New Alexa Capabilities Now Available on VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs, Creating Enhanced Viewer Experiences Just in Time for Fall TV

[Todd Anderson]

Compatible with VIZIO TVs Dating Back to 2016, the Updated Features Bring Added Value to VIZIO SmartCast TV Owners ​ Irvine, CA — August 27, 2019 — VIZIO, Inc. today announced new support for Alexa voice features across VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs, creating a better user experience through enhanced voice control functionality. The new features are now available on VIZIO TVs with the SmartCast platform, VIZIO’s easy-to-use smart TV experience1. Previous Alexa capabilities available on VIZIO TVs allowed viewers to power their TVs on or off, change inputs, play or pause programs, and more. With the latest SmartCast updates, millions of users can now also use Alexa to search for movies or shows by title, genre, or cast members – just by using their voice and a nearby Echo device.​

Finding a favorite show is easier than ever; after following the onscreen setup flow and enabling VIZIO’s Alexa skill, users can simply say “Alexa, find the show This is Us” to catch up before the NBC season premiere. SmartCast then displays pricing and video formats across multiple apps, helping users find the right content at the right price. Additionally, users can use their voice to launch apps such as Prime Video or Hulu without their remote to immediately start watching. If a viewer is not sure exactly what to watch but has a specific genre in mind, they can ask for categories such as action or horror films for a more intuitive and hands-free browsing experience. “At VIZIO, we are always looking for ways to enhance the entertainment experience and bring more value to our customers. We are thrilled to offer improved SmartCast features not only to new customers, but for current VIZIO SmartCast TV users as well,” said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. “The timing couldn’t be better with the excitement around fall TV premieres because the new Alexa features give viewers more ways to easily find the content they love.” Alexa users are not the only customers who will see improved voice functionality; more SmartCast TV models will soon be compatible with the Google Assistant. Using the Google Assistant, users can launch apps, switch inputs, power on and off their TV, or play, pause, and rewind the content they are viewing. Voice commands can also be used to change picture modes and toggle closed captioning display for a truly customizable entertainment experience on VIZIO SmartCast TVs. VIZIO's 2019 4K HDR smart TV collection can be found at national retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club, Target and Walmart. Featuring VIZIO SmartCast and premium picture quality technologies, these voice-compatible TVs currently range in price from $239.99 for the all-new 40-inch V-Series to $2,399.99 for the flagship 75-inch P-Series Quantum X. More information surrounding VIZIO SmartCast support for Alexa is available at https://www.vizio.com/alexa or through this video. 1 Feature updates are available only on SmartCast TVs enabled with SmartCast Home™, VIZIO’s on-screen smart TV experience.​

 

[tripplej]

Nice. Everything is getting smarter except for humans. lol.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I am sure Alexa would be nice if I could force myself to use it... but I have a hard time talking to a box.

Plus... I don't think Alexa would understand my country redneck hillbilly language.

Imagine answering the phone "Family Firearms"... and someone asking, "Is this a farm store?"