Next-generation Apple TV coming Wednesday?

March 6, 2012 at 11:29 AM ET

Apple TV

At its Wednesday press event, Apple is expected to announce the next-generation iPad. But now there are whispers suggesting that the tablet won't be the only product we'll hear about on that day. So what's the "one more thing" Apple will supposedly show off? A next-generation Apple TV.

Let's be clear though: The next-generation Apple TV supposedly being unveiled on Wednesday is not same thing as the mysterious iTV we've been hearing rumors about. Instead it would be an upgraded version of the set-top box already in stores.

Reuters reports that Jefferies analyst Peter Misek believes that such an upgrade "is possible" and goes as far as saying that it isn't even entirely out of the question for Apple to announce an actual TV as well, "despite not having a finished product."

While it doesn't offer much when it comes to suggestion than an actual television set is being announced on Wednesday, MacRumors does back up the theory that a next-generation set-top box is coming. By the blog's staff's most recent count, 98 percent of Apple's U.S. retail stores currently don't have any Apple TVs in stock:

For those retail stores currently out of stock, the earliest an online store order placed today could be available for pickup would be March 9, although some stores are quoting pickup dates as far out as March 15. These lead times are, however, fairly typical for out-of-stock products that need to be shipped to a store for pickup. But being so close to Wednesday's media event suggests that any orders would be filled with the new model.
