[planar1280]

In an interview published by China Daily today, Terry Gou, chairman of Foxconn, confirms the massive manufacturing company is making preparations for an Apple television set called iTV. Gou also states that neither development nor manufacturing has begun. Apparently, per China Daily at least, the television set will have an aluminum construction, Siri voice controls and FaceTime video calling. This is the most solid report to date of the long-fabled Apple HDTV. The product has been rumored for the last several years. So far both Steve Jobs and now Tim Cook have called the Apple TV, the company’s set-top box, a hobby. But it seems the company is almost ready to turn its avocation into an occupation.

http://rdd.me/jbnf0wfi

Wrong forum. Can a mod move this to off topic
Doesnt look like 2012 though

[Al-ibn Kermit]

Voice control iMac does sound better than voice control TV. As far as justifying dat mark up.

But it sounds cumbersome as hell controlling even just a TV by voice. Either people will get this and stay only within Apple's ecosystem, where everything can be designed around voice controls, or they'll just not use the voice controls.

The type of person who would pay so much more for a TV probably isn't going to just use iTunes.

[SmokyDave]

"the television set will have an aluminum construction"

Sold. It doesn't take much to get me excited.

[glaringradio]

Interesting to see what this will be called in the UK, what with ITV and all.

[sixteen-bit]

Interesting. I'm sure it will be quite beautiful from a design standpoint.

Interesting to see what this will be called in the UK, what with ITV and all.

iTV, probably.

[Dicer]

Wonder how many worker suicides this device will cause?

[Tobor]

I will happily sell my Samsung and upgrade to this if it's true.

[BobsRevenge]

Ugh. I hate media-tech ecosystems. :(

[mescalineeyes]

Yeah, I am sure the Foxconn chief would be dumb enough to disclose such things.

[KingGondo]

I'm surprised that some are surprised by this.

The TV market is similar to the way the phone market was a few years ago. Too segmented with lots of manufacturers pushing similar products with superficial and gimmicky differences.

42" for $1299 and a 48" for $1499. Consumers will know they're getting Apple quality and won't have to shop around, and Apple will make a tidy profit on every set sold (as well as more iTunes sales via the built-in Apple TV).

[Messypandas]

I already have itv... its shit

[Nemo]

Yeah, I am sure the Foxconn chief would be dumb enough to disclose such things.

He's el jefe, why would he give a fuck and not do whatever he wants

[ascii42]

Could be interesting, but I haven't really been able to muster up much interest in the Apple TV device before, or for Google TV, or any smart TV functionality for that matter.

[Dan27]

The last thing I want is something in my house that reminds me of Andy Townsend when it's not even on.

I'd want to punch it.

[Tranced Shadow]

Wasn't the AppleTV originally called the iTV before the UK network of the same name spoke up?

The last thing I want is something in my house that reminds me of Andy Townsend when it's not even on. I'd want to punch it.

Or worse, Adrian Chiles doing footy punditry *shudders*

[Khold]

Could be interesting, but I haven't really been able to muster up much interest in the Apple TV device before, or for Google TV, or any smart TV functionality for that matter.

Yeah mine doesn't have smart tv built in but I have one of the adapter things connected up..I think I used it the day I bought it and that's it.

That said, I'm sure Apple will present a product that will scream "must-have"

[Tobor]

Wasn't the AppleTV originally called the iTV before the UK network of the same name spoke up? Or worse, Adrian Chiles doing footy punditry *shudders*

Nope, it's always officially been called Apple TV.

[Cosmonaut X]

Can I get Corrie on it?

[LegendofJoe]

I probably won't be interested in getting one, but I welcome the extra competition in the TV market. It could use a good shake-up.

[AbsoluteZero]

Should be interesting to see how well this does in the marketplace. Apple's hot stuff right now, and I can see alot of people overlooking the potential high price tag because of the brand.

[davepoobond]

Yeah, I am sure the Foxconn chief would be dumb enough to disclose such things.

would it matter? who else does Apple have to go to to make their new spangly itvs?

[broadwayrock]

Nope, it's always officially been called Apple TV.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/12/a...g-box-in-2007/

There have been whispers that Apple itv is to be renamed to 'iPanel'

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderd...l/?mod=BOLBlog

[Kurdel]

Should be interesting to see how well this does in the marketplace. Apple's hot stuff right now, and I can see alot of people overlooking the potential high price tag because of the brand.

I would like to see the opposite. Seeing the streamlined production and the low priced profit machine that is the iPad, maybe they can pull it off with a TV? Turn the 3D to Oled focused competition on it's head by introducing a low to mid range TV line that is packed with features.

[Raistlin]

I will happily sell my Samsung and upgrade to this if it's true.

Regardless of quality?

lol

[Xun]

As a name iPanel works nicely.

[Tobor]

Regardless of quality? lol

I bought a mid range Samsung. It's a lock that whatever Apple releases will be higher quality.

[sixteen-bit]

There have been whispers that Apple itv is to be renamed to 'iPanel'

It just rolls off the tongue D:

I remember there was doubt about them naming the iPhone well, iPhone because there was previously a device from another company called iphone.

