Home Entertainment Systems

Apple is conducting an online survey of Apple TV users in order to better understand that particular segment of users in an apparent effort to build on the increased consumer interest in the device. The survey asks a number of questions ranging from what kind of Television sets users own to what type of content they primarily use their Apple TV for. The survey even asks users outright, “If you could change one thing about your Apple TV, what would that be?”

Apple has long considered Apple TV to be a mere ‘hobby’, but its 300% increase in sales has certainly piqued Apple’s attention to the extent that it’s now asking users directly what features they’d like to see in future iterations of the Apple TV. This is an interesting development because Apple typically loathes using these sorts of public mediums in order to attain feedback about its products. Under Steve Jobs, Apple has typically taken a stance of “Customers don’t know what they want until we show them what they want.”

With that said, Apple’s recent survey is significant for two reasons. One, it shows that Apple is starting to take Apple TV more seriously, and that significant updates may already be in the works. Two, it shows that Apple realizes how high the failure rate is when it comes to being a digital hub in the living room, and by asking existing users for their opinions, Apple is acknowledging that as smart as they are, they might not have all the answers when it comes to the Apple TV.

AppleInsider has in-depth coverage on the survey over here.

The decreasing prices of LCD televisions has resulted in larger screens for most households. The most used location for these to be placed, estimated at 75%, is above the fireplace in the main room of the house. The increase in the screen size has caused both women and designers have been having stern issues with a 50-70? black glass object as the central piece and main focal point of the living room.

Although it is only a visual or mechanical change when the television is hidden, to many it can change the entire atmosphere of any room. Even when the television display has been turned off, attention is either consciously or unconsciously drawn towards the blank screen. This is not just a figment of peoples imaginations, it is real, and it can have a direct effect on both the decor and atmosphere of the room.

Concealment devices are more often than not custom made furniture. Due to both tv sizes and room measurements there is no single solution that will work for everyone, hence why such systems often cost more than the TV itself. The justification is that the time, money and creative effort spent in making the room look great is not masked by trying to make a 50″ piece of black glass blend easily into the room decor.

If you were to look into some detailed market research you would see there are a a number of solutions to get around this problem. All with certain pros and cons. However the most commonly used option is usually a mechanical tv lift.

A television lift effectively combines both an item of furniture and a TV stand. It gives the user the ability to switch between viewing a piece of general furniture or viewing the television. This is done using a remote controlled lifting device which is fitted inside the furniture. When activated this mechanism will cause a steel lift to move which in turn will cause the TV to gently rise from the furniture and effectively turn it into a TV stand.

This operating system effectively solves all the problems bought to attention by a home designer. The rooms look and feel does not have to be compromised, just modified in a way which cannot be seen unless controlled. The television no longer has to be in full view unless you require it to be. As well as this there are vast security benefits which mean your television is a lot less likely to be thieved or broken in the every day movement throughout your home.

Conclusion

No matter what efforts TV manufacturers put into their aesthetic design, they can’t solve the problem of having a large blank screen take over a room when the TV is off. It is no surprise then, that demand for tv stands which offer concealment solutions has been doubling every year for a while now.

By educating themselves about concealment products, companies such as TDK can offer the home owner a solution allows a large TV to be hidden within the decor using a TV lift, while maintaining the visual design of the room. It is a win-win situation for both parties.