Vizio has announced the new VF551XVT, a 55" LCD HDTV incorporating Vizio's TruLED with Smart Dimming—the company's name for LED backlighting with local dimming. The set also includes Vizio's 240Hz SPS (Scenes per Second) technology. At $2200 (September 2009) it will be the least expensive local dimming set on the market that we know of—at least until November, when Vizio plans to release a 47" version ($1700, SV472XVT). The latter adds a wireless or wired Internet Apps "VIA" feature, which will offer access to content from selected Vizio Internet partners.

In December the 55" version will add the "VIA" technology as well and morph into the VF552XVT, also at $2200. The transition involves hardware changes, so a VF551XVT purchased between September and December, which does not offer these Internet features, will not be upgradeable.