VIZIO Announces Android Tablet and Smartphone
|
|
CREDIT: Vizio |
Apparently VIZIO is tired of being at the top of the HDTV game and wants to get in on the lucrative smartphone and tablet business. The TV-maker has announced a line of VIA-branded products that include an Android tablet and a smartphone.
VIZIO officially calls the lineup the VIA Plus ecosystem, which includes an array of apps that will interact across VIZIO devices. The VIZIO announcement doesn't give many details about devices, but specifically confirms that the company will put out a VIA tablet and a VIA smartphone that will interact with VIZIO TVs.
That kind of cross-compatibility is what VIZIO wants to emphasize.
"With VIA Plus, VIZIO is delivering the first true integrated ecosystem across multiple classes of devices and enabling a simple yet powerful interface for consumers to enjoy their applications, services, and content," said Matthew McRae, chief technology officer at VIZIO, in a company statement.
VIA devices will be able to share content seamlessly and sync across apps. The mobile devices will be able to access VIZIO TVs and Blu-ray players wirelessly. The TVs and the Blu-ray players will run Google TV , but it's not clear if the tablet and smartphone will use it as well.
VIZIO did reveal, however, that the tablet and smartphone will run the Android mobile operating system (no specific version yet) and connect via infrared and Wi-Fi.
The company is expected to reveal more details and possibly the devices themselves at the CES show in Las Vegas this week. Until then, the only look at the tablet is available in the VIZIO commercial that aired during the Rose Bowl last week.
