Tag Archives: Vizio

Vizio is adding Disney+ to its smart TV platform

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The update will come to all Vizio SmartCast TVs from 2016 and later. Note that you need to be in one of the countries where Disney+ is available — at the moment that’s the US, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. – Monica Chin, The Verge » https://ift.tt/2V8hOgI

Vizio starts testing SmartCast 3.0 with AirPlay 2 support

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Since the platform’s adding support for the second version of AirPlay, you’ll be able beam media to multiple devices. You’ll also be able to mirror content you can’t cast, such as web pages, on a bigger screen. Meanwhile, the addition of HomeKit support means you’ll be able to control a SmartCast TV — switch it on and off, change volumes and even ask Siri to play shows — using an iPhone or an iPad. – Mariella Moon, Engadget » https://engt.co/2G4nalt

Vizio exec: we’d have to charge a premium on “dumb” TVs to make up for the money we’ll lose by not spying on you

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At CES, the Verge’s Nilay Patel interviewed Vizio CTO Bill Baxter, who told her that when it comes to the surveillance features of his company’s “smart” TVs, “it’s not just about data collection. It’s about post-purchase monetization of the TV…[When it comes to ‘dumb’ TVs,] we’d collect a little bit more margin at retail to offset it.” – Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing » http://bit.ly/2RJEHWl

Vizio launches its own streaming service powered by Pluto TV

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Vizio says it’s launching its own streaming service called WatchFree that will be available on nearly all its Vizio SmartCast TVs via a separate input. The service itself will be powered by streaming TV provider Pluto TV, and will include access to over 100 live and linear channels featuring news, entertainment, sports, movies, and more. – Sarah Perez, TechCrunch https://ift.tt/2n48esY

Man-in-the-middle attack on Vizio TVs coughs up owners’ viewing habits

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photo: Vizio, Ars Technica

Researchers from security firm Avast Software found that the Vizio model in their lab broadcasted fingerprints of users’ viewing habits, even when owners hadn’t consented to a privacy policy displayed during set up. What’s more, the researchers uncovered a vulnerability in the smart TV that could act as a potential attack vector for a hacker attempting to access a user’s home network. – Dan Goodin, Ars Technica

Amazon Instant 4k Hits Vizio P Series

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As expected, Amazon Instant streaming has gone 4k this month… via a number of award-winning blockbusters such as Vendetta and Time Runners. […] I’m not certain if the content is natively 4k or if the video has been upscaled from 1080. Irrespective, the future is here… should any of these titles appeal and our bandwidth caps be sufficiently generous. – Dave Zatz,Zatz Not Funny
(Full Story: http://ift.tt/1vKAHjS )

Plasma TV is dead: Samsung to end production later this year

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As more and more manufacturers flock to 4K, the hurdle of producing an ultra-high definition 4K plasma HDTV was almost certainly a factor in the technology’s demise. But there’s also the matter of cost: plasmas are more expensive to build than LED LCDs. And despite the acclaimed picture performance that comes with plasma, consumers have for years voted with their wallets and overwhelmingly favored LCD TVs. Companies like Vizio, Sony, and Samsung itself drove plasma out of the market. Thankfully those LED TVs are looking better and better, making the loss of plasma a bit easier to swallow. – Chris Welch , The Verge http://bit.ly/1z7MV9e