The swarm of speculation, once surrounding when Apple would release a CDMA iPhone has a new target: HDTV. Wednesday, a Wall Street analyst provided a bit more fuel, telling investors he expects the Cupertino, Calif. tech giant to unveil a “Smart TV” by the end of 2011.
Brian White of Ticonderoga Securities writes a trip to a China tradeshow prompted his belief. White says the new device won’t be another revamp of Apple TV. The Smart TV would “provide a full-blown TV product for consumers,” according to the analyst. Understanding we’ve heard this all before, the analyst assures us Apple is moving “at a faster pace than the market expected.”
Although he provided no details about the product’s capabilities, the analyst writes Apple’s ability to reinvent product categories could make it “a powerful force in the TV world over the next few years.” The LCD TV market is estimated to be worth $100 billion.
One expert long a proponent of Apple getting into the TV business is Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster. He has projected an Internet-connected HDTV able to connect to iTunes for around $2,000. Although such a device could make the cable box and DVR history, Apple has found working out contracts with studios and content providers to be a virtual minefield.
Still, the idea of an Apple HDTV has a lot going for it. First, Apple has built a wealth of knowledge from designing large screen monitors, such as the 27-inch iMac display. The company also has the industrial design chops to remake an aging industry looking to such gimmicks as 3D to attract consumers. Lastly, Apple has become unique in its Midas Touch, turning mundane gadgets into must-have products.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
25 responses to “Report: Apple May Release HDTV This Year”
That would have to be one heck of a TV for me to spend $2,000 on it. Most people I know wait for TVs to go on sale and everyone know Apple never goes on sale. Price is the one reason I don’t buy Apple external displays.
This sounds gravy but with all that it would be capable of, I think $2000 would be the absolute minimum you would pay. The normal Apple displays run for $1,099 CAD at 27″. I’d need at least a 42″.
When you can get a good quality non apple 47″ HDTV + AppleTV for less than $2,000 why would you pay more than $2,000 for an AppleHDTV? Normal Apple displays look beautiful, and I am a huge Apple fan, but they are way over priced.
Would be cool, though, to have a single TV that had built-in ATV and Airport Extreme wireless router in addition to the DVR capabilities. If iTunes offered games and TV channels by subscription or purchase, it would reduce the clutter under most people’s TV and be sleek (think one plug, one remote, only channels you care about and instant games, movies and programs).
Apple products need to be unique and exclusive because they will not be price competitive with comparable products. I don’t see how they are going to be that unique. I say: unlikely.
To maintain the fat margin, the Apple HDTV would be priced like a Bang & Olufsen TV. For those who say “why would I pay $xxxx for a TV”, the simple answer is you are not their target market.
Apple doesn’t need (and never wants) to be a mass market leader.
You’re right. Then again, no one ever target’s smart shoppers, if they did they would never make any money. I have to believe that I am buying quality at a good price before I buy anything. I did research for months before I bought my HDTV to make sure I got a good TV at a good price. I don’t buy things on impulse and I always pay in cash.
This just in. Apple released a 32″ 1080i TV starting at only $9999. This TV will change everything… again.
i hope apple stays reasonable with the price. honestly i dont know what they could do with an HDTV that hasn’t been done yet. Could they build some sort of iOS interface on top of a TV that’s connected to other idevices and macs? if they start making their TVs with computer parts (CPU, GPU, computer memory, disk space) inside it, it will get awfully pricey like the Google Smart TVs from Sony. Price is what doomed the google TV boxes. and steve has said people dont want their TVs to turn into computers, nobody wants to hold a keyboard and mouse while watching TV.
Apple has to offer something amazing to convince people to spend $2k for a new HDTV for some iOS built in.
In today’s new multiscreen wordl I don’t know why people put only one tv on their wall. I’d mount and use two or even four screens for a kickass experience and maybe find a way to integrate both/all four if I want.
BOSE
If Apple does release a branded TV, then they would have outdone themselves once again! Why does this not surprise me? I mean it’s Apple… they never ceases to amaze. This TV actually sounds pretty stellar. I will definitely have to check into getting one should it all pan out. I’m constantly looking for the most for my money and the best quality of HD. Being a long term DISH Network customer and most recently employee; I can say that DISH offers the most HD channels on the market at no additional cost. Beautiful stuff; HD is certainly a thing or the present and of the future and I would recommend it and DISH to anyone looking for the best quality TV out there!
If Apple does release a branded TV, then they would have outdone themselves once again! Why does this not surprise me? I mean it’s Apple… they never ceases to amaze. This TV actually sounds pretty stellar. I will definitely have to check into getting one should it all pan out. I’m constantly looking for the most for my money and the best quality of HD. Being a long term DISH Network customer and most recently employee; I can say that DISH offers the most HD channels on the market at no additional cost. Beautiful stuff; HD is certainly a thing or the present and of the future and I would recommend it and DISH to anyone looking for the best quality TV out there!