Apple television rumored to come in 3 sizes, including 32" and 55"

Maybe they plan to push display resolutions, the same way they've done with the iPad. Apple is one of the few players with enough clout (and bandwidth) to push 4K resolution TV into living rooms. This could allow them to establish a manufacturing barrier-to-entry and de-commoditize the TV market.

because they have an agenda to own the entire home entertainment stack. Letting you keep your existing tv is not compatible with this. They don't want customers who are picky about integrating with their existing devices. They want customers that want all apple all the time and love to pay for it.

The same reason they do everything: vertical integration and control.

Because they don't care about you.

Anyone with the mindset of "my tv works fine... unlikely to replace" is probably not their target audience.

I have a buddy that will buy anything new, regardless if he needs it or not. He, is why they make these shiny gadgets.

You clearly have not set up TVs for your family. :P

TVs nowadays have absolutely atrocious navigation and remote controls, and it seems absurd that everyone needs to educate themselves on what a DVB-B, C, and T tuners are. TVs today are marketed as "it looks great", not "it just works".

Most people can't tell the different image qualities aside, unless they are completely abhorrent (probably because retail stores tend to give cheaper TVs an analogue signal to sell the expensive ones), and it's the reason why we have to suffer the "Dynamic" video setting on our TVs.

That people in select countries will also know that they can get help from the Apple Geniuses probably also helps a bunch - tech support in this regard is a pain in the ass.

Besides, I am sure that the iTVs will be somewhat unlike what we are used to - for one, I have a Panasonic plasma AND a PS3, and I am still left with no TV browser worth the effort.

The hub-like experience is going to be incredibly interesting, but the price and image quality will still be very important to people more in the know about these things like your median HN user.

But I am excited, because it will give everyone a kick in the ass to raise the bar, regardless of whether I buy one.

Are you saying that simply because TVs are more expensive (and perhaps have longer expected lifespans) than MP3 players, phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, etc.? Most of what Apple (and every other company) sells isn't the first entry into its market, so they're always hoping you will buy "a whole new whatever."

Because Apple's marketing goal is to simplify, not add more. In addition they want to draw you into the Apple brand. They want you to have the, "Apple products work great with other Apple products, and I already have all these Apple products, so I might as well choose an Apple product when I need something to do X" mentality. They want full hardware control. A small box wont do that. Another small box will have millions of combinations of other hardware attached to it that may behave in unexpected ways. If they sell you a TV instead, then they can ensure that they're the central hub (and likewise, that everything "just works").

I hate my home entertainment center. Really, really hate it. I mean it works fine, but I have too many remotes, way too many wires (I think R2D2 blew up back there), and doing something seemingly simple ("turn the tv on and watch something") involves operating a stereo, a DVR, and a TV.

And the UI's haven't evolved much in recent years. My TV menus (volume, change source, etc.) look like they run on the same software as an old ATM. I like Tivo, but it hasn't changed much in over a decade and is looking really dated.

The real opportunity lies in the integration options with other devices, like my computer, my iPhone, iPad, etc. But in order to realize it, Apple has to shove other TV manufacturers out of the way.

They probably don't expect many people to rush out and replace existing HDTVs. If they get into that market they'll probably do it for the long term. When you're shopping for an Ultra HDTV in the future there will be an Apple model for you to choose from. Also while about 65% of Americans own an HDTV the average American household has 3 TVs. Lots of room for growth there just in the US alone. In China the demand for HDTVs is growing at a crazy pace. I couldn't find any updated statistics but in 2007 year-to-year shipments of HDTVs to China rose 70% So there's a huge world-wide market for HDTVs even if not a single person replaces an existing model just to get the Apple one. (and of course we know 5-10 million people in the US alone will do just that)

I don't see why buying a new TV should be different than buying a new laptop. A 47" LG LCD TV is about the same price as a Macbook Air, and nobody complains that the MBA requires them to "replace their existing laptop."

Not that I think Apple is going out with TV's. The content situation is still iffy, and I'm not really sure if Apple can do anything about the pure shit interfaces DirectTV and the cable companies put on their services.

and you can do that - you don't have to buy the apple product. since when has apple ever made a product that works for everybody?

apple has a vision, they make a product with as few compromises to that vision as they can. if that doesn't work for you, apple doesn't care. they'll still sell tons.

What's there to understand? Every company in the world would like you to buy a whole new whatever-it-is-they-sell. If you don't need it, don't buy it.

I'm with you! Let's start a rumor to this effect!

> Apple would make an Apple TV "3.0" that fits into that dock.

I would love it if they did this, but it doesn't sound like The Apple Way. I think they really do want you to replace your whole TV set every couple years. Or, they'll pack enough features and performance into the starting model that it will last 3-5 years before becoming obsolete.

If you think apple are going to go out of their way to avoid obsolescence, especially over an all-in-one, clean experience, you have been watching a very different apple to me over the last 10 years. (and i have an iPod with a flat battery to sell you).

And to be honest, the kind of electronics involved in this stuff isn't that expensive (to make). More so by the time you're ready to buy your second.

Only if we're lucky.

Scaling a 600 gram iPad to 55" would cause it to weigh about 12 kilograms, without taking into account any extra material needed to strengthen its case.

I'd buy one. Where the "TV" mode is just one particular app.