Edible Apple

With all of the speculation surrounding the rumored Apple HDTV, Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair this morning issued a research note articulating a theory that Apple’s foray into the TV market may very well start with their high-end iMac.

By incorporating TV functionality into its 27-inch iMac, Blair writes that Apple would be able to test the TV waters before expanding out into full fledged HDTV units.

We think this makes sense because while we typically think about the newest TV’s hanging on the wall in large form factors, Apple could effectively start with what they already have on the manufacturing line and slowly push their offering from 27 inches and scale up from there to 32 inches and then move on to the 42, 50 and 55 inch market. In short, we believe the initial Apple TV is their iMac computer that can function as a TV, over the iCloud platform.

Huh?

Herein lies the problem with analysts. They often lack the proper technical and contextual background to cogently articulate either a) what they’re trying to get across or b) come up with head scratching predictions seemingly made up out of thin air.

To wit, Apple’s 27-inch iMac will operate as a TV over the iCloud platform? What does that mean, exactly?

Steve Jobs in his biography mentioned his desire to revitalize the TV industry, and specifically said he wanted to create an “integrated television set” that would seamlessly sync up with iOS devices and with iCloud. That’s all well and good for a TV, but this functionality already exists on the iMac.

So essentially, Apple’s first TV so to speak, according to Blair, will be nothing more than an iMac with a TV Tuner built-in.

Thanks for playing, but please try again. With no direct evidence cited by Blair, we wouldn’t pay this research note much heed. Apple executive Greg Joswiak recently said that Apple doesn’t enter a market unless it feels it can be the best. Consequently, should Apple get into the TV business, we imagine it will offer an entirely new take on the TV watching experience. Whether that means Siri integration or tight integration with iOS devices or a revolutionary new interface remains to be seen.

But watching TV on a 27-inch iMac? We’re not buying it, especially given the plethora of video watching options already available on the Mac – from YouTube to iTunes and Netflix and more.

Something tells me Apple is aiming a lot higher than that and will aim to make a huge splash in the market, much in the same way the iPhone did in 2007. A half-hearted effort by incorporating TV into the iMac just doesn’t make any sense. Now somehow integrating a user’s iMac with a new Apple HDTV? Hmm, now that is something worth exploring.

via Forbes