to assembler Foxconn in order to begin building Apple television sets.

Now the guys over at AppleInsider do not actually reveal the report, but they do go on to say that Foxconn was actually set to receive these components in the 4^th Quarter of this year. For some reason, hopefully a sooner release, the timetable was moved forward. That is right, the shipment has been moved to Q3. CNET goes on to explain the recent interest between Foxconn and Sharp by pointing out a few interesting acquisitions:

Over the last several months, reports have suggested Sharp would play a role in the Apple TV after Hon Hai Precision, Foxconn’s Taiwan-based parent, acquired an 11 percent stake in the company. Hon Hai also acquired 46.5 percent equity in Sharp’s LCD TV factory in Sakai, Japan. Last month, Foxconn chief Terry Gou said in an interview with China Daily that the Sharp acquisition resulted from preparations the company is making for Apple’s upcoming television.

In the end, Apple has still not even come close to admitting the existence of Apple TV set. That said, it is not likely that all of this information would be pouring out on an international scale if there were no truth to it. So, I say it is time to start getting excited. As we have reported before, the release is rumored to most likely be in 2014, but who knows, early shipment of parts could equal and earlier release of the product.

Now to start working on the JAILBREAK! What features are you hoping for in this product? Are you going to buy one? Leave your thoughts below!

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Is the Apple TV about to get its own App Store? According to BGR, Apple will introduce an Apple TV SDK at WWDC 2012. Apple TV software development kit would allow third-party developers to make apps for Apple’s set-top box.

BGR reported last month that Apple is planning to unveil a brand new version of the Apple TV operating system at WWDC. A “trusted source” has told BGR that the new OS will be much more feature-complete than the current Apple TV OS and that it’s apparently the one that the long rumored Apple TV set will run.

At this year’s D10 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook made clear that Apple TV is no longer a “hobby” project for the company: ”This is an area of intense interest for us,” Cook said, referring to the TV business. We’re going to keep pulling this string and see where it takes us.”

China Business News reported in May that Foxconn has already started a pilot production of the new Apple “smart TV”.

Apple will kick off WWDC with its keynote presentation today at 10 a.m. PST. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ for the latest updates on WWDC 2012.

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