The latest rumors — courtesy of VentureBeat (http://macte.ch/uaHOF) — about Apple making its own television sets say that the company is working on an iOS-based HDTV for 2012.

“Apple has been testing the waters with its AppleTV, a set-top box that provides access to movies and TV from iTunes as well as other online video content,” says “VentureBeat.” “The company has a number of partnerships with movie studios and television networks, giving it an impressive content library. And its lightweight iOS operating system seems ideally suited for consumer devices (the OS is already under the hood in AppleTV).”

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has repeatedly predicted that Apple will produce a television in  late 2012 or early 2013. In an interview with “VentureBeat,” Munster cited multiple sources, including component suppliers as well as an internal Apple source, to back up his theory. Munster predicts this will be an actual TV, not just a set-top box, and most likely running a version of iOS.

Venture capitalist Stewart Alsop, of Alsop Louie ventures, tells “VentureBeat,” that he’s heard from multiple sources throughout Silicon Valley that the Apple television project is underway.

“The Wall Street Journal” has reported recenlty hat Apple is “working on new technology to deliver video to televisions, and has been discussing whether to try to launch a subscription TV service.” “Cult of Mac” has joined in the consensus, noting hat the time may be ripe for Apple to make a television, as high-end TVs have started to dip below the $1,000 price threshold.