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Roku TVs will eavesdrop on your shows to serve up ads
Roku fans have another treat this week aside from getting Sling TV's Cloud DVR functionality. Assuming you opt in, the latest software version (7.6) will use Automatic Content Recognition to listen to what broadcast programming you're watching and suggest other stuff to watch based on that, as a way to "enhance" your couch potato session. "Additional viewing options may include the ability to watch from the beginning, watch more episodes of the same show and/or view suggestions for similar entertainment available to stream," the section about Roku TVs reads.
LeEco is not buying Vizio after all
Troubled electronics and car maker LeEco made an ambitious promise to buy TV company Vizio for $2 billion last year, but as it turns out, that acquisition isn't happening after all. The company today confirmed that "the merger agreement will not proceed due to regulatory headwinds." This comes after persistent rumors of the deal falling through due to an inability to get Chinese government approval.
Vizio's latest 4K TVs are dirt cheap
Vizio continues to push TV prices down to the point where it would be crazy not to go 4K on your next TV. With its latest D-Series, a 65-inch 4K (Ultra HD) model costs $900, while the 55-inch Ultra HD model is just $570. To be sure, these are not fancy HDR-equipped OLED or quantum dot models, but they do have full-array LED backlighting, built-in WiFi and Vizio's own smart TV system with built-in apps like Netflix.
AMD claims LG and Vizio are violating its graphics patents
AMD is one of the few remaining companies with a big stake in graphics hardware (it's powering the PS4 and Xbox One in addition to PCs), and it's determined to hold on to that stake however it can. In the wake of an earlier filing, the US International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate LG, MediaTek, Sigma Designs and Vizio for allegedly violating AMD's graphics patents. Allegedly, the visual processing in their devices (including phones, mobile CPUs and TVs) treads on AMD's concepts for unified graphics shaders and parallel graphics pipelines. AMD is hoping for a sales ban on any offending products.
Vizio's new entry-level 4K TVs make HDR accessible
Vizio's higher-priced HDR-capable TVs aren't exactly pricey, but you now have some truly low-cost options if you're just looking for the basics. The company has launched its 2017 E-Series line, and the emphasis this time is on making high dynamic range video accessible to many more people. As long as you buy a 55-inch set or larger, you're getting both 4K and HDR -- not bad when that means paying as little as $550. While you aren't going to get the best HDR compatibility or visual quality (no Dolby Vision HDR or quantum dots here), you at least won't have to pay a premium to see what the fuss is about.
Vizio tracked and sold your TV viewing habits without consent (updated)
A settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and the New Jersey Attorney General will cost Vizio $2.2 million. That sum will settle the charges with both the state and federal agencies after a complaint that Vizio installed software on 11 million smart TVs to track viewing histories without consumers' knowledge. As part of the settlement, a federal court could order the company to disclose its data collection and sharing practices and get express consent from customers before doing so.
Vizio devices now take voice commands from Google Home
Vizio's living room devices already play nicely with Google services, but wouldn't it be nice if you could use Google voice control as well? You can now. All of Vizio's SmartCast-equipped devices, including recent TVs, soundbars and speakers, just got support for Google Home. If you want to watch a movie on Netflix, you don't even have to wake your TV -- say the right words to Google's smart speaker and it'll start playing on your set. You can also pause, skip songs and tweak the volume without touching a button.
Vizio gives its SmartCast phone app a more useful home screen
Rather than using proprietary apps and tuners, Vizio's E-, P- and M-series smart 4K TVs rely on "Chromecast built-in" (formerly Google Cast). That means you're essentially running your TV from a smartphone (or included 6-inch tablet), which makes it easy for Vizio to do quick improvements. As such, the company just updated its SmartCast app by adding a streamlined new home page with larger buttons and simplified navigation. You can also access more TV shows and movies straight from main screen, rather than needing to dive into menus.
12 gifts for music nerds
Nerds come in many forms. Some build stuff, some like video games, and others sweat the tiny details of audio fidelity or salivate over vintage drum machines. That latter group can be difficult to shop for if you're not initiated in the ways of the music nerd. But don't worry. Whether the obsessive audio freak in your life is more into making music or listening to it, we've got you covered. For those that love composing sweet beats, there's the TR-09 -- a pretty solid remake of the classic 909 drum machine that was essential to creating '80s and '90s house and techno. There are also pocket synths for musicians on the go, like the Pocket Operator line from Teenage Engineering. For those who get their kicks more from listening than creating, there are subscription services like VNYL that deliver fresh pressed records to your door. You'll also need a solid turntable like Music Hall's MMF-2.3 to listen to them on, of course. And, if your favorite audiophile also happens to be an iPhone owner there's an obvious stocking stuffer: Belkin's Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar. This brings back the headphone jack and lets you charge the phone at the same time! For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
The 11 best tech gifts for movie buffs
We're guessing this person on your list already owns a TV. (And if they don't -- or you just love them very much -- we have a couple suggestions.) But there are other ways to help your movie-loving friend round out their home theater setup. If money is tight, why not go for one of Roku's recently released media streamers? They come in at different price points, but we ultimately recommend them all. Alternatively, perhaps your friend could use a sound bar or a 4K HDR receiver for better audio, or a projector to make movie nights at home feel that much more cinematic. Or, you know, you could just get them some Blu-rays. Just make sure you exercise good taste. Here at Engadget, we recommend Lone Wolf and Cub, the Horace and Pete digital box set and the Mad Max "High Octane" edition. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
LeEco has grown so fast it's running out of cash
Chinese technology company LeEco is still a relatively new name in the west, but in China, the company is one of the most dominant players in smartphones, TVs, movies and e-commerce. With help from Faraday Future, the electronics giant has moved into the automotive industry, but its fast expansion has come at a cost. In a company-wide letter, LeEco co-founder Jia Yueting admitted that the company is running out of cash.
