Apple TV

With a company as secretive as Apple (AAPL), some of the best information on its upcoming projects often comes from its job postings. 9to5Mac now points us to a new Apple job posting that seeks an “experienced engineering manager to help deliver the next generation features for Apple TV” who will also “work closely with cross functional teams” while “representing Apple TV across Apple.” Since the job posting also says that the engineering manager will help “bring the Apple experience to the living room,” it sounds as though the new Apple TV features will more tightly integrate the platform with other Apple products based on iOS and OS X. Recent rumors have indicated that Apple will release an SDK for its Apple TV platform sometime this year, so it would make sense for Apple to hire an engineer for additional help making the company’s set-top box function more like a smartphone or a tablet with support for third-party apps.

Rumors of a “revolutionary” Apple (AAPL) television set have been around for years, but this may be the year that we actually see the mythical iTV unveiled for public consumption. Per MacRumors, Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek reports that Apple is holding an event for developers in March that “is Apple-TV related (possibly an iTV SDK introduction).” Even more enticing, Misek believes that a ”September/October iTV launch is being targeted” and that the SDK will give developers plenty of time to have apps ready when it’s released to the market. Misek also expects the “iTV” to be priced at around $1,500 and sized between 42 inches and 55 inches. More →

HBO on Tuesday updated its HBO GO and MAX GO applications for the iPhone and iPad, adding long-awaited AirPlay support. The new update will allow cable and satellite TV customers who subscribe to either HBO or Cinemax to stream on-demand content via their iOS devices to any Apple TV set-top box. The announcement was made by HBO President and COO Eric Kessler during the AllThingsD: Dive Into Media conference in San Francisco, and both app updates are available immediately in Apple’s (AAPL) App Store.

Apple (AAPL) is said to be in negotiations with Time Warner (TWX) to offer an HBO Go application on Apple TV by mid-2013, according to sources speaking to Bloomberg. The set-top box already carries services from Netflix (NFLX) and Hulu, and the addition of HBO Go could help Apple boost sales of the device. The service allows HBO subscribers to stream original TV shows and movies on the Web and through variety of devices such as Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, TVs, Blu-ray players, Roku boxes and gaming consoles. More →

While there will certainly be several sweet new television sets on display at the Consumer Electronics Show next week, the TV that generates the most buzz may be one that isn’t even at the show. Per AppleInsider, Topeka Capital’s Brian White thinks that Apple’s (AAPL) long-rumored television set will be “the elephant in the room” because of its potential to “totally reinvent the TV experience.” Specifically, White thinks that “Apple’s ability to develop hardware and software together, combined with a relentless, detailed focus on aesthetics and a robust ecosystem will make the company difficult to beat in the coming years” when it comes to changing the television set industry.

A number of industry watchers are waiting for Apple’s (AAPL) “next big thing” before they’re confident once again that the company can maintain rapid growth in the coming years. While many expect an own-brand HDTV from Apple to be that catalyst, a new report suggests Apple’s much rumored television will not be released in 2013. Near the top of a list of 13 predictions for 2013, BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield writes that Apple’s “mythical” TV set may indeed be in the works, but it will not launch this year. More →

Apple (AAPL) is reportedly testing a number of HDTV prototypes with manufacturing partner Hon Hai, though a launch in the coming year is said to be unlikely. Citing a single anonymous source, Focus Taiwan reports that initial testing of Apple’s own-brand TV sets is currently under way at Hon Hai. Display panels on the prototypes are said to range from 46 to 55 inches and several different designs are being tested. According to the site’s source, the final version of Apple’s debut HDTV is not likely to begin shipping until 2014 at the earliest.