14 DAY TRIAL // Gene Munster is a well-known figure amongst circles where iTV rumors get tossed around. He’s an avid fan of the idea that Apple will one day conquer the living room, and he believes Tim Cook almost confirmed the product this week.
Interpreting Cook’s comments from the D11 opening day, Munster and his fellow analysts at Piper Jaffray have reached the following conclusion:
“…it seems fairly certain that Apple will launch a television, a watch, and multiple iterations of the iPhone by the end of 2014 as well as a potential new service offering.”
Quite a forecast coming from the guy who has maintained every year since 2009 that Apple would take over the living room with an all-new type of television.
It just so happened that the years went by and Apple never released it. This time around, he’s just as certain that it will materialize.
“We believe Tim Cook's comments at D11 pointed to Apple launching a television. While he did not talk about when the TV could come out, we continue to believe the announcement could happen at the end of this year,” Munster wrote in a research note obtained by Fortune.
Munster sees the iTV priced at around $1,500 / €1154. He also believes such a product could add 7% more revenue to Apple’s bottom line.
Editor’s note
In case you’re eager to discuss Munster’s estimates in the comments, remember one thing.
The problem with the iTV not becoming a reality doesn’t lie with the analysts. And it’s not a problem generated by Apple either, despite their apparent stubbornness to launch that television and give these people a break.
The issue lies with the media, which raises everyone’s hopes and then cites an analyst’s predictions as if they’re a given. They’re not. That’s why they’re called “predictions.”