The hotly-tipped Apple TV is real, and comes with Siri built-in. That's according to an inside source who has seen Siri make a video call on an actual prototype.
Cult of Mac reports that the iTV prototype looks like one of the aluminum LED Cinema Display monitors currently sold by Apple, only bigger -- previous rumours suggest the Apple telly will come in 32-inch and 37-inch sizes
Other features include an iSight webcam so you can make FaceTime video calls. It comes complete with a face-tracking function that allows you to make calls from your couch. If you prefer to pace up and down while you talk, you'll be glad to know the camera can also follow you as you wander around your living room.
The name of the fruity gogglebox has yet to be nailed down. Sticking a little 'i' on the start will match up with the iPhone, iPad, iMac and the rest -- but British TV channel ITV has already warned Apple off the iTV name.
The fruity telly could absorb another current product and adopt the Apple TV name -- after all, Apple thinks of the tiny media-streaming box as a hobby.
There's everything to play for in the world of televisions. Pretty much all new models are Internet-connected smart TVs, but we'd argue none of them have really succeeded to steal the hearts of consumers just yet.
There are a bunch of online TV-watching gadgets available now -- check out our head-to-head comparison of Apple TV, the Xbox 360 and PS3 -- but with next-generation boxes like YouView and Google TV taking their time to turn up, the world of television is still wide open.
Would you buy an iTV? Would you ask Siri to change the channel? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 10
Add your comment
anonymous 8 May, 2012 10:23
What are the chances of Apple leaving any connectivity for other devices? Will you be able to plug your 360 or PS3 in? WIll they provide HDMI or are they going to lock this down and keep you downloading apps instead.
Peter Hudson 8 May, 2012 10:47
I would definately buy this. Although the thought of being constantly online with skype, my mum would be calling me all the time. But being able to make video calls either skype or facetime from my TV would be awesome.
anonymous 8 May, 2012 10:56
Who the hell would spend silly money on a tiny TV?
anonymous 8 May, 2012 11:40
anonymous 8 May, 2012 10:23
That's a very good point. I was wandering that myself. They seem to be moving towards wifi synching and thunderbolt use. My guess is, it would be a very bad move for them and they just couldn't afford to do this. Most of the market want a tv that they can connect their xbox, ps3, blu-ray or dvd player to. They just couldn't get around this unnless the future tech come with syncing over the air. I think that will eventually happen but just too soon. Apple will certainly have that capability built in though i would suspect.
anonymous 8 May, 2012 12:25
@ Peter Hudson:
You can Skype from most smart tv's as of last year
Peter Hudson 8 May, 2012 13:55
Damn you anonymous for showing me up as the dinosaur I'm trying not to be. Yeah I know most of the current TV's have skype built in but I cant be bothered buying 'Smart' TVs. And I know it sounds odd saying that and then saying I would buy this. But an apple TV wouldn't be a new device really, it would slot nicely into the apple ecosystem in my house.
And I would have to assume it would use HDMI to allow us to connect our games consoles. It might even do some fancy PiP magic.
anonymous 8 May, 2012 15:31
Panasonic already got these features. yet again apple tv will be overrated and crap. Just stick to normal brands like Sony or Samsung especially end of this year that they gonna bring out the super thin OLED tv's looks sick
anonymous 12 May, 2012 20:11
"Apple just couldn't afford to do this?" Are you insane, Anon? Apple has larger cash stockpiles than MANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES HAVE GDP (look it up), and you think they couldn't "afford" to do something? They could launch it and FAIL SPECTACULARLY and barely notice the blip on their books.
It kills me how uninformed some people are who feel comfortable spouting off things they have no knowledge about.
anonymous 14 May, 2012 01:59
Yes I would defiantly purchase an itv but only once they start make the 55" inch and up models
anonymous 31 May, 2012 19:03
such OLD news, constantly being repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over... Cant you guys find anything new to write about?