Vizio Update Allows SmartCast TV Viewers to Access Streaming Apps From Home Screen

A Vizio update issued Monday via the internet allows owners of SmartCast E-Series Ultra HD TVs to access content from apps directly on the home screen with the 2017 remote control. With Vizio’s Discover section, users can browse TV shows, movies and music -- including streaming titles categorized by Ultra HD and HDR – and launch the content from the remote or from a mobile device using the SmartCast Mobile app, the company said. The Discover section aggregates popular and trending content from multiple sources in one place, allowing viewers to browse selections without having to access multiple apps, Vizio said. SmartCast streaming apps include Amazon Video, Crackle, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Netflix, Pluto TV, Vudu and Xumo. SmartCast TV owners who previously bought eligible displays may require the new SmartCast XRT136 remote with the V-button to have one-button access to the SmartCast user interface, the company said. Owners of eligible models can receive the new remote “either for free or for a nominal fee” by submitting their TV serial number at the Vizio website, the company said. Vizio SmartCast displays also have Chromecast built in, allowing users to browse Chromecast-enabled apps on their mobile devices, Vizio said. And by tapping the Cast button in Chromecast-enabled apps, consumers can stream TV shows and movies to a big screen. In “quick start” mode, they can automatically turn on their TVs by launching a Chromecast-enabled app and tapping the Cast button, it said.