Unnamed industry sources claim that Apple’s rumored iOS-dedicated HDTV will be called “iTV” and will likely launch in the second or third quarter of 2012. Apple’s supply chain will reportedly start preparing materials for the HDTV in the first quarter.

Sources also confirm that it will indeed be an HDTV, and not a set-top box like Apple’s current Apple TV device. The iTV will measure 32- and 37-inches, and will contain ARM-based chips from Samsung that went into production back in November 2011 — possibly the A5 which powers the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Sharp has reportedly signed on to produce the actual display for the iTV products.

As for Apple’s current Apple TV set-top form factor, sources claim that the fruity company will launch a second-generation version in 2012. As seen on Amazon, the latest version just received a small price cut, dropping from $99 USD down to $94.99 USD.

Just last week Apple execs were reportedly meeting with media execs at several large companies to stream content onto the rumored Siri-powered HDTV. Apple essentially wants users to be able to start a movie or TV episode on one Apple device and continue on with another. The talks also reportedly outline ways Siri and/or iOS could recognize users across multiple devices: phones, tablets and TVs.

Confirmation of the iTV project surfaced back in October following a comment made by Steve Jobs in his biography. An unnamed Apple employee claims that Jobs’ “I’ve finally cracked it” comment referred to controlling devices like an HDTV using “the simplest user interface you could imagine,” or rather, the voice control technology behind Siri. This would even include motion control similar to the way users can now navigate through Microsoft’s Xbox.

Will Apple’s iTV be a giant iPod Touch, but without the touch-based interaction? Will users have the ability to install apps like Angry Birds and Shadowgun, and control their games using an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. It will be interesting to see what Apple produces.

SOURCE via DigiTimes