vizio co-star - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

cafebrad · 2012-07-27, 10:58 PM

pre-orders just began and it looks petty sweet. Might need more apps but its a cool device. I wonder how the pass thru will work for cable. I have a gateway that i kinda loathe partly because of the remote response and maybe this would improve the overall experience.

North_of_Calgary · 2012-07-28, 11:54 AM

Seems to still be US only from what I can tell from their checkout page.

TorontoColin · 2012-07-28, 12:27 PM

I'd love to get one just to try out Google TV for $100. At $200, the Sony box is just too expensive for something I might never use. Hopefully Vizio starts shipping them up here.

North_of_Calgary · 2012-07-28, 04:18 PM

I'm in the same boat. I don't need it, it was just be something to play with. The $199 is a bit too much - even if they dropped the Sony to $130 I'd bite. Or maybe I'll pick up the Vizio when I'm in the U.S. - still deciding......

cafebrad · 2012-08-01, 11:23 PM

i have a question regarding this box sort of. If i run my cable service into it from a hd box
(no pvr) might there be a way to add a pvr somewhere else maybe out of the vizio or maybe a hard drive controlled by the vizio and an app so i can record content all using the sweet new remote.
I know details on the co-star are scarce right now but maybe one of you htpc geniouses knows or am i making to complicated?

classicsat · 2012-08-02, 09:33 AM

Okay Vizio Co-Star is just Google TV (or a variant of it). It connects with HDMI from the cable box, HDMI to the TV. With that there is zero chance Google and Vizio being very legitimate companies that want content partners to stay on their side, will create a product to record the HDCP protected HDMI from a provider box.

jschall · 2012-08-24, 07:04 AM

You may want to hold onto your $99. The first reviews I have seen aren't encouraging:

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_b...aming-box.html

http://www.geeknewscentral.com/2012/...o-star-review/

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/podcast/...-google-tv.php

JohnnyG · 2012-09-10, 07:57 PM

Tried to order one of these with my MyUS address/service but it won't take a Canadian address for billing and I get a "fraud" error when I try to process using the US address, presumably since it doesn't match the address for my credit card. Could use the MyUS Personal Shopper service but when all is said and done, this would likely end up costing as much as the Sony. Ah well...wait, I guess.

JohnnyG · 2012-10-16, 05:39 PM

Got mine yesterday

Can now be ordered from Amazon so get a MyUS address (or equiv) and have it shipped there. Cost me $35 to ship from MyUS, and $25 in duties/taxes, so not exactly cheap but still less than the Sony.

So far, I like it.

cohoho · 2012-11-13, 06:29 PM

JohnnyG - now that you've had it for a few weeks, how about a review?

JohnnyG · 2012-11-30, 08:37 AM

I'll try to find the time to write up something meaningful. Overall, it's not without it's quirks which prevent it from being a real mainstream device, but they appear largely to be software issues which should work their way out in time. I still find it very useful. Things like "who's that actor...I know I've seen him before"...press a button, bring up IMDB, search the show you're watching now, find the actor, click his history..."oh yeah!"....return to show. So quick and easy. Also watching Battlestar Galactica series on Netflix US via unblock-us.com. Great HD picture and glitch free.

jschall · 2013-02-11, 03:29 PM

Any update on how the Vizio Co-Star performs in Canada?

It has just been upgraded to Version 3 of the Google TV firmware, which is supposed to improve the user experience.

So, JohnnyG or other Co-Star owner, are you pleased with your purchase?

Oh, and I wonder:

1) Why won't amazon.com ship one to Canada for $100?
2) Why does amazon.ca charge $196?

TorontoColin · 2013-02-11, 06:39 PM

The reason Amazon won't ship it to Canada is probably tied to certifications and licensing. I'd assume it's the same reason they won't ship Chromebooks here.

Amazon.ca doesn't sell it at all. A reseller is selling it through Amazon.ca, and they can charge whatever they like.

North_of_Calgary · 2013-02-11, 08:30 PM

If you're not happy with the difficulty of obtaining the Co-star here, you can get the Netgear NeoPrime for newegg for $129 (strike that - see it's already marked as "discontinued") or the Sony GS7 seems to be down to $179 at some retailers.

2012-07-27, 10:58 PM	#1
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 93	vizio co-star pre-orders just began and it looks petty sweet. Might need more apps but its a cool device. I wonder how the pass thru will work for cable. I have a gateway that i kinda loathe partly because of the remote response and maybe this would improve the overall experience.

