Apple said to be prepping a ‘revolutionary’ new product that will launch this year

World-famous French designer Philippe Starck told a French radio station that he's working on a "revolutionary" secret Apple project that will surface in eight months. The designer said that he couldn't reveal more details because of Apple's "religious cult of secrecy."

Apple flatly denied Starck's involvement with any of its upcoming products while rumors about the project flew wild. Some speculated Starck could be involved with an Apple TV, others suggested that he's working on a new Parisian Apple Store.

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The answer, it appears, seems to be out to sea: Jobs commissioned Starck to design a "sleek and minimalist" yacht with 40-foot-long glass walls. The pair met in Cupertino, California on a monthly basis to talk about the ship, according to Jobs' official biography.

However, neither Apple nor the alleged maker of the yacht, Netherlands-based Feadship, are commenting on the plans. They do, however, match Jobs' penchant for simple yet beautiful design and engineering.

French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Starck is planning on staying in touch with Jobs' widow Laurene, possibly to finish work on the ship. However, the designer hasn't confirmed that the yacht is the "revolutionary" project to which he was referring on the radio broadcast.

Acclaimed French designer Philippe Starck reportedly claims to be working with Apple to help design a revolutionary new product that will launch within the next eight months. ”Indeed, there is a big project together which will be out in eight months,” the designer said on air during an interview with a French TV show, Le Figaroreported. He continued, stating that the mysterious new product would be “quite revolutionary.” Starck’s credited works range from hotels to toothbrushes, and several consumer electronics devices he designed are currently sold in Apple Stores. The designer claims to have met with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on numerous occasions over the years. “For seven years I came to see him once a month in Palo Alto and elsewhere,” Starck said. BGR reported last year that Apple plans to launch a redesigned iPhone this fall, and the company is also rumored to be working on a flat-panel “iTV” television that could launch later this year as well.