Apple fanatics may have something new to get excited about. In addition to the iPad 2 and iPhone 5, they can now expect an Apple television, according to Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster.
Specifically, Munster believes that Applea4a4s mysterious $3.9 billion component investment is all about securing displays for its products (very likely), and that it also hints at the companya4a4s interest in a television of its own, Apple Insider reports.
Munster has been saying for years now that Apple will release an Internet-connected TV by the end of 2012, but the evidence has always seemed paper-thin. Thata4a4s no different now. Apple is currently a display-hungry company. All of its best-selling products rely on high quality displays, and ita4a4s also one of the few buyers of high-resolution mobile displays like the one used for the iPhone 4a4a4s a4ARetinaa4 screen. And considering that the iPad 2 will likely also call for a higher quality screen, ita4a4s no big surprise Apple would want to secure display supplies &8212' especially since shortages of OLED displays have plagued cellphone manufacturers for years.
VentureBeata4a4s own Dean Takahashi has argued that Apple should build its own TV, but I still dona4a4t see it. For one thing, consumers dona4a4t purchase televisions like they do other electronics. While most consumers replace their phones and MP3 players every two to three years &8212' something that greatly benefits Apple &8212' TVs generally get used for much longer. Thata4a4s especially the case now that consumers are purchasing large HDTVs. There has to be a compelling reason for those consumers to upgrade their televisions, and I dona4a4t think the promise of an Apple connected TV is enough.
Apple would be better off focusing its energy on the new $99 Apple TV, which has sold like crazy, even though it still lacks support from CBS and NBC for TV rentals. The addition of Netflix streaming video playback, plus its new lower price, has made the Apple TV a hit with consumers. Still, therea4a4s room for growth. Apple needs to add apps to the platform, and forge more deals with content providers, to truly take advantage of the Apple TVa4a4s potential.
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Companies: Apple
People: Gene Munster
Companies: Apple
People: Gene Munster
Devindra Hardawar is VentureBeat's lead mobile writer and East Coast correspondent. He studied philosophy at Amherst College, worked in IT support for several years, and has been writing about technology since 2004. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can reach him at devindra@venturebeat.com (all story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com), and on Twitter at @Devindra.
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