Vizio's here at CES 2012 with its riff on Google TV — and it's something. The company has totally skinned Google's smart TV OS with a skin just like the one on its tablets, and it's built in a layer of DLNA-based content sharing services. (Think AirPlay, but compatible with anything DLNA and made smoother when sharing from Vizio tablets and PCs to the new smart TV.) There's still Android Market, of course, and Vizio's staying up to date with the platform as it develops — they told me they talk to Google "every day."
Vizio's also got a new Bluetooth Google TV remote with a touchpad and dedicated Netflix, Amazon, and Vudu buttons on the front, and a QWERTY keyboard on the back. There's also a standard IR smart TV remote with a QWERTY on the back, but no touchpad — it's a little thinner than the chunky Bluetooth model. Remotes are quickly becoming an important sub-story at CES as the smart TV market heats up, and Vizio's are some of the most comfortable we've used so far.
Vizio says the TV will come out in the summer, but there's no pricing yet.
Developing...

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Ergonomic handbook thrown out the window by the designers of the remote.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:01 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Don’t you think its a little soon to make that kind of assumption? Nilay said it was really comfortable
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:06 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
Just look at the size and shape of the buttons? It looks like you’d have to use your nails to press them, and I don’t have any.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:10 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It looks exactly like a cell phone from 8 years ago… last time I checked, those were pretty “ergonomic.”
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:18 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Check again.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:27 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s a remote for crying out a little. It should be this size so you don’t easily lose it in the seat. anyway, it’s not like you’ll be keeping it in your pocket.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:43 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I guess I haven’t been to an optometrist in a few years, and I’ve been saying I need to get lasik eye surgery…
But perhaps you need to work on being needlessly cryptic.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:44 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Or does he!
o_O
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:51 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
dun dun DUN!
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 7:46 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
What does Nilay know? Sure, he’s held it, but I’ve seen pictures. Trust me, doesn’t look comfortable.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:40 PM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions
lol
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
HAHAHA
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Of course it isn’t comfortable. Apple didn’t make it, after all.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Bwahaha
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:55 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Vizio’s TV remotes have never exactly been best-of-breed.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
actualy their remotes that had the TV apps have been praised in the past, they were the first ones to come out with the Qwerty.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:24 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Chances are if you have a Vizio tablet you can use that as a remote as well. Who knows? maybe vizio will put out a iphone/android app as well
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The perfect remote is a customizable app on your phone/tablet, and fortunately, Google TV supports that.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 8:22 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you need a keymote, you’re doing it wrong. Also, if you need a trackpad, you’re doing it wrong. IT’S NOT A DESKTOP COMPUTER.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:07 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You are not Steve Jobs.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:10 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Negative! I am a meat popsicle!
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
ATHF meantwad, Nice. Now I’m goin go down to the store and look at the hotrod magazines because they have the girls with the big titties.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:12 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you have a TV product with web browsing capability that doesn’t have a keymote and trackpad, you’re doing it wrong. Have you ever tried to browse the web on something like the PS3’s browser? It’s pretty awful.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:11 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
I’m still not sure why I would want to browse the web on a TV.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:20 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I’m not sure why you wouldn’t.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:20 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Because most websites aren’t designed to be viewed from the other side of the room?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:21 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
most websites arnt designed for small screens
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:50 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Except many of them are, it’s called a mobile site.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So let me get this straight, people started viewing websites on screens they werent designed for, and the internet adapted to accomodate them?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:54 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Not with that attitude!
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
why would you want to browse the wbe on a small screen that is also your phone?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You don’t have to if you don’t want to. However, you can search through all the different video streaming/renting databases along with your cable TV to find the shows you want to watch.
Of course, you can stick to current TVs and continue the channel surfing if you like.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
vizio doesnt mess things up. they do their research and dominate markets with awesome affordable products.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:12 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
You do relize that this TV offers more then just video conent right?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s funny because I love my 1st gen Google TV. The Sony remote is actually very good… so good my wife and 10 year old have never complained. We never use the web like you would on a desktop but there’s plenty of times we pick it up and EASILY type out what we want to watch. It’s not some crazy intellectual exercise that takes away from the ‘dumb’ experience everyone seems to argue on behalf of so much.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:53 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
My LG has YouTube built into it. Wish i had a QWERTY. Never use it as a result. And guess what? This is an excelent example of how people can use a qwerty to view web content that has nothing to do with browsing the web.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:56 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
In a perfect world, connected TVs wouldn’t need trackpads and Flash but if you want to access the incredible amount of content available on the Internet that is not optimized for TV browsing, you need a trackpad and Flash.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 8:23 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The remote should be less cluttered, but with so many features its hard to eliminate any buttons.
