VIZIO Internet App HDTVs launch later this year, for less than you might expect

Sure VIZIO only just showed off new updates in its high end XVT series, but it's already planning the next generation of LCDs with VIZIO Internet Apps included. Packing widget functionality, 802.11n wireless networking and slider QWERTY Bluetooth remote, the SV422XVT, SV472XVT and VF552XVT Connected HDTVs are coming home in November, October and December, respectively. Already on deck to serve up content for your widgets are Vudu, Revision3, Facebook, Twitter, Rhapsody, Blockbuster OnDemand, Showtime, Flickr and more. The biggest surprise? There's apparently no price premium planned for these features, with the 55-inch clocking in at the same $2,199 price as the model it's replacing, though the 47-inch jumps $200 over the previous edition to $1,699, while adding the local dimming LED backlit technology previously reserved for the 55-inch. The 42-inch will be the first and cheapest available at $1,199 (sans LED) -- we'll see if that bar is low enough to get viewers to jump into the internet-connected display future.

Read - VIZIO Announces High Performance XVT HDTV Line Up with 240Hz SPS(TM), TruLED(TM) and Smart Dimming(TM) Technology, VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA), and Slim Line(TM) 120Hz LCD HDTV Models
Read - VIZIO Unveils Rhapsody Digital Music Service for VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA(TM)) Connected HDTVs
Read - VIZIO Reveals Dynamic New Content Partners for VIZIO Internet Apps Connected HDTV Feature

[Rocky @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:50PM]

I don't normally pay attention to VIZIO, but, done properly, this could be a cool feature.

[Arjun Aletty @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:53PM]

ya same i really dont care bout vizio but it seems interesting especially for the price

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:51PM]

Where've you guys been? Vizio makes THE best TVs for the price. And even if you guys don't care about price their XVT line looks pretty good.

[ET @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:22PM]

Vizio makes THE best TVs for the price if you do not hunt for deal. When I was shopping for a 52" 1.5 years ago, their price was the same as Sharp friends and family deal (which there are enough on the web that almost all people get it)

[Mikeweezer @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:06PM]

VIZIO TV's always look like they are too Red in color. Seeing as how I watch alot of hockey, this gets annoying...
Netflix built in sounds pretty sweet, though...

[Josh Warner @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:53PM]

Always good to see the smart dimming LED array backlight tech getting cheaper and finding its way into lower sized sets. Props to Vizio for blazing the path on this front.

[DanielT @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:54PM]

Random Comment! Thanks engadget for offering this nice looking TV in your recession grab bag!

[manifest3r @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:54PM]

Never knew they were water proof

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:58PM]

I welcome you to stroll into Best Buy and give it a try yourself.

[Fernando Rocker @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:56PM]

I know a lot of people like to bash Vizio... but for the price, these are one of the best HDTVs in the market...

I don't know why people like to compare Vizio's quality with Olevia, Dynex, and other crappy brands... Vizio is a very good brand, and is comparable to mid quality HDTVs by Samsung, Panasonic, etc...

Even the materials of the hardware are very good quality, same with the overall design, and features.

[Jarris @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:00PM]

netflix?

[Mr. Ford @ Jun 24th 2009 10:52AM]

BULL...SHIT!!! Vizio is definitely comparable to the Shit brands. They were outsourced from the same OEM factories that made the likes of Polaroid and Insignia. Look at the jack panel on the back and you will see how cheap they are.

You can't truly think that they are more comparable to Sharp, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc. than to off brands.

Fuck Vizio!

[Wonderkid @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:58PM]

The TeleComputer arriveth, almost. Long time coming.

[dmbfanmd @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:59PM]

Pic says Netflix, but not mentioned? WTF!!!!!!!!!

[esteban blanco @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:38PM]

I think VIZIO announced Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, Amazon VOD and a couple of other companies at the Consumer Electronics Show in January....

[emagius @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:02PM]

How about some zero/low-latency HDTVs for us gamers, Vizio?

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:04PM]

I've thrown down gaming on an OLD 37" Vizio and it's fine. You really aren't going to find a lot of non-Insignia LCDs these days that have really notable latency for gaming.

[Anthony M. @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:13PM]

I game on my 37" Vizio as well and would surely notice if there was ever an issue.

[Bluecold @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:09PM]

LCD. To bad.

[Bluecold @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:10PM]

too*

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:03PM]

And what did you want?

