IKEA is probably best known for its flat-packed furniture and the meatball special with a side of lingonberries. Now, our Scandinavian friends hope to add the company's name to the lengthy list of TV offerings.
The UPPLEVA is IKEA's latest space-saving solution, but the first to add audio and video. The newly announced product will combine a TV, a 2.1 sound system, a Blu-ray player, and a TV cabinet into one product. According the UPPLEVA's big debut on YouTube (see below), the furniture company will also make a wireless subwoofer available.
A few of the details are still fuzzy. However, it looks like UPPLEVA will have four HDMI ports, two USB ports, web access, FM radio and an iPod/MP3 input. It will also come packing a 5-year guarantee. A variety of TV sizes, colors and styles will be offered, with and without storage for other components.
The company says that the idea came out of trying to find a solution that could not only hold a TV, but could also hide the cable clutter associated with having a TV. China's TCL is working with IKEA on the tech side of the project.
According to IKEA, UPPLEVA prices will start at around 6,500 Swedish crowns ($960) for the combination bench unit, television and sound system.
The UPPLEVA will debut in stores in Stockholm, Milan, Paris, Gdansk and Berlin this June. In the fall, it will branch out to stores in Sweden, Italy, France, Poland, Denmark, Spain, Norway and Portugal, with plans to hit more store shelves in spring 2013. Until then, check out what the UPPLEVA plans to offer in the video below.
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