Thursday Apple Rumors: 50-Inch Apple TV Spotted in Ive’s Studio

Here are your�Apple rumors and AAPL stock news for Thursday:

50-inch Apple HDTV Spotted in Designer’s Studio: Sir Jonathan Ive, lead designer at Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), already has an Apple HDTV — at least according to a Wednesday USA TODAY report on how the company’s new television is affecting this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Much as the iPad had competitors scrambling to offer tablet PCs of their own at CES in 2011, connected televisions define the battlefield in 2012. While recent rumors about the Apple HDTV have suggested the company is making smaller sets, in the 32- to 37-inch range, the new report claims Apple will make larger sets. A source said he spotted a 50-inch HDTV in Ive’s studio.

Verizon Holiday-Quarter iPhone Sales Can’t Compete With AT&T: Verizon (NYSE:VZ) announced on Wednesday that the company sold 4.2 million iPhones across the holiday quarter. Those sales were strong enough for UBS analyst Maynard Um to raise overall iPhone sales expectations for the period from 30 million to 35 million. But Verizon’s numbers unfortunately can’t compete with its chief competitor, AT&T (NYSE:T). AT&T announced at the beginning of December that it had already sold 6 million iPhones during the quarter, meaning it likely crushed its quarterly record of 6.1 million iPhones. Meanwhile, Sprint (NYSE:S) is estimated to have sold just 1.2 million iPhones during the same period. iPhone sales were so strong for Verizon that the company’s profit margins dropped during the quarter. Sure, 4.2 million phones are a lot to sell, but when they cost as much to buy as the iPhone (compared with lower-cost Android rivals), success can come at a price.

�Apple Looks to Stop Manufacture of Steve Jobs Action Figure: Anyone out there who was planning on helping their son or daughter set up an epic backyard battle between Optimus Prime and Steve Jobs will have to put their plans on hold if Apple has its way. According to a Thursday report in The Telegraph, Apple has taken legal action against Chinese toy company In Icons to prevent them from producing a be-turtleneck-ed Jobs action figure. Apple’s letter of complaint to the company claims that it is a criminal offence to make toys based on Apple logos, names, or likenesses, the implication being that the late CEO’s likeness is company property.

As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned stocks. Follow him on Twitter at�@ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook. For more from the company, check out our previous�Apple Rumors stories.