Owners of NVIDIA’s popular 2015-version Shield TV media adapter box can now download a software upgrade (version 5.0) bringing them a number of current and coming features.
NVIDIA announced during the recent CES 2017 that it had plans to continue supporting Shield TV media adapters, including legacy devices, with new features and functionality.
The update for the circa 2015 Shield TV device upgrades the operating system to the latest Android 7.0 Nougat, and brings what NVIDIA called “major improvements in three key areas:”
Read more on the NVIDIA Shield TV updates after the jump:
One of those updates delivers high-performance 4K HDR streaming, with what NVIDIA is calling “three times the performance of any other streamer on the market.”
Despite the use of Google’s Android OS, the NVIDIA Shield also offers support for Amazon Video in 4K HDR, in addition to a large catalog of apps including: Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Movies and VUDU.
Where NVIDIA Shield TV excels is in online gaming, where it supports “the widest range of gaming capabilities and richest assortment of game content,” according to NVIDIA.
Another enhancement was to GeForce NOW, which has been upgraded with Pascal performance and will soon add Ubisoft’s catalog of hits, including Watch Dogs 2, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, For Honor and others. Upcoming native game releases include: Tomb Raider and Shadowgun Legends; with The Witness having launched recently.
NVIDIA said it is also improving the Games App with better discoverability and access to Shield games, such as Steam Big Picture.
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Advertised as “coming soon,” is artificial intelligence (AI) through support of Google Assistant, optimized for TV with “100 percent hands-free” operation with the new Shield controller.
Shield will also soon be adding SmartThings Hub technology integration that will instantly turn Shield into a smart home hub to connect to hundreds of smart home devices, NVIDIA said.
Meanwhile, “NVIDIA Spot,” which is an AI mic accessory, will be available later this year to make Shield “the central backbone of the AI home, extending intelligent control throughout the house,” the company said.
By Greg Tarr
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