iOS May Turn Apple TV into a Gaming Console

With a (rumored) redesigned Apple TV running a modified version of iOS - the operating system powering iPhones, iPod touches and iPads - Apple may be on track to delve deeper into the television market, but also to tap the gaming user base.

A report by SF Gate (of The San Francisco Chronicle) looks at rumors of Apple unveiling a revamped Apple TV (or iTV) at this week’s special event, recalling talks of iOS being the centerpiece of the product.

The Chronicle believes that such a move will further strengthen the presence of iOS in the technology industry.

Independent mobile analyst Brian Hall thinks so too.

"I think the iOS operating system is so powerful for Apple, it's generating most of their revenues, between the iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, iTunes and the App Store," Hall said. "Clearly, I think Apple realizes that they want to continue down this path."

The report mentions Apple’s potential plans to extend iOS to Mac hardware, although the company is still in the early experimental stages with touch-screen Macs.

The Chronicle points out to an Apple patent application unearthed last week showing a touch-screen Mac that could switch between Mac OS X and iOS as the user adjusts the system for a different view and command input.

Back to the rumored iTV, the device could also become a “mini game console”, the report says, should it rely on iOS.

Developers would undoubtedly see a great opportunity in this - the move would increase the number of devices they can work on, the Chronicle notes.

According to Shervin Pishevar, founder of iPhone- and social-game maker SGN, "It would certainly be a huge boon for developers to be able to be in the palm of your hand and in your lap on the couch."