Briefly: Apple TV retail placement, startup stills; Sydney store hiring

Apple TV retail display details

Following the arrival of Sony Bravia flat-screen LCD displays at Apple retail stores last week, our friends over at ifoAppleStore claim to have uncovered some details on planogram layout and placement for the Apple TV displays

According to the retail site, most standard footprint Apple stores will be removing three computers on the right-side wall display counter to make space for the 32-inch television sets and Apple TV media hubs. At most of the company stores, the space will be to the front (ifo diagram) of the right-side Genius Bar, making the displays visible through the stores' front windows.

ifo adds that current release date rumors for the Apple wireless video hub are now hovering around February 28th.

Apple TV startup screen still

On a related note, Venice, Calf.-based design firm Logan has posted to its websites several still images from a movie file expected to be used by Apple during the startup process of Apple TV.

The clip employs imagery similar to that already used to promote Apple TV on Apple's website and during the recent Macworld conference, such as a cascading wall of digital TV screens dissolving like space dust into the media device.

Apple begins hiring for Sydney store

Meanwhile, it appears that Apple will move swiftly to open its first official retail outlet over in Australia.

Just days after the Sydney development authority granted the company's request for a building permit, the Mac maker on its Australian website posted job listings for a variety of retail positions at the store, including Store Manager, Assistant Store Manager, Creative, Mac Genius, and Mac Specialist.

The approximate 15,000-square-foot store on the corner of King and George streets will span three floors and sport a protruding glass atrium with a suspended 10-foot Apple logo between levels two and three.