Gene Munster reiterates his estimates on Apple’s TV business, expects major new upgrade towards the end of 2015

Feb 13, 2015 11:05 GMT  ·  By

Despite being wrong on countless occasions regarding Apple’s endeavors in the TV space, Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster continues to churn out investor notes predicting the future of Apple TV.

His last take on the matter involves gaming and HomeKit integration - pretty much a given considering the latest developments and rumors. For the next-generation Apple TV, which Munster expects to launch towards the end of 2015, Apple will bolster the hardware and implement gaming capabilities, as well as home automation features, says the analyst.

To be announced alongside iPhone 6S

Munster not only believes Apple plans to continue upgrading the Apple TV hardware, he believes the announcement will be part of the ceremonious iPhone 6S unveiling at an event planned for the fall period.

Apple typically reserves its most exciting announcements for the September quarter, when all the rumors and speculation about its developments reach a fever peak. Here's what Munster wrote in an investor note this week:

“We believe that a content service could be paired with an updated Apple TV box in a fall event alongside a new iPhone or iPad. We believe that an updated Apple TV and/or content offering could be one of the core new offerings from Apple in 2015, given our belief that the phone is likely to be an 'S' upgrade cycle, and there appears to be little new on the iPad side other than a potentially larger screen.”

He sees Apple making inroads into areas where Sling TV currently activates, and considers the announcement potentially bigger than the iPhone upgrade, which is far less exciting than the full overhaul that comes only once every two years at Apple.

“Hey Siri”

Munster seems to be picking on rumors about Apple entering the web-TV space with new offerings, but his hypothesis is also based on existing developments that seem to be taking HomeKit to all new heights through the Apple TV.

Munster, like many others, believes home automation will play a key role in Apple’s business as a whole, and that users will one day be able to say “Hey Siri” and flip any switch in their house simply by voicing their commands - easily foreseeable, not necessarily something that requires a degree to predict.

But since analysts like Munster have a say when it comes to how Apple’s shares fluctuate, forecasts like these inevitably make some waves.