If you’ve been thinking about buying an Apple TV 3 in the near future, note that you won’t be able to do that via the in-store pickup option. As of today, the Apple Online Store doesn’t allow you to order one for store pick up across the US.

We were wondering if it was a glitch on Apple’s website but 9to5Mac, after making multiple calls to the Apple Stores, has an explanation. Apple has been offering free $25 iTunes cards with every Apple TV 3 purchase recently, while mutually promoting the iTunes Music Festival. According to the Apple Geniuses, the offer received an overwhelming response and their shelves have been wiped clear thanks to the increased sales.

However Apple TV 3 is still available to be shipped from the Apple Online Store and can be purchased from other vendors like Best Buy and Amazon.

If we believe that Apple TV 3 is currently out of stock at Apple Stores, that could mean only one thing – Apple has stopped its production. And it is unlikely that Apple will let an inventory remain empty like that unless they have immediate plans of releasing the next iteration of the set-top box.

On the other hand, the latest rumors have been pointing at an early 2015 launch of the Apple TV 4. Also, the redesigned flat interface in the latest beta update means that the Apple TV 3 will surely receive a firmware update before Apple releases the speculated backward compatible iOS based firmware. Amidst these contrasting rumors, it is hard to tell what Apple is really cooking.

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If you’re a regular follower of Apple TV Hacks, you might remember reading  a similar story before. Earlier this year, Apple introduced a promotional offer for Apple TV, thanks to which every purchase of the set-top box would come with a free $25 iTunes Card. And as per Apple Online Store, the deal is live again.

Apple is citing the upcoming iTunes Music Festival as the reason for this celebration and wants you to enjoy it from the “best seat in the house“.

Buy an Apple TV, and you can watch every performance of iTunes Festival right from your couch. What’s better, you also get a $25 iTunes Gift Card you can use to purchase music from your favorite artists.

The offer will be available from today through September 30th. The $25 Gift Card can be used to purchase music, movies or apps from the iTunes or App Store and effectively cuts down the Apple TV 3 price to $74. However, if you’re not much of an iTunes guy, you can get a similar offer of $75, for a refurbished one at the online store!

Whatever Apple might say to be the reason for the sale, analysts are forced to think in terms of an imminent Apple TV 4 release. It makes sense to assume that Apple is clearing the stock of the current generation Apple TVs to make space for the next.

However, similar speculations from last time were thrown into the bin as months passed by. Besides, the latest rumors point at an early 2015 launch for the Apple TV 4 launch. In the midst of these contrasting reports, it is hard for anybody to make a valid guess.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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