The Apple TV may piggyback on the iPad's glory during Apple's media event on Wednesday, as signs increasingly point to an imminent refresh. Nearly all Apple retail stores are now out of stock of the current (second-generation) Apple TV, and shipping estimates elsewhere in the world continue to be pushed back.
The Apple TV shortages began earlier this month when stock of the device started to dwindle at various retail outlets. Late Monday night, however, MacRumors checked up on Apple's 246 retail stores and found that 98 percent of them were out of stock of the Apple TV. "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," MacRumors wrote, though the site did note that those lead times can be typical for out-of-stock products. "[B]eing so close to Wednesday's media event suggests that any orders would be filled with the new model."
Apple's US online store still shows the device being in stock, as do a number of other international online stores, but the estimated shipping dates for many of them have slipped several days, as noted by AppleInsider.
For a device that sees modestly successful sales, such a sudden disappearance of stock is abnormal and a sign of an imminent refresh. And as an Apple TV aficionado myself, the prospect of this adds a twist to Wednesday's highly anticipated event. What features would you want to see Apple add to an Apple TV refresh? The re-addition of local storage? Apps? TV show subscriptions? Sound off in the comments and we'll keep an eye out on Wednesday in case this one ends up coming true.
Update: According to The Verge, sources claim there will indeed be an updated Apple TV with the rumored A5X processor and 1080p capabilities. The A5X is expected to also make an appearance in the iPad 3 (or iPad HD, depending on which rumors you believe).
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