Apple to launch its own brand of TV with iPhone 5 this September : Myth or reality?

iPhone 5 rumor mill has been working overtime and the list of potential features keeps increasing but here is a break from the monotonous Apple iPhone could-be saga: a report which states that the Cupertino-giant will start making television displays.

DailyTech citing a 'former Apple executive' states that Apple will start selling iOS-powered televisions. It further states that Apple will partner with a major OEM to sell branded TV sets. The report says that it will arrive this fall.

Apple's motivation to do so, the quoted 'executive' qualifies, to beat Netflix by bundling Apple TV and iTunes. The possible OEM partner is Samsung.

The report sounds incredulous as Apple's DNA is to craft its own products sans any OEM participation. Apple as a company maintains complete control over the value chain - from the conception of a product to delivery of the product.

Additionally, the report names Samsung as the OEM partner. Recently Apple filed a patent lawsuit against Samsung charging it of slavishly copying its product designs. The acrimonious battle led to both the company's demanding a view of their upcoming products. In the light of the lawsuit, the report chances that Apple will join hands with Samsung for the production of a TV is pretty remote.

However, the television domain as such is not new for Apple as it has a product called Apple TV- a black puck like iOs device which allows a user to stream content from its other iOS devices iPhone, iPad, iPod and internet to the television. Apple TV is powered by the A4 chip. Apple TV hasn't seen success like its other iOS kin iPad and iPhone. Apple slashed the price of the device to $99 from $299 and yet it has failed to catch the imagination of users.

Google also launched Google TV with Sony which uses its Android OS. It is a step ahead of Apple TV as it allows users to search the web on TV and allows a user to then access the content on TV screen. It also came pre-loaded with apps. Google TV is also failing to sell.

Apple may join the TV domain as the segment is in need of disruption and Apple is great at re-inventing product segments. Also, recently Apple released its digital locker the iCloud at WWDC, which allows users to store documents, pictures, apps and music in the cloud. As Apple's cloud strategy matures it also offers videos to be stored in the cloud. Apple Television would be a great medium to leverage the cloud in the future.

Apple also recently unveiled a technology called Thunderbolt I/O which supports high-resolution displays and high-performance data devices through a single, compact port. It is currently available on iMac and MacBook Pro. It allows a user enough bandwidth to daisy-chain multiple high-speed devices without using a hub or switch. Thus, Apple is coming up with devices which allow high-bandwidth connection possible which could further delay any Apple Television plans.

Currently Apple manufactures 27-inch LED Cinema Display which can be connected with a Thunderbolt I/O. However, whether Apple will take this a step further to launch a TV is still open to assumption. Until then an iPhone 5 in September or fall seems a more plausible bet.