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Foxconn invested in Sharp purely to secure the contract to manufacture the Apple TV. That’s according to one TV industry exec, anyway.
Ho Chao-yang was formerly in charge of display panel supplier Chimei Innolux and currently heads up Chi Mei Materials Technology. He told Digitimes that Foxconn’s recent buddying up to Sharp was to ensure it’s the one Apple comes to when it needs its tellies making. Though I’m paraphrasing here.
According to the report, Chao-yang reckons it’ll be a “win-win strategy for Foxconn and Sharp,” as well as being good news for the industry in general — not to mention his own company.
This is the latest nugget of info concerning Apple’s much-rumoured TV set. Last month Foxconn’s CEO Terry Gou hinted the company was making preparations for the Apple TV. The company has a 50-50 joint venture with Sharp, the manufacturer believed to be making the Apple TV’s screen. It also owns an 11 per cent share in Sharp.
All signs point to an Apple TV manufactured by Foxconn, with a Sharp screen.
A source claims to have seen the set in action, and says it features Siri for voice-activated controls. It’s also thought to feature motion controls, for Kinect-style channel changing. The set is said to look like a large LED cinema display monitor. Previous rumours said it would come in 32- and 37-inch sizes, though expect the range to expand if Apple wants to get a serious hold on your lounge.
Steve Jobs kicked off these rumours by telling his biographer he wanted to reinvent TVs. Tim Cook also said at a recent conference that TV was an “area of intense interest” for Apple. Whatever could he mean?
What would you like to see from an Apple TV set? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
