Vizio Offers Beta Signup for AirPlay 2 SmartCast TV Software

[MacRumors]

At CES this year, Vizio announced that their SmartCast TVs would be receiving support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit in a free over-the-air update later this year. This would allow iOS and Mac users to stream music and video to SmartCast-enabled Vizio TVs, as well as allow users to control the TV from their Home app on iOS or via Siri voice commands.

Vizio promised that beta testers would be allowed access to the software in the first quarter of 2019. Vizio has now posted a blog post (via Engadget) describing the upcoming features as well as a link to sign up for beta access (scroll to bottom).

If you have a SmartCast-enabled VIZIO TV and an updated iOS device, you could be selected to participate in the beta. Provide your email, and we'll get back to you soon with more details on how to get started.

Vizio has said that specific models as far back as 2016 will be getting the update.

Article Link: Vizio Offers Beta Signup for AirPlay 2 SmartCast TV Software

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Visio makes excellent TVs! I have two of them at home

 

[fairuz]

Nice! Vizio usually makes among the cheapest TVs, but they've worked fine at least for me. Finally I'll be able to use AirPlay at people's houses instead of fudging with a Chromecast for 30 minutes.

I wonder why the sudden change to everyone supporting AirPlay. Guess Apple is conceding that smart TVs are taking over.

 

[iName]

Can’t wait for Samsung to release their update.

 

[Jedwardoo]

Visio makes excellent TVs! I have two of them at home

Based on your use case. How long do they usually last?

 

[69Mustang]

Nice! Vizio usually makes among the cheapest TVs, but they've worked fine at least for me. Finally I'll be able to use AirPlay at people's houses instead of fudging with a Chromecast for 30 minutes.

I wonder why the sudden change to everyone supporting AirPlay. Guess Apple is conceding that smart TVs are taking over.

If you're fudging with a Chromecast for 30 minutes, paraphrasing an infamous quote, "You're casting it wrong".
It's great that Visio is offering AirPlay. No need to fudge about Chromecast. ← double entendre

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

If you care about privacy, owning a Vizio TV or even recommendating one is insane. Immoral this company is. Send a message to companies like this and don’t buy theirs wares and tell them why. If you auction off and whore out our personal data you don’t deserve our time or money.

 

[Rychiar]

Based on your use case. How long do they usually last?

I have one Visio that is almost 10 years old and works perfect...and another that is having a weird backlight area issue after a year and a half cus it had zones that turn on and off

 

[colonels1020]

I have one Visio that is almost 10 years old and works perfect...and another that is having a weird backlight area issue after a year and a half cus it had zones that turn on and off

The Vizio of 10 years ago isn’t the same quality as the Vizio today. A lot changes over a decade.

 

[MarkIII]

The Vizio of 10 years ago isn’t the same quality as the Vizio today. A lot changes over a decade.

Just curious to know if you think it is better quality or worst quality now. I have a Vizio tv from 2009 that still works great other than the “smart” functions no longer being very smart. In the market for a new tv and was thinking to stick with Vizio but also like what LG has to offer.

 

[9052042]

Is the signup link limited to US customers only? I get a 404 error when trying to access it

 

[Mac 128]

Just curious to know if you think it is better quality or worst quality now. I have a Vizio tv from 2009 that still works great other than the “smart” functions no longer being very smart. In the market for a new tv and was thinking to stick with Vizio but also like what LG has to offer.

I bought a new TV almost 2 years ago. Every retailer I talked to told me that Vizio had the highest rates of returns, and the most frequent repairs. Not something I wanted from a 65” TV requiring considerable effort for even a minor repair. Ultimately, even though it had a decent picture, and considerably less, it didn’t have a tuner, which was an important consideration for me as a cord cutter.

I tried an LG, which I don’t recommend unless you’re buying an OLED, as the LCD models are terrible. But the smart features and UI are fantastic.

I ended up with the Sony 900E. For the money and quality it’s by far the best value out there, unfortunately it runs Android TV OS. But I’ve had no issues with mine at all.

 

[Buran]

If you care about privacy, owning a Vizio TV or even recommendating one is insane. Immoral this company is. Send a message to companies like this and don’t buy theirs wares and tell them why. If you auction off and whore out our personal data you don’t deserve our time or money.

You might want to look into how, unfortunately, all TV makers do this now.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/05/business/media/tv-viewer-tracking.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/05/insider/samba-smart-tv-data.html

But you can opt out of it. Right now, my TV doesn't even have my wifi info, but whenever HomeKit shows up for it (I'm still waiting for my installation instructions, Vizio...) I'll be turning this crap off.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/...ur-smart-tv-from-tracking-what-you-watch.html

 

[colonels1020]

Just curious to know if you think it is better quality or worst quality now. I have a Vizio tv from 2009 that still works great other than the “smart” functions no longer being very smart. In the market for a new tv and was thinking to stick with Vizio but also like what LG has to offer.

