Vizio

Vizio dominates LCD TV market in U.S.

Vizio easily bested its competitors in the LCD TV market in the fourth quarter and for all of 2010.

The company shipped nearly 2.9 million LCD TVs in the U.S. during the fourth quarter, capturing 27.6 percent market share, research firm iSuppli reported today. That figure was a 55.5 percent jump from the same period a year earlier.

Samsung nabbed the No. 2 spot in LCD TV shipments in the fourth quarter, shipping 2.1 million LCD TVs and capturing 20.2 percent of the market. The company's shipments were up 22.4 percent from … Read more

Quick Take: Vizio XVT3D4SV series

Although CNET did not review the Vizio XVT3D4SV series, we did review the XVT3SV series.

Comparing the two on Vizio's Web site, it seems the main difference is that the XVT3D4SV is 3D-compatible, meaning it can play 3D video programming when watched through optional active shutter glasses. Vizio sells the glasses, model VSG-102, in a two-pack for about $200.

The XVT3D4SV is Vizio's only series to use active 3D technology rather than the passive method used by the XVT3D650SV and forthcoming 2011 Vizio models like the XVT3D5 series. See CNET's 3D TV FAQ for more information.

The … Read more

Vizio's passive 3D TV falls short in 2D

The 65-inch Vizio XVT3D650SV ($3,699 list) is the first TV in the U.S. to ship with "passive" 3D capability. Unlike the other mainstream 3D TVs of 2010, which use "active" glasses that cost around $100 each, this big Vizio comes with four pair of cheap polarized glasses, the same kind used by most 3D theaters. We've already taken an in-depth look at how the XVT3D650SV's 3D compares with an active 3D model, so we'll keep it brief here: while the Vizio has its advantages, we still liked the picture quality of … Read more

Passive 3D vs. active 3D: Hands-on TV comparison

In late 2010, Vizio quietly released the 65-inch XVT3D650SV ($3,700), the first mainstream TV equipped with so-called "passive" 3D technology for the U.S. market. Earlier this week our review sample arrived, so in advance of the full review I'd like to present some initial impressions.

This is the first time we've had a chance to really sit down and watch a passive 3D TV, so of course our first order of business was to set it up in the lab next the other 65-inch 3D TV we had on hand: the 2010 Editors' Choice-winning Panasonic TC-P65VT25 ($4,300). Like nearly all other TV makers, Panasonic has embraced "active" technology for its 3D TVs, and for 2011, it didn't announce any passive 3D TVs.

For this initial look, I chose not to include comparisons with other TVs, for the simple reason that the Panasonic is the best comparison model to the Vizio I have available. It's the only 65-incher in our lab at the moment, its 3D performance is excellent, and its overall picture quality was the best of 2010. The Vizio, as the only shipping passive TV, is by default the "best" of its kind available.

I'm also not going to get into the technical differences between active and passive 3D, except to remind new readers that active requires expensive liquid crystal shutter glasses (at least $100 per pair in Panasonic's case; the VT25 ships with one pair free) that are relatively heavy and bulky; passive calls for cheap circular polarized glasses (Vizio's TV ships with four pairs) that feel like light sunglasses. Most U.S. theaters use passive technology, and in fact many theater 3D glasses will work with the Vizio.

So, seriously, which one is better?… Read more

2011 TVs wrap-up

For the last few years the biggest category at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has been, in more ways than one, televisions. Gigantic-screen HDTVs festooned with yearly boosts in technology--from SXRD to 1080p to LEDs to lasers to 3D--have owned the headlines at previous shows, but this year something "different" happened.

There were still plenty of TVs announced, but show-wide it seemed like everyone followed Apple's iPad and released a tablet.

