Vizio Releases Web Enabled TV

The new line of Vizio TV’s will feature “Vizio Internet Apps” which basically provides features of a web connected PC to your television. Yea – it’s about time. This fully HDTV features 802.11 dual-band and wired networking and bluetooth universal remote with slide-out keyboard. It is built with a Yahoo Widget Engine and includes support for Adobe Flash that can deliver HD video, rich applications (AIR support?) and other web content.

Select Models of VIZIO XVT Series also include VIZIO Internet Apps “VIA”(TM) feature with Wireless Internet enabled content (42″, 47″ and 55″ sizes)

Here’s the prices and availability…

• 42″ – 1080p – July – $1,199.99
• 47″ – 1080p – October – $1,699.99
• 55″ – 1080p – September – $2,199.99

VIZIO’s VIA(TM) Connected HDTV feature incorporates multiple technologies and software services to enable a unique experience that hides all of the complexity from viewers. One such technology is the Yahoo! Widget Engine, which provides an open platform that allows a new class of Internet services, called TV Widgets, to thrive in the TV environment. VIZIO’s platform also includes support for the Adobe(R) Flash(R) Platform for the Digital Home, an optimized implementation of Flash technology that enables developers and content providers to deliver HD video, rich applications and other Web content to Internet-connected televisions, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and other devices in the digital home.

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Layar – Mobile Augmented Reality Browser

Layar is a new Android app that shows you real-time information through your mobile phone about stuff that is around you…

The World’s First Augmented Reality Browser. Layar is a free application on your mobile phone which shows you what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality though the camera of the mobile phone.

Layar will be available for the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in Android Market before July 1st 2009.

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What’s The Future Of Home Entertainment?

For the last several years I have been looking for the holy grail of media consumption. Two years ago I wrote this post asking for an a la carte tv service. I’ve changed my mind on how that model should work – but that’s a different post altogether. But since then we have come a long ways – but we’re not quite there.

Hulu has taken the concept of providing media to consumers when/how they want it to the next level by taking it mainstream – but it’s not quite there yet. Their latest offering – Hulu Desktop – is very cool and proves the market demand exists… But it’s hard to find a non-geek with a PC hooked up to their television.

South Park and PBS are pioneering commercial distribution of media on the web but the future is not media silos.

Netflix and Amazon are close to getting it right and their partnership with Roku and integration with XBOX are almost there.

But we’re not quite there yet. What’s going to take this to the next level? Boxee shows promise. But honestly, I think Microsoft has the best chance…

Why? 3 things – XBox, Partnerships, and market reach. Oh, and they’ve been planning it for ten years.

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Tellme – Voice Control for Windows Mobile

I used to love my Windows Mobile phone – until I got an iPhone. That aside – Microsoft has not given up on trying to innovate in the mobile space.

Via their press release…

The new service puts many of the most popular phone functions behind a single button. Windows phone users just press the side button of their phone to:

- Send a text by saying “text” to open a text box, then speak the text message and send to call anyone in their contact list

- Initiate a call simply by saying “call” and then the name of anyone in their contact list

- Search the Web with Microsoft Live Search by speaking your request, such as “weather in San Francisco, California”, “Pizza in Kansas City” or”mother’s day gift ideas”

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Amazon Video On Demand In HD

This is big news for me – because now this means I get Amazon Videos in HD on my Roku.

From Webware….

It’s been a long time in coming, but Amazon Video on Demand is finally available in high-def. Owners of TiVo HD/Series 3 DVRs, the Roku Digital Video Player, the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link, and Panasonic VieraCast TVs (and, presumably, VieraCast-enabled Blu-ray players) will be the first to enjoy Amazon’s content in HD (software updates to enable HD viewing on those products should be available imminently). Likewise, Windows and Mac users will also get access to HD video content via Amazon’s Web site.

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