They give a great first impression and have decent picture quality. It's the longevity that concerns me. There's a reason that most of their TVs are undercutting LG, Sony, Samsung, etc. on price and it's not just corporate greed.

 

[Buran]

A lot of it is the data sales, since most people probably don't bother to opt out of it. Fortunately, especially thanks to having gotten sued over it, you can even if they wish you wouldn't.

 

[fairuz]

If you're fudging with a Chromecast for 30 minutes, paraphrasing an infamous quote, "You're casting it wrong".
It's great that Visio is offering AirPlay. No need to fudge about Chromecast. ← double entendre

I blame the Chromecast for sucking. People say you can stream your entire laptop display. You can... if you install Chrome, then scour the internet for whatever sketchy extension currently works for that, then prepare yourself for poor quality and out of sync audio (edit: actually they've put this functionality into Chrome finally, but audio only works in Windows, so it's useless). If you're doing something more officially supported like YouTube, it works most of the time but not always, and you still need to install whatever app is needed.

Compared to pressing the AirPlay icon and having whatever you're doing show up on the TV, it "just doesn't work." Might as well use HDMI and get it done instead of wasting everyone's time.
[doublepost=1548736131][/doublepost]

If you care about privacy, owning a Vizio TV or even recommendating one is insane. Immoral this company is. Send a message to companies like this and don’t buy theirs wares and tell them why. If you auction off and whore out our personal data you don’t deserve our time or money.

Then which do you recommend? I know Samsung isn't any better. How about just not connecting the TV to your wifi?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I blame the Chromecast for sucking. People say you can stream your entire laptop display. You can... if you install Chrome, then scour the internet for whatever sketchy extension currently works for that, then prepare yourself for poor quality and out of sync audio (edit: actually they've put this functionality into Chrome finally, but audio only works in Windows, so it's useless). If you're doing something more officially supported like YouTube, it works most of the time but not always, and you still need to install whatever app is needed.

Compared to pressing the AirPlay icon and having whatever you're doing show up on the TV, it "just doesn't work." Might as well use HDMI and get it done instead of wasting everyone's time.
[doublepost=1548736131][/doublepost]
Then which do you recommend? I know Samsung isn't any better. How about just not connecting the TV to your wifi?

I’d have to make a serious appraisal of the various brands before choosing the best option, but from what I have heard Vizio is just about the worst there is, so.

 

[69Mustang]

I blame the Chromecast for sucking. People say you can stream your entire laptop display. You can... if you install Chrome, then scour the internet for whatever sketchy extension currently works for that, then prepare yourself for poor quality and out of sync audio (edit: actually they've put this functionality into Chrome finally, but audio only works in Windows, so it's useless). If you're doing something more officially supported like YouTube, it works most of the time but not always, and you still need to install whatever app is needed.

Compared to pressing the AirPlay icon and having whatever you're doing show up on the TV, it "just doesn't work." Might as well use HDMI and get it done instead of wasting everyone's time.

Like I figured, you're casting it wrong. Well to be more accurate, you're using hyperbole to create a narrative of difficulty where it doesn't exist. There's absolutely nothing wrong with preferring AirPlay. Not sure why that requires creating imagined hardships about a tech that differs, but hey you do you. If it takes you 30 minutes as you claimed, the problem isn't Chromecast.

 

[Buran]

I’d have to make a serious appraisal of the various brands before choosing the best option, but from what I have heard Vizio is just about the worst there is, so.

They're doing a far better job of offering HomeKit support for existing owners than anyone else is. And I know it's just an anecdote, but my TV has been just fine. There's always extended warranties for peace of mind, too.

 

[fairuz]

I’d have to make a serious appraisal of the various brands before choosing the best option, but from what I have heard Vizio is just about the worst there is, so.

Samsung reserves the right to show ads on your TV, which would make them the worst unless Vizio and others do this too.
[doublepost=1548820830][/doublepost]

Like I figured, you're casting it wrong. Well to be more accurate, you're using hyperbole to create a narrative of difficulty where it doesn't exist. There's absolutely nothing wrong with preferring AirPlay. Not sure why that requires creating imagined hardships about a tech that differs, but hey you do you. If it takes you 30 minutes as you claimed, the problem isn't Chromecast.

I don't understand what's imaginary about this. I've run into that exact problem several times. Last time it was the World Cup, only streamable on some sports websites and the last place you'd ever want delays while trying to watch. The Chromecast requires ideal conditions, Airplay doesn't. And the UX is bad. Like, I guarantee my parents would call me for help if they had one.