Apple iTV may be launched in first half of 2013

One of the biggest topics to keep the rumour mills churning this week is the possibility of the iPhone 5S being launched in the first half of 2013. Alongside it, we could see another device make an appearance, the mythical iTV.

China Times reports on the possibility of the iPhone 5S being launched in the first half of next year, and also sheds lights on the launch of an iTV, which could take place before the year’s second quarter ends.

Over the past couple of years, it has been rumoured that Apple is preparing an HDTV deeply integrated with Apple’s voice recognition assistant, Siri, and that it would be launched by late this year or early next year. However, the possibility of it being launched this year appears to be slim, and now, in all likelihood, this full-fledged television set may make its debut next year.

Apple HDTV may come out next year (Image mock up)

The rumours went as far as stating that the Apple branded HDTV was in production, and an analyst Peter Misek, in a research note, stated that the television would show up in stores by the end of this year.

In a related report, commenting on the report by Jeffereies, 9to5Mac states, “While referring to the platform as iTV, Jefferies added Apple is planning to partner with Verizon and AT&T in addition to selling set-top-boxes for cable providers such as Comcast. According to the report, Apple will offer a “premium Apple television” offering content from Verizon and AT&T, as well as giving users an option for just a cable box for Comcast and possibly other cable operators. Content for users outside of the US was not discussed in the report. Jefferies is now including 2 million iTVs in its model for early 2013 with an average sale price of $1,250”.

Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, in his biography, had told author Walter Isaacson that he had ‘cracked it’, while referring to an integrated HDTV. However, there has been no concrete information regarding an Apple HDTV, also known as, Apple iTV. Isaacson did not wish to divulge information he had about any of Apple’s forthcoming products. With Foxconn CEO Terry Gou letting it slip that his company is getting ready to begin producing the Apple iTV, we may expect to see some official information soon.

An earlier report stated that Gou said Foxconn is making preparations for iTV, Apple Inc's rumoured upcoming high-definition television, although development or manufacturing has yet to begin. iTV reportedly features an aluminium construction, Siri, and FaceTime video calling.

To get a better idea on what the iTV would entail, anonymous sources have revealed in the past that one could start watching a movie on the television set, pick up an iOS device such as an iPhone, and continue watching from where one last watched. Reports have emerged that the television would resemble Apple’s Cinema Displays, but it would be a lot larger. Like the report by China Daily, previous reports too have indicated that the iTV would be Siri-enabled, and have an iSight camera that enables making FaceTime calls.