Widgets and gadgets are the latest trend to hit HDTVs. Vizio is upping the game by equipping its soon-to-be-released HDTVs with an impressive suite of Internet applications and video streaming sites. So much so, that this portfolio will place them on top of many people’s wish list as these TVs will be better equipped than a TiVo or even Windows Media Server.
Forget about Vizio being a mid-tier, Walmart brand. These features might make some people question why they pay a monthly fee for a TiVo. Owners will be able to stream content from Revision3, Showtime and Pandora for free, while also able to subscribe to Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster OnDemand, Amazon Video On Demand and Rhapsody. Plus, the sets are able to work with Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and the Yahoo Widgets Engine.
All this content should be easily controlled and managed with a Bluetooth remote that features a slide-down QWERTY keyboard. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing this feature finally becoming available. Hopefully similar remotes will soon be available from TiVo and Moxi as there is nothing more annoying than typing via an on-screen keyboard.
The HDTVs connect to the local network via either 802.11n or wired networking. There is no word on DLNA support, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that finds its way into spec list.
Expect the new XVT series to be available next month and start at $749 for a 32-inch. The series continues up in price as LED-backing and 240Hz options are added. The top of the line VF551XVT has both options as well as five HDMI ports for $2,199 and will be available this September.
We’re just hoping that the picture matches the impressive feature list…
awesome! now I want a vizio instead of a samsung.
that’s the first time i’ve ever heard anyone say that
I don’t normally pay attention to VIZIO, but, done properly, this could be a cool feature.
Exactly. It’s extremely generous to call Vizio “mid-tier,” but this is a great product. This is the direction TVs are going in though, so I’d expect to see more of them by the end of the year.
Netflix at the very least has been service-izing their business steadily over the past 12-18mos which makes them geniuses until Comcast and whoever come down on them with On Demand features. That battle might happen next year, at this rate.
I’m trying to figure out how Vudu, Blockbuster, Amazon, et al figure into this. There must be some single piece of software that they all (can) use that makes it possible for such a group to join Netflix, who has evidently been doing their own engineerign. Embedded Flash player? Windows Embedded Media Player? H.264whoozit?
One interesting thing about these HDTVs:
They are a non-Windows computer in the living room, which is probably Microsoft’s worst nightmare.
What will be Microsoft’s response?
I am overdue for a new display in my living room. Thanks for the alert. :)
What will be Microsoft’s response?
XBMC is already well-loved, and Windows Media Player already talks to it. It’s all BizDev from there.
Awesome!
That remote looks pretty sweet. Thanks for the article, will be referencing it for my blog post on Friday.
Ugh. Why not a more forward-thinking approach? Why would you limit it to apps that are “relevant” in 2009? What happens when nobody’s using twitter in 2010 and you’re stuck with this dumb set that doesn’t accommodate the current hype?
Why not build this with a solid-but-simple API and work with these guys to launch these out of the gate? What if I want to build my own app?
App market for TVs. Sounds like a great idea. Should be interested to see who the first TV maker will be to support this.
Will it be able to stream Hulu?
The only way Hulu will make it on these services is as a pay-per-view streaming app. Playboy ran a snippit where it said Roku promised that Hulu support was coming and people from News Corp. have said Hulu is looking at paid models, so the service could very well come to STBs and connected TVs, it just likely won’t be the free Hulu people have come to love.
If they’re not used then you probably will just delete them.
Why not just add a web browser to this thing?
This is a great feature for TV. I own Vizio 37in HDTV and I love it. I might even change mine to this one next year.
Now, if they could get a SageTV client in there…
Just a minor correction — it’s the VF552XVT which is the 55″ XVT model to have the VIA feature (Vizio Internet Apps). It’s slated to ship in December.
The September-bound VF551XVT does not have VIA, which would seem to suggest that it does not have Ethernet nor the 802.11n dual-band. Surprisingly, both models have the same $2,199.99 MSRP.
The 42″ and 47″ XVT models also have versions without VIA slated for July, and versions with VIA slated for October-November.
Just wanted to address/correct a few items. The Yahoo! Widget Engine does indeed power the new VIZIO TVs, as well as units currently in the market from Samsung, LG Electronics, and Sony.
You can customize your experience in the Widget Gallery, so if any widget falls out of favor (ie the Twitter reference from Nathan), you can simply delete it, much like you would on the iPhone.
There will be new widgets coming soon from a wide variety of content providers and developers–video on demand (ex Netflix), transactional (ex eBay), network programming (ex CBS), cable outlets (ex Showtime), video (YouTube), social networking (Twitter), and other content from Yahoo! (Flickr, News, Sports, Weather) and many others. Our goal is to have ~100 by the end of the year.
With VIZIO’s announcement, by fall the top 3 international TV manufacturers and the top 4 in the US will all have TVs using the Yahoo! WIdget Engine.
Have my Vizio 32″ for 3 years now. Never had a problem and picture is great. Nice to see that are upping the ante. They will be my next choice provided they do it right.
The remote would be way cooler if the upper part was an iPhone-esque touch screen with different, options, etc…
What Vizio has announced is great. Videos from the Internet will be the largest TV network.
Verismo Networks already has an appliance that strems miliions of internet videos directly to the TV – You Tube, Movies, videos from Popular websites, Live TV channels from around the world, playback of videos/photos/music from the home network.
No other appliance comes close for the value!!!!!!!!!
Visio – MADE IN THE USA???
don’t know about made, but sold in the US (exclusively I think). it was one of the sets used back in ‘05 when Wal-Mart gained a lot more control of the HDTV market by putting some sets under $1000