What to Expect From Apple’s HDTV

Its coming. When it hits the market, how much it will cost, and whether it will
redefine an entire industry like a few other notable products in the companys
arsenal have are all questions with unclear answers, but make no mistake: Apple
(NASDAQ: AAPL ) is making a television . The Cupertino, Calif.-based technology
company owns your pocket contents. Now it wants your living room. Given the way
people have responded to the iPad Apple sold just under 40 million tablets
inside of 18 months its obvious Apple knows how to get people to buy an
unusual, expensive piece of technology that they didnt even know they wanted.
What precisely will the Apple HDTV be, though? Details are scarce at this stage.
As quoted in Walter Isaacsons new biography, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said,
Id like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use
… It would seamlessly integrate with all of your devices and with iCloud. It
will have the simplest interface. I finally cracked it. For now, heres whats
known or being hinted at for Apples new HDTV: iOS The device likely will be an
iOS device, using the same operating system as the iPad, iPhone and existing
Apple TV set-top box. Unlike the Apple TV, though, the new device will support
live TV and DVR, much like traditional cable boxes. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene
Munster has been saying as much since September 2010 when Apple signed a
confidential multiyear deal with Rovi (NASDAQ: ROVI ). At the time, Munster
said, (Apple) will likely launch an all-in-one Apple Television in the next 2-4
years. Following its deal with Rovi, Apple would be clear to add live TV, DVR,
and guidance features to its Apple TV product, which we believe is a critical
step towards in all-in-one Apple Television. LCD Its also likely that Apples set
will be an LCD television. Apple invested nearly $4 billion in the LCD screen
industry in January, securing contracts with Wintek, Sharp and TPK. While it
made sense for Apple to shore Apple LCD supplies given the runaway success of
its portable devices, the large sum poured in the technology also was noted as
evidence of Apples TV plans, according to Munster.