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GeForce Now's RTX 3080 tier is ready to make gamers' eyes bleed across Europe
Plus 9 new games joining the service
US gamers who pre-ordered GeForce Now’s RTX 3080 tier have been enjoying the best Nvidia’s cloud gaming service has to offer since November. Their fellow players in the EU may have been feeling left behind so far, but their day has finally come.
If you have a decent internet connection, the rise of cloud gaming platforms like Google Stadia and GeForce Now have left you with fewer reasons than ever to own dedicated gaming hardware. Not only does it end up being cheaper overall for everyone, but you can also play from anywhere you want, whether it's your old laptop or your brand-new smartphone, and still get the same game quality. Recently Nvidia announced it was bringing a super-high-end RTX 3080 tier to GeForce Now, allowing users willing to pay a premium to get access to the performance of a 3080 on its cloud games. Now Nvidia is slowly rolling out that 3080 tier to some lukcy users.
Nvidia formally announced its purchase of ARM Limited, the designers of the ARM CPU architecture, in September of last year, subject to regulatory approval. Not only has that deal received mixed public reaction, but the events that followed have been less than smooth. Things have been stuck in limbo for over a year due to antitrust concerns in several countries, and based on what people involved in the process are saying, it doesn't look like we're moving forward anytime soon.
Nvidia isn't updating the Shield TV to Android 10 because it's not different enough
But that doesn't mean future updates aren't in the works
For years, if you wanted to get Android running on the biggest screen in your home, the Nvidia Shield TV was your best option. Cheaper devices like last year's Chromecast and Walmart's recent Onn streaming box are finally available on the market, but the Shield has kept some of the exclusive benefits that helped make it a fan favorite. If you've been waiting for an update to Android 10, you'll want to stop holding your breath — though that doesn't mean the Shield's future is uncertain.According to a forum post published by Nvidia last month, the company has chosen to skip Android 10 for its streaming boxes altogether, leaving the lineup stuck on Android 9 for the time being (via 9to5Google). That's not to say development for the Shield has ceased, however. Here's Nvidia's full statement from its forums:
The Nvidia Shield TV is back on sale, in case you missed it the first time around
Take advantage of a rare discount
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Before the launch of last year's Chromecast with Google TV, the Nvidia Shield TV was far and away the best Android-based streaming box you could buy — and arguably, it still is. Nvidia has built a strong, passionate fan base with this gadget, which is probably why it doesn't go on sale all that often. Right now, you can grab the Shield TV at a rare discount from Amazon, Best Buy, or B&H.Although $130 may not sound like a significant discount over the usual MSRP, it's actually within $5 of the all-time low on Amazon. Seriously, this thing never goes on sale, which makes it a perfect time to scoop one up if you're interested. Despite costing more than twice the price of Google's latest Chromecast, it features excellent 4K AI upscaling and a better processor. Nvidia's services like GameStream and GeForce Now make it a bona fide gaming hit once paired with a controller. And with a built-in microSD card slot for storage expansion, you can load it up with as many apps and games as you want.
Nvidia Shield TV is getting a Google TV-like facelift
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Shield TV devices are widely regarded as some of the best Android TV boxes money can buy. Nvidia's historically been great about software support, too, providing updates for years. A new one is landing today: Shield TV is getting a revamped home screen that looks a bit like the Chromecast with Google TV's.
Samsung is about to kill the SmartThings Link for NVIDIA Shield and original SmartThings Hub
Both will be discontinued at the end of June
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Change is an inevitability in life, and unfortunately for those of us who invest in various product ecosystems, change ultimately means having to upgrade. Right now, Samsung is transitioning to a next-gen platform for its SmartThings smart home system. And while newer devices are coming along for the ride, some older components are going to need to be replaced before they stop working. Samsung's been sharing news of this transition with owners of these devices, including the SmartThings Link USB dongle that lets it integrate with the Nvidia Shield, as well as the original SmartThings Hub.Info was first sent to SmartThings Link owners, including our tipster, via email back in March. Without support for SmartThings Link, Samsung's smart home system won't be able to access the Shield, and vice versa. That's bad news for users who've built their home integration around SmartThings, though that's probably a tiny number of people compared to those who've done the same with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit. Shield's integration with Assistant for voice commands and smart home functionality is extensive.[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/jank0/status/1366429511470903299[/EMBED_TWITTER]Users of the SmartThings Link will also lose direct access to Zigbee and Z-Wave devices. Samsung is offering discounts to some users for a new third-gen SmartThings Hub for their trouble, but there's no indication of when (or if) support for the new API system will come to the Shield.When Samsung first announced word of this transition back in 2020, it mentioned that "select legacy hubs" would also be retired in the pursuit of progress. We've since learned that this means that Samsung's first-generation SmartThings Hub will be shut down alongside the Link dongle at the end of June. Like those users, owners of the Hub are being given the opportunity to upgrade to more modern hardware at a discount.
Apple TV is finally available on all Android TV devices
Now you can decide for yourself if Ted Lasso is overhyped (it's not)
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Although Android TV isn't as popular as Roku or Amazon's Fire TV, access to the Play Store makes it one of the best ways to watch your favorite movies and shows. Up until now, it's been missing a major service from its library, but that all changes starting today. Apple TV is now available on Android TV devices, including the Nvidia Shield TV.
