Vizio E-Series 2016 review – CNET
The Good The Vizio E series offers the best picture quality available in its price range, thanks to local dimming. The Google Cast system offers more apps and frequent updates than many dedicated smart-TV systems.
The Bad Many models in the series don’t match the image quality of ones we reviewed. Roku TVs and other models with actual onscreen menus are more convenient for streaming apps. No built-in tuner on many models.
The Bottom Line If you’re OK with its missing extras, and make sure to get the right model, Vizio’s E series will reward you with the best budget TV picture quality yet.
The Vizio E series can be a great buy, but read the fine print.
If you get one of the better ones you can expect superb image quality for a budget TV, head and shoulders above Roku TVs and better in many ways than competing midrange sets. Other E series models have picture quality likely no better than budget competitors (don’t worry, I’ll tell you which is which in the next section).
Vizio E series places picture quality over…
See full gallery
1 – 5 of 23
Next
Prev
There’s also the matter of its app-based Google Cast operation, and lack of a tuner. The E series is the closest thing you can find today to a “dumb TV,” and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. To do anything more advanced on this set than turn it on, switch inputs or adjust picture mode, you’ll need to use your own phone and Vizio’s app. If that sounds appealing to you — or if you don’t plan to do anything more advanced than that — it’s great.
Otherwise we like Roku TVs like the TCL S3750/FP110 series and US5800 series better. They deliver the best built-in smart TV system on the market, so you don’t need to connect an external device and can use one remote for everything. They also have actual built-in tuners, complete with the ability to pause live TV, which will appeal to cord cutters especially. Finally, they’re usually even cheaper than E series sets.
So should you get an E or a Roku TV? If you want the best picture you can get for a budget price and can’t afford an M series, go for one of the E’s I specify below, and leave some budget for an external device like a Roku Premiere (especially if you want to stream Amazon video). If you’re OK with a “good enough” picture and value convenience and built-in smarts, go Roku.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Not every E is created equal
Vizio’s E series is complex and sprawling, comprising a wide range of screen sizes and technologies. I performed a hands-on evaluation of the 50-inch E50-D1 and the 65-inch E65u-D3.
Normally I tell readers that the picture quality of the sizes I actually tested is similar to other screen sizes in the series, but that’s not the case for the E series. In other words, if you’re looking to buy an E series other than those two exact models above, pay attention.
First off, the image quality remarks in this review don’t apply to any of the E series TVs under 43 inches since they lack the local dimming that was so effective on the models we tested. They also don’t apply to the E50-E3 because it lacks local dimming, the E55-E1, the E43u-D2 or the E55u-Do because they use an IPS-based LCD panel, and the E43-D2, E48-D0 and E55-D0 because Vizio refused to specify whether they have IPS panels. IPS typically delivers inferior image quality.
Here are the only E series TVs this review applies to. They’re the ones we’re confident perform similarly to two we tested.
Vizio E series models covered in this review
| Size | Resolution | Dimming zones | Clear action | Panel type | TV tuner |
| 48 inches | 4K | 10 | 240 | VA | No |
| 50 inches | 1080p | 12 | 240 | VA | Yes |
| 50 inches | 4K | 12 | 240 | VA | No |
| 55 inches | 4K | 12 | 180 | VA | No |
| 60 inches | 4K | 10 | 180 | VA | No |
| 60 inches | 4K | 10 | 240 | VA | No |
| 65 inches | 4K | 12 | 180 | VA | No |
| 65 inches | 4K | 12 | 240 | VA | No |
| 70 inches | 4K | 12 | 180 | VA | No |
| 70 inches | 4K | 12 | 240 | VA | No |
See the Features sections below for an explanation of the terms in the table and how they affect image quality.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Generic glossy-black design with spindly legs
Nothing much to see here when the E series is turned off. The frame around the screen is a glossy black and thin, so from the front it looks like almost all picture, while the cabinet is relatively thick seen from the side.
Rather than a pedestal stand, the E series utilizes the same kind of splayed, spindly legs found on most TVs today. They’re a bit different-looking thanks to a pattern of triangle-shaped cutouts.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Your phone (and Vizio’s app) required
Unlike the more expensive P series and M series, the E doesn’t include a free tablet remote, so you’ll have to use your own device (phone or tablet) and Vizio’s SmartCast app (for iOS and Android) for setup and advanced control.
The TV lacks a traditional onscreen menu and smart TV system entirely, replacing it with Google Cast, the popular streaming platform exemplified by devices like the $35 Chromecast. If you want to watch Netflix on the E series, for example, you’ll have to use the Netflix app on your phone or tablet and “Cast” to the TV. The same goes for any other streaming app — except the handful that aren’t supported by Cast, notably Amazon Video (see the Chromecast column here for a full list). Don’t have a phone or tablet handy in the living room all the time? Then either use a device like a Roku or Apple TV, or buy a different TV.
