Best Buy has stopped selling the Apple TV set-top box amid a new rumor that suggest preliminary production has begun on an Apple-branded TV set.
The upcoming TV, which is rumored to offer unparalleled wireless connectivity, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and potentially a Siri-esque voice command in place of a traditional remote control, has been the subject of many rumors over the last few months.
The idea of creating the smartest of smart TVs was apparently a pet project of the late CEO Steve Jobs up until his final days. That vision is expected to become reality by the end of the year.
Now, Genesis Photronics, a manufacturer of LED chips, is reported to be supplying Apple with components for the upcoming and potentially revolutionary living room staple. This info comes from a report on Digitimes.com.
It was previously reported that Sharp would produce the actual panels for the TV. The continued rumors of new supply manufacturers suggests progress in the production of the iTV is coming along nicely.
At the same time, Best Buy yanking the Apple TV from its website suggests the retailer may know something we don’t. The Apple TV was Apple’s previous attempt at entering the living room, but it has largely been a flop due to the mere fact that people don’t like the idea of dedicated set-top boxes anymore.
Not in a world where increasing amounts of software is built into the TV itself, or some other staple component like game consoles or Blu-ray players.
