With the success of its iPhone line, Apple is all set to increase its product portfolio. Rumours have been around for some time about the Apple iTV. Here is an analysis on the release date expectation and other unconfirmed reports.

Apple has been constantly dropping hints that there is an iTV device the company is working on. With the sales of the smart TV sets gaining momentum, analysts expect this to be a good time for Apple to launch the device.

Design:

The Apple iTV is rumoured to come in at least 3 screen sizes - 32 inch, 42 inch and 55 inch. The screens are rumoured to be LCD with 1080p display, working on the A5 processor and using the iOS operating system.

The device is expected to work seamlessly between other iOS devices, the iPhone or an iPad, for example, could be used to control the iTV. Voice commands, using Siri, could also be used to control the device.

4k Variant:

Many of the competitors in the smart TV segment have come out with an OLED display with stunning 4k high picture quality. There have been consistent rumours that Apple could also be considering a 3840 x 2160 display resolution on its device.

The cost could be a prohibitive factor, analysts say, and there aren't many indicators of an OLED display on the iTV. Analysts say that the company has traditionally been known to bring revolutionary innovation on its devices, instead of making an available feature at a lower price.

TV, Phone, Setup Box - All in one:

There are rumours that the iTV could feature a camera with face recognition software, couple this with Siri and there is little to prevent Apple from allowing customers from making calls from the device too.

If this rumoured feature gets unveiled, users will finally be able to experience the lifestyle which has only been seen in Science fiction movies, where the TV is used to make calls. The Apple TV setup Box could also be integrated into the device, allowing users to buy and stream content from iTunes and other sources.

Release Date and Price:

There have been no reports that the device is in mass production, although there have been rumours that some parts of the device are already being manufactured. There are also rumours that Apple is waiting for the prices on the LCD screens to drop, to make the device more affordable.

Analysts speculate that a 2013 release date of the device is highly unlikely; the device may only make a debut in 2014. Apple has always been seen as a premium brand with a heavy price tag on its devices, the iTV may not be any different. But a regular iTV with limited features could be priced around $2000, according to analysts. This price could go up depending on the features on the device.

Click here to read about the rumoured features of the upcoming iPhone 6.