Those Apple television rumors just won’t quit will they? According to Cult of Mac, a new rumor/report from the South Korea-based Korea Herald, an “unnamed” South Korean display manufacture is currently making 65-inch organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel samples for Apple’s proposed “iTV”.
The Korea Herald also reported that a source close to the matter said this on Saturday;
“Around 2 million Apple‘s iTVs with 65- and 77-inch liquid crystal displays were expected to hit the market in the second half of this year. However, Apple employees visited this local company in October 2013 to delay the plans to next year. Following the visit, the display maker’s stock prices plunged.”
The delays are purportedly due to a decision to switch from LCD panels to OLED panels which are in shorter supply. John Seo, an analyst at Shinhan Investment said;
“Though the yield rate of OLED panels is still not high for mass production, they are considered to be the best panels for TVs because of its high definition and the potential of curvedness.”
The jury is still out on how practical it would be for Apple to manufacture its own television with current prices for 60″ LED models ranging between $1000-2000, however, there have been several theories suggesting that Apple might subsidize the “iTV”, partnering with Comcast and other service providers to bundle data, TV, and other services with the device, much like the iPhone. If you are interested in the numbers though, check out this article which goes into more detail about the value speculations and how the numbers may show that it may not be worth it to Apple to offer such a device.
[iTV concept image from Guilherme Schasiepen]