Apple is reportedly in talks with Time Warner to offer the company's HBO GO service on the Apple TV. HBO GO allows current HBO subscribers to view hundreds of hours of premium content on demand.

The iOS 6.1 jailbreak, now called "evasi0n," is almost ready and the development team has set up a website to keep the public informed of its progress. Every iOS 6.1 compatible device will be supported except the third-gen Apple TV.

The mysterious "AppleTV3,2" firmware released Monday belongs to a new version of the Apple TV. FCC documents and firmware code show that the upcoming device will sport a faster A5X processor and a new Broadcom wireless chip. The device will also be about 4 millimeters smaller on length and width.

In addition to releasing iOS 6.1, Apple has also updated the second- and third-generation Apple TV to version 5.2, adding Bluetooth keyboard support, Airplay enhancements, and new features such as "Up Next."

Users eager to upgrade to iOS 6.1 will not have long to wait for the untethered jailbreak. Jailbreak team evad3rs has reported that the upcoming jailbreak, likely to be released February 3, will support nearly all iOS 6.1 compatible devices except for the Apple TV.

Apple's hobby is getting more serious, as the company reported on Friday that it sold 2 million units during the December quarter, an increase of 60 percent year-over-year. For those keeping score at home, Apple's hobby has officially crossed the half a billion dollar-per-year mark, making it the kind of hobby that most companies would kill for.

Apple TV is gaining in popularity, so that means more people have ideas on what new features the next model should have. What would you like to see when Apple TV gets its next update? Head on over to the TMO forums and let us know.

Samsung has teased what it is calling, "a true innovation of TV design" and an "unprecedented new TV shape and timeless design" for CES 2013. The company included an image that might indicate the new device is see-through, and definitely shows that Samsung has no intention to cede the TV market to Apple.

Perhaps more has been written about Apple and its TV ambitions than any other unannounced product. That probably reflects the hunger customers have for a new way dealing with an entrenched TV industry. Even though the entire industry has circled the wagons against Apple, Tim Cook has said it's an area of "intense interest." What are the deepest challenges Apple faces?

Just in time for Christmas, we have one more Apple TV rumor to stuff into your stocking—the Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan reported on Friday that initial testing of television sets for Apple has started at Chinese manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry.