VIZIO makes tons of TVs. I actually have 5 VIZIO TVs in my home, believe it or not. Offerings from VIZIO pack great TV panels at prices that won’t break your budget. Vizio offers several different TV lines, depending on the features you want.
Since 2016, VIZIO TVs have shipped with SmartCast, a custom TV interface to help you interact with Internet-enabled features. Up until now, you’ve needed either the included remote or a smartphone/tablet to control a SmartCast enabled VIZIO TV. Starting today, however, that’s changing.
VIZIO announced its Alexa skill that enabled you to control your 2016 and 2017 P-, M-, and E-Series 4K TVs with any Alexa-enabled device. You’ll be able to change the channel, modify the volume, and more by just using your voice.
To get started, you’ll obviously need to have an Alexa-enabled device. I happen to have a few, and if you’re reading this, chances are you do too. Be it an Echo, Echo Dot, or even the KitSound Voice One Smart Speaker we recently reviewed, any Alexa device will do.
Once logged into the Alexa app, you’ll be able to download the Skill. After you do that, you’ll be able to pair your display with the Skill so you can control your TV with your voice.
VIZIO offers a full video that walks you through every step that needs to be taken in order to pair your TV with an Echo.
Depending on your home theater setup, this could work fantastic for you if you’re always losing the remote. I know that in my house, it’s always a task to find the remote (even though we have 3) just to turn the TV on or off.
With this Alexa skill, even if we can’t find a remote, it’s simple and easy to just say “Alexa, turn the TV off” as we’re walking out the door.
We’re starting to see more and more companies bring smart speakers into products. Though just a few years ago, you might not have even imagined that you could just speak and have your TV respond, but that’s quickly becoming a reality.
For more information on VIZIO’s SmartCast TVs, be sure to check out our hands-on review of VIZIO’s 2017 M-Series offerings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS8NL4rLJy8
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