Apple Inc. (AAPL) TV to Be Delayed to Late 2013: Analyst

Earlier today on Bloomberg TV’s “Surveillance,” Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, discussed the state of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Concerning the tech giant’s recent malaise in the markets, Munster said that “based on all the work that we’ve done, the story is very much intact; this 25% pullback’s a great opportunity.”

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Aside from showing a nice side-by-side comparison of Apple and Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) with the Cupertino-based company out-appreciating its peer by a ratio of more than five-to-one, the broadcast also discussed the state of the much-anticipated Apple TV. While the analyst originally expected an announcement to be made by the end of this year, he has pushed back these estimates. Munster had this to say about the state of the Apple TV:

Well, you know initially we had talked about it being announced in December [2012], and then over the summer we kind of talked about the back half of 2013; now we’re saying November […] if you kind of take the mid-point of what we talked about […] that’s kind of the push back […] The bottom line is this takes longer than what we had though; it is more difficult to actually put these things together.

While we would have loved to hear a few more specifics from Munster, it is notable that he is still expecting a television from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in time for next year’s holiday season. Originally reported by Business Insider, “Munster’s revised thinking on the Apple TV release was buried in a note on his product roadmap” with the following highlight: “November 2013: An Apple TV comes out. It should cost $1,500-$2,000 and come in sizes from 42-inches to 55-inches.”

If these predictions do come true, it will mean an even bigger 2013 for Apple than most investors already expect, as the iPhone 5S, and updates to the iPad, iPad Mini, and iOS are on tap for the tech company. We’re excited about the possibility of an Apple TV, and a price estimate of $1,500-$2,000 seems on par for its 42-55 inch versions, considering the fact that existing high-end smart televisions by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) and Sharp Corporation (TYO:6753) retail in this range.

Let us know your thoughts on an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV in the comments section below, and if you agree with Munster that late 2013 is a time when investors can expect a fully-functional device to be introduced.