[ET @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:24PM]

What are the alternatives?

[Tyler R. @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:12PM]

I'm still waiting for the Blu-Ray player they showed off at CES. Where is that?

[htd @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:16PM]

I want a cheap nettop to be connected to it through HDMI, not something built-in the HDTV

[Nate @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:21PM]

Why are they dropping a television in the ocean?

[jorgiex @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:22PM]

I have two 47" Vizio HDTVs in the house right now and I will be getting this next gen model when it launches around my birthday. Older model is 1080p and the 2nd model is 1080p w/ 120Hz amazing BluRay image.

[ilovecoyotte @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:28PM]

Hold up, the most interesting thing in the article just got passed over. Since when is Vudu being supported by any other hardware? Would the Vudu "widget" be streaming off your personal Vudu box or are we talking about some kind of client hardware?

[Gorilla800lbs @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:32PM]

Very impressive. I hope the higher-end models come with an updated styling too. I saw a couple of Vizios mounted over the bar at some restaurant. They looked too low-rent and Insignia-ish.

[TimeKeeper @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:46PM]

Why bundle everything into the TV? I'd rather have A/V modules that I can exchange when new Codecs/technology becomes available. By bundling them together, the TV and embedded system runs the risk of becoming obsolete at the same time.

[modified @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:57PM]

Pulling information from the cloud is so 2008. 2009 is all about getting wet.

[William Su @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:51PM]

vizio tvs are pretty crappy, im amazed that they could develope this

[ET @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:25PM]

Too bad no one is interested in the 65" size, the 55" is marginal increase in size as compared to 52".

[poematik14 @ Jun 23rd 2009 7:38PM]

Vizio epitomizes mediocrity.

[Bam @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:04PM]

It would be nice if my Vizio wouldn't' freeze 4-5 times a day requiring you to pull the power cord, because nothing else on the TV will respond.

Vizio blames Comcast for whatever they are doing with their digital channels... funny considering searching various forums I only see this affecting Vizios. Heck my Sony LCD doesn't have this issue and now my warrant is expired. THANK YOU VIZIO for being craptastic.

[Brian @ Jul 30th 2009 3:47PM]

It actually may be Comcast. I have an "older" 37in Vizio that frequently locked up with Comcast (no cable box) over a 2 year period. Since I switched to at&t uverse last October, I haven't had a single freeze.

[eattrn @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:16PM]

I have had no problems with the LCD I got last year before Christmas and the picture is as good as any of the ones I have seen for a lot more. www.eattrn.com

[Patrick Joseph @ Jun 24th 2009 1:47AM]

I love Vizio tv's, I have the old 42" 1080p tv, and it's running like new after a year and a half of daily use, I wouldn't mind upgrading to a new 55" 240hz with all the new features.

[BLee @ Jun 24th 2009 1:59AM]

only thing I worry about is how will it work with my cable box/dvr? If the remote is bluetooth, will it have IR as well for my cable box? I hate using more than one remote.. I was also thinking about investing in one of them fancy harmony one remotes, but if its a bluetooth interface, wont that be difficult? :(

Nevertheless, I was looking to buy a new tv this fall, and this piques my interest.. altho I was lookin to buy around August.. I guess I may hold off a month?

[BLee @ Jun 24th 2009 2:22AM]

... or 2 months... whatever that confusing release date list means..

[ragz175 @ Jun 24th 2009 6:02AM]

Why are TV manufacturers wasting their R&D resources on these useless features?

I can do Netflix on my PC and Xbox, Facebook on my PC and whatever else I need I can buy extra boxes and consoles. An average household already has a cable connection, a game console and can always buy a cheap 3-400 desktop to hook up to the HDTV if need arises.

So why dont these companies use their resources on making better TVs with more reliability, better picture, better sound, better power management, etc? Why do I need my 55'' LCD to also be a half baked computer????

[CB @ Jun 24th 2009 9:56AM]

"An average household already has a cable connection, a game console and can always buy a cheap 3-400 desktop to hook up to the HDTV if need arises."

Wrong. The average home does not have a 360 or PS3. The average engadget reader might, but not most homes. Those are the only consoles that can do that stuff. $300-400 is more than the cost of adding these features and, in my opinion, the implementation is much less seemless to have the weather overlaid on your screen than changing TV inputs to the pc and browsing for your needed info. I prefer to have less boxes in my setup.