Scott Hart
Google Home and Vizio SmartCast
Since Vizio introduced SmartCast last year, they have been hard at work on the app. It basically turns your mobile phone into a remote control. With Google Home integration, this app is getting even smarter, and now adds another layer of control to SmartCast-enabled TVs and soundbars.
“Controlling Vizio SmartCast devices from Google Home is a significant milestone for consumers and their ability to manage their entertainment experience,” Matt McRae, Vizio chief technology officer, said in a statement. “Using a simple voice command to stream a movie from Netflix to a Vizio display or stream music from Spotify to a group of Vizio speakers is an eye-opening experience, and shows off the power of Vizio SmartCast.”
Now you can adjust the volume on any enabled device just by saying “OK Google”. This functionality extends to pausing and resuming playback, as well as skipping tracks when listening to music. If you have Quick Start Power Mode turned on in your TV’s setting, you can even have the TV power on automatically as soon as you make a request for any type of entertainment.
When using the new feature with speakers, services like Spotify, Pandora, and Google Play Music are supported, though Spotify integration is only available to Spotify Premium subscribers. When it comes to video, voice-controlled playback is available for apps like Netflix and YouTube, with more services likely to be added in the future.
The new Google Home functionality is rolling out now, so if it isn’t yet available to you, the wait shouldn’t be long. SmartCast is available on most recent Vizio speakers and soundbars, as well as the company’s recent P-series, M-series, and E-series TV models.
Read more.
Google Home and Vizio SmartCast
Since Vizio introduced SmartCast last year, they have been hard at work on the app. It basically turns your mobile phone into a remote control. With Google Home integration, this app is getting even smarter, and now adds another layer of control to SmartCast-enabled TVs and soundbars.
“Controlling Vizio SmartCast devices from Google Home is a significant milestone for consumers and their ability to manage their entertainment experience,” Matt McRae, Vizio chief technology officer, said in a statement. “Using a simple voice command to stream a movie from Netflix to a Vizio display or stream music from Spotify to a group of Vizio speakers is an eye-opening experience, and shows off the power of Vizio SmartCast.”
Now you can adjust the volume on any enabled device just by saying “OK Google”. This functionality extends to pausing and resuming playback, as well as skipping tracks when listening to music. If you have Quick Start Power Mode turned on in your TV’s setting, you can even have the TV power on automatically as soon as you make a request for any type of entertainment.
When using the new feature with speakers, services like Spotify, Pandora, and Google Play Music are supported, though Spotify integration is only available to Spotify Premium subscribers. When it comes to video, voice-controlled playback is available for apps like Netflix and YouTube, with more services likely to be added in the future.
The new Google Home functionality is rolling out now, so if it isn’t yet available to you, the wait shouldn’t be long. SmartCast is available on most recent Vizio speakers and soundbars, as well as the company’s recent P-series, M-series, and E-series TV models.
Read more.
