Interest in Apple’s long-rumored television plans was renewed Tuesday on the news that the Cupertino company had quietly hired CableLabs executive Jean-François Mulé in September. Prior to joining Apple, Mr. Mulé spent eleven years with CableLabs, the last two as Senior Vice President in charge of Technology Development. He now holds the title of Engineering Director at Apple and describes his role as “Challenged, inspired, and part of something big.”
CableLabs is a non-profit R&D consortium founded in 1988 by the major cable companies. It has been responsible for several major developments in cable-related technologies, including Tru2way interactive video services, DOCSIS standards for the transmission of Internet data via cable infrastructure, and CableCARD standards which allow consumers to receive premium cable programming on third-party devices.
Rumors of Apple’s interest in the television market have persisted for years, and intensified in late 2011 when biographer Walter Isaacson quoted late Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs as stating that he had “finally cracked” television. It is presumed that Mr. Mulé will join others at Apple in continuing the development of the project, which is now believed to eventually emerge as both a “smart” television product as well as an enhanced set-top box.