The SmartCast app can control every function of the TV, from power-on to input switching to advanced picture adjustments, audio controls, setting timers and everything else. You’ll pair your phone to the TV using it in the initial setup process, and use it to connect the TV to Wi-Fi and receive software updates. The app also offers TV and movie discovery features, but they’re not very advanced.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
The E also comes with a standard remote control for basic functions, and will work with universal remotes like Harmony.
Vizio’s app-based system has grown more stable and reliable in the past year, and worked fine with the iOS and Android phones I tried, but it’s still more of a pain than an traditional onscreen menu. Especially one with as superb of a Smart TV system as Roku.
Features: Local dimming FTW
Key features
| LED LCD |
| Full array with local dimming |
| 4K or 1080p |
| No |
| Flat |
| Google Cast |
| App and standard |
| No |
The best thing about the E series is local dimming, our favorite image quality improvement in LCD TVs, and rare at this price point. E TVs have anywhere from five to 12 dimming zones. More local dimming zones equals better image quality; the M series, for example, has 64 zones. We don’t expect much difference between the models with 10 or 12 zones to which this review applies.
Unlike the M series, the E is not HDR compatible. All of the E series models to which this review applies have 4K resolution, with the exception of the E50-D3 I tested, which is 1080p. In our tests the 4K model didn’t exhibit much better image quality than the 1080p one, but since Vizio won’t specify whether the 1080p models are IPS or VA, this review doesn’t apply to any 1080p E series sets aside from the E50-D3.
In the past I’ve found that IPS (in-plane switching) has worse image quality than VA (vertical alignment), the panel type used on the other sizes. IPS delivered worse black-level performance and contrast, and although it’s slightly better from off-angle, it’s still usually worse overall.
We also don’t expect much image quality difference at all between the models with Clear Action 180 as opposed to 240, despite Vizio’s claim that “when enabled, it offers higher motion clarity performance.” None of these sets offer the smoothing Soap Opera Effect, and all have what I suspect are 60Hz native refresh rate panels. Vizio didn’t confirm as much and calls them “120Hz effective,” a typically fake specification, but the ones I tested behave like 60Hz panels.
Lenovo Yoga 910 review – CNET
The Good The Lenovo Yoga 910 premium convertible has a gorgeous display that spans nearly the entire lid and delivers solid performance and long battery life for the category. It’s a really nice-looking laptop, too.
The Bad The right-hand Shift key is poorly placed and sized. Webcam is at the bottom of the screen. No direct video output or SD card slot. Separate USB Type-C ports for power and video-out kill the option for a single connection all-in-one dock.
The Bottom Line With a beautiful design, excellent performance and battery life and a great display, the Lenovo Yoga 910 is one head-turning hybrid.
Many people still don’t see the value of a touchscreen on a laptop, but with hybrid PCs like Lenovo’s Yoga line it’s hard not to appreciate the flexibility.
The all-metal Yoga 910 is a perfect example of just how good a hybrid can be, too. Its compact size and relatively light weight is matched with an excellent 13.9-inch touchscreen that goes nearly edge-to-edge, which brings it closer to the look and feel of a regular tablet when folded back on itself.
Rotate the display around on its watchband-like 360-degree hinge and you’ve gone from a big screen tablet to a great ultraportable laptop. The hinge is stiff enough to hold the screen in any position, but moves freely enough you can adjust its angle with a single finger.
View full gallery
The Lenovo Yoga 910 fits more screen into less space with a 13.9-inch display in the body of a 13-inch laptop.
Sarah Tew/CNET
It might seem silly to be impressed by a hinge, but it works well, keeps the design as thin as possible and it looks cool. The hinge we’ve seen before on the 900 and the Yoga 3 Pro, but the display is a first for the line.
Available in full HD and 4K UHD resolutions, the multitouch display doesn’t have the typical wide frame or bezel found on other laptops on the top and sides. This allowed Lenovo to fit a 13.9-inch screen into approximately the same space as a 13.3-inch display. Not only does it give you more room to work, but it looks great, too, with excellent brightness and color.
