Apple is reportedly in talks with LG Display about providing 4K TV panels for its heavily rumoured Apple iTV device.
The latest rumours suggest Apple is looking to source 55- and 65-inch 4K Ultra HD panels to use for its Apple iTV, making the device future-proof from the start.
Although, according to the rumours, the Curpertino company hasn’t yet finalised any orders with LG Display, Apple has reportedly already been testing the technology.
The news comes from Taiwanese site Digitimes, who also suggests that Apple may also consider Sharp as a supplier for 4K TV panels.
In fact, if the Apple iTV ever launches, Apple may well use multiple suppliers for the display panel technology.
The Digitimes sources say that Sony is also in talks with LG over 4K Ultra HD panels. This rumour seems to hold a little more truth with it, as the Japanese electronics manufacturer has already used LG Display technology for its 84-inch Sony KD-84X9005 TV.
Apple iTV Rumours
Although the Apple iTV rumour mill has been a little quiet of late, Apple iTV 4K Ultra HD capabilities were tipped back in April, alongside a potential late 2013 launch.
This iTV release date seems a little far-fetched now, but this second 4K source may mean the rumours have some semblance of truth.
“Apple is baking on LG display to be able to mass produce Ultra HD TV panels by the second half of the year,” said the sources at the time. “If LG is successful and has ample supply of the technology, Apple may try to release the TV by the end of 2013.”
The Apple iTV is thought to be a product long in the works at Apple HQ in California. In fact, within Walter Isaacson’s posthumously published Steve Jobs biography detailing the life of Apple’s former CEO and co-founder, he quotes Jobs saying he had already “cracked” an Apple branded TV user interface.
“I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use,” said Jobs. “It would be seamlessly synched with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”
Next, tell us what Apple iWatch features you’d like to see.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
