image from www.apple.com
The funny thing yet in a good way, about the Apple Company in the view of consumers and observers is that they have the tendency to make other businesses nervous. The CD companies were dramatically swept aside when the iTunes came out. And now, the television set manufacturing businesses are somewhat in the same nervousness as the Apple-designed iTV could start production in February.
Walter Isaacson, the author of Steve Jobs’ recent biography, says the Apple visionary revealed to him that he had finally “cracked” the problem with TV and was working on what he called an “integrated television set.” Peter Misek tells investors that Japan-based Sharp, makers of iPhone and iPad displays, is making some minor adjustments in its production lines to manufacture undefined TFT LCD panels for a device referred to as the “iTV.” If no hiccups arise, production could begin February 2012 with an iTV announcement by the middle of next year.
With these speculations, questions arise like…What would iTV has to offer that other television sets do not have? As we all know, once Apple releases their new product, we can always count on innovation, revolution and evolution. Analysts have been speculating for years that Apple would move into the living room in a big way. Others guess that iTV will include a touch-screen 3D TV, and even a TV powered by the voice-recognition system Siri.
In the latest version of its mobile operating system, the iOS, Apple expanded a technology called AirPlay to include device “mirroring” between the $99 Apple TV and the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. The technology allows you to beam content from your mobile devices to your television, including video, audio and even games in real time. Suddenly, what you can do with your TV is a much larger offering. Apple is making the device in your hands the hub in your living room simply by interfacing through the Apple TV. Imagine if the company decided to produce a line of televisions with similar technology built in. The Apple TV already runs the same mobile OS as the company’s phones and tablets — why wouldn’t a TV set? That could mean that not only would those devices be able to talk to and interact with one another, but they would be able to run the same or similar apps.
image from www.apple.com
Well, for consumers and gadget enthusiasts like me, all we can do right now is to wait and see if the speculations and ideas will materialize soon. But one thing is for sure…when Apple introduces its version of a TV it will be revolutionary. And one thing you can always count on from Apple is innovation, revolution and evolution. iTV will summarize Steve Jobs continuing philosophy of combining technology, art and ease of use. It will be eloquent, integrative and imaginative - it will be an Apple iTV
