Vizio gets in the Google TV game, will support OnLive
Vizio announced two new Google TV products at CES 2012, a set-top box and a Blu-ray player, both offering support for the OnLive gaming service.
LAS VEGAS--Google TV looked like it might be on the ropes after the disappointing Honeycomb update to Android, but it's making its presence felt at CES 2012.
Vizio announced two Google TV products here at the Consumer Electronics Show: the VAP430 set-top box and the VBR430 Blu-ray. The VAP430 is one of the smallest Google TV devices available so far, looking more like a jumbo Roku box than the larger design of the Logitech Revue.
The remote included with the VAP430 will be slightly different from some of the Google TV remotes available with other products, in that apparently it will also fire IR commands to control other devices, rather than IR using blasters. There are also dedicated buttons on the remote for Amazon Instant, Netflix, and Vudu, which should be helpful for getting around Google TV's somewhat clunky interface.
Google has also announced that both of Vizio's Google TV products will support the OnLive gaming service. Vizio's Google TV products were highlighted in the OnLive/Google press release and it's currently uncertain whether the app will be available for all Google TV products or just the Vizio products initially. OnLive support will initially only allow users to "view" games, but will expand in the future. CNET spoke to Aaron Dew, product manager at Vizio, who told us that the remote that's shipping with the Vizio boxes is fine for casual gaming, but he wasn't sure that it would support every game.
Vizio will be taking online preorders for the VAP430 in the spring for $99 and the VBR430 Blu-ray player will be released in the summer. Pricing is not available for either product yet.