Scott Wilkinson

I normally don't cover smartphones and tablets on UAV, but this is something special that relates to flat-panel TVs and Blu-ray players. At CES this week, Vizio will introduce its own smartphone and tablet, both based on the Android operating system, that incorporate the next generation of Vizio Internet Apps dubbed VIA Plus. In addition, we will see the company's newest LCD TVs and Blu-ray players, also with VIA Plus.

The big news here is the seamless integration of TVs, Blu-ray players, and mobile devices, allowing you to enjoy any available content on whatever device is most suitable for a given situation—you can even start watching something on one device and transition to another device at any point in the program. Not only that, the phone and tablet include an IR blaster and universal-remote app, allowing them to control a home-theater system. Finally, both can play HD video from an HDMI output, which is way cool in my book.

Oh yeah, one more thing—the new TVs and Blu-ray players will incorporate Google TV with Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard/universal remote, Wi-Fi, and Chrome browser. As you may have heard, Google has asked its partners not to tout Google TV at CES because it's not quite ready for prime time, but Vizio has decided to do so anyway. It should be an interesting show!

LG will have some big announcements at CES next week—literally. Perhaps the biggest is the 72-inch LZ9700, which the company claims is the world's largest LED-backlit 3D LCD TV.

Our latest poll question—Do You Prefer the Sound of Digital or Analog Audio Media?—has inspired more comments than any I've posted up to now, and I'm grateful to everyone who has added their two cents to the discussion so far, as well as those who will do so in the future. This is exactly what I had hoped these questions would stimulate—a lively but respectful discussion of the issues that concern all who enjoy the audio/video hobby.