HiTechEdge

Tag: smart TV

  • Comcast Set to Unveil Two Of Its Own XClass Smart TVs

    Comcast Set to Unveil Two Of Its Own XClass Smart TVs

    Comcast is preparing to introduce its own XClass smart TVs, with two models debuting soon.

    Comcast is already one of the leading cable TV providers, but the company is looking to expand into the smart TV market according to Protocol. The company has partnered with Chinese manufacturer Hisense to build the devices.

    The new TVs will run a version of Comcast’s X1 operating system (OS), the same OS that powers its streaming TV boxes. The smart TVs, however, will be available to all, not just Comcast’s customers.

    “XClass TV is a smart TV that brings all your favorite apps, live channels, and On Demand movies and shows together in one place,” that site explains in a FAQ. ” XClass TV … gives you thousands of free movies, shows, music, and more. And to find what you love faster, XClass TV comes with a voice remote that lets you control your TV and search across apps with just your voice.”

  • Vizio’s Ad Business Nearly Rivals Its Hardware Sales

    Vizio’s Ad Business Nearly Rivals Its Hardware Sales

    Vizio, known for its TVs, is now making nearly as much money off of the data it collects and ads it sells — at the consumer’s expense.

    Vizio has a troubled history of collecting data from its smart TV viewers, with the FCC fining it in 2017 for collecting and selling viewer data without consent. Although the company is now more transparent about its practices, profiting off of viewer data has become a major part of its business.

    According to the company’s quarterly results, it had a gross profit of $38.4 million for its Platform+ business, the part of its business that collects data and sells advertising. In contrast, the company had a gross profit of $48.2 million from Devices.

    Even more telling, Devices gross profit grew 48%, considerably less than the 152% increase in Platform+ gross profits. The disparity demonstrates how the collection of data, and profiting from it, will continue to be a major focus for the company.

    While some customers may be ok with their viewing habits data being collected and sold to advertisers, privacy-conscious consumers would do well to choose a different brand, or take measures to disable data collection.