Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY), Apple Inc. (AAPL) Have Something Brewing In The TV Department

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is truly a company built on devices. In the same light, its stock price, too, can be propped up by the promise of a new device, or it can be dashed by the failure to make such an announcement. Just ask Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets or Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, who are known for their sometimes ballsy product predictions, which in many cases, are absolutely crucial to track if you’re an Apple shareholder.

With that in mind, we should point out that there’s something going on with the Apple TV. This Redditor was keen enough to point out that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is allowing customers who buy a 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina a free set-top Apple TV, through Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) outlets.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Worth $99.99, Apple’s current TV offers 1080p HD videos from iTunes and Netflix, along with other functionalities that would make even Anthony Michael Hall’s character from Sixteen Candles jealous.

According to Best Buy’s site, this is part of a “Back To Campus” promotion, which lists the prices of the eligible MacBook Pro Retina’s as $1,999.99 and $2,599.99.

Both of these list prices are actually $200 off their normal marks, so altogether, savings is $300 for the bundle, depending on which memory option you choose to go with.

The reason why this is interesting, is due to the fact that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) rarely ever allows retailers to discount their products, and even further, bundle them together, offering a device like the Apple TV for free.

One reason why this deal–which applies to any purchases at Best Buy for today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday)–may be allowed is because Tim Cook, Jony Ive & Co. are gunning for an upgrade of the Apple TV. Clearly, it’s unknown as to whether a new set-top Apple TV is on the horizon, or if a monitor-included iTV-type device may be launched this year.

The last update the blogosphere has seen on this situation is now a few months old, but if you remember, back in April, Brian White mentioned that he expects a full-fledged Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iTV to be released in the back half of 2013.

According to BGR, White thinks that “The “iTV” ecosystem represents a major innovation for the $100 billion LCD TV industry that will revolutionize the TV experience forever,” adding that it could have display specs as large as 60-inches, be controlled by a finger-worn “iRing,” while including a “mini iTV” about the size of a tablet that would integrate with the iTV.

Brian White’s price point was in the $1,500-$2,500 range, and while this is all fine and dandy, it doesn’t give us much of a connection with Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY)’s sale of the set-top Apple TV.

What are your thoughts, and better yet, what do you think guys like Warren Buffett and George Soros think of the commotion?

Disclosure: none