Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) rare dud may be going in for a monster makeover. Tech blog Engadget is reporting that a new version of Apple TV will hit the market in the fall, priced aggressively at $99 and running the same iOS platform that has turned iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices into consumer favorites.

As a set-top box, Apple will be competing against Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) new Google TV for the attention of couch potatoes.

This may not necessarily be a slam dunk for Apple. As reader Thompr97 points out, the attraction of iOS is the touchscreen interface that makes apps work in existing devices. Obviously folks aren't going to get thumbprints all over their television sets before they realize that there's no touchscreen there to fidget with. Apple fans will still have a learning curve in making this stick, but it should make it an easier sell to folks that have shied away from Apple's set-top appliance in the past.

Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

  • Disney (NYSE: DIS) posted market-thumping results, as all five of its subsidiaries posted year-over-year growth on the top line. The only downer was a dip in operating profits at the family entertainment giant's theme-park division, but that's merely a passing shower in a zip-a-dee-do-da day.
  • Skype filed to go public this week, just months after eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) unloaded a majority stake in the company. Will this be just a glorified exit strategy, or did eBay sell most of its position in Skype too soon? The IPO market will decide.
  • MakeMyTrip (Nasdaq: MMYT) became the hottest IPO since 2007, when the India-centric travel portal popped 89% higher on its first trading day. Who says Mr. Market can't muster a warm reception?
  • Sirius XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) broke below the $1 mark on Wednesday, but the satellite radio giant quickly recovered. It's the first time Sirius XM traded for less than a buck this month. Despite improving fundamentals, Sirius XM can't seem to break out of its "penny stock" rut.

Until next week, I remain,
Rick Munarriz