Apple television said to run on customized chips like iPhone, iPad

Apple is expected to build its own chips like in the iPhone and iPad for its anticipated television set, instead of utilizing third parties chips from a company such as Intel.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering and Siliconware Precision Industries are three companies expected by DigiTimes to bid on orders with Apple. The companies could build custom ARM-based chips to power an Apple television, much like the A4 CPU, first released in the iPad in 2010, is found in the current Apple TV set-top box.

Earlier this year we reported that Apple signed the agreement on the production of next-generation "A6" and "A7" processors for the iPhone and iPad with TSMC and would utilize its 28nm and 20nm process technologies. It is possible that Apple television set will use the same iPhone and iPad’s chips. The Apple TV is also expected to be assembled by Foxconn Electronics, which is the manufacture of most of Apple’s devices.

Apple will have finalized the hardware standards for its television set by the end of the second quarter of 2012, only after that, the company will begin placing orders for its customized chips. Apple already used such approach to build its iPad and iPhone lineups.