iPad fever has finally died down, which means it’s time for the rumor mill to begin speculating about other Apple products, in this case Apple’s fabled television set. The newest rumor suggests that Apple will release their HDTV sometime in 2013.
Business Insider reports on a note issued by Hong Kong-based research firm CLSA, which backs up a previous rumor in suggesting that Foxconn’s recent investment in Sharp is probably related to Apple’s forthcoming television:
We continue to view Apple TV hardware as a 2013 event.
The timing of Hon Hai/Foxconn’s equity stake and partnership with Sharp along with Hon Hai Chairman Terry Gou’s separate 46.5% investment in Sharp’s Sakai City plant lends further credibility that Apple TV is in the works. This also follows reports that Apple is investing ~$1.3bn in equipment destined for Sharp facilities.
Make no mistake about it: this is little more than a shot in the dark, although it does make some degree of sense. Other than Steve Jobs’ “I finally cracked it” comment in Walter Isaacson’s recent biography, there’s an utter lack of any solid information that Apple is planning to release a television at all, let alone sometime next year.
Previous rumors have suggested that the Apple television might debut sometime late this year, with the most recent reports suggesting that parts for the new device may already have begun to ship.
I’d recommend taking all such claims with at least one grain of salt.