I’d suggest a touch screen device that changes the menu\display as you navigate, pretty sure apple is going to do something like that.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:08 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Or the Peel app for Android?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:14 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Ah, Google already publishes a Google TV app for Android and iOS both. So you can ignore these janky remotes if you have a smartphone.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
It’s called the Remote app.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
(sarcasm)Yea, because while trying to watch TV, i want to keep looking at the remote every time i press a button because there isn’t any tactile feedback of where the buttons are on a LCD display.(/sarcasm)
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:45 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Actually, the remote app works in a manner I rarely have to look at it. It’s mostly left/right/up/down motions to navigate and a quick tap to select.
You should try using something before assuming it’s an awful experience.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:55 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah, just ask the 50% of previous Google TV customers that took theirs back to the store.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 5:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Umm they took it back because of the remote app experience? I think you’re on a slightly different topic.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 6:41 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Actually, wichetr’s statement is very indicative of my experience. If you are able to not look when you press those buttons, more power to you, but I’m fairly certain that a large majority of people would have to be looking down constantly.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 11:42 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Pretty sure most people on this website have actually had this experience. We all went from feature phones with physical buttons for mostly everything to touchscreen phones. The amount of functionality and flexibility that comes with touchscreen smartphones simply outweighs how stupidly obnoxious it is to have to look at my phone to dial a seven digit phone number and press send.
It’s pretty much the same idea except that all the functionality is elsewhere. Why would I want to look at a screen to see arrows to control a cursor on a different screen? It just doesn’t make sense.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 2:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Apple will soon have an iPhone/ipad app to act as the remote but in the Tv business hard button remotes still stand.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They’ve had one for years. I think it was the first app store app they ever published.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They have that in the Google TV app… but you need to look down at a touch screen remote to make sure you are hitting the right button, and it really takes away from the experience.
Hardware buttons are a must for the “lean back” experience. That or something that reads your mind/eyes… which I bet you could find at CES too.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 11:39 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Those video service branded buttons are the worst idea. What if one of those services goes away or changes it’s name?!??! Idiots
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:11 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Well, you would have to buy a new television to get the updated remote. That’s how these things work.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:17 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
you sir win the internets today
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The only one I can see going the way of the wolves, or changing its name, is Vudu. Netflix and Amazon seem pretty set.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Vudu is owned by Walmart. It’s here to stay.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:23 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Lol, no.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:59 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Does anyone actually use Vudu? Somehow it has managed to show up on just about every device I own when I would much rather have the cheaper, better Amazon.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I use both Vudu and Amazon to rent movies. They both have a 99 cent movie of the day so it might depend on what’s on sale. Also Amazon only does 480p to Google TV devices so if I want a higher definition I’ll use Vudu on my PS3.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I used Vudu for the first time ever last night. They were never really on my radar, despite having their app on my Samsung BD player.
Last night we wanted to rent a movie that we never got around to seeing in theaters, but it’s not hitting Red Box for another few weeks. Vudu offered a free movie credit, so I tried them out. We also rented an HD movie from PSN last week. Vudu looked better & is playable on my PS3, XBOX and BD player, as well as my wife’s iPad and our laptops. I was pretty stoked on Vudu.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Qwickster says hello :)
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:18 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
or changes its logo lol
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Just dont use those buttons…?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
the buttons are there if you use them or not.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Off topic but nice bokeh
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Vudu isn’t on Google TV(at the moment), anyone have any ideas about that part?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 2:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Responding to myself! according to the Vizio website this is a ‘8 device universal remote that connects to over 3,500 products’ — so, yeah not Google TV specific
http://www.vizio.com/ces/remote/overview
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:05 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Is it just me, or did anyone else see that remote and immediately think it was an old Nokia candybar phone?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I thought the TVs they announced last year at CES were pretty awesome. EXCEPT THEY NEVER ACTUALLY RELEASED THEM!
Seriously, Vizio’s current line up was announced at CES in 2010, two years ago.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 3:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t have a TV, and no desire to acquire one, but I want that remote.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
for one? some bed action?
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 4:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Well, in a perfect world I could control my Xbox and HTPC, and maybe a bluray player if I ever get one. Of course, I know that probably wouldn’t be possible, but that’s why I said in a perfect world.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 3:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I wonder how much Amazon, Vudu and Netflix paid Vizio to be showcased on that remote?
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 5:06 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So… many… buttons…
Seeing a trackpad on a remote is kind of neat. I just wish it wasn’t so ugly.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 10:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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