Apple iTV may be launched in first half of 2013

One of the biggest topics to keep the rumour mills churning this week is the possibility of the iPhone 5S being launched in the first half of 2013. Alongside it, we could see another device make an appearance, the mythical iTV.

China Times reports on the possibility of the iPhone 5S being launched in the first half of next year, and also sheds lights on the launch of an iTV, which could take place before the year’s second quarter ends.

Over the past couple of years, it has been rumoured that Apple is preparing an HDTV deeply integrated with Apple’s voice recognition assistant, Siri, and that it would be launched by late this year or early next year. However, the possibility of it being launched this year appears to be slim, and now, in all likelihood, this full-fledged television set may make its debut next year.

Apple HDTV may come out next year (Image mock up)

The rumours went as far as stating that the Apple branded HDTV was in production, and an analyst Peter Misek, in a research note, stated that the television would show up in stores by the end of this year.

In a related report, commenting on the report by Jeffereies, 9to5Mac states, “While referring to the platform as iTV, Jefferies added Apple is planning to partner with Verizon and AT&T in addition to selling set-top-boxes for cable providers such as Comcast. According to the report, Apple will offer a “premium Apple television” offering content from Verizon and AT&T, as well as giving users an option for just a cable box for Comcast and possibly other cable operators. Content for users outside of the US was not discussed in the report. Jefferies is now including 2 million iTVs in its model for early 2013 with an average sale price of $1,250”.

Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, in his biography, had told author Walter Isaacson that he had ‘cracked it’, while referring to an integrated HDTV. However, there has been no concrete information regarding an Apple HDTV, also known as, Apple iTV. Isaacson did not wish to divulge information he had about any of Apple’s forthcoming products. With Foxconn CEO Terry Gou letting it slip that his company is getting ready to begin producing the Apple iTV, we may expect to see some official information soon.

An earlier report stated that Gou said Foxconn is making preparations for iTV, Apple Inc's rumoured upcoming high-definition television, although development or manufacturing has yet to begin. iTV reportedly features an aluminium construction, Siri, and FaceTime video calling.

To get a better idea on what the iTV would entail, anonymous sources have revealed in the past that one could start watching a movie on the television set, pick up an iOS device such as an iPhone, and continue watching from where one last watched. Reports have emerged that the television would resemble Apple’s Cinema Displays, but it would be a lot larger. Like the report by China Daily, previous reports too have indicated that the iTV would be Siri-enabled, and have an iSight camera that enables making FaceTime calls.

Acer C7 Chromebook launched, priced at $199

Acer recently launched the C7 Chromebook that runs Google’s Chrome operating system, and is priced at $199. The new Acer C7 Chromebook is designed to be an additional laptop for families, students and business people. 

“Today’s computer users are doing more online heightening the need for enhanced security, quicker online access and an easy-to-use interface,” Jim Wong, corporate president, Acer Inc“The Acer C7 Chromebook provides all this at an affordable price, making it the right choice for families and students on a budget as well as anyone who wants a new or second mobile PC for web-based computing.”

Available at a price of $199

“The core of Google’s Chromebook vision is creating a better, more simple computing experience and making it available to everyone,” said Sundar Pichai, senior vice president, Chrome and Apps, Google. “We’re excited about the Acer C7 Chromebook, the newest addition to the Chromebook family. The Acer C7 delivers a hassle-free computing experience with the speed, security and simplicity that users expect of Chromebooks built in.” 

Acer states that the C7 Chromebook boots up in less than 18 seconds and resumes quickly from sleep mode. Users can access apps through the app launcher and find new apps from the thousands of Chrome apps and games featured in the Chrome Web Store.

Acer states that the C7 Chromebook has security features built-in to defend against malware and viruses. The Acer C7 is automatically updated. It comes with integrated 802.11b/ g/ n Wi-Fi, so customers can quickly connect to hotspots and wireless networks. 

The brand claims that the Acer C7 Chromebook is easy to maintain and share with others around the home, school or work. Users can have separate accounts and simply log in to get things done. Acer Chromebook customers are offered up to 100GB of free Google Drive storage for the first two years after purchase, so files are stored in the cloud even if the Acer C7 is lost, damaged or stolen. Customers can also access files offline, or create and edit Google Documents and use Gmail offline as well.

The Acer C7 is portable and sleek and it weighs only 3.05 pounds and measures one-inch thin, so it can be easily taken anywhere as it fits into a backpack, briefcase, or purse. The slim size houses a full-sized keyboard. The fully-clickable touchpad allows customers to conveniently get things done. 

The Acer C7 features an integrated HD 1.3MP webcam with an LED indicator and microphone that can be used for video conferencing, as well as capturing video and photos for sharing online. Acer claims that websites, documents, photos and high-definition video look crisp and clear on the C7’s 11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystalTM LED-backlit LCD. 

The premiere offering in the Acer C7 Chromebook line is the Acer C710-2847. Powered by an Intel Celeron 847 processor (2MB L3 cache, 1.10GHz, DDR3 1333 MHz) and 2GB of DDR3 memory, the Acer C7 provides the performance to speed through the web, access files, enjoy video and more. It also has 320GB HDD for storing files. 

The Acer C7 can be connected to consumer electronics devices such as camcorders, digital cameras and smart phones via its three USB 2.0 ports. It also has an HDMI port for pushing video and content to external displays and HDTVs. In addition, its card reader supports SD card and MMC, so customers can play their music and video directly from the card, or upload photos, video and music to sites. 

As of now, there is no word on when the Acer C7 will be available in India. For more information on this new Chromebook, click here.