New Vizio E-Series 60" LED HDTV Available Now

Vizio recently announced a new line of sleek and slim HDTVs. This collection, which is highlighted by the E-Series 60" Class Razor LED Smart TV, also includes the E-Series 70" Class unit and the M-Series 55" and 65" Class units. The newly designed E-Series 60" model gives customers an ultra-thin, slim-frame design along with full 1080p LED HD and Vizio Internet Apps. What's even better is that the E-Series 60" is already available.

According to Chief Technology Officer for Vizio Matt McRae, "The new E-Series units, which are the first of many large-size Vizio models, give consumers access to great technology on an even bigger scale. The larger units provide more screen space with a narrower border around the picture, allowing consumers to get the most out of the crystal-clear Razor LED picture for a more immersive, WiFi enabled experience."

The E-Series 60" is loaded with all the latest technology that Vizio has to offer including Vizio Internet Apps with WiFi. The Vizio Internet Apps give you access to things like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, YouTube, Pandora, Facebook and Twitter without the need for an external piece of hardware, like a computer or video game console.

Tamaryn Pratt, Principal for Quizel Research, added, "'Vizio's 60' is a Smart TV with the thin LED design that consumers prefer, at a price that would have only bought you a 42" CCFL TV in October 2009. Vizio has been able to drive the price down for consumers, allowing them to enjoy the latest features and a slim design on a larger screen, at a great value. With a 60" TV offering more than twice the screen viewing area of 42" TV, now is the perfect time for consumers to trade up."

Source: The Sacramento Bee - Vizio Unveils New Large Screen, LED HDTV Models Available Now

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Samsung and Sony End HDTV Discounts in Stores

Got your eye on a slick Sony or Samsung HDTV that would totally bring your entertainment center together? Does the price seem a bit too high for your bank account? Are you waiting for Black Friday or some other day when that set goes on sale? If you answered yes to that last question then I have some bad news. Samsung and Sony have both announced that they will not allow retailers to sell their HDTVs at discounted prices below the suggested retail price of the device.

Discounts on things like HDTVs are amazing for consumers, though retailers don't particularly like the idea of discounts, especially amid dwindling profit margins. That is why Samsung and Sony have decided to force retailers to drop the heavily discounted pricing schemes in hopes of boosting profits and making more money. The Wall Street Journal reported first that Samsung and Sony were introducing new pricing plans that were specifically designed to increase the lackluster prospects of big name retailers like Best Buy while also trying to help other physical stores compete with online retailers that typically charge less for HDTVs.

This new pricing policy from both companies went into effect last month and prevents stores from advertising or selling Samsung and Sony TVs for less than prices that have been set by the manufacturers. Unfortunately, this plan is extremely risky. The main risk factor is that consumers may simply pass on these name brand TVs for other ones that are on sale, not to mention the fact that other name brand companies, like LG, Panasonic, Sharp and Vizio, are still offering sales and discounts. This could mean that Samsung and Sony's plans could backfire, losing more money for the companies than gaining.

HDTV manufacturers and retailers have suffered dramatically from slowing sales and declining profit margins for a while now, though some manufacturers are hopeful for this year. Both LG and Samsung saw profit margins of just over 2% in 2011, which isn't very impressive, though it is still better than breaking even like the companies did in 2010. In addition to that, retailers have been struggling as well. Best Buy announced in March that it was closing 50 of its bigger stores and replacing them with 100 smaller outlets that will focus on phones, tablets and e-readers but not TVs.

If you still want deals on Samsung and Sony HDTVs, you will have to turn to the internet and online retailers for them as Samsung and Sony's pricing scheme doesn't carry over to online stores. However, you can still get name brand products from physical stores as LG, Panasonic, Sharp and Vizio still think discounts are a smart business decision.

Source: PC World - Samsung, Sony Put the Kibosh on TV Discounts

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Goodbye 16:9 Aspect Ratio and Hello 21:9!

I think it's safe to say that we have all determined that wide screen television viewing is head over heels better than how we used to watch tv (back when your screen looked like a bubble). However, future HDTVs may have a viewing style that is even wider than our current widescreen format. HDTVs of today have a more rectangular 16 x 9 shape, though a wider 21 x 9 display standard is said to be in the making and was announced at the Consumer Electronics Association, or CEA.

Vizio's upcoming 58" 3D LED CinemaWide display is believed to be the very first television in production that will feature the new 21 x 9 shape. The device isn't set to be released until March for a retail price of $3,499.99 and will come with a total of four pairs of 3D glasses.

In addition to the 58" device, Vizio is planning a 70" and a 50" model as well set to be released in the second half of 2012. CinemaWide HDTVs allow movies shot in the cinema standard 16 x 9 aspect ratio to be automatically re-sized to the 21 x 9 ratio display without any black bars on the top or bottom. In addition to movies, other 16 x 9 content can be scaled up also.

The CinemaWide devices also allow users to use Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Yahoo TV and other apps on the left side of the screen while the full 16 x 9 video fills the rest of the screen.

According to a statement from Vizio's Vice President John Schindler, "We wanted to give consumers a good choice to watch movies and standard TV while you use the internet. This also offers a new look and feel for prospective TV buyers [that are] looking for something more modern in their homes." The CEA is currently in the process of developing a standard that would allow 21 x 9 content to be transferred via HDMI cables as well.

The TVs that Vizio is creating have built-in technology that would allow them to function without the CEA having to update the standard for HDMI cables. According to Schindler, "We really want to lead the charge." Ultra-wide video is also "closer to a cinematic experience," according to Vice President of Technology and Standards at The Industry Trade Group Brian Markwalter. Markwalter also added, "That is the aesthetic to it - to get the more sweeping panorama."

Source: USA Today - New Vizio HDTV breaks widescreen barrier for movies, apps

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