Apple’s iTV ‘could launch late next year’

Apple’s iTV could launch late next year or early 2013, an analyst has claimed.

Gene Munster believes Apple is investing in manufacturing facilities and securing supply for LCD displays, which could range from 3.5” to 50” screens.

"My thesis is based on meetings with contacts close to Asian component suppliers, industry contacts, Apple’s patent portfolio for television technology, and recent product launches,” he said, as quoted by Business Insider.

Munster added that he recently met with a contact close to an Asian component supplier who indicated that Apple television prototypes “are in the works”.

Apple visionary Steve Jobs said in his authorised biography, written by Walter Issacson, that he would “like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use”.

He added that the product would be synced with other apple devices through iCloud, and that before his death he had “finally cracked it”.

Valve boss Gabe Newell recently claimed that he suspects Apple will launch a living room product “that redefines people’s expectations” and said if successful “the notion of a separate console platform will disappear”.

Apple currently sells a puck-sized set-top box – called Apple TV – that allows users to play movies, photos and music from the App store on their home televisions.

The product however has not taken off like the company’s iPhone and iPad, being labelled by company officials as a “hobby”.