Walmart to buy TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion in move to grow its ad business::Walmart touted the ability to grow its ad business through a Vizio TV platform that allows users to watch free ad-supported content.
The biggest problem I have with “smart tv”s is the fact that nearly ALL of them lag to some extent. Doesn’t matter if it’s a remote press, switching an input, even turning the thing off has some amount of delay.
Just switch the input to another home media device and never use the built in stuff. We at least still have that.
Why wouldn’t we include a server call on every button press? We need usage data to optimize the experience!
I wouldn’t expect it’s because there’s a server call - I’m sure the developers are smart enough to have all the analytics and tracking be async in the background.
Instead it’s likely because these days every aspect of the TV is implemented in software running on the TV’s CPU. With pre-smart devices, changing inputs would just activate some discreet on-board electronics to switch the signal over with no latency. Now you have to wait for the processor to get around to it, and it’s probably busy loading up a bunch of app launchers and other crap you don’t need, and doing some fancy whoosh-in animations, all of which is just getting in the way of what you actually want.
IMHO, people should avoid looking for TVs that have apps, and they should just get a TV that supports CEC, and consoles / streaming boxes that support CEC. That way you don’t need lots of stupid remotes, inputs automatically change, and you’ll have something that is performant.
That would be so much easier if companies weren’t dedicated to making CEC confusing as all hell through naming schemes:
So for the vast majority of these manufacturers, you can’t just look up “CEC,” you have to know what their branded version of it is called, and each company has named it something different.
I’m all for easy compatibility and interoperability, but this is an example highlighting how hard these companies work to make these things not obvious and not consumer friendly.
EDIT: One final complaint from the tech-nerd sphere: I run everything via a Plex server, and while I have one Amazon FireStick, I’m mostly using HTPC’s and the amount of hoops to have to jump through to get CEC working with a PC is kind of fucking maddening. I shouldn’t have to be a Powershell wizard to get it to work.
The fact that a PC can’t make an HDMI-connected TV wake up and go to sleep out of the box is fucking maddening.
Oh don’t get me started!
Can you give an example of one? Last time I looked it seemed like all the major brands only had smart TV options. So I end up using streaming dongles on smart TVs to avoid the lag, but I would much rather just have dumb TVs.
I heard projectors don’t have any smart garbage. I might try that next time I need a new large TV.
Don’t connect it to the web. Keep it stupid.
Steer clear of Samsung. Sometimes I needed Internet to connect devices in a specific way.Specific integrations:
Xbox 360 with no internet at TV: Just the HDMI source Xbox360 with internet at TV: Specific xbox panel to connect (with naming and branded color) + ability to wake up the device.
Google CC with Android TV (no web): Connects as HDMI CEC device. Audio pass through was at times flakey.
Google CC with AndroidTV (web): Connection with a CC panel and I felt like it integrated the source better (HDMI CEC + Passthrough through a soundbar).So Samsung probably has some specific ways to integrate a device better with internet. Basics work OOTB but internet partly makes it better.
Hear me out:
cheap computer: all of those but better, get a 20USD keyboard with touchpad also everything you watch is free
It’s going to be hard to find a TV that doesn’t have apps these days… unless you just buy a monitor.
My point is that you shouldn’t get hung up on the app ecosystem. Get something where power, inputs, and volume can be controlled by CEC, and just use the thing like a dumb monitor.
For example, I have Samsung QLED that connects to an Xbox and Apple TV with CEC. If I want to stream, I turn the Apple TV on, then the TV turns on and the inputs change over to it. Ditto for the Xbox. And turning off the streaming box or console that I’m using powers down the TV. Everything is super fast because I’m never ever touching the TV UI, and the Apple TV and Xbox both have very fast processors.
They’re coming for the projectors too
Vizio TVs also (in my admittedly limited experience) have some of the worst display latency, even in game mode.
Just another reason never to go with them again, I guess. I did like the remote with the full keyboard on the back though.
wild, when I bought a Vizio a decade ago it had super low input lag compared to other TVs. Never let it touch the internet tho, eww
They love to find the cheapest processor meant for low-end smartphones/tablets and shove it in there. Then build an application that requires bunch of high res graphics that need to be scaled and moved around. Then have a surprised Pikachu face when it lags like hell.
Get a signage TV. That was my main complaint too. Mine is fairly quick since there is no OS and Spyware to load.
Chromecast is the way I use my TV ever since it came out. Visio has that built in too so you can ignore the smart crap lol
They will still track it I guess
…and the smart TVs will get more shitty with more adware/spyware built in
At least it wasn’t bought by Amazon, the company that tried to put internet-microphones in everyone’s homes
I’m sorry – TRIED?
Some people didn’t buy them, you know. I don’t have any voice assistants, never wanted any of them
“Alexa, was there an attempt by Amazon to put Internet connected microphones in everyone’s home?!”
Well I guess I’ll add Vizio to the list of brands to never recommend again. It’s a shame too because the bang for your buck value with Vizio is pretty nice.
If they start flooding the current models with even worse amounts of advertising, might even have to trash my existing one.
Problem with Vizio and LG is WebOS though… easily remedied with a streaming device but WebOS has like 1/10 available apps.
I swear every time I have been to a Walmart in the last 5 years there’s been a returned Vizio at the returns area, saw them returned all the time when I worked at Amazon for a bit too.
It’s not because they’re bad TVs…it’s more likely due to the rent a center returns policy. It’s kind of popular to go get a big ass TV for the weekend sportsball thing then take it back.
Vizio also probably has the best budget soundbars.
It’s too bad that now that they’re a Walmart subsidiary I’m fully expecting a quality dropoff, I’m not sure if that will be true, just that seems to be how it goes after mergers and acquisitions.
Hmm that’s an interesting theory, maybe so, I just assumed they had issues because it’s ALWAYS a Vizio.
I was indifferent to the brand before, but will now actively avoid it.
Cheap TVs sold at Walmart get bought by Walmart, next at 11.
I actually like their TV’s I hope this doesn’t go through
Did Vizio break free from Sony and I missed it? I always thought Vizio was Sonys TV line?
Bravia was Sony’s TV line in recent years.
Oh whoops. Thx.
Maybe you’re thinking of WEGA? Modelname used in the CRT-days.
Or they’re thinking of VIAO
Maybe VAIO?
WEGA PLEASE!