2012-07-28, 12:27 PM	#3
TorontoColin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Wind Mobile, Rogers Cable, Teksavvy Extreme Cable Posts: 3,229	I'd love to get one just to try out Google TV for $100. At $200, the Sony box is just too expensive for something I might never use. Hopefully Vizio starts shipping them up here. __________________ Rules of the Forum \| DHC Help Desk DHC now supports Tapatalk for mobile devices!

2013-02-11, 06:39 PM	#13
TorontoColin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Wind Mobile, Rogers Cable, Teksavvy Extreme Cable Posts: 3,229	The reason Amazon won't ship it to Canada is probably tied to certifications and licensing. I'd assume it's the same reason they won't ship Chromebooks here. Amazon.ca doesn't sell it at all. A reseller is selling it through Amazon.ca, and they can charge whatever they like. __________________ Rules of the Forum \| DHC Help Desk DHC now supports Tapatalk for mobile devices!

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2012-07-28, 11:54 AM	#2
North_of_Calgary Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Calgary Area Posts: 2,074	Seems to still be US only from what I can tell from their checkout page.

2012-07-28, 04:18 PM	#4
North_of_Calgary Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Calgary Area Posts: 2,074	I'm in the same boat. I don't need it, it was just be something to play with. The $199 is a bit too much - even if they dropped the Sony to $130 I'd bite. Or maybe I'll pick up the Vizio when I'm in the U.S. - still deciding......

2012-08-01, 11:23 PM	#5
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 93	i have a question regarding this box sort of. If i run my cable service into it from a hd box (no pvr) might there be a way to add a pvr somewhere else maybe out of the vizio or maybe a hard drive controlled by the vizio and an app so i can record content all using the sweet new remote. I know details on the co-star are scarce right now but maybe one of you htpc geniouses knows or am i making to complicated?

2012-08-02, 09:33 AM	#6
classicsat Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kincardine ON. Posts: 3,941	Okay Vizio Co-Star is just Google TV (or a variant of it). It connects with HDMI from the cable box, HDMI to the TV. With that there is zero chance Google and Vizio being very legitimate companies that want content partners to stay on their side, will create a product to record the HDCP protected HDMI from a provider box.

2012-08-24, 07:04 AM	#7
jschall Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec Posts: 135	You may want to hold onto your $99. The first reviews I have seen aren't encouraging: http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_b...aming-box.html http://www.geeknewscentral.com/2012/...o-star-review/ http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/podcast/...-google-tv.php

2012-09-10, 07:57 PM	#8
JohnnyG Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North York, Ontario Posts: 10,405	Tried to order one of these with my MyUS address/service but it won't take a Canadian address for billing and I get a "fraud" error when I try to process using the US address, presumably since it doesn't match the address for my credit card. Could use the MyUS Personal Shopper service but when all is said and done, this would likely end up costing as much as the Sony. Ah well...wait, I guess.

2012-10-16, 05:39 PM	#9
JohnnyG Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North York, Ontario Posts: 10,405	Got mine yesterday Can now be ordered from Amazon so get a MyUS address (or equiv) and have it shipped there. Cost me $35 to ship from MyUS, and $25 in duties/taxes, so not exactly cheap but still less than the Sony. So far, I like it.

2012-11-13, 06:29 PM	#10
cohoho Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 74	JohnnyG - now that you've had it for a few weeks, how about a review?

2012-11-30, 08:37 AM	#11
JohnnyG Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North York, Ontario Posts: 10,405	I'll try to find the time to write up something meaningful. Overall, it's not without it's quirks which prevent it from being a real mainstream device, but they appear largely to be software issues which should work their way out in time. I still find it very useful. Things like "who's that actor...I know I've seen him before"...press a button, bring up IMDB, search the show you're watching now, find the actor, click his history..."oh yeah!"....return to show. So quick and easy. Also watching Battlestar Galactica series on Netflix US via unblock-us.com. Great HD picture and glitch free.

2013-02-11, 03:29 PM	#12
jschall Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec Posts: 135	Any update on how the Vizio Co-Star performs in Canada? It has just been upgraded to Version 3 of the Google TV firmware, which is supposed to improve the user experience. So, JohnnyG or other Co-Star owner, are you pleased with your purchase? Oh, and I wonder: 1) Why won't amazon.com ship one to Canada for $100? 2) Why does amazon.ca charge $196?

2013-02-11, 08:30 PM	#14
North_of_Calgary Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Calgary Area Posts: 2,074	If you're not happy with the difficulty of obtaining the Co-star here, you can get the Netgear NeoPrime for newegg for $129 (strike that - see it's already marked as "discontinued") or the Sony GS7 seems to be down to $179 at some retailers.