Lenovo Yoga 910
| $1,299 |
| 13.9-inch 3,840×2,160-pixel touch display |
| 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-7500U |
| 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,133MHz |
| 128MB dedicated Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| 512GB SSD |
| 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 |
| USB 3.0 Type-C with video-out, USB 2.0 Type-C with charging, USB 3.0 with always-on charging, audio combo jack |
| Windows 10 Home (64-bit) |
To make this design possible, Lenovo had to move the built-in webcam from above the screen to below it. It makes for some awkwardly large hands if you’re typing and using the camera at the same time. Fortunately, you can flip the laptop over into a tent position and connect an external mouse and keyboard to keep working.
Typing on the laptop’s backlit keyboard is generally good with one exception: The right-hand Shift key. With the 900 it was small and to the left of the Up arrow. Now it’s to the right of the Up arrow and still too small. Typing with any amount of speed inevitably resulted in the cursor moving somewhere it didn’t belong. You might be able to adjust to the key size and placement over time, but I found it beyond frustrating.
The touchpad, on the other hand, is just about perfect. Fingers glide easily over its smooth surface, and I never experienced any cursor jumps caused by a brush from my palm. There are multitouch gestures that are easily adjusted within Windows’ settings, so if you’re not a fan of pinch-to-zoom or three-finger swipes you can just turn them off.
Verizon will disable the Galaxy Note 7 on January 5th
If you were hoping that Verizon’s decision against disabling the Galaxy Note 7 would give you a long while to use the ill-fated smartphone, you’re in for some disappointment. The carrier has revealed that it’s pushing the phone-crippling update on January 5th, 2017, or just over two weeks after it reaches devices on other US networks. As before, the later-than-usual cutoff is about making sure that you can contact family and emergency services over the holidays if you still haven’t turned in your Note 7.
This isn’t exactly a shocking move, since the writing was on the wall the moment that Samsung started disabling Note 7 charging features. About 93 percent of American buyers had already returned their units before the news, and that ratio is only likely to climb in the days ahead. However, the January 5th Verizon push is still notable. Think of it as an official end date for the Note 7’s brief, turbulent life in the US — it’s the day when Samsung can stop worrying about battery fires and focus on mending its image.
Via: The Verge
Source: Verizon
Best Shower Speakers
Sing along with your favorite tunes in the shower with these great speakers.
If you’re sick of belting out your favorite tunes in the shower a cappella you may want to consider getting a speaker to use in the shower.
We’ve compiled a list of the best shower speakers you can find to help you sing like nobody’s listening.
Updated December, 2016.
- Polk Audio BOOM Swimmer
- Photive Hydra
- SoundBot SB510
- UE Roll/Roll 2
- Braven Mira
- Fugoo Sport
- UE Boom 2
Polk Audio BOOM Swimmer
This tadpole-looking device was conceived by the folks at Polk Audio to be as versatile as possible. The tail-end of the speaker is bendable, making it easy to wrap around shower curtain rods or even your shower head pipe, meaning there is always a convenient place to put it.
The Swimmer’s waterproof rating is even greater than it needs to be for use in the shower. It can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for half an hour without suffering any damage, meaning it can even fall into the tub when you’re taking a bath.
The sound quality is not bad; although, there is very little bass, which isn’t a surprise when you’re talking about something this small.
See at Amazon
Photive Hydra
The Photive Hydra is perfect for people that want a shower speaker and are more concerned about sound quality than convenience. Sporting a passive subwoofer and two 40mm drivers, the Hydra delivers a fuller sounding low-end, while still providing pleasing, clear treble.
Its IP66 rating won’t allow the speaker to be submerged, but it can handle water jets and splashing just fine, making it more than durable enough to withstand your daily shower.
The Hydra is a little bulkier and bigger than most of the other speakers on the list, but it’s still compact enough to fit on the edge of your tub or on your shower caddy.
See at Amazon
SoundBot SB510
The SoundBot SB510 is perfect for people who want an easier way to control their music while they are listening in the shower.
The simple interface on the front of SoundBot will let you control playback or adjust volume with just a tap of its buttons, meaning you don’t need to get out of the shower and touch your phone to change songs. Plus, there is even a speaker and microphone for taking calls, so you won’t miss anything important just because you’re bathing.
It’s water-resistant rating only protects the SoundBot from splashing; however, It installs super easily with a suction cup that is attached to the back of the speaker, so you should have no problem finding a place for it that’s out of harm’s way.
See at Amazon
UE Roll/UE Roll 2
The Ultimate Ears Roll has an IPX7 rating, meaning submerging it in up to 3 feet of water for about half an hour won’t cause any damage, so your daily showers won’t affect it at all. Plus, on the back, it comes with a bungee cord loop, making it easy to wrap or tie the speaker around your curtain rod or shower head, so it stays out of your way while you’re headbanging in the shower.
