No Cable for Apple TV, Says Apple Exec

Via a research note by Caris & Company comes word that Apple TV as a cable set-top-box is a no-no. The company’s analysts met with Apple Executive Peter Oppenheimer on Tuesday and discussed a number of subjects, including the fact that a cable set-top-box “doesn’t fit Apple’s business.”

“While some have wondered whether Apple might ultimately try to integrate traditional cable set-top box functionality into its Apple TV product, Mr. Oppenheimer pretty much killed that concept and said that it just doesn’t fit Apple’s business,” Caris & Company’s report stated. Other subjects covered in the report included Apple’s ongoing plan to lower Mac prices or offer new products at lower price points. Today’s media event hosted at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco should confirm what Mr. Oppenheimer is talking about.

As a side note, World of Apple reveals that the Caris & Company report mentioned some aspects regarding the new iPhone 3GS, and how Apple had been struggling to effectively place the device in key market points.

“Mr. Oppenheimer said he was simply happy to now be able to ‘check that box,’ with iPhone’s launch into China have been a long-awaited milestone,” Caris & Company added in its report. “And while the vast majority of China’s cell phone market is pre-paid, Apple sees no reason why iPhone should have any disadvantage taking share of pre-paid markets vs. its post-paid success.”

According to Robert Cihra, an analyst with Caris & Company, the research firm does not expect Apple to join the low-end PC market, despite Oppenheimer’s claims of Apple focusing on low prices. And it doesn’t take an expert to see that Apple has never been eager to play in this end of the market. Today’s price cuts stand as confirmation that this is as “low” as Apple goes.