Mike Wuerthele
New pictures on Chinese social media have emerged of what is said to be a 60-inch OLED Apple television set — but there are significant doubts surrounding the identification.
The posts emerged on social media venue Weibo, and were posted on Twitter by Benjamin Geskin.
Two of the quartet of pictures show the device in an anechoic testing chamber, The original post claims that the device is a 65-inch OLED screen in a metal enclosure, with "two similar black spots" that are claimed to be for a camera attached to the television.
Alleged Apple OLED TV testing photos.
— Benjamin Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) August 16, 2017
Metal body, thin bezel. Around 60-inch.
What do you think?
(via https://t.co/cswEGwOdEt) pic.twitter.com/os7ZIj8vbF
The pictures appear to be shots of a monitoring screen, showing whatever the device actually is on the screen. The only indication that the device is Apple's, is a logo on the back of the device — which is easy to fake either by a sticker or digital manipulation.
Despite the publisher's claims, there is also nothing on the pictures suggesting that the device is OLED at all.
Apple has said outright that it is returning to the computer display market. However, it is not likely to build a 60-inch one — and there are no other indications at present that Apple is interested in a stand-alone television.
Apple ditched the concept as a stand-alone after the ill-fated Macintosh TV was discontinued in 1994. There were Apple-developed tuner cards for the PowerMac and Performa 6400 and 6500 lines, as well as native RCA inputs for the beige PowerMac G3.
After Apple left the concept behind with the PowerMac G3, rumors started circulating in 2011 that Apple was working on a television. After carrying the torch for many years, long-time proponent of the concept Gene Munster abandoned hope for an Apple television set in 2015.
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59 Comments
IMO If it's actually showing an Apple product at all, which I personally don't think it is, it would more likely be a monitor, and not even close to a 60" one. There's absolutely nothing to indicate it's an image (from a picture on a video??) of one with an OLED display either.
Entirely fake or at least a fake indication of what it is IMHO.
Actually, here's the story about this: Apple is still deciding whether to put the screen on the front or back. Yield rates are low. It's proving difficult to manufacture and the release is delayed. It's running a custom build of iOS. There will be 3 colors and 2 sizes. It will not have any video inputs. No information yet on whether or not it will be waterproof.
What would be the motive in doing this if it’s faked? Money? Fun? Stirring the pot? This brings up the whole subject of the Apple rumor mill. Most of this stuff is false/fake/ludicrous. Why do people do it? Why do websites publish them?