The word: Apple TV is coming next November

You’re probably still searching out the best deal for a Wii U or Kindle Fire HD this Christmas season, but already analysts are predicting what the hot Christmas item will be for next year.

Odds are it will be Apple TV, the long-anticipated television offering from the company that revolutionized music with the iPod and personal computing with the iPad.

The highly anticipated new device, which has been rumored for several years, had once been on track for a November 2012 launch, if you believe the rumors.

But now Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is predicting that Apple TV will be released in November 2013, just in time for the holidays.

Apple has not confirmed the report.

Not a lot is known about the device. It’s anticipated it will serve as an entertainment hub of sorts, connecting to other Apple devices and its mighty iTunes store, making viewing of material downloaded from iTunes (such as individual episodes of shows) a snap.

The new offering could have a huge impact on connected TV viewing, which is more popular than it was a few years ago but still is not commonplace.

The reason, of course, is that Apple is known for its user-friendly experience. Its products, guided by the vision of the late Steve Jobs, are designed to be intuitive, knocking out the learning curve that often prevents first-generation products from being widely adapted, because buyers find them too confusing.
 

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