'Informed sources' talking to China Business News claim that a Foxconn factory has already received orders for Apple smart TV.

The Shenzhen factory is allegedly producing the displays as part of a 'trial production stage.'

Given that Foxconn already conducts extensive manufacturing work for Apple, and that its parent company Hon Hai recently made a $1.6 billion investment in Sharp's LCD business, this unsubstantiated report certainly isn't impossible.

But whether the lower-margin world of TV manufacturing is one that Apple would want to explore remains to be seen.

Topnotch

China Business News cites Piper Jaffrey analyst as predicting a $1,500-$2,000 price tag for the set. He believes the product will launch in early 2013 under the 'iHub' name.

Recently, Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek predicted that the device would cost $1,250, launch in Q4 2012, and be sold as the 'iPanel.'

[source: ZDNet]