That’s according to a research note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who said Apple could unveil its much-anticipated television in December and ship it next year.
Munster said he expects the Apple TV product line to cost between $1,500 and $2,000 and range in size from 42-55 inches.
One of Apple TV’s biggest features will be voice commands for everything it does (TV programming, internet surfing). That is not a unique technology and other TV manufacturers (and likely set-top box makers/MSOs) will be rolling out voice command in lock step with Apple—if not before. So Apple TV will have to either be something extremely special and/or appeal to hardcore Apple consumers just as well as its other devices have after launch.
Munster also said he believes The iPhone 5 will make its debut in October and will “be the biggest consumer product launch this year and drive the biggest device upgrade cycle,” he said.
Munster also believes here’s an 80% chance that Apple hits his 49 million target for the iPhone 5 in the final quarter of the year.
RBR-TVBR observation: Apple will likely pitch Apple TV as a new screen in their lives, which will synchronize with the iPad, iPhone and iTouch, with touch, gesture, voice and iPad control. Sure, it will be a TV set, but it will act more like a giant iPad.
