If (almost) year-round iPhone and iPad rumors aren’t enough for you, then you’re in luck. You can now add the Apple TV set to the non-stop rumor mill. Its existence isn’t even confirmed, but that hasn’t stopped us from hearing murmurs related to its features, price, and release date. Though this is yet another completely unconfirmed bit of news, a new report says that the so-called iTV is unlikely to launch in the second quarter of 2012.
The (alleged) reason for the (alleged) delay of the (alleged) iTV actually makes some sense: Apple hasn’t yet placed orders for Sharp’s IGZO LCD panels. The new display components can allow for high resolution displays for a relatively cheap price, so they would be a natural fit for an Apple TV set (allegedly).
Sometimes collections of rumors can start to paint a picture that gives you some idea what to expect. With the iTV, though, much is unknown. The biggest confirmation of its existence came from the Walter Isaacson biography Steve Jobs, when the late CEO is quoted as saying he “finally cracked the case” of the integrated TV set. Many have assumed that it will use Siri and iOS devices for control, with software that integrates all of a customer’s content sources.
As odd as it is for such a secret to be (apparently willingly) spilled by Apple, the competition has responded in turn. After the enormous success of the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, manufacturers like Samsung and LG have been trying to produce TVs that rival what they imagine the iTV will be like. Some have thin bezels, some have voice control, and they’re all custom-tailored to beat an unconfirmed Apple product to market.
Assuming, for a moment, that the iTV won’t indeed launch by Q2 of 2012, that still doesn’t rule out a holiday release. Though millions of customers are ready to drop $200 on an iPhone in June or $500 on an iPad in March or April, a (probably) more expensive TV set could be a different story. The holiday season would be a smart release window for it, whether in 2012 or lat
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