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

As a name iPanel works nicely.

They've started to run out of ideas if that sounds good.

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I'd dump my GoogleTV for this. Or at least move it to another room. :)

Of course, first I'd want to know what it brings to the table and what it costs. I'm sure the quality will be high and I can see things like voice control, Facetime and AirPlay all being built in, but the interface is rumored to be something pretty revolutionary, so I'm interested in what the Apple take on the TV will be.

Edit: And "iPanel" sounds absolutely ridiculous. I highly doubt they'll call it that.

[dreamcastmaster]

"Gou also states that neither development nor manufacturing has begun"

What? You can't be preparing for production if development has not begun.

[Floex]

Apple are really going to price is competitively. People just don't update their TV's like they do with their phones

[ThoseDeafMutes]

How legit is this source?

[Dreams-Visions]

They've started to run out of ideas if that sounds good.

+1

[Deadly Cyclone]

Yes, yes, but how expensive will these be? If they are vastly more than current HDTVs it may not work out well.

[Solstice]

The big question on my mind is how much will this cost, and will it be worth the price?

[Raistlin]

I bought a mid range Samsung. It's a lock that whatever Apple releases will be higher quality.

Yes I suppose it's all relative.



That said, based on their current monitor offerings I'd be pretty apprehensive to be honest. While the static IQ on their big monitors is quite nice, they have poor temporal characteristics. Those IPS have terrible response times and middling black levels. Many of the rumors have pointed to their TV's also using IPS ... and if that's the case, I'd be leery.

There's a reason most TV manufacturers do not use IPS panels. While the color is great, temporal characteristics and black level are generally agreed as being weighed much heavier for video.

[ThatCrazyGuy]

I love my panny plasma, it would take alot to change tvs.

Unless Panasonic goes under, hehe. :(

[KHarvey16]

would it matter? who else does Apple have to go to to make their new spangly itvs?

Oh, I have no doubt Foxconn would accomodate an angry Apple. I actually am a bit skeptical about this story.

[Solstice]

A thousand dollars for a 27" "non smart" computer monitor. Yeah, I don't even want to know how much this thing is gonna cost

[dreamcastmaster]

Apple are really going to price is competitively. People just don't update their TV's like they do with their phones

What happens nowadays is that you update the firmware/OS to add functionality. Just look at Xbox as an example.

[Sky Chief]

I'm surprised that some are surprised by this. The TV market is similar to the way the phone market was a few years ago. Too segmented with lots of manufacturers pushing similar products with superficial and gimmicky differences. 42" for $1299 and a 48" for $1499. Consumers will know they're getting Apple quality and won't have to shop around, and Apple will make a tidy profit on every set sold (as well as more iTunes sales via the built-in Apple TV).

Why would people want to buy such small TVs?

[giga]

A thousand dollars for a 27" "non smart" computer monitor. Yeah, I don't even want to know how much this thing is gonna cost

Doesn't make sense to compare monitors to TVs. Look at the resolution.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...n&sku=224-8284

[Solstice]

What happens nowadays is that you update the firmware/OS to add functionality. Just look at Xbox as an example.

Kind of like how when the iPhone 3GS came out with video recording, they didn't give that software functionality to the original iPhone of the 3G until much later, despite it being a simple OS update?

[Damon Bennet]

am i the only one that finds the i a bit tacky? it was fresh back with the iMac and got a boost from iPod. but everything beyond it just seems a bit outdated

[KHarvey16]

A thousand dollars for a 27" "non smart" computer monitor. Yeah, I don't even want to know how much this thing is gonna cost

Cheapest 27" with that resolution on newegg is like $680. The next cheapest is $850.

[SuicidalSteve]

not this ITV?

[Dreams-Visions]

Cheapest 27" with that resolution on newegg is like $680. The next cheapest is $850.

and neither of those newegg TVs is likely to be IPS.

iirc, those Cinema Displays are IPS screens.

[SpartanAGM]

The idea of having an aluminum case is cool but being that this would be from Apple it's likely it will be way over priced. If this ever does see the light of day, you could probably purchase another TV with comparable specs for much less. To make up for the voice control and video calling, you could also purchase an Xbox 360 + Kinect in addition to a comparably spec'ed TV and still save some cash over an apple TV.

[KingKong]

I'm surprised that some are surprised by this. The TV market is similar to the way the phone market was a few years ago. Too segmented with lots of manufacturers pushing similar products with superficial and gimmicky differences. 42" for $1299 and a 48" for $1499. Consumers will know they're getting Apple quality and won't have to shop around, and Apple will make a tidy profit on every set sold (as well as more iTunes sales via the built-in Apple TV).

Yes, Apple is one of (or the?) most trusted consumer brands out there. Considering how many people don't know or understand the differences in televisions, and how many brands and types there are, an Apple TV will sell like crazy.

[brotkasten]

and neither of those newegg TVs is likely to be IPS. iirc, those Cinema Displays are IPS screens.

Of course it's an IPS panel.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824176242

I don't think there are TN panels with that resolution.