Meanwhile, Apple plans to launch its iTV set-top box in the first quarter of 2007. A smattering of details and speculation have emerged in the two weeks since Apple first previewed the device, which will feature HDMI, component video, stereo audio, and optical audio connectivity, in addition to wireless connectivity, Ethernet, and USB 2.0.
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was deliberately vague in his description of the iTV's wireless capabilities, saying only that it would feature "802.11 wireless." It now seems apparent that Apple plans to launch the device with the next-generation 802.11n standard, which is backwards-compatible with the current 802.11g protocol but offers transfer speeds up to ten times faster, ideal for the demands of high quality video streaming.