The Roll 2 was just released and it does come with a couple of improvements. It has better sound, regarding both volume and quality, than its predecessor, and it also has an increased Bluetooth range of 100 feet, meaning your phone or tablet doesn’t even have to be in the hot, steamy bathroom while you’re getting clean.
We have links to both versions below because you may be able to find the original model of the Roll on sale, though the value of slightly better sound may not be worth the price difference. That’s a decision best left up to you.
See UE Roll at Amazon
See UE Roll 2 at Amazon
Braven Mira
The first thing you will notice about the Braven Mira is the impressive sound quality for such a small device. It manages to stuff two drivers and a passive radiator into its small protective housing, giving the Mira the ability to sound full and provide some decent bass.
The hook on the back of the speaker allows it to hang easily from your shower head or it can even be used as a kickstand, allowing it to sit nicely in the corner of your tub. Plus, the battery lasts for up to 12 hours of playback, so even the longest shower takers should get more than enough time between charges.
Its waterproof rating is IPX5, meaning it can handle being hit by the stream from your shower head, which is more than enough protection for the average user.
See at Amazon
Fugoo Sport
Although it’s another speaker you will need to rest on a shelf or the side of your tub, the Fugoo Sport is an awesome device.
The thing that stands out the most is its 40-hour battery life. If you are truly using this in just the shower, you could probably go for weeks without needing a charge. With a waterproof rating of IP67, not only can you submerge the speaker in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes, but it’s also dust-proof, meaning dirt and other particulates won’t cause you any problems.
On top of it all, the sound quality is very good. The Fugoo Sport has six drivers that are spread out across all four sides, giving you clear, well-balanced 360 degree sound.
See at Amazon
UE Boom 2
Taking the UE Boom 2 into your shower is absolutely no problem as it has a very high water-resistant rating, allowing it to be submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. It’s also protected against dirt and mud, but you can hand-wash the speaker with warm, soapy water just in case it gets messy.
UE Boom 2’s battery will last you approximately 15 hours of playing time, which should amount to a lot of time in the tub, and has a Bluetooth range of 100 feet, making sure your phone, tablet, or PC doesn’t have to be anywhere near the water. Plus, if you truly want the Boom 2 to live up to its onomatopoeic name, you have the option to set up another one to make a stereo pair and really raise the roof.
See at Amazon
What’s your favorite?
Are you a shower singer? Let us know your favorite speaker to take into the shower with you by leaving us a comment below!
Skype as your default Android messenger and dialer? It’s almost a reality
Skype as your default messaging app? It’s almost a reality.
Thus continues the Microsoft takeover of your Android device. A new Skype application called “Skype Mingo” has been making the rounds. It enables Android users to utilize Skype as a native calling app, contacts manager, and all-in-one messenger. It’s also equipped with features like file and photo sharing, video calls, and Skype’s new bots — all the features that Microsoft’s been touting for some time now.
As TechCrunch reports, Skype Mingo was first spotted by the blog, MSPoweruser, which initially reported that Skype is planning to bring SMS functionality to the app, hence it becoming an all-in-one messaging platform. But it’s the Skype bots that are especially enticing, considering you’ll be able to find flights, order tickets, and search the web right from within the app. It’s like Google Assistant — except, it’s Microsoft.
Skype Mingo is not entirely ready yet. Unfortunately for you, dear Android user, the app is still in alpha testing. You can find it in the Play Store, but you likely can’t download it, as it’s still not ready for the general public.
Get a free 5-pack of Micro-USB cables with this Quick Charge 3.0 car charger
RAVPower is currently offering a free 5-pack of Micro-USB cables with the purchase of a Quick Charge 3.0 car charger with coupon code W3KLH3GN. The car charger offers four USB ports, so you can easily charge up your own gadgets as well as any others that may be in your car. One of the four is Quick Charge 3.0, so if you have a compatible phone you’ll be able to charge it up to four times faster than a regular charger would.
- Quick Charge 3.0 car charger
- 5-pack Micro-USB cables
As for the cables, they come in a variety of lengths between 1 and 10 feet long. You’ll need to add both items to your cart and then use the coupon code W3KLH3GN to get the cables for free. This deal runs now through December 18, so don’t wait too long to grab some for yourself.
See at Amazon
How to get the Pixel fingerprint gesture on other Android phones
How do I use the Pixel fingerprint gesture on another Android phone?
The fingerprint sensor on the Google Pixel isn’t just for unlocking the phone; it performs a host of Move shortcuts. One of the most interesting and potentially useful of the bunch is swiping to pull down the notification shade, making one-handed operation (especially of the Pixel XL) much easier.
That feature would be handy on other phones, no? Here’s how to get it!
