Apple has sent out invitations to a March 7 event, which many tech enthusiasts suspect will be the announcement of the iPad 3 tablet computer. The invite taunts that its announcement next week will be "something...to see" as well as "touch," leading much speculation of an unveiling of the successor to Apple's iPad 2—a Recommended model in Consumer Reports' Ratings of tablets> But, could there be something more, such as a new Apple TV?

While it most likely won't be the long awaited Apple-branded flat-panel TV, some technology and news websites speculate that a refreshed set-top box will be part of next week's announcement, since the $99 set-top box is overdue for a hardware update.

A new model would mean the palm-sized box might finally be able to display 1080p high-resolution videos—a capability Consumer Reports testers found lacking when we last reviewed set-top boxes.

Still, with the rise of smart, Internet-connected TVs, would a revamped set-top box from Apple make sense? Apple's invitation clearly showing what appears to be an iPad touch screen, so the news on March 7 will almost certainly focus on Apple's popular line of tablets.

Consumer Reports will be covering the Apple event on March 7.

What do you think? Does a $99—or even cheaper—Apple TV set-top box make sense?

Will Apple Unveil a New Apple TV Alongside the iPad 3? [PC World]
Sources tip new Apple TV and accessory launch for March [SlashGear]
iPad 3 Invites And The Art Of Minutia [Information Week]