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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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.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ for the latest updates on the rumored Apple TV set.

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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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Apple’s long-rumored television set may soon become a reality, as China Business News reports 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 Chinese publication, WantChinaTimes, quotes Lao Cha, an industry observer, who said:

The advent of the mobile internet has paved the way for digital convergence, prompting Apple, Samsung and other international brands to branch out into smart TVs. Smart TVs play a critical role in digital convergence. Cloud computing and equipment linkage will be key to the success of equipment suppliers.

According to Xie Qinyi, vice president of Greater China for DisplaySearch, a market consultancy, the Apple’s biggest challenge for Apple will be “to secure high margin in a mature TV market.”

Recently, Cult Of Mac has released some information on the Apple TV set given to them by one of their sources: their source claims to have actually seen a fully functioning version of this mystery machine. The source was quoted as saying,

It resembled an Apple monitor, only much larger.

The source also claims to have witnessed a build in iSight camera installed into the TV allowing full use of FaceTime to make free calls.

According to Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley, Apple will launch a 50-plus inch LCD-TV by the end of the year.

In an interview on Bloomberg Radio, Apple analyst Gene Munster assured that the Apple television is real („we met with some component suppliers at CES“) and said that he thinks Apple TV set „is going to be the biggest thing in consumer electronics since the smartphone came up.“  He was betting that it will be announced later this year, probably for the holiday season.

However, JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz claims Apple TV set is unlikely to arrive in 2012.

Back in January Globe and Mail reported that Canada’s largest telecommunications companies – Rogers and Bell – were in talks with Apple to become Canadian launch partners for its Apple HDTV. Another source said Rogers and Bell already had the product in their labs.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ for the latest updates on the rumored Apple TV set.

[image: Cult of Mac]

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Apple TV set featuring Siri, FaceTime, Airplay, and a build in iSight camera is more of a reality today than ever before. Though we have had many reports from anonymous insiders, today marks the first public admission of the project by someone within Apple’s product release chain. More than simply admitting the products existence, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou discussed some of the production details. According to China Daily:

Gou said Foxconn is making preparations for iTV, Apple Inc’s rumored upcoming high-definition television, although development or manufacturing has yet to begin.” Apple’s upcoming TV also “reportedly features an aluminum construction, Siri, and FaceTime video calling.

This report goes on to quote Mr. Gou as saying:

Foxconn’s recent 50-50 joint venture factory with Sharp in Japan is one of the preparations made for the new device.

Cleary, Sharp would be a great strategic partner for the production of a new line of TV’s. It is more than encouraging to hear that there is actual movement in this long rumored project. Steve Jobs has been quoted numerous times in regards to his companies “hobby project.” The folks over at TechLand shared one of these infamous quotes where mr. Jobs tells his biographer:

I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.

I think it would be fairly easy for us to assume that Jobs was referring to Siri. But we will leave room for more speculation in the months to come.

umOuch (Andrew Brasher)

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