Conflicting Reports Surface on the Future of Apple TV

     Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says ITMS movie rentals direct to Apple TV will be announced at Macworld keynote address on January 15, 2008. He expects a software update to Apple TV to enable this service and adds that pricing and DRM-related issues between the movie studios and Apple have been the main obstacles to an agreement.

     Phillip Swann of TVPredictions.com, on the other hand, says Apple will dump the model labeled by Steve Jobs himself as a “hobby” by the end of 2008. Swann cites lackluster Apple TV sales of about 400 000 units this year as a factor. Various Apple enthusiasts sites have also reported the possible integration of Apple TV with a large flat panel resulting in a new Apple offering.

     I personally think Apple will introduce a vastly improved Apple TV 2.0 in 2008 featuring hardware upgrades like larger onboard storage and more digital connectivity options plus HD content rental on ITMS. Now tell me that wouldn’t turn Apple TV from a hobby into a viable business leg.

D.S.