vizio

Consumer electronics companies are muscling into lighting with LEDs.

RCA said today at CES that it will manufacture LED bulbs as part of a larger home theater announcement. The company said that it developed a "chip on a board" that uses a single efficient LED light source, rather than several smaller ones. That design optimizes the energy efficiency of the bulb, said Bob Hatefi of RCA licensee BDC in a statement.

As energy-efficient lighting standards take hold in the U.S. and around the world, expect more electronics companies moving deeper into consumer LED lighting. Late last year, … Read more

Flat-screen TV maker Vizio loves to use the Rose Bowl as a vehicle to tease its upcoming products.

After an introduction from Vizio Chief Technology Officer Matt McRae, the company briefly displayed a previously unannounced super slim TV during a 30-second spot that aired during the college football game. I could not help but notice the TV bears a resemblance to the design used in Sony's Internet TV lineup, which also has a stainless steel stand and rounded edges.

It is strongly possible that Vizio could reveal more about the set during its press conference at CES next week. … Read more

If you're looking for a TV that offers the blacks of a plasma with the energy-saving benefits and slimness of an LCD, then the M3D0SR range from Vizio may be of interest to you.

"Plasma-like blacks?" you ask. Almost, yes. The Vizio's Smart Dimming is able to give excellent contrast levels.

Most CNET TV reviews are based on an entire series as, according to manufacturers, most TVs in a series are very similar. But the 46-inch and 55-inch M3D0SR here are quite different. In what is an interesting business decision, the three models in the Vizio … Read more

If you want the most features for your TV buck, look no further than Vizio's E3D0VX series.

It's the least expensive 1080p 3D TV on the market--yeah, entry-level 720p 3D plasmas from Samsung and LG cost less but don't include active glasses, while Sony's PlayStation TV is just 24 inches.

The Vizio also sports a well-equipped Internet package, complete with content galore, built-in Wi-Fi, and, yes, a remote equipped with a QWERTY keyboard on the flip side. About the only thing missing is an LED backlight.

The downside is that the Vizio's disappointing 2D picture can't match that of many basic-featured competitors that cost less. If you can overlook that significant flaw and actually want 3D, you'll find Vizio's E3D0VX plenty appealing.

Read the full review of the Vizio E3D0VX series.

… Read more

Vizio's 8-inch tablet will now support Hulu Plus, the company announced today.

According to Chief Technology Officer Matt McRae, Vizio's tablet has become "one of the first Android-powered tablets to support Hulu Plus."

Vizio launched its 8-inch tablet earlier this month. The device comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability for users to control their home entertainment devices with the built-in universal remote. The tablet also comes with an HDMI port, allowing users to push content to their HDTVs in high-definition.

Vizio has launched its 8-inch tablet at a price that could make it a key player in the Android tablet space.

Customers looking to get their hands on the device can head over to Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Costco, and Amazon, among other retailers, and pick up the tablet for $299.

Vizio's decision to drop the price of its tablet to $299 comes as a surprise. In June, reports surfaced, claiming Wal-Mart would be selling the tablet for $349. Last month, Vizio started offering the device on pre-order for $399.99. However, at the time, customers could go to … Read more

First demoed at CES in January, Vizio's new 8-inch VIA tablet finally has a price and a ship date.

Slated to ship on July 18, the new Android tablet is now available for preorder. Vizio is selling the tablet directly for the full retail price of $399. However, consumers can grab a better deal by ordering it at Costco for $329 or Wal-Mart for $348.

A report from mid-June had already pegged Wal-Mart selling the tablet for $349.

Equipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread but customized with Vizio's own user interface, the tablet offers an 8-inch, 1,024x768 … Read more

We first spied Vizio's VIA Android tablet in the gadget-blur of CES 2011. It held the unfortunate distinction of being one of the last tablets we wrote about before Google and Motorola stole the show.

Still, we've been wondering what became of Vizio's 8-inch VIA tablet, and we jumped at the chance to catch up with it during a CEA showcase yesterday.

The Android 2.3 tablet hasn't changed much since January, but it looks to be shipping soon, priced at $349 with 4GB of onboard memory. A microSD card slot supports up to 32GB of additional memory.

Of course, the VIA's most unique feature is still here. Hidden beneath the top edge of the tablet is a universal IR blaster that Vizio claims is compatible with 95 percent of remote controlled consumer electronics. Combined with Vizio's preinstalled universal remote app, the VIA can be used to remotely control anything from your TV to your home stereo, regardless of brand. … Read more

Vizio today released more details on its upcoming tablet as the launch inches closer.

The Vizio Tablet will come with an 8-inch, 1,024x768 capacitive touch screen and allow people to connect to the Web via Wi-Fi, the company said. The platform will also support Bluetooth. Vizio's tablet will come with built-in GPS and feature 2GB of on-board storage. The device supports up to 32GB of storage through the use of a microSD card.

Last week, reports surfaced that claimed Vizio's tablet would be available at Wal-Mart for $349. However, the company has yet to reveal pricing or … Read more