It is rumoured that Apple is planning to release a TV set. A number of analysts believe that the firm is going to release an LCD TV as well as its AppleTV set-top box, which allows video streaming to the TV.

Apple’s iPad project was on the cards from as long ago as 2000, but the cost of screens kept it on the backburner until recently. The same issue would not affect a TV as display prices are dropping.

The TV could realistically be powered by iOS and would therefore also allow internet access, which would potentially also mean games, social networking and running various other programs. These features might come with the set-top box, but would make more sense integrated into a TV.

This story first gained traction earlier in the year when an anonymous executive claimed that the firm was working on a TV project with existing suppliers. One flaw is that most of the relevant companies that work with Apple also make TVs themselves. It seems odd that they would effectively aid a competitor – particularly one with the clout of Apple.

If Apple were to launch a TV, it seems like they might be the kind of company who would go so far as to design their own TV bracket as well. Design is a crucial part of the Apple brand and they doubtless wouldn’t want their product tarred by association with poor quality products.

Previously in this series of articles, we’ve looked at why TV brackets are so beneficial for conventional game playing and why you need something different if you regularly play games on the Wii. Now we will consider the types of brackets that help with the latter situation.

Playing on the Wii is a more communal, sociable activity. As such, a lot of people in the room are effectively spectators for much of the time. This means that they too need to be able to see the screen as well as the people playing at any given moment. The best way of achieving this is to have the screen mounted on the wall, at a height.

This also works better for playing, because for most Wii games, the players will be standing up. The change in viewing angle demands that you change the direction the screen is pointing as well. A tilting bracket will let you angle the TV downwards for watching programmes and then up a bit for when you want to play Wii games.

It might also be that you need to change the direction of the screen. Wii games demand a bit of floor space and this might not necessarily be right in front of the settee where you sit to watch TV. A cantilever bracket will allow you to swivel the screen to different positions, depending on what you are doing, and angle it as well, for the best view, no matter what the source of entertainment.

In the last article, we considered how brackets are virtually a necessity if you regularly play games. As they position the TV correctly, they prevent you from having to crane your neck, meaning you can happily spend hours and hours getting lost in your favourite game.

However, there are other sorts of games as well. These days, it’s common for people to have friends round to play games on the Wii. This is a more physical, sociable type of game-playing and this has an impact on positioning and securing your TV.

For a start, the TV needs to be pointed in a different direction. When you’re sitting down, watching a film, your head is in one position and the TV will be positioned according to that viewing position. If you’re playing games on the Wii, you won’t be sitting in the same spot, so the TV will need to be moved.

If your TV is stood on a cabinet or table, you don’t have much room for manoeuvre. You can rotate it a bit, but that’s all. It will probably be located too low to see it properly if you’re standing up – which you almost certainly will be – and it might also be difficult for other people to see the screen while people are playing. In part three of this series, we’ll look at how certain types of TV brackets can be a boon in this situation.

What do you use your TV for? Your initial response will be that your TV is for watching various types of TV programmes. Maybe you are a soap addict or a sports buff or maybe you’re hooked on a particular drama series. Some people have the TV on in the background almost every waking hour. You might always have your TV on one of the 24 hour news channels or you might use it for music, instead of your radio.

Many people use their TV differently, reserving it for set periods of more intense focus. If you’re a film buff, you’ll doubtless have a full home cinema and when you’re watching a film, it will have your full attention. Similarly, sports fans will be gripped by the action while the match is on and will maybe have the analysis on in the background once it has finished.

But there is another way that many of us use TVs. They are increasingly the focus for game-playing. Maybe you have a PS3 or an Xbox 360. You will want a high definition TV to get the most out of these games consoles and you will want it to be positioned in the optimum spot as well. Many games demand long periods of concentration, so you don’t want to be craning you neck or twisting in order to see properly. That’s where TV brackets come in. They help you secure the TV in exactly the right spot.

In part two of this series of articles, we will look at another type of games console – the Wii – and how it has an impact on how you set up your TV.

If you’ve got a new HDTV, you will want to set it up correctly so that you get the maximum benefit out of its high resolution screen. There are any numbers of settings that you will need to play with to optimise your viewing experience, but before you do any of that, get the TV in the right position using a TV bracket.

