First announced at CES, the list of Web widgets packed into forthcoming Vizio high-definition TVs is growing.
On Tuesday, Vizio announced that some of the most popular services on the Web will be directly accessible from the TV screen, including eBay, Facebook, Twitter, and Rallypoint Sports. Showtime, Web video channel Revision3, Internet radio site Radiotime, and video-on-demand service Vudu, will also be accessible on the Via Connected HDTV feature, which is powered by the Yahoo TV Widgets engine.
That adds to an already impressive lineup of Internet content from Amazon Video on Demand, Blockbuster On Demand, Flickr, Netflix, Pandora, and Rhapsody. The Via Connected service will come preinstalled in Vizio XVT series TVs, which will be available this fall. The XVT sets have built-in 802.11(n) Wi-Fi, which allows the TV to connect to the owner's wireless Internet service.
Web-connected TVs are a growing trend thanks to the growing availability of broadband Internet. At CES in January, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony each showcased similarly capable sets, and recent consumer survey data shows that buyers are certainly interested in the concept.
However, it's not just TVs. Microsoft's Xbox 360 already features Netflix Watch Instantly, and later this fall will also offer Facebook and Twitter.