Nvidia Shield update introduces April security patch, support for more controllers
Currently rolling out
If you haven't received it already, expect a new update on your Nvidia Shield device in the form of SHIELD Experience 8.2.3. Although it may not be what you're waiting for, it does bring in a few notable developments apart from the regular bug fixes.
New Nvidia partnership could hint at Chromebooks with RTX graphics
Reference designs are being made with MediaTek for laptop manufacturers, including Chromebooks
Nvidia hasn't exactly set the world on fire with its Tegra line of Arm-based mobile processors. Outside of its own excellent SHIELD hardware (and notably the Nintendo Switch), it's basically dead. But the company is hoping to breathe new life into its Arm ambitions by doubling down on what it does best: graphics. In a press release, Nvidia announced that it's working with major chip supplier MediaTek to combine Arm-based architecture with its RTX line of graphics cards.
Get ready to enjoy Hulu on Android TV at the resolution you assumed you were already
First signs seen on 2019 Nvidia Shield boxes
Hulu streams 4K content to Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast Ultra owners, but it has never raised the resolution cap beyond 720p for most with Android TV. Some reports, however, indicate that things may be taking a step up for the forlorn platform.
Nvidia GeForce Now's premium tier gets a price bump
Existing Founders subscribers can keep the old $5 plan, free option still available
GeForce Now is an intriguing option in the streaming game marketplace, appealing to those who've already built up a huge library of PC games. A year after the service exited beta, Nvidia says it's increasing the price for the Priority membership (previously called "Founders") from $5 to $10 a month. A $100 a year option is also available—both choices are exactly twice as expensive as before.
GeForce Now officially available for Chrome browser on Windows and Mac
No need for workarounds anymore
Not too long ago, Nvidia brought GeForce Now to Chromebooks by making the streaming service available right in the Chrome browser. Unfortunately, the company limited availability to the Google OS, and to be able to play right in Chrome on other platforms you had to go through a tedious workaround. But that's a thing of the past: Nvidia just made GeForce Now support official for Chrome on Windows and macOS.
GeForce NOW is expanding to new territories in 2021
Coming to Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey thanks to GeForce NOW Alliance
Nvidia has just revealed that its game streaming service GeForce NOW will expand to Australia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia later this year. This expansion is possible thanks to the GeForce NOW Alliance, a partnership with telecommunication providers utilizing optimized Nvidia RTX servers placed on the edge for the purpose of low-latency game streaming.
Nvidia Shield TV can now use PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S controllers
The system update also includes security fixes and Control4 home automation support
The Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 started arriving on store shelves a few months ago, but both consoles have been incredibly difficult to find. If you've been lucky enough to score one, or you just have the controllers, here's some extra good news — you can now use your shiny new controller with Nvidia's Android TV boxes.
Pick up Nvidia's 4K Shield TV Pro for just $180 from Amazon ($20 off)
One of the best Android TV experiences around
Your TV is only as good as the streaming dongle attached or built into it. NVIDIA's Shield TV Pro is a great way to upgrade your current setup. It comes with plenty of essential features like Chromecast support and Assistant integration, as well as premium extras such as 4K AI Upscaling and Dolby Vision. Normally retailing for $199.99, Amazon currently has the streaming device on sale for $179.99 — a cool $20 discount.The Shield TV Pro delivers on the streaming standards with access to 4K HDR content from thousands of games and apps via the Play Store. It can run almost anything you can throw at it thanks to Nvidia's Tegra X1+ chip coupled with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. The included voice remote has backlit buttons, an IR blaster, and a built-in remote control locator that ensures it'll never get lost.
Nvidia updates the Shield TV with AI upscaling fixes, stability improvements, and more
The best Android TV box gets even better
Google TV may be the hot new thing, but Nvidia's Shield TV is still one of the most popular Android TV devices out there. We called it the best Android TV box at the time of release, and it's getting even better thanks to a new update rolling out now.
Chrome OS might not be the best operating system for hardcore gamers, but most Chromebooks are powerful enough to play some popular games — especially when you add cloud game streaming like GeForce NOW to the mix. Nvidia launched the service in beta earlier this year, and now Chromebook users can get three months for free — with a small catch.
The best smart home devices you can buy right now (Fall 2020)
From voice assistant speakers to robot vacuums, and everything in between
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Millions of homes now contain a smart assistant speaker of some variety and sales of IoT products continue to grow as the market matures and prices come down across the sector. With so many options available, it's hard to know what to buy, and that's where we come in — this is a selection of our favorite smart home gadgets. Whether you want to just dip your toes in the water with a cheap Google Nest Mini or dive into the deep end with smart lights, cameras, thermostats, doorbells, and so on — we’ve got you covered.
Nvidia Shield TV Pro gets AI upscaling to improve GeForce Now and GameStream graphics (APK Download)
Also, Steam games can be synced to GeForce Now as they are available
We live in a great age for video games where a lot of new stuff's pretty good and all the greats of yore are being remastered for our shiny 4K TVs. But say you're taking advantage of cloud-streamed games and you're really looking for that extra punch of detail? Perhaps it's best to own last year's Nvidia Shield TV Pro — the complementary Nvidia Games app has been updated to enable AI upscaling on the company's GeForce Now and GameStream platforms.