Vizio Announces Via Android Phone and Tablet

A lot of you are familiar with Vizio as a company that offers quality televisions at a relatively affordable price. Get ready to know them as an Android phone and tablet company too. Vizio has officially announced the four-inch Via phone and the eight-inch Via tablet. Both products feature Google Android (looks like Honeycomb) and special connectivity with Vizio televisions. Here’s a clip from the press release:

The Vizio Via Phone features a 1 GHz processor, 4? high-resolution capacitive touch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a MicroSD card slot for memory expansion and HDMI output with HD video playback. It also features a front-facing camera for video chats and a 5 megapixel rear camera for photos and HD video capture.

The Vizio Via Tablet also features a 1 GHz processor, with an 8? high-resolution capacitive touch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a MicroSD card slot for additional memory expansion, HDMI output with HD video playback, and a front-facing camera for video chats. It also boasts a unique three-speaker design for stereo audio in both portrait and landscape modes.

Both devices include HD video playback with HDMI video output, high quality audio processing and built-in universal remote control app that make these the ideal handheld companions to the HD entertainment experience.

There are several interesting things in play here. It’s interesting to see that a consumer electronics company that isn’t known for making portable devices is taking a stab at the phone and tablet market. It will be interesting to see if the Vizio brand and connectivity to its televisions will attract consumers. While I don’t expect many tech geeks to flock to these phones, Vizio has been successful with general consumers at retail outlets like Costco and Sam’s Club; perhaps people that bought Vizio televisions at these stores will be attracted to an Android product (and universal remote) from Vizio too.

What do you think of the Via? Are you surprised that Vizio is getting into this game? Do you think the company’s Android venture will be successful? Or will it be a flash in the pan? Any of you own Vizio TVs? Does an Android phone or tablet that works a universal Vizio remote appeal to you?

Author: RPadTV

https://rpad.tv

9 thoughts on “Vizio Announces Via Android Phone and Tablet”

  1. I have a 32" Vizio in my bedroom. I love it, but I also got it for free. The universal remote is a bad idea, only because if I had it I would walk into Sam's Club and change all of the channels. I don't want to waste my phone battery using it as a remote control.

    I think they will do better as a tablet maker than with the phones.

    1. The phone success will be determined by its carrier partners. Although Google pushed the envelope with the Nexus One and set a new standard for Android phones, it had to fold because the carriers hold too much power in America.

      On a side note, the stuff I've been hearing about Google's second go-round to fight American carriers is fascinating and terribly exciting (and a few years away).

  2. Any android handset will always be not good enough as long as there are skins applied to Android. Android to me almost seems bastardized because of this.

    Question…if the iPhone does land on Verizon…how will the NFL app be handled? It would only work on a verizon device…but would Apple actually put apps in the app store that are for some iphones and not others? Seems to contradict the fragmentation problem.

    1. Not good enough in what sense? Some people love HTC Sense. Carriers certainly love the flexibility and customization. It's better to have choices than not.

      I can see Verizon iPhones having a pre-installed all-encompassing Verizon app that will take care of all Verizon offerings.

      1. @Ray

        htc Sense is pretty meh to me. I don't see the advantage it carries over stock android. The OEM skins are screaming "me too!".

        I am thinking that the NFL mobile App won't be available for iPhone users. Does Apple pre-install software on any device for the other carriers?

        I know it sounds odd but I'd probably not buy an iPhone if it came with that or a Verizon logo on it.

        I'm picky like that. My current truck is the one I own because the Ford dealership told me they couldn't remove their name off of the tailgate of the F150 I wanted. The Chevy dealership nearly tripped removing their name for me. :P

      2. I prefer stock Android myself, but I understand why some people like sense. It's a little smoother, has some nice integration with Facebook/Twitter/etc., and other enhancements. It's actually getting more interesting with cloud-based features.

      3. I don't use social networking. No twitters, Myface, whatever. I guess the custom UIs that plug in to every social network available are great for people not like me.

  3. Pingback: Vizio to Integrate OnLive in Future TVs, Tablets, and Phones | RPad.TV -- Raymond Padilla & friends talk games and geek culture

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