With all the hubbub about new iPhones and new iPads coming, it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple slipped a small Apple TV update in there too. Although Apple dismisses it as their “hobby,” the Apple TV usually inherits the previous generation A-series chip when a new iPhone or iPad comes out. In this case, it’s the A6. In addition, Apple’s been building up steam when it comes to the Apple TV lately, releasing a number of entirely new channels in the last few months. It would be natural to follow that wth an update.

These are all good reasons to believe that Apple might try to slip in an update to their set-top box on September 10th, and lo and behold, a new report seemingly confirms that new Apple TVs are already making their way into the country.

According to a new report issued by global trade intelligence gurus Panjiva, Apple has been issued three bills of landing from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for big containers filled with “set top boxes” in Apple’s name.

On August 25th, Apple received a shipment described as “Set Top Box with Communication Function” from BYD Precision Manufacture in Shenzhen, China. On August 18th, Apple received another shipment, again from BYD, described as “Set Top Boxes.” And on August 11th, Apple received its first shipment from BYD of “Set Top Box with Communication Function.”

The containers ranged in size from seven to eighteen tons. Since an existing Apple TV weighs about one pound, it seems as if there are around 90,000 Apple TVs inside those three shipments.

These shipments could, of course, be just a new batch of the existing model… but it’s hard to see the landing of a huge crate of new Apple TVs in the country as a coincidence ahead of a September 10th event, especially since the last time Apple received a shipment of “set top boxes” was in December of last year. In addition, we haven’t seen a real update to the Apple TV since March 2012. It’s about time, don’t you think?

Source: Panjiva

Via: GigaOM