There have been rumors aplenty about Apple"s possible launch of a iOS-based television product in the last several months. Now a new report claims that there will be even more to this TV product than first believed. According to Cult of Mac, citing unnamed sources, the Apple television device will also come with some kind of game console.
The report claims that the console will feature touch controls, much like the other iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad have. Once more, the report also claims there will be some kind of motion gesture support similar to what Microsoft has developer for the Xbox 360"s Kinect add-on.
Previous Internet rumors have claimed Apple might launch the TV product before the end of 2012. If that turns out to be true, it could be bad news for console makers Microsoft and Sony, who are not expected to launch the successors to the Xbox 360 or the PS3 before the end of 2013.
It could also be a thorn in Nintendo side as it plans to release the Wii U by the end of the year. An Apple TV product with a console included in the package could take a lot of the thunder away from the Wii U launch.
The article tries to tie in this new rumor with the recent reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Valve"s offices last week. It"s known that Valve is working on some kind of gaming hardware projects. A collaboration between Apple and Valve is certainly possible, although Valve CEO Gabe Newell has been critical in the past of any set-up with a closed system similar to Apple and the iOS platform.