iTV

On clueless analysts and iTV being such a “terrible use of retail space”

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Pacific Crest's Andy Hargreaves wins the coveted title for this week's Most Idiotic Analysis concerning a rumored HD TV television set from Apple, aptly dubbed by the press the iTV.

In a note issued to clients on Tuesday, Hargreaves provided two arguments against an Apple-branded telly.

First, such a device would be of little value to couch potatoes unless it came with a bucket load of premium Hollywood entertainment. Up to a point, he argued Apple thus far has failed to get content owners in line to stream movies and television shows to the TV.

Bear with me for a sec.

Secondly, he wrote a 46-inch HD TV set "would be a terrible use of retail space relative to iPhone, iPad or the Apple TV set-top box".

Has this guy heard of warehouses? What about jumbo-sized walls of Apple's retail stores? And whoever said Apple would need to stock hundreds of big-screen iTVs in retail outlets, especially if they'll fetch a cool $2,000 a pop, as rumored...

Foxconn denies making any comment regarding Apple TV set

Cody Lee ∙ May 14, 2012

It seems like rumors involving Apple's secret TV project are getting debunked almost as fast as they are surfacing these days.

Just yesterday we found out that the Cupertino company is not involved in talks to purchase Loewe, a German TV manufacturer. And now Foxconn has deflated a rumor that its CEO confirmed the existence of an Apple TV set...

Loewe confirms it is not in talks over a potential takeover by Apple

Oliver Haslam ∙ May 14, 2012

We told you not long ago that German TV maker Loewe was potentially the subject of an audacious takeover bid by iPhone and iPad maker, Apple. The rumor made a modicum of sense considering talk of an Apple Television being in the works just won't go away.

Now though, such a takeover appears to be out of the question, with the Germans themselves saying that no such takeover talks are in process after contacting German site, Heise.

Rumors of a $113 million buyout have been quashed after Loewe's official stance was recorded as there being 'absolutely nothing to it.'

Rumor: Apple looking to acquire German television maker Loewe

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 27, 2017

There's been no shortage of talk regarding an Apple-branded TV set this year, as the entire television industry awaits the company's entry into the market. Everyone wants to see if it can do for TVs, what it's done for phones and tablets.

Well AppleInsider is adding more fuel to the fire today, as it's reporting that Apple is in talks to purchase Loewe AG, a German TV manufacturer. Apparently, the iPad-maker has put an offer up of $100+ million for the company...

Foxconn readying iTV manufacturing using Sharp’s cutting-edge display plant, CEO hints

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 14, 2012

Apple is working on a much-anticipated full-blown television set, Foxconn CEO hinted in a Friday interview with a Chinese newspaper. It should feature an aluminum body, Siri voice commands and a sophisticated camera for FaceTime video calling. Foxconn is the world's largest contract manufacturer and Apple's favorite partner that gets commissioned to assemble their products.

Oh, and remember when Foxconn recently acquired an eleven percent stake in Japanese giant Sharp? The deal led to a 50-50 joint venture concerning Sharp's cutting-edge display plant. Well, that was "one of the preparations made for the new device", Foxconn CEO said.

One of the preparations could also be Apple buying a stake in Foxconn. Also important, as we explained Apple is likely interested to tap Sharp’s technology to produce Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) panels for own-branded television set...

Source: iTV “resembles an Apple monitor, only much larger”

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 7, 2012

Despite Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster calling for an HD TV set from Apple for what now seems like an eternity (his latest headline says it'll be "bigger than the smartphone"), the damn thing just wouldn't materialize and instead remains vaporware. Per latest chatter coming from a source who claims to have seen an Apple HDTV prototype in person, it "resembles an Apple monitor, only much larger".

It apparently packs in a sophisticated FaceTime camera with facial recognition and uses Siri to initiate FaceTime calls. It's unclear whether this person saw one of the many prototypes that will never make it into a product or the actual 50-inch thing Jony Ive is said to hide in his design bunker...

Analyst believes we won’t see an Apple television until 2014

Cody Lee ∙ May 3, 2012

Despite the fact that Apple hasn't given any indication that it's working on a TV set, and a glaring lack of any concrete evidence, the Apple-branded television is one of the most highly anticipated products of 2012. It seems like everyone thinks it's coming.

Everyone except JP Morgan's Mark Moskowitz, that is. In a note to investors this morning, the analyst said that he doesn't believe that economic conditions are right for Apple to release a TV set this year. And he doesn't think we'll see one until at least 2014...

Rumor: Apple and EPIX in movie streaming deal that includes the mythical iTV

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 27, 2012

Apple is (again) rumored to be negotiating content deals with Hollywood studios that would give the company necessary rights to stream premium Hollywood entertainment via the iCloud to your living room.

Two people with knowledge of the negotiations apparently told Reuters that the EPIX movie streaming deal could include “a long-anticipated” television set from Apple.

However, industry sources indicated that any Apple-EPIX streaming deal cannot be realized before end of September 2012, when EPIX's prior streaming arrangement with Netflix is set to expire...

Analyst: iTV to be “a big seismic shift” in TV biz, gonna sell like hotcakes

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 27, 2012

The first quarter of 2012 saw Apple sell more than 50 million iOS devices, 11.8 million of which were iPads. But even at a high-price of an estimated $2,000, a rumored full-blown television set from Apple is projected to sell faster than the popular iPad, which begins at $499 for the third-gen model, or $399 in the case of the discounted WiFi-only iPad 2.

But what if Apple flexes its muscles with iTV, tapping the $110 billion cash hoard, its frightening buying power and efficient supply chain management to deliver a $1,000 TV set for the masses? If it comes to be, expect nothing if not "a big seismic shift", one analyst opines...

TV industry in ‘crisis mode’ should help iTV own premium segment

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 23, 2012

As the likes of Samsung, Panasonic and others cut costs in order to keep their struggling television-making operations in the black, Apple of California is believed to be interested in the high-end of the market, according to one industry executive.

By largely ignoring this lucrative segment of the TV set industry, existing players have already helped Apple make billions when it fills the void with a superbly designed product that doesn't compromise on quality.

According to this industry source, the iPhone maker apparently is convinced it could rule the premium segment by selling a $2000-$3000 television set with advanced features, for an estimated $10 billion a year opportunity...

What if Apple isn’t building a TV set?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Fortune ran an interesting article last night entitled "Tell me again. Why we think Apple will make a TV set?" The piece outlines the sketchy details surrounding one of the most anticipated, unannounced consumer products in recent memory: the Apple TV set.

Rumors that Apple has been working on a television have been bouncing around for years now. Started by analysts and fueled by "supply chain checks," the speculation regarding an Apple TV has reached epic proportions. But has it all been for nothing?

Rumor: Apple TV to feature a Kinect-like video game console

Cody Lee ∙ April 14, 2012

By now, most of you have heard the Apple TV rumors. The iPad-makers are expected to enter the HDTV space at some point in the not-too-distant future with an interactive, high-definition TV set. But it sounds like it could be much more than that.

Cult of Mac is reporting this morning that it has learned that Apple's television will also come equipped with a Kinect-like video game console, with an interface that relies heavily on motion and touch controls...