Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple. (Creative Commons)

With the Google agreeing to buy a cell phone manufacturer, is Apple's next move to buy a television manufacturer?

Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility still must be approved by federal regulators. But even before the deal is finalized, the crew at Apple will be looking to one-up the search giant in their ongoing duel for technological dominance.

Several commentators have called Motorola's line of set-top cable boxes and cable modems a dark horse in the deal with Google. It's no secret that Google's attempt to transform the television world has been a failure. Having access to work directly with Motorola's boxes could help them get their Google TV product into consumer's hands because customers usually don't have the choice in what type of cable box or modem unit they receive.

Apple's set-top box, Apple TV, allows users to access Netflix and content on other Apple devices from a television. As much of a success as it has been, Apple hasn't tried to get directly inside a television. The company leads the market for smaller devices from mp3 players to tablets, so they have no aversion to designing products that eyeballs stare at all day. An Apple television would certainly be a game-changer.

There have been some rumors Apple is working with partners from LG to Foxconn to develop a real Apple television for release in 2012. Having all of those patents, talent and thinking in-house could kick that process into a higher gear and keep Apple toe-to-toe with Google in the news.

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