Digital TV News

Apple TV set for release by Christmas 2012

Monday 5 December, 2011

By Anthony Hill

Television dubbed iTV “will think the way viewers do”.

Technology giant Apple will enter the digital TV market in 2012.

According to Apple analyst Gene Munster, the Californian firm - best known for its iPod music player, iPhone mobile and iPad tablet device - will launch its first television in time for Christmas next year.

Speaking at the IGNITION: Future of Media conference, he said Apple’s TV will be so “awesome” that anyone planning to buy a new telly should wait until its release date.

Munster believes the new product, unofficially dubbed the “iTV”, will be a fully-fledged TV set, unlike the current Apple TV gadget that is connected externally to an existing television.

“The magic of Apple's TV ... will be seamless integration with your other Apple devices. The TV will come with a standard remote, but you'll also be able to control it with your iPhone or iPad or via Siri,” reports Business Insider, which hosted the IGNITION conference last week.

Munster said Apple’s “iTV” would be the first television to think the way people do. Instead of trying to remember channel numbers, for instance, it is likely that channels will be launched from a graphic interface much in the same way that apps are fired up on an iPhone or iPad device.

The expert also predicted Apple’s TV would launch in a range of sizes to suit different needs, just like the iPod brand extends to Shuffle, Nano and Touch devices. He thinks Apple will target younger viewers who can’t afford, or don’t have room for, a 50in screen.

However, the Apple TV is not expected to be cheap. In fact, Munster believes it could cost as much as twice the amount of comparable screens already on the market.

He said users would also still need a cable or satellite service to enjoy a wider range of channels, as Apple doesn’t have its own broadcast content to offer. But it’s possible that Apple may work with broadcasters like Sky to develop its own subscription TV services.

Last week, Sky expanded its app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The Sky Go application now allows Sky Movies subscribers to watch the latest blockbusters on-demand with their Apple device.