vidyesh3d ago

Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/

Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

Walmart wants to connect what people stream "directly with retail interaction."

Ars Technica
Show threadSoftTalker2d ago

Just use an AppleTV, Roku, etc. and connect it to the HDMI port.

TV is just a screen. That is how I've used mine for the last 5+ years.

Show threadc4202d ago

Saw this elsewhere:

"It will not let you do anything until you download the app on your phone, make an account, and log in on the TV. You cant just change it to HDMI 1 and use a Firestick. I set it up with a throw away email, then deleted the app, and took the TV off of the WiFi."

Show threadSoftTalker
Well that sucks, but maybe tolerable for a cheap TV if you only have to do it once.
Mar 26 at 4:32pmWeb
Show threadsdoering2d ago

Do they tell you this up front? When you buy it? I once returned a small bluetooth speaker, because it would not just let me connect to it. It wanted me to download an app, create an account, sign in and then accept a metric ton of crap about how they would collect all kinds of data about (in this case my mom's consumption of content that would be streamed to the speaker).

It was a damn portable bluetooth speaker. Well it was returned within an hour and the competitor was bought online.

At least, the store accepted it - I would have instantly send this as a case to the consumer protection agency, if they hadn't, though. Because they never even hinted (neither on the packaging, nor in the store) towards the necessity of the app and crap.