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Peacock will stream on LG and Vizio TVs at launch
NBCUniversal's Peacock will stream on LG and Vizio TVs when the service is ready on July 15th.
Apple brings picture-in-picture and gaming updates to Apple TV
Apple announced a couple key changes for Apple TV at WWDC 2020 today, including updates to gaming and a new picture-in-picture feature.
Vizio SmartCast TVs add 30 new free TV channels
Owners of Vizio’s smart TVs already had access to some free broadcasts through its Pluto TV-powered WatchFree service, and today the manufacturer announced several new ones.
Sharp sues Vizio over display tech in 70-inch TVs
Sharp, the Japanese electronics company behind the world's largest 8K LCD TV, is suing Vizio and two other companies over alleged patent infringement. Sharp claims that the companies infringed 12 patents related to panel technologies, like liquid crystal displays (LCD). In particular, Sharp says one of Vizio's 70-inch TVs is an offender. Sharp is seeking an injunction, as well as compensation for lost profits and the use of its technology.
The Disney+ app is finally coming to Vizio TVs
Vizio is rolling out an update to its smart TVs that'll add a proper Disney+ app to the SmartCast platform. Until now, Vizio owners have had to cast Disney+ to their TV using Chromecast or AirPlay 2.
The best pre-Super Bowl deals for 4K TVs and streaming
With the big game right around the corner -- I mean Super Bowl LIV, in case that isn't clear -- it's once again time to consider making a TV upgrade. If you need a little something extra to make sure football fans stop by your party instead of staying home, a bigger and brighter setup will go further than pushing your array of snacks. Plus, while many of these deals are online, shopping locally can give you an opportunity to see the screen in person, or make for a quick return if you find out that it's just too wide for the stand you wanted to put it on. (I should've measured first.) With prices nearly as low as we saw during the Black Friday push, and likely as low as they'll get until sets start hitting clearance shelves, you have your choice of equipment. Also worth considering is the fact that this year, for the first time, you can watch a Fox Sports 4K/HDR feed. It's upconverted from 1080p, but judging from my experience watching Thursday Night Football earlier in the season, it's sharp and vibrant enough to justify switching over if you can. Fox's plan to capture the game includes eight 4K cameras, as well as three 8K cameras trained on the sidelines and benches -- you'll want every super slow motion zoom-in to look as good as possible.
Google Play now supports Samsung's HDR10+ alternative to Dolby Vision
Samsung unveiled HDR10+ as a way to bring HDR tech on par with Dolby Vision without paying Dolby's royalties. So far, it hasn't attracted a lot of other TV makers and content distributors besides Panasonic and Amazon. However, Samsung has now announced two significant new partners in both those areas with Vizio TVs and Google Play streaming. That should make it easier for consumers to not only find HDR10+ content, but play it back as well.
Vizio's new soundbar rotates its speakers for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X content
Vizio isn't just the brand that makes cheaper TVs with high-end features, over the last few years it's increasingly become known for offering a number of excellent home theater audio options too. For CES 2020 its soundbar lineup is getting a rebranding to match the popular M-Series and V-Series 4K televisions it sells, while a new premium soundbar is made to match the new OLED TVs it just announced. The Vizio Elevate Sound Bar (shown above) has 18 total drivers, with a pair of channels in the main soundbar that point forward when playing stereo or 5.1 audio, but automatically rotate up to increase height effects when they play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X encoded audio. It's made to work on its own with any TV, or to dock "seamlessly" with the Vizio OLED TVs. There's also a wireless 8-inch subwoofer and two satellite surround speakers that add p to 107dB of output. Like everything else Vizio is announcing today, there's no word on a price or release date. Other than that model, instead of simply branding its soundbars by size and speaker configuration, they now have M-Series and V-Series names just like its midrange 4K TVs (the Elevate has a P-Series model number, P514a, just like the high-end TVs). The M-Series and higher models with Atmos and DTS:X will have HDMI 2.1 inputs along with eARC support, so that you can pass through uncompressed Dolby and DTS Audio from built-in TV apps.
Vizio's 4K TV lineup adds OLED and a new voice remote for 2020
For CES 2020 Vizio is showing off a refreshed TV lineup that's upgraded across the board. Beyond picture quality improvements, the SmartCast UI that Vizio's TVs rely upon is moving to version 4.0 with easier input switching, personalization and a new remote with push-to-talk voice control that should help it fight back against competitors like TCL. This new version of SmartCast will bring performance and personalization updates to TVs going back to the company's 2016 models. While it already works with Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the new version is supposed to allow with easier pairing for Assistant and Alexa-compatible devices n the SmartCast Mobile app. Its voice remote is also capable for more than just TV operation, with support for Wikipedia searches, weather updates and more.
