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The additional bandwidth that 802.11n provides will provide more than enough capacity for video streaming with the kind of quality that the Apple CEO demonstrated. While it has yet to be ratified - companies such as Netgear have begun shipping 802.11n products.

It

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is this delay in ratification that at least one commentator believes is behind Apple's decision to hold off iTV's release until next year.

'Apple's new iTV is being held up, I believe, because Apple is waiting to deliver 802.11n, the next major jump in wireless networking,' wrote Daniel Eran Dilger in his RoughlyDrafted blog. 'While some vendors are releasing "pre-n" wireless equipment in advance of the standard, I believe Apple is holding off to make sure their equipment will be widely compatible and not interfere with existing networks.'

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu stated categorically in a note to investors that the box will be 802.11n. Which leaves Apple needing to ensure that by the time iTV is released at least some of its Macs also support the new standard.