Rumors of an Apple TV set have been floating about the internet for a long time. The latest indicate that Apple television sets should hit shelves in third or fourth quarter 2012.

PCMag.com reported that Apple y is working on a design in conjunction with Sharp to produce something called the iTV.

Apple is also revving up its supply chain in order to deliver components for next-generation television products due out in the second or third quarter of 2012, DigiTimes reported Tuesday, citing unnamed industry sources. Media reports in Korea also indicated that Samsung started producing chips for the iTVs in November 2011, while Sharp will produce the displays for the new TVs. The company is supposedly planning a 32-inch version and a 37-inch version of the rumored Apple TV set.

Apple previous attempt to release approach the TV market was the Apple TV box - a set-top box (STB) without a HDD.