Apple is in talks with some of U. S.'s biggest cable operators for letting consumers use an Apple device as a set-top-box for live television and other content. However, Apple hasn't yet finalized a deal with any cable operators as they may be reluctant to let Apple establish a foothold in the television business. Apple has received a Granted Patent relating to a video device which displays video in one of a plurality of contexts in an onscreen display area.

In response to the menu command, the video device generates a menu overlay within the onscreen display area while maintaining the video within the menu overlay, and generates within the menu overlay a context icon based on the selected context. Although there are some that doubt that Apple will ever actually sell an HDTV version of Apple TV, our Apple TV related archives continue to show that Apple is working on LCD technology for TV's as well as a host of other advanced technologies including 3D. And with Microsoft eyeing TV as the next device to offer video conferencing for the family, Apple will have to eventually offer FaceTime.