Question re: Vizio with smartcast

[the1casey]

I want to put a TV upstairs in my kids playroom to play Netflix for them. With these new vizios, can I use my phone to start Netflix, then leave the room with my phone? Or does the phone have to stay in that room.

What if I have two of these TVs, in separate rooms, can I get Netflix going on one, then go to my other TV and use my phone to run that one?

Thanks for any help.

 

[WhiteNoise]

I want to put a TV upstairs in my kids playroom to play Netflix for them. With these new vizios, can I use my phone to start Netflix, then leave the room with my phone? Or does the phone have to stay in that room.

What if I have two of these TVs, in separate rooms, can I get Netflix going on one, then go to my other TV and use my phone to run that one?

Thanks for any help.

I've not heard of using a phone to start netflix unless you mean using your phone as a hot spot to allow netflix to connect to the web and stream. In that case the further your phone is from the TV the worse the connection would be. Technically you could have multiple devices connecting to your phones hot spot but I can't say how good the performance would be.

If you have wifi internet in your home it would be easier to use that.

 

[mdram]

from what i have read its one device to one tv at a time

basically the tv mirrors the phone

How to Cast From an App.

1. Connect your devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open a Google Cast-enabled app.
3. Tap the Cast button to send video to your VIZIO SmartCast™ display.

 

[npaladin-2000]

The device acts as a remote for the Netflix app. Essentially it has to stay in the room and can only stream to one device at a time.

Sent from my mobile device.

 

[the1casey]

Thanks people. Guess I won't be getting the new vizios.

 

[mdram]

just get the smart version with netflix built in
or a couple of rokus. ect

 

[npaladin-2000]

just get the smart version with netflix built in
or a couple of rokus. ect

Vizio's Smart TV OS is now Google Cast. Meaning it's basically got a built in Chromecast. No built in Netflix like you're thinking.

Sent from my mobile device.

 

[mdram]

so no apps? thats not a smart tv

 

[npaladin-2000]

It sort of straddles the middle. M and P series Vizios come with a tablet where the apps sit, the E series leaves it out to lower the price (since most people have smartphones anyway). It has a "smartTV OS" but it's essentially third-party and relies on third party apps to interface with it from a smartphone or web browser. That means Vizio doesn't have to go through the trouble of maintaining their own app platform.

Personally I like the setup better than WebOS or Tizen, more likely to stay updated. And I generally prefer my TV's smarts to be in an external, easily replacable device like a Roku or SHIELD anyway.

 

[mdram]

there are tv's with built in roku now

 

[cmdrdredd]

Might be better off getting a fire TV stick and whatever TV is on sale for this usage. Plug the stick into a HDMI port and go. It comes with a remote or they have a remote app for your phone or tablet that supports voice search. They are only $40 too. It simply connects to your wifi network.

 

[npaladin-2000]

Might be better off getting a fire TV stick and whatever TV is on sale for this usage. Plug the stick into a HDMI port and go. It comes with a remote or they have a remote app for your phone or tablet that supports voice search. They are only $40 too. It simply connects to your wifi network.

I never recommend Amazon boxes, Rokus do much more for the same price.

Sent from my mobile device.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I never recommend Amazon boxes, Rokus do much more for the same price.

Sent from my mobile device.

Nobody asked for more. The firetv stick does everything the op mentioned and is $40. A roku box costs more and the roku stick isn't as good as the fire tv stick. I'm recommending the absolute lowest cost solution that will do what the op wants. Streaming movies for the kids to a tv.

 

[npaladin-2000]

Nobody asked for more. The firetv stick does everything the op mentioned and is $40. A roku box costs more and the roku stick isn't as good as the fire tv stick. I'm recommending the absolute lowest cost solution that will do what the op wants. Streaming movies for the kids to a tv.

Opinion. My opinion, however, is that the Roku stick is better because it's a more flexible platform that supports more software than the Amazon stick (UV clients, for example).

Sent from my mobile device.

 

[hans007]

the vizio smartcast is exactly the same as having a chromecast embedded in your TV. so anything on chrome cast will work on it. the way chromecast works is like a remote. some apps, will disconnect the playing app if you physically press disconnect on the app.

but if you say walked out of the house after starting something on the TV it should continue playing. i've done a decent amount of chromecast reciever and sender development and have a smartcast TV at work for this actaully. just start it, press nothing and power your phone off. netflix will continue playing

 

[hans007]

Opinion. My opinion, however, is that the Roku stick is better because it's a more flexible platform that supports more software than the Amazon stick (UV clients, for example).

Sent from my mobile device.

amazon stick is basically a bad version of android TV. with worse DRM support. I've worked with the stick and fire TV a bit, and its just lacking. tis like android TV from 2 years ago running android 5.x with worse digital rights management, so vendors are less likely to support it. amazon needs to up their game, if they want any traction because as of now, their platform is pretty weak. the only reason anyone bothers is that they keep their own services on that platform, but 3rd parties have a difficult time on it. not to mention they want the ssame sort of apple tax for buying things on their service.

case in point if you sell a movie on google play, they charge you nothing. amazon wants 30 % from what i've heard and that really discourages the vudu's of the world from even bothering. you cant make money selling movies if they take taht much.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

You should be able to cast Netflix from your phone and then leave the room with your phone. IIRC, you're just telling the tv to launch the source of the media via your phone, which in this case is netflix, but cast will find the source online, not from your phone (if that makes sense). Personally, I love the idea of casting content via a tablet or phone. You don't have to worry about apps being updated from the display manufacturer, as the apps are updated through the play store. I just keep the included tablet in my tv room, sometimes I use my phone to cast, sometimes the tablet. Pretty cool.

 

[mdram]

im just the opposite
just something else to lose or break and then be charged an arm and a leg for
i would prefer a roku or similar

 

[ssm0002]

I bought the original fire stick and it wouldn't communicate with my wireless network. I got Amazon to send a replacement after doing the troubleshooting dance. New one acted the same way. Wife won a Roku stick at a company party and it has worked from day one. Just my experience. I use the Amazon Video app and ESPN app on the Roku.