Survey hints at upcoming Apple television

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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The possibility of a 42-inch, high-definition TV from Apple has surfaced in a consumer survey by U.s. electronics retailer Best Buy, analysts said.

The big-box retailer surveyed some customers asking in fairly explicit detail about the long-rumored TV system, accompanied by language saying, "Apple finally reinvents what a TV can do."

While the survey called the system a "concept" it went into considerable detail about a 1080p LED flat-panel screen and access to Apple's iCloud service, iTunes, Netflix, YouTube and Flickr, CNET reported Tuesday.

The survey also mentioned a built-in iSight camera and microphone for Skype video calling.

In a statement, Best Buy said the survey was posing a hypothetical question meant to measure consumer interest in possible future products.

"The customer survey was a routine offer effectiveness survey conducted by one of Best Buy's research partners," the statement said. "Any brand reference was hypothetical. The survey is no longer available."

Since 2007 Apple has offered a product called Apple TV, a set-top Web-streaming box competing with rival Google TV and independent offerings like Roku and Boxee, but the Apple device has seen disappointing sales.

However, industry experts say a standalone TV set at a $1,499 price point mentioned in the survey, integrated with Apple's other platforms and products, would have considerable potential for success.