Andre Yoskowitz
5 Jan 2012 0:32
According to a former Apple employee interviewed by Scott Martin, Ive, the Apple lead designer and close personal friend of recently deceased CEO Steve Jobs does indeed have a prototype of the much-rumored HDTV.
The anonymous employee used to work in the iTV group, and has intimate knowledge of the still unconfirmed device.
Apparently, the biggest issues Apple is having with the TV is negotiating content. The source says the company is having more than a few issues securing "first-tier TV network programs for an à la carte iTunes TV service."
In regards to the size of the display, the employee says Apple is looking at a 42" screen, which is the sweet spot for most consumers nowadays. The display has seen the full range of rumors, from as small as 32" to as large as 55".
By far the most notable part of the interview is the is the notion that Apple will start a new streaming platform for HD channels, in which users can pick what they want instead of being forced to buy a bundle from a cable company with hundreds of channels they likely don't watch. This had been rumored by analysts last month, but confirmation (of sorts) is good to hear.
Apple is very unlikely to release the TV unless they have deals in place with all major content producers, as Apple tends to not launch a product unless the ecosystem is flawless. On the other hand, the major media companies are likely terrified to start an a la carte service for their channels, which would hurt their long-time partners, the cable companies.