How home assistants ruined us, an explanation
Our situation became clear when my friend ran through Trader Joe's screaming "ALEXA WHAT TIME IS IT?" This wasn't a cringey mockumentary comedy segment. It's the way we live now. I'm certain San Francisco's sea of terrified Postmates and Prime delivery runners parted for her, trampling an Instacart personal shopper already wallowing in the misfortune of crawling along the baked goods aisle, feeling blindly under tortillas for lost earbuds. Everyone wondering if they should yell at Google or Siri to call 911. Several cameras are trained on everyone, of course, to memorialize and broadcast these special moments forever.
What to buy for your new 4K TV
It's that time of year -- the one when everyone is looking at a new TV. If you've picked out a brand new 4K set, then congratulations, there's more beautiful HDR -- and not-quite HDR -- footage to experience than ever before. Of course, the journey doesn't end there, and now that you've got your new TV, it's time to think about what you're putting around it. Have you thought about sound, or what remote control you'll use? After more than a decade of reviewing TVs, accessories and watching the sales every year, I have some advice on what else you'll need after the TV is out of the box, so that you can get to the part where you're on the couch enjoying it as fast as possible. All prices listed are accurate as of this writing.
Save up to $300 on Vizio soundbars with these early Black Friday deals
If you plan to purchase a 4K TV this Black Friday or want to upgrade your existing sound system, Best Buy has discounted several Vizio soundbars ahead of next week. To start, you can get the SB46514-F6 for $700, down from $1000. This 5.1.4-channel system comes with a 10-inch subwoofer and four upward-facing speakers (for Dolby Atmos), as well as support for Google Assistant. You can also stream music to it through WiFi and Bluetooth. Our friends at Wirecutter say the SB46514-F6 is "the best soundbar you can find in the $1,000-or-less price range."
Vizio is updating SmartCast TVs to stream Disney+ via Chromecast
Vizio is promising Android users that they'll be able to beam Disney+ to their SmartCast TVs by the end of the year. Currently, iOS users can cast the Disney+ app to the TV using AirPlay 2. But Android users were left in the dark. Now, Vizio says it will roll out a Chromecast update beginning in early December. That will allow Android users to cast the Disney+ app to their Vizio SmartCast TVs via the built-in Chromecast.
Wirecutter's best deals: Save $200 on a 13-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read Wirecutter's continuously updated list of deals here.
The media streamers and soundbars to buy this holiday season
There are lots of reasons to consider gifting home entertainment products. Whether you're searching for the perfect gift for that one friend that's always glued to their TV, or you're selflessly trying to bring your mom's living room setup up to speed before you visit for the holidays, we have a heap of suggestions for presents big and small. From $30 streaming sticks to $400 soundbars, we've got your back.
Netflix is dropping support for older Samsung smart TVs in December
If you have an older Samsung or Vizio smart TV, you may have noticed a message from Netflix pop up on your screen. This week, Netflix began notifying customers that it will no longer support Samsung smart TVs, circa 2010 and 2011, or Vizio smart TV more than four years old. It's also dropping support for first-generation Roku boxes. The changes go into effect December 2nd.
Vizio's best TV from last year is on sale for $1,080
As usual, one of the biggest questions about buying a new TV is whether to buy a "new" model or grab one of last year's editions for a little bit less. It's been more than a year since Vizio debuted the P Series Quantum line that we loved at first sight and which quickly became a highly-recommended 4K TV. It launched with a sticker price of $2,100 and quickly dropped below that, but now Amazon's Woot is selling refurbished 65-inch models for $1,079.99. That's a decent price for a display The Wirecutter called "the best overall LED/LCD TV" when prices for a 65-inch ranged from $1,200 - $1,300. Unfortunately it's difficult to find a brand new model now that they've been discontinued to make room for 2019's TVs. Thanks to software updates, grabbing this one doesn't mean missing out on new features like AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support.
How to pick a 4K TV in 2019
Making your way through the sea of flat-panel TVs that fill big box stores and online shopping carts in 2019 is tougher than ever before. Even though many of today's televisions have a baseline picture quality that was nearly unreachable just a few years ago, trying to find one that fits you among identical-looking screens with differences that are only apparent in their price tags will require some skill. The good news? After a few years on the market, availability of the latest technology buzzwords has largely stabilized, so you don't have to spend a lot to get a great looking television.
How to buy a soundbar
It's no secret that the built-in speakers in most TVs are trash. Soundbars are a must-have if you care about your home audio setup. Here's what you need to consider when picking a soundbar, plus our best picks.
Vizio's updated Alexa app can search for movies and TV shows
VIzio has updated its SmartCast TVs with a better Alexa experience that will greatly expand the basic functionality they've had up until now. By enabling Vizio's new Alexa skill, you'll be able to simply ask for a show like This is Us, and SmartCast TVs will find it across multiple apps, complete with pricing and video formats. You can then use Alexa to launch apps like Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.
