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Nvidia Shield Android TV: 2017 Hardware & Shield Experience 5.1 Review Updated

Overview of the Nvidia Shield Android TV

I published an exhaustive review of the Nvidia Shield when it was released. Later, I updated my review as Nvidia improved the Android TV software and expanded the Shield’s capabilities in 2016. At the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, Nvidia relaunched the Shield TV. This article covers changes that Nvidia made to the Shield TV hardware. It also covers Shield Experience 5.0, software improvements for new and existing Shield TV owners.

The Shield TV continues to be an anomaly: it is by far the most powerful media streamer and a capable gaming platform though not as advanced as the Xbox One or Playstation 4, while costing nearly as much. While Google focuses on stripped down Chromecast devices and Chromecast-enabled TVs, Nvidia singularly showcases the advanced functionality of Android TV including DVR, media serving, gaming, and now smart home capabilities. Though Nvidia is touting the Shield TV and AI home, Google is the AI element and Nvidia is the hardware manufacturer.

The Battle of the Connected Home Ecosystems

The 2017 CES trade show highlighted the connected home ecosystem battle primarily between Amazon and Google. To a lesser extent, Microsoft, Apple, and Comcast also demonstrated their connected home solutions. The technology landscape is quickly shifting from stand-alone apps and games on individual “smart TVs” and “every radio that you can imagine in one home hub” to an AI-powered, voice controlled, cloud based platform that works across audio, video and other connected devices in the home and across mobile devices on the go.

In our household, we are split between Apple and Google ecosystems.

  • Mobile: our mobile phones and tablets are primarily Apple iPhones and iPads.
  • Macs/PCs: we solely use Macs for our desktops and laptops. With iCloud, these work seamlessly with our iPhones and Pads. In particular, we are locked into Apple’s photography tools and iTunes for music.
  • Ambient voice control/AI: we have owned both the Echo and Google Home. Amazon has more skills and connected home partners; Google is better at search and contextual understanding. We use Google Home because it works better with our entertainment devices like the Shield and Chromecast Audio. Unlike Amazon, Google Music mirrors our iTunes music at no additional cost.
  • Video content on TV: the Nvidia Shield TV has the most capabilities and content options, including 4K, HDR, a myriad of codecs, Google Cast, Netflix 4K+HDR, Youtube 4K, HDhomerun DVR, and Photon/Kodi,Amazon Video and Youtube 360. Every large content provider (other than Apple) is available in a single device.
  • Whole-home audio content: Google has a far cheaper whole home audio solution with Chromecast Audio than Sonos. Amazon has the hardware components with Amazon Echo and Echo Dot, but Amazon doesn’t support multi-room audio yet. And Apple’s Airplay has stagnated (Airport Express is now discontinued and Airplay-enabled devices have largely disappeared).

New Hardware

Smaller Case, New Gaming Controller

From the outside, the Shield TV case looks nearly identical to the earlier model. However, it now has a 40% smaller form factor. Inside, the CPU is the same Nvidia Tegra X1 as the previous model Nvidia Shield TV and the forthcoming Nintendo Switch. For existing Shield TV owners, this is a good thing because it means all software for the new console runs on our existing settop boxes. It would have been interesting to see the possibilities of Nvidia’s announced Tegra X2 (“Parker”) chip.

The game controller form factor was also updated. Its killer feature is that you can use the game controller as a hands-free microphone like Amazon Echo or Google Home. To enable this, the new Nvidia controller uses Bluetooth Smart and not WiFi Direct. The controller is much less bulky. It has an odd angular design. I prefer the PS4 and Amazon FireTV game controllers’ smooth industrial design. However, the Shield’s new controller does feel much better in your hands than the previous one. Existing Shield TV owners can buy the new controller for use with their consoles.

The Shield TV $200 price is unchanged but both the game controller and remote (previously sold separately for $50) are now included in the retail package. To sum up, this is a modest refresh apart from the new game controller. Existing Shield TV owners don’t need to upgrade their consoles though they may wish to purchase a new game controller.