How to enable fingerprint gestures on non-Pixel Android phones
The developers at Code boy studio have come up with a somewhat experimental app that tries to add Move shortcuts to all fingerprint sensors, called Fingerprint Quick Action.
It doesn’t exactly work flawlessly. In fact, it’s pretty hit and miss, but the quick tap feature does bring down the notification panel, so if you just want it for accessing your notifications, then it works fairly well.
That being said, the developers are pretty up-front about the app and don’t try to peddle it as something revolutionary — the “Fast sipe & Quick tap” section even says “Experimental” next to it.
If you want to give it a try (efficacy differs from phone to phone), then here’s how!
Download the Fingerprint Quick Action app.
Launch Fingerprint Quick Action by tapping Open in the Google Play Store or by tapping it on your home screen or in the app drawer.
Tap OK, I got it on the pop-up once you have read the disclaimers.
Tap the checkbox next to Enable Fingerprint Quick Action.
Tap OK in the pop-up regarding Accessibility.
Tap Fingerprint Quick Action (third from the top).
Tap the switch to enable it.
Tap OK.
Go back to you home screen or the app drawer and launch Fingerprint Quick Action again. For some reason, the app gets stuck in your settings and tapping back only brings you back to the home screen.
Tap Single tap action.
Tap a function. Toggle notification panel works the best, but you can try all of them to see which works best for you.
Don’t let the name of the feature fool you: Just tapping the fingerprint sensor doesn’t really work. You need to hold it there for a moment so that it registers.
If you’d like to swipe to reveal the notification panel instead, then tap Fast swipe & Quick tap action and choose an action. Again, toggling the notification panel works the best, but experiment and see which functions work well on your phone.
Swipe down across your fingerprint sensor to reveal the notification panel, and swipe down again to hide it — swiping upward does nothing.
How to enable double-tap and allow only enrolled fingerprints
Double-tap and using only “enrolled” fingerprints are great security measures and can save you a headache if you don’t mean to touch the fingerprint sensor. Enable both for full control.
Launch Fingerprint Quick Action from the home screen or app drawer.
Tap the checkbox next to Enable double tap. Now you’ll have to double-tap or double-swipe the fingerprint sensor to carry out the actions you’ve specified for each action.
Tap the checkbox next to Respond to enrolled fingerprints only. Now only fingerprints registered in your phone will be able to use the fingerprint actions.
Beware that if someone else tries to use fingerprint actions and their fingerprints aren’t registered in your phone, the fingerprint sensor will stop working until you lock your phone and unlock it with your pattern or PIN.
Download Fingerprint Quick Action from the Google Play Store
Any questions?
Interested in adding Move gestures to your phone? Spent some time experimenting with Fingerprint Quick Action? Let us know in the comments below!
Werewolves Within review: the addictive VR party game is here!
Time to ferret out those pesky werewolves. .intro
Living in a small village is usually pleasant. Or well. It was, until the Werewolves started showing up and eating everybody. That’s why we’ve called this town meeting. Here, at the table it’s time to discuss the unpleasantry that’s been going on, and get to the bottom of things. The only problem is that the Werewolves are living amongst us, and they look no different than anybody else who lives here. It’s time to find the Werewolf Within.
If you recognize this premise, that’s because you may have seen in before in games like Werewolves, or Mafia. It used to be that party games of this kind only worked if you had a group gathered together in your house. Now though, it’s entirely possible — and more fun than it ought to be — to jump into VR and point out the Werewolf in your midst.
Read more at VR Heads!
Verizon changes its mind and will kill the Note 7 after all
My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is once again in your news feed. The lone holdout among U.S. carriers who have decided to disable the phone — Verizon — has changed its mind and will be killing the Note 7 come January 5, 2017.
When AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile announced the path to the end for the Note 7, Verizon didn’t go along with it and instead insisted that holiday travelers would need to be able to use their Note 7 to make calls.
Today, the company released the following announcement on its web site:
Samsung will be releasing a Note 7 software update on December 19. This update prevents the device from charging and eliminates the ability for it to work as a mobile device. Verizon will not be pushing this software update to your device until January 5, 2017. We want to make sure you can contact family, first responders, and emergency medical professionals during the holiday travel season. However, we urge you to stop using your Note7, upgrade it to another device, and return the Note7 to us.
This lines up with everything else we’ve heard about Samsung trying to put the remaining Note 7 phones to sleep. You’ll still be able to make those holiday travel phone calls with your Note 7 on Verizon, but you’d probably be better off just getting your money back while you still can.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
- Survey results: Samsung users stay loyal after Note 7 recall
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
AIVAnet 