A bracket allows you to position the TV correctly, which is vital because no matter how good the picture on your new TV, if you’re viewing it from the wrong angle, you won’t get the benefit. This applies just as much to a TV that costs £200 as one that costs £2,000. Viewing angle is something you have to get right.

You can then move onto the settings. You might hope that the factory settings would be optimal, but that’s not the case. TVs aren’t set up to have the best picture in your home. They’re set up to have the best picture in the shop, because that’s where they get sold.

Competing against other models, they have to stand out from the crowd and the easiest way of doing this is through being brighter, yet brightness does not equate to quality. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way of the world. The reality is that you’ll have to spend quite some time making adjustments until you get the picture just right. At least fitting the bracket should be straightforward.

A TV picture will look different in different lights. In a bright room, you will need more backlighting on an LCD TV and it will also have a knock-on effect on colour, contrast and sharpness. Before you start messing about, changing the settings, it’s important to first get your TV into the position in which you will be watching it.

To do this, buy a TV bracket and install your set on the wall at a comfortable viewing height. It is now in position and you can judge the picture quality in the kind of light in which you will be watching TV.

The contrast settings affect the detail within the lighter parts of the image. On a plasma screen, the lighter the image, the power will be used as well and there is a risk of screen burn. Ultimately, the setting is down to your own taste, but don’t be tempted to go too high. Start in the middle and work from there. You may have to alternate with changing the brightness settings to get this right.

The sharpness settings often catch people out. Many will set them to the maximum, believing this gives the most sharpness, but high definition images don’t need enhancing. It can actually make straight lines jagged when set too high.

Finally, you need to set your colour settings. This is perhaps the trickiest to get right. How green should that green be? It’s hard to know. Calibration discs are a great help in this regard. Failing that, skin colour is good to go off. People can easily start to look sunburnt or unwell if you get your settings wrong, so you can find a balance that way.

When a manufacturer produces a TV, they have one main aim – to sell it. With this in mind, the factory picture settings are geared towards selling TVs, not to providing the best quality picture.

You might think that should amount to the same thing, but that isn’t the case. In a TV show room, surrounded by dozens of other screens, a TV needs to stand out to sell. Subtlety falls by the wayside. As a result of this, the manufacturer will typically whack up all the settings to the max. It’s eye-catching, but when you get the TV home, you’ll quickly realise that the picture could be better.

Bright colours, harsh contrast, brilliant white and jet black. It’s not the picture you hoped for. Unfortunately, all there is for it is to get stuck in, making adjustments. However, before you do so, it’s important to first get the TV into the position where it’s going to be viewed. It’s no good optimising the picture in one place and then moving it. You’ll most likely find that you need to start again.

The best way of attaining the optimum viewing experience is with the help of TV brackets. By using a bracket, you can secure your TV on the wall in exactly the spot where you want it. This means you’ve got just the right viewing angle and you can then play with the colour, contrast and brightness to your heart’s content.

To get accurate colour, good contrast and everything else you want from a TV picture, you’ll need to calibrate your TV, but before you do so, attach it to the wall using a TV bracket. This should be the first step as it means you’re assessing picture quality where the TV will be viewed.

Having mounted the TV, you can get to work and it may well feel like work, because factory settings are generally far from what you want in a home setting, being geared towards standing out in a shop, primarily.

You can get calibration discs, but most people will simply do a manual calibration, going off the evidence of their own eyes. However, you still need the right images on which to judge performance. It’s a good idea to load a Blu-ray as these are high definition and likely to be the best quality images you will ever see on your TV.

If you don’t have a Blu-ray player, just go for whatever will provide the best picture quality, whether that is HDTV or a DVD or whatever. Blu-rays are best, however, because you can also pause images, which is hugely beneficial. Connect via HDMI as well, to ensure everything’s coming through sharply.

The choice of film or programme will play a part too. You will need to calibrate for light and dark scenes, so try and find something that offers both extremes. Colour is important too. Some programmes are by their nature not particularly colourful. Animations are a good bet, particularly modern computer generated ones. You can now make changes and see what works best.