Will the now-legendary Apple TV (or "iTV") hit the market on Summer 2012? Wall Street analysts are predicting that is the case, according to the New York Post.

Apparently, Apple is moving production to Sharp (rather than previous manufacturing partner Samsung), and will soon start manufacturing iTV screens. Jeffries analyst Peter Misek also says Apple is manufacturing Amorphous TFT displays for iTV use at Sharp's Gen 10 Sakai facility.

If this is the case, it will "put an iTV launch as early as the middle of 2012, which aligns with our other iTV checks," Misek continues.

Meanwhile the newspaper Tokyo Times says Sharp expects to start iTV panel production in February 2012.

Why the move to Japan? The New York Post says it is to "insure the quality of the new set and to protect its secrecy," but we also suspect professional rivalry is at least part of the reason-- particularly as tensions between Apple and Samsung continue simmering within the mobile device industry.

What the iTV will actually look (and act) like remains anyone's guess-- but it will probably combine the Apple ecosystem with traditional TV services, with Siri and iDevices handling remote control duties.

Apple TV rumours have started since the Steve Jobs biography release, where Jobs tells biographer Walter Isaacson "I finally cracked it." Was he referring to TV... or simply voice-based control on mobile devices? In this case, only the future will tell.

Go iTV Not Far (New York Post)

Go Sharp Gaining Share in Apple's Supply Chain for Future Products

Go Did Steve Jobs Really Crack TV?

Samsung is in "last-stage talks" to start making Google-powered TVs according to Samsung TV president Yoon Boo-keun.

The Samsung take on Google TV services will "differ from those of competitors," Boo-keun continues. The company will reveal its Google TV at an event next year. Which event? Samsung is not telling as of yet.

However Samsung does plan to unveil TVs carrying next-generation OLED displays at CES 2012, Las Vegas. And it did display prototypes of a Google TV-enabled Blu-ray player and STB at CES 2010...

Despite a more-than-tight TV (and CE in general) market, Samsung is also optimistic about the future-- Boo-kuen predicts the global flat-panel TV market will grow by around 10% next year, and Samsung is looking to "outperform the market next year."

Times are not too good for Google TV, either-- despite a recent update to Android 3.1, Logitech CEO Guerrino De Luca describes his company's take on the Google platform as a "mistake of implementation of a gigantic nature" (before announcing Logitech is dropping the product), while Sony is too busy working on its own "four screen strategy" and a potential "different kind of TV" to continue working with its once-partner.

Will the third Google TV partner be the lucky one?

Go Samsung Says in Last-Stage Talks to Launch Google TV (Reuters)

Go Logitech CEO: Revue "A Mistake"

Go Sony Working on "Different Kind of TV"

The Panasonic Viera Connect Market is now available in 27 European countries through an agreement with e-commerce solutions provider Digital River.

The countries include Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK.

The Viera Connect Market allows users to purchase premium apps for their Viera TVs, including videos, music, social networks and games-- with Digital River handling sales of both digital and physical products across international borders.

The Panasonic Viera line includes 3DTVs and regular HDTVs in both plasma and LCD formats, with features such as built-in storage and DLNA certification.

Go Digital River to Support Panasonic Viera Connect Market Expansion

Go Panasonic Viera

Dixons announces the Logik L23IPTV, a 23" LCD TV the retailer is selling as a home entertainment screen for the bedroom and kitchen category complete with smart TV functions.

Using Onyx browser technology from Oregan Networks, the L23IPTV has both home network and web connectivity with weather, news and social networking widgets and access to VoD services such as BBC iPlayer, Lovefilm and Blinkbox.

A touch sensitive control pad provides control, while the TV set also has in-built DVD and USB media players, PVR/TSR functionality and two 3W speakers.

Also joining the Logik series are a number of 3DTV models, with sizes ranging from 32" up to 47".

Go Dixons Retail to Launch New Logik TVs

Go Oregan Widens Distribution with Dixons Logik Smart TV

Panasonic sells off its Mobara, Chiba LCD factory-- the company's main Japanese plant-- for an undisclosed sum to Japan Display, a new joint venture formed by the small display subsidiaries of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba.

The sale is the latest move in Panasonic's TV business restructuring, where it already is reducing manufacturing in attempts to remain profitable. Following the sale (to be finalised April 2012) Panasonic will have only one domestic plant.

Meanwhile Japan Display follows the "union makes strength" maxim as it teams up Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba-- with "help" from government-funded investment firm Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) worth $2.6 billion.

The joint venture will use the Mobara LCD-making plant for small- and medium-size display production.

The Japanese TV industry is still struggling to compete (if not simply survive) due to pressures from cheaper Asian competition such as Samsung and Vizio. Sony expects billion-dollar losses for this year, while Sharp is reported to be revamping some TV lines for smaller panel production.

Globally wobbly consumer confidence and stagnating economies are not helping the situation much, either.

Go Panasonic Factory Sale Agreement

Go INCJ, Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba Sign Agreements Regarding Integration of Small- and Medium-Sized Display Businesses

Go Panasonic Cuts Plasma Production

Panasonic sells off its Mobara, Chiba LCD factory-- the company's main Japanese plant-- for an undisclosed sum to Japan Display, a new joint venture formed by the small display subsidiaries of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba.

The sale is the latest move in Panasonic's TV business restructuring, where it already is reducing manufacturing in attempts to remain profitable. Following the sale (to be finalised April 2012) Panasonic will have only one domestic plant.

Meanwhile Japan Display follows the "union makes strength" maxim as it teams up Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba-- with "help" from government-funded investment firm Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) worth $2.6 billion.

The joint venture will use the Mobara LCD-making plant for small- and medium-size display production.

The Japanese TV industry is still struggling to compete (if not simply survive) due to pressures from cheaper Asian competition such as Samsung and Vizio. Sony expects billion-dollar losses for this year, while Sharp is reported to be revamping some TV lines for smaller panel production.

Globally wobbly consumer confidence and stagnating economies are not helping the situation much, either.

Go Panasonic Factory Sale Agreement

Go INCJ, Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba Sign Agreements Regarding Integration of Small- and Medium-Sized Display Businesses

Go Panasonic Cuts Plasma Production