Cisco Apple TV Rival

Cisco may unintentionally create more controversy later this year by introducing its own equivalent to Apple's recently announced Apple TV, according to Light Reading. Although already in testing and in development before the September preview of the Apple device, Cisco's as yet unnamed media hub may enflame tensions in light of the recent iPhone lawsuit due to similar features. The Linksys-branded device, demonstrated behind closed doors at CES this week, is expected to both access media across a network as well as store it on its own hard drive for quicker access.

The adapter will have features absent from other devices, Cisco says. Owners will have the choice of buying videos directly from CinemaNow and could also stream media over Wi-Fi from cellphones and other handhelds. Control will be handled through a ring-shaped remote that will function as a wireless pointer rather than a simple button-operated device. The company plans a release by the end of 2007, which could complicate its launch if the firm's suit against Apple remains unsettled by the end of the year.

By Electronista Staff