The 12 best tech gifts for sports fanatics
Chances are there's at least one die-hard sports fan in your life. And look, even if your idea of game-time small talk is "Hey, how about that local sportsball team" you can still get them the perfect gift. Whether they're big NBA addicts, avid runners or trying to perfect that spiral and become an NFL quarterback, we've got you covered. And you don't even have to betray your tech-geek roots to do it. There's plenty of ways to get your game on while simultaneously getting your geek on. High-end TVs deliver football in 4K glory while wearables like the TomTom Adventurer let you turn that epic hike into epic reams of data. Check out the gallery below to see our 12 techie gift recommendations for sports fans and athletes. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
The US' TV energy ratings don't reflect the real world
If you were hoping that your new, energy-efficient TV might help save the planet (and your power bill), you're in for bad news. Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, has published research showing that the US' energy ratings for TVs (such as EnergyGuide and Energy Star) don't line up with consumption in the real world. Tests on 2015 and 2016 sets from LG, Samsung and Vizio show that they use "up to twice" as much energy as claimed, often by turning off power-saving features with "little to no" warning. Some switch off the eco-friendly mode if you so much as change the picture settings, for example, while high dynamic range video will jack up the energy draw by 30 to 50 percent. Even the test footage used for government tests doesn't reflect the electricity you'd use in real-life viewing, the Council adds.
Vizio's SmartCast soundbars don't work well with Spotify for now
Vizio's line of SmartCast soundbars and speakers tout Google Cast for wireless audio streaming from a variety of apps. One of those apps is Spotify, a massively popular music streaming service. Unfortunately, the Cast functionality with that particular library of tunes isn't working like it should. There are a number of posts in both Spotify and Google's forums from users who say Vizio's latest soundbars don't show up as an option for Casting in the streaming app. Spotify's software isn't recognizing the speakers as available gadgets for playing music. Reports of the issue go back as far as late July, over a month after the SmartCast soundbars went on sale.
Vizio's Cast-powered speakers offer an alternative to Sonos
Vizio first announced plans to bring Google Cast to its wireless speakers back in March. Now that the multi-room SmartCast Crave 360 is available for purchase, Vizio hopes you'll give it a look instead of splurging for some Sonos gear. As you might expect, the speaker that looks kind of like an Amazon Echo is the Crave 360. The $250 circular device touts 2.1 audio, the ability to beam sound in any direction and it comes with a detachable charging base. Disconnect it and you've got a portable speaker with 8 hours of battery life.
The best tech for college athletes
Look, there's clearly more to college life than studying and partying. There's also sports! Before you hit the field, gym, rink or court it's probably worth taking stock of how you can improve your game with a little help from modern technology. An Apple Watch or Vivosmart can count steps and track your gym sessions, while Polo makes a smart shirt that offers seriously in depth data about your body's performance. There's also sensors that can help you do things like improve your swing in golf or baseball. And, of course, after a long day of training, there's nothing better than unwinding by watching your hometown team make a run at the World Series on MLB.tv. Oh, and don't forget to check out the rest of Engadget's back-to-school guide here.
Vizio's SmartCast app will integrate Google Play streaming
Vizio's Chromecast-enabled TV vision is being expanded even further with the integration of Google Play Movies & TV.
Vizio TV update helps you play HDR Blu-ray movies
Your shiny new Vizio TV just became much more useful for playing high dynamic range movies. Vizio is in the midst of rolling out an update to its SmartCast M- and P-Series sets that adds the HDR10 support you need to play HDR Blu-ray movies on current Ultra HD players from the likes of Philips and Samsung. While the sets already supported HDR, they were relying solely on Dolby Vision -- more advanced, but not ubiquitous.
China's LeEco buys Vizio in a $2 billion deal
Today at an event in Los Angeles, Vizio announced that it will sell to China's LeEco (formerly LeTV) for $2 billion. Don't expect to see much change on store shelves, as the company plans to continue operating under the Vizio name as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The exception to this is its viewer data business Inscape -- we learned about it last year when Vizio filed plans for a now-unnecessary IPO -- which will spin off and operate as a separate privately-owned company controlled by Vizio founder William Wang. Wang will own 51 percent of Inscape, with the rest going to LeEco attached to a 10 year license for the technology, which monitors what people are actually watching on their TV to help with things like targeted advertising.
Vizio takes on Sonos with Google Cast-friendly soundbars
Vizio teased us with Google Cast-friendly soundbars back in March, and now the audio gear is up for sale. The company had already put the tech inside its TVs, so allowing you to beam tunes and other audio from a mobile device or computer is a logical addition. Your phone or tablet becomes the remote as the speaker then streams directly from the service you're using. The SmartCast lineup starts at $180 for a 38-inch 3.0 Sound Bar and goes up to $500 for the 44-inch 5.1 Sound Bar and 45-inch 5.1 Slim Sound Bar options at the top end. That 45-inch model is the flagship of the group, ticking the tape at 2 inches tall by 2 inches deep to work alongside a 47-inch display.
