Apple iTV reportedly in early stages of testing

The latest rumour about the Apple iTV suggests that the TV is in its early stages of testing with manufacturers at Sharp and Hon Hai, which is also known as Foxconn, collaborating with Apple in the process.

According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal, sources who have associations with Apple’s suppliers said the company has been testing prototypes of television sets for a number of years. The sources were cited as saying, “It isn't a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing.”

The launch is imminent

Tim Cook, CEO, Apple, recently dropped a big hint about Apple working on an HDTV. He stated that for Apple, the television industry was an area of intense interest. The Apple CEO stated, “When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years. It’s an area of intense interest. I can’t say more than that.”

Earlier this year, in May, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou let it slip that his company is getting ready to begin producing the Apple iTV. Since then, there have been various analyst reports stating that the Apple iTV was imminent. As per a report by China Daily, Gou stated that Foxconn, the manufacturer of various Apple products, is making preparations for the Apple iTV. The report noted that though preparations were underway, the development and manufacturing of the television was yet to commence. iTV reportedly features an aluminium construction, Siri and FaceTime video calling.

These revelations by Gou were the most substantial bits of information known regarding the rumoured Apple HDTV, with all other previous leaks being revealed by anonymous industry sources and analysts. However, with Cook also voicing his opinion on the iTV, it backs rumours and speculations that an Apple-branded television is imminent in the near future.

To get a better idea on what this iTV would entail, anonymous sources in the past have revealed that one could start watching a movie on the television set and then pick up an iOS device, such as an iPhone, and continue watching from where they last watched. Reports  emerged stating that the television would look a lot like Apple’s Cinema Displays, only it would be a lot larger.

In late November, a report stated that the Apple iTV would be launched by the end of next year. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster stated in an investors note that Apple will introduce the television in November 2013. This new estimate is a drastic change from Munster’s previous report, which claimed that Apple will announce the television by December and launch it in 2013. Munster states that the TV will most likely retail for $1,500 to $2,000 and would be available in screen sizes of 42 inches and 55 inches.