Will Samsung Beat Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s ‘iTV’ to the Punch?

Rumors of an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) “iTV” have been making their way around the blogosphere with haste recently. An idea proposed by tech analyst Gene Munster last month (see our original coverage here), most predictions place a release date sometime in November 2013.

Apple Inc. (AAPL), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS)

While Cupertino execs haven’t announced if, or when an Apple TV might be introduced, CEO Tim Cook did call the living room an “area of intense interest” in an interview earlier this month (see Tim Cook Just Dropped This Bombshell).

Additionally, several Wall Street analysts, including this one, think that a domestic launch of an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV next fall could add 5-10% of upside to current earnings estimates. An eventual international release could quadruple these forecasts.

Keeping this speculation in mind, then, we can see why it’s intriguing that close competitor Samsung announced that it would reveal a TV of “an unprecedented new […] shape,” calling it “true innovation” in a press release last week (via Apple Insider).

It’s worth noting that the much-anticipated announcement is expected to come at the Consumer Electronics Show on January 8th-11th, which is an event that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) doesn’t take part in, according to Apple Insider.

In addition to this teaser photo, which features a portrait-style TV instead of the landscape design, Samsung also released a rather interesting video.

Continue reading on the next page to watch it.

Here’s the spot in all its glory. Take note of Samsung’s new TV at the end of the video, which is draped in all white. Enjoy.

What are your reactions? Most importantly, will Samsung’s newest TV have any effect on what Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) chooses to do in the living room?

Let us know in the comments section below, and be sure to check up on more tech coverage here:

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