Best of CES: TVs Vizio is a TV-centric company whose 2010 flagship 2D model, the XVT3SV series, won our Editors' Choice for LCD TVs. … Read more

The 404 733: Where we do it without glasses (podcast)

It's the first official day of CES 2011 and we're joined by our buddy Clayton Morris of Fox and Friends who takes a moment out of his busy day to show us a couple cool gadgets he saw today. We always enjoy a game of show and tell, and Clayton doesn't disappoint with the Steadicam Smoothee, a handheld steadicam that you can use with an Apple iPhone, a Motorola DROID, or a Flip Mino video camera.

Next up in the rundown is a show favorite that seems to be making ripples throughout CES- it's the official Angry Birds board game by Mattel!

If you're a non-gamer like myself, Angry Birds is the insanely popular virtual game currently available for digital download on mobile devices like the iPhone and Android phones, but the creators, Rovio Mobile, and Mattel have just announced a physical board game version here at CES 2011.

The analog game plays just like the virtual phenomenon: set up the obstacle course according to the card you choose, place a a bird in the catapult, and take aim at the familiar green pigs trying to steal your precious eggs. As Natali says, the game is rated for ages five and up since it contains small pieces that could be harmful if swallowed, so take caution if you have children or child-like gamers in your life. Angry Birds the board game will be available for purchase in May for $14.95.

And speaking of games, Jeff was treated to a preview of the Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming console today, and it sounds like the little guy will definitely live up to the hype. The 3D effects pop the moment you pick it up, and Jeff's demo of the game "Pilotwings" effectively showed off the 3D slider that lets you adjust the degree of 3D intensity. Alternatively, you can also turn off the effect altogether if you have children under 6 that Nintendo advises should not use the device.

While Jeff and Wilson are giddy about gaming, I find myself shifting focus to other that appeal to my own lifestyle. Enter the Campbell Soup wireless cooking cup. It's being shown off at the Wireless Power Consortium and it stands to change the way we think about cooking soup.

All jokes aside, the technology behind the idea is pretty sweet- the soup container uses eCoupled wireless charging technology to heat up the soup from inside the package according to one of three power settings: low, medium, or high. We're not sure how this will ultimately aide in the heating of foods that aren't pre-cooked, but any device that saves me from washing a pot is a showstopper in my book.

There's plenty more news from CES 2011 to talk about today including the Blackberry Playbook, the Star Wars Blu-Ray set, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Microsoft Kinect news, OnLive built into Vizio television sets and more, so thanks for listening and catch us again tomorrow LIVE from the showroom floor!

Episode 733 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

CES: Skype from your living room two ways

LAS VEGAS--If you've never engaged in a VoIP to your friend or loved one in real time on a 50-inch display, your luck could change two ways. First, Skype is extending its lineup of Skype-enabled TVs to include the Sony Bravia and Vizio Via. Those will show up later in 2011.

If buying an HDTV isn't your style, Skype has also announced deals with Panasonic and Sony to include Skype on select Blu-ray players. You'll still need a Webcam for this approach, but as we briefly saw in a Samsung press conference earlier today, Skype has a … Read more

Walking the line at CES

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

It's tablet time at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. We are expecting to see tablets from Verizon, Toshiba, Lenovo, and Vizio

Toshiba will also show off a glasses-free 3D laptop

Netflix announces a one-click button coming to TV remotes

A new iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app helps you read your blood pressure

The newest version of Rock Band will feature the music of Johnny Cash

Be sure to keep up with all things CES this week here on CNET

Vizio's VIA Android smartphone also a remote control

LAS VEGAS--Vizio announced its first-ever smartphone at a press conference ahead of CES today. The Vizio VIA is an Android phone. It's got a 4-inch touch screen that sports a Vizio skin on its interface, a 5-megapixel camera, and a mini HDMI-out port.

The most significant characteristic, however, is the IR blaster, which, when coupled with a Vizio app, can control the also-just-announced Vizio tablet (we got a hands-on), and compatible Vizio TVs. It should also control 95 percent of other infrared-controlled devices, Vizio said.

Vizio isn't ready to announce pricing, carriers, or a whole lot of other … Read more