Apple Reportedly Talking To Major Supplier Regarding iTV Display Components
by Joe White
February 1, 2012
Apple has reportedly been shopping around for HDTV display components, and has even contacted a major Asian supplier.
The news comes from Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster and reached us via Apple Insider, who notes:
Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster told investors on Tuesday that he had recently spoken to a "major TV component supplier" about Apple's rumored plans to release a connected HDTV. Sources within the supplier reportedly told him that Apple had contacted "regarding various capabilities of their television display components."The article continues:
Munster said he viewed the news as "continued evidence that Apple is exploring production of a television." Prior evidence that the analyst claims to have gathered surrounding an Apple television includes January 2011 meetings in Asia that suggested Apple was investing in manufacturing facilities for LCD displays as large as 50 inches and a September 2011 meeting with a "contact close to an Asian supplier" who claimed prototypes of an Apple set are in the works.Though Piper Jaffray believes Apple might release its speculated television set late this year, Muster does note that "the timeline and scope of a revamped content solution is more uncertain." In his biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson states that the late Apple co-founder claimed to have "cracked" the enigma of creating a true Apple Television before his death - suggesting that such a product is in the pipeline. Since, many have speculated that the television set might be powered by Siri, Apple's "humble virtual assistant" who launched with the iPhone 4S. As always, we'll keep you posted.