“The analyst also said that the investment could further signal Apple’s intention to enter the television market,” Hughes reports. “Munster has believed for years that Apple will introduce its own HDTV by the end of calendar year 2012 at the earliest.”
Hughes reports, “‘While Apple’s commitment to the living room remains a ‘hobby,’ we continue to believe the company will enter the TV market with a full focus, as an all-in-one Apple television could move the needle when connected TVs proliferate,” Munster said. He said Apple’s component investment, believed to be in displays, could allow Apple to procure screen sizes up to 50 inches.”
Read more in the full article here.
Tiernan Ray reports for Barron’s, “Displays are becoming Apple’s second most important priority, after its software, as the ‘window into the software.’ And [Munster] believes Apple can succeed in the category, as ‘history shows Apple can succeed by redefining mature markets.'”
“Bear in mind, Munster argues, the TV could also be a window into a “cloud-based” version of iTunes that’s been rumored,” Ray reports. “The one thing Munster doesn’t talk about, I’d note, is what TV sales would do to Apple’s profit margin.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Just tell us where the line starts and we’ll be right behind Greg Packer! What about you, do you want an Apple television, too?
“……What about you, do you want an Apple television, too?…..”
u-mmm let me think about this for a moment …
YEP !! Sure do..
especially if Apple uses that new server farm (partially) for giving us some ala carte TV !
An Apple HD TV would be awesome. Going on
Apple’s previous successes, I too would be standing
in line for one and trade in my aging Panny 50″ plasma.
$3.8 billion is for iPhone, iPad, Macbook, iMac, and iPod displays…
If they do plasma…I’ll buy. Or even OLED.
Built in AppleTV?
No bout adout it !
No plasma. Gotta be über thin LED. Then I’m in.
I kinda do want an Apple television, but 50″ is smaller than what I have now, so unlikely I’d buy one.
Im sure it would be the best designed tv ever though.
I don’t really see how selling TVs would fit into Apple’s plan. People don’t replace TVs every 2-3 years, like they do mobile phones, iPads, or laptops. TV technology is slow to change, so the need to change a basically dumb monitor is minimal. It’s the connected devices that make a difference (DVR, AppleTV, satellite, etc.).
Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see how Apple securing its future display needs translates into 50″ TVs. It’s more likely that Apple is securing higher-definition displays for iPads, iPhones, and other portable devices, both to lock out the competition and to significantly reduce prices.
I also fail to see what a TV by Apple would gain in ease of use over any other manufacturer, except that an AppleTV could be embedded. And then be obsolete in 4-5 years. It’s not like you access the control menus of your TV once the system is set up.
Never going to happen. Why do this when buying a $99 appletv does this job without the huge investment and risk. And this guy gets paid for this crap?
An Apple TV makes sense but what Munster claims doesn’t:
– release by end of C12 at “the earliest” …
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– …but alreadysell 1.4m units in C12
– $3.9b just for a couple of large LCD displays two years later? I think it’s for the 100m+ iPod touch, iPhone and iPad units 2011, a number that will probably approach 200m units in three or four years
I love Apple products, I own 2 Apple TVs but I don’t need an Apple television/flat panel. I just finished upgrading to flat panels last year and don’t plan on buying a new television set for about 5 years.
Why would Apple want to get into a product with such a long upgrade cycle? I would rather buy new Apple TVs as new models come out.
Munster used to be a good analyst but he’s fallen off the ledge.
This would be skating to where the puck used to be.
I’ve always believed lack of control over media content is Apple’s Achiles Heel. Any move in the direction of Apple gaining that control will be welcome. I consider a move to put out their own HDTVs a little, indirect step in that direction.
I agree with Silverhawk on this one.
While I would love to have Apple quality TV with their patiented 3D TV, without having to wear glasses, and a built it Apple TV. I just don’t think their 3.9B dollar investment is for that reason.
I’m thinking iPad, iPhone, iTouch screens as well as suring up screen for iMac’s and maybe even a larger iMac.
Oh, but how I dream of actual TV made by Apple and how that would effect my investments. By the way, I suggest investing in Corning (gorilla glass) now.
Redundant. Apple TV does everything a combo TV could do without the drag of having the TV and the Apple TV software bundled together.
No Value Add: What is going to differentiate Apple from competitors? The quality of their monitors? Not nearly enough differentiation for Apple.
Markets: Apple doesn’t enter markets, they re-invent them. An Apple TV set provides little more than the current Apple TV set top box does and an Apple TV set would in no way revolutionize the field.
Last year, I connected a new Mac mini with it’s HDMI to my huge Sony HDTV and my first generation Apple TV. What do you think I will do? The question is really, how many will I buy the first year it starts shipping?
At least 1 and maybe a 2nd. Depends on the features and price.
answer = no.
I’d buy it except I hate TV and have no room for a 50″
But Apple will make it compelling
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“The analyst also said that the investment could further signal Apple’s intention to enter the television market” They could also be buying cargo ships so they have their own fleets, but they arent. What is this guy smoking? The price tag seems just about right to ensure they have enough displays for their entire line of products. What an imbecile.
I think he is thinking of Apple TV?
Integrate Apple TV into the TV sets available and forget about the rest
The 3.9b was for SSD drives that will be found in every Mac in next 12 months.
People rave about the speed of a 1.8 ghz MacBook Air. Don’t we all want one of those drives in our next Mac and other I product? I do!
Steve, Can you make it an iPad thats dockable with all the ports of a Mac pro and a few drive bays. Thanks
Gene Munster said in 2006 that Apple will introduce TV by 2009 then in 2009 he said it will be by 2011 and now it’s 2012. The fact is you don’t need 3.9 billion investment for LCD panels unless you are planning to ship 30 million 50-inch TVs in next two years, which would make Apple the biggest TV maker.
Apple is NOT going to build a TV. It’s ludicrous. It’s a commodity business.