Nvidia Spot Microphone Accessory

Like the Apple TV, FireTV, and X1, it was always possible to use the Shield TV’s game controller or remote for push-to-talk voice search of content. In addition to the new game controller, Nvidia is releasing an always-on microphone accessory to the Shield. If Google Home is the competitive response to Amazon Echo, then the Nvidia Spot is more comparable to Amazon’s Echo Dot, minus audio connectivity to your Bluetooth speaker or AVR. The Spot is priced at $50.

Personally, I think that there needs to be a Chromecast Audio replacement that includes the voice control capabilities of the Spot / Dot combined with the multiroom audio output of the Chromecast Audio, with Bluetooth enabled. This should be priced around $35-40.

Updated Software

Android Nougat

As I previously noted, Nvidia should be praised for continually updating the capabilities of the Shield TV through OTA software updates. Previous updates have included Android Marshmallow, more audio and video codecs including VC1, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-MA, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X (pass through), the Vulkan graphics subsystem, and HDR support.

On January 26th, with Shield Experience 5.0.2, Nvidia updated all Shield TV devices to Android 7 (“Nougat”). Key new features include picture-in-picture support, a new recent apps page, a new settings menu, recording APIs with Live Channel integration, and cleaner support for audio passthrough. Nvidia previously forward-ported elements of audio pass through, Vulkan, and HDR.

More 4K Content Including Amazon and YouTube 360

Content providers may have released Apple TV versions of their apps earlier but now there is parity in content. Some of the best entertainment apps for the Shield include YouTube, Netflix, HBO, Showtime, Sling TV, Playstation Vue, Hulu, Plex, CBS All Access, Fox, MLB.tv, NBA Gametime, and Photon/Kodi. For now, the Shield TV has an advantage over both Apple TV and Amazon’s FireTV in terms of 4K and HDR content. These include YouTube 4K, Netflix 4K and HDR, Google Play 4K, Vudu 4K. Moreover, the Shield TV now supports casting of 4K HDR videos.

The Amazon Video app in 4K is the shining star of the newest apps. Other new apps include YouTube 360, NFL, Twitter for TV, and Comedy Central.

Amazon Video on Nvidia Shield TV. Photo credit Nvidia.

Improved Gaming

Thankfully, Nvidia cleaned up the Games rows and apps in Leanback Launcher. Now, there is a new Nvidia Games app. Before, there were three rows in the following order: Nvidia, Games, then Apps. You can view games from the Play Store, Gamestream and GeForce Now in the new Games row as well as the dedicated Games app.

GeForce Now supports Steam Big Picture. GeForce Now also includes new titles from Ubisoft but those will be dependent on both buying the games from Ubisoft and maintaining your GeForce Now subscription. Finally, GeForce GTX owners are able to cast games in 4K HDR from their PC to the Shield TV using GameStream.

Nvidia Games App. Photo credit Nvidia.

Google Assistant & the Connected Home

In 2017, the Nvidia Shield TV will be the first settop box to support Google Assistant, with the new gaming controller and the new Spot peripheral. Unlike the current Google Home, you will be able to carry on a conversation without repeating “Hey, Google”.

The Shield also can function as a home hub via a SmartThings USB adapter. Combined, this will let the Shield TV provide voice control of the connected home. Like Google Home, the Shield TV will provide voice control of Nest thermostats, music, news and podcasts., and Phillips Hue lighting.

Nest Cam on Nvidia Shield TV. Photo credit Nvidia.

USB Storage

The first Shield TV included a micro SD slot that could be used as adopted system storage. I used a 32GB micro SD for this purpose on my original Shields. On the Shield v2, there is no micro SD slot so USB v3 storage is your only option. Nvidia provides a list of certified thumbdrives but these are all full size. I prefer a low profile thumb drive. Fortunately, the SanDisk Ultra Fit 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive works perfectly. It is a simple matter of plugging it in, formatting it, and telling Android that you wish to use it as adopted storage.

 



Updated on March 23rd, 2018