Vizio GoogleTV-enabled VAP430 Stream Player Preview

GoogleTV is apparently not dead. Today at CES, Vizio and Google jointly announced the introduction of the Vizio VAP430 Stream Player, an innovative stream player that turns any HDTV into an enhanced Vizio Internet Apps Plus (V.I.A. Plus) smart TV that incorporates the latest Google TV. The Stream Player lets consumers access tons of entertainment content and online services with web access through a fully capable Chrome browser. You can also stream photos, music and video stored on any computer, hard drive or smart phone connected to a local network and/or the cloud.

With the VAP430 connected to an HDTV over an HDMI cable, users can quickly and seamlessly access content and services from their favorite apps and websites using the included Bluetooth premium universal remote control with integrated touchpad. The VAP430 connects via either a wired Ethernet or a wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n connection. In addition to movies, TV shows and music on demand, the VAP430 lets users search the web for even more entertainment options using the Flash-capable Chrome browser.

Using the included premium remote with QWERTY keypad and integrated touchpad, viewers can easily search for any program or content they want from their favorite apps or the Internet. Users can also check out new apps from an ever-expanding Android Market, or access personal media like videos, photos and music that are stored on devices connected to the same home network as the stream player. Images are displayed right on a connected TV set, and sound plays through the TV or a connected audio system. It will be interesting to see the cohesiveness of the system - something that's been a bit lacking in other connected TVs due to the lack of consistency across the third-party software.

The VAP430 also has an HDMI pass-through that lets the user connect a cable or satellite box to the stream player and pass the signal over to the TV for a truly integrated TV watching experience. The smart TV interface overlays the live TV signal so multitaskers can search for the next thing to watch without completely stepping away from what they’re currently watching. Bluetooth capability also makes it simple to enjoy content from smart phones through the connected TV wirelessly. And with the USB input, connecting any USB drive directly to the VAP430 takes only seconds.

VAP430 is the first V.I.A. Plus device to launch this year, followed by the VBR430 3D Blu-ray player, which combines the features of the VAP430 with Blu-ray’s state-of-the-art high-definition video and audio playback capabilities.

Preorders for the VAP430 will begin this spring 2012 and pricing is yet to be set. Find out more and sign up to be the first at www.Vizio.com/ces

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.