Hey folks, Valkor here. Back from my CES 2012 journey in Las Vegas, NV. This year was a pretty relaxed year for me as I didn't dive right into the hustle and bustle of trying to from booth to booth. Instead, I choose meetings and specific booths (with the occasional pop-in). And to kick things off let's start with Vizio – makers of pretty high quality TVs and about to expand even further into other markets. I'll admit, when I first saw the name Vizio and the price tag of their televisions, I almost had a heart attack with laughter. I mean something that cost so low can't be good right? Then I met with their reps, saw their televisions… and I've been eatin crow ever since. Mind it's been two – three years ago since my chuckle-fest and with each incarnation of their televisions, they just keep getting better and better. Below you'll find info on their latest televisions, get an introduction to their tablets, and now Vizio is about to enter the PC market. Let's check em out!
Grand Lobby @ the Wynn Hotel
Vizio CinemaWide HDTV - Taken from the press release: VIZIO announces the introduction of the first CinemaWide™ HDTVs with Theater 3D and VIZIO Internet Apps® (V.I.A.). The very first in the North American market with an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, CinemaWide HDTVs are the ultimate display for cinema enthusiasts to enjoy films as they were created for the movie theater, in the CinemaScope 2.35:1 aspect ratio without the black bars as seen on conventional HDTVs.
This uncompromising cinematic experience allows CinemaWide viewers to see each frame of the movie as the director intended, for a more immersive 2D and 3D movie and gaming experience at home. In addition, CinemaWide HDTVs feature V.I.A. functionality with the unique ability to allow users to view apps side-by-side with full-size and full HD resolution 16:9 programming. "VIZIO CinemaWide provides the most accurate, broadest canvas for me to paint my film's vision," said award-winning cinematographer, Mauro Fiore, ASC. "Finally my films can be seen at home the way they were intended – in 21:9 aspect ratio." Three CinemaWide sets are being introduced – the 50-inch XVT3D500CM, the 58-inch XVT3D580CM and the 71-inch XVT3D710CM.
Valkor's thoughts - So you get ultrawide view, no black bars, 3D incorporated, plus the use of Apps? Impressive. the displays on hand looked amazing! True to life images, bold colors, and deep blacks that are just absolutely beautiful! I would love to sit and watch some of my favorite films on one of those screens (71" cinemawide Dark Knight? Yes please). The systems tout V.I.A. support giving you access to thousands of apps from Hulu to Yahoo, Twitter and more, giving you a more interactive experience when watching your favorite shows.
Vizio 10" Android Tablet - Side by side with it's little brother the 8" tablet (already on the market), the 10" tablet looks quite similar but will feature enhanced performance, though no specs were given. The tablet features front and rear cameras, speakers on the top and bottom of the device (so no matter which way you hold it, you'll get the same high quality sound), and higher image quality than the 8". The tablet on hand was very lightweight and very responsive when I played with the apps. As for OS, the tablet was running Android's Honeycomb but might switch overto Ice Cream sandwich before release. (anyone else hungry?)
Vizio All-In-One PCs and Laptops - Not much detail was given about Vizio latest line-up in terms of processors, RAM, video cards, etc, however on the outset both look amazing! Very sleek design and everything matches perfectly. The set comes with a nice size keyboard and touchpad. Now the laptop is reminiscent of Apple's Mac Air, with a design so slim that it looks to fit into a manila envelope and a nice aluminum finish. The laptops come in two size - 14 and 15 inch. Other than sporting SSDs and claims of sportin some serious speed, Vizio is looking to make a big (and positive) splash in the competitive PC waters.
