The iPhone. The iPad. The iPod. All were revolutionary devices in their own right, and now Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil yet another product that could redefine the industry as we know it.
There is just one problem: a complete lack of details. All we know thus far is that acclaimed French designer Phillippe Starck believes Cupertino will reveal a “revolutionary” new device over the next year.
“Indeed, there is a big project together which will be out in eight months,” Starck said in a recent radio interview with France Info cited by HardMac.
The designer also claimed he met with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on a regular basis before he passed away last October, and continues to maintain contact with Jobs’s widow, Laurene Powell.
As AppleInsider’s Neil Hughes notes, while Starck’s work is varied and wide-reaching, there is no real indication that Starck has worked directly with Cupertino in any capacity, although he did design a pair of upscale iPhone/iPod speakers ($1,600) and headphones for Parrot in 2008.
Nevertheless, it is more than likely that Starck is referring to Apple’s rumored TV television set, which Cupertino design chief Jony Ive is said to be testing in a secure studio.
According to analyst Peter Misek of Jefferies, the new device could be called the iPanel, and would be “far more” than just a standard TV.
“It is a display, gaming center, media hub, computer, home automator, etc,” Misek explained in a recent industry note.
Then again, Starck’s remark could be related to Apple’s next-gen iPhone, which is said to feature a totally revamped exterior. Only time will tell what Starck is referring to, although one thing is almost certain, whetever Apple is planning will likely redefine the industry once again.
