Who Will Apple Partner With to Create iTV?

All signs indicate that Apple AAPL is finally in the process of developing its first television set. The company will assemble the TV through its various Chinese partners, most notably Foxconn. But it is expected to enlist in the help of several key partners, which will provide the company with essential parts that it could not (or does not want to) produce on its own. Related: Apple TV with Retina Display Would Cost $25,000 One of those potential partners may have already been revealed. Last week there were reports that LG Display had been commissioned to provide Apple with orders for two large panels -- one at 55 inches, another at 65 inches. It is not yet known how Apple will use these panels, or if it will order enough to mass produce a new device. But unless the company plans to sell a massive Cinema Display, it's safe to assume that the company is at least exploring the TV market. That Picture is Sharp And if LG Display fails to secure a contract, it could be manufactured by Sharp. In addition to LG, Sharp is one of those unconfirmed Apple suppliers that is frequently associated with iPhones and iPads. The company was rumored to have invested $2 billion in Sharp last year. If true, Apple is unlikely to develop a TV without making sure that company is involved. Music to Your Ears Beats by Dre has made its way into a whole host of electronics, including HTC smartphones and Hewlett-Packard HPQ computers. Even Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat have added Beats Audio to their vehicles. Apple is unlikely to do the same for its television set. But there is one other premium audio company that Apple could partner with: Bose. With headphones that sell for a few hundred bucks (among other expensive audio equipment), Bose is a great match for Apple. So Good You Can Touch It According to Trusted Reviews, Sony SNE is behind the camera sensor in the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. Sony has also been rumored to be a part of the iPhone 5S' development -- not just for the camera but for the touch display as well. Who better than Sony -- one of the industry's most underrated players -- to develop some of the touch elements for Apple's first TV? Wave for the Camera Apple is expected to acquire PrimeSense, the company that helped build the Kinect motion sensor for Microsoft MSFT. In doing so, Apple could build a Kinect-like device right into every television it produces. This could drastically change the way cross-platform apps are developed, as developers will need to optimize them for motion control (as opposed to the touch controls they are used to programming). Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