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Nvidia is giving up on GameStream to the dismay of Shield TV owners
Well, at least some Shield TV owners aren't happy
There are way too many ways to play video games these days. It's a shame about being able to play them however you'd like, though, especially when you're dealing with different hardware platforms tied to different screens. There are ways to fill those gap, though; one of them being Nvidia's Shield TV, which lets users stream PC games to their living room sets. The company has announced, however, that it is bowing out of providing that crucial connection next year.
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.
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.
Update your Shield's Plex Media Server app through the Play Store to get it working again
A lot of users seem confused after the latest version didn't automatically install
One of the NVIDIA SHIELD's most impressive capabilities is running a Plex media server, something that isn't usually possible on a streaming set-top box. But some users have had issues with it for the last couple of months, complaining that a lack of updates has broken their home-built video streaming server. There's a straightforward solution: update the Plex server app on the Play Store, since the server won't update itself automatically.
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.
How to sideload any application on the Nvidia Shield
No matter which Shield you have, they all support sideloading
Nearly every device that ships with the Android TV operating system has access to millions of applications through the Google Play Store. However, there are some situations where you might want to sideload your own applications (APKs). Maybe you want the latest app updates quicker than the Play Store rolls them out, or you want to try an application that isn't officially available for your specific device.
Nest Hub and other Smart Displays get improved smart home controls for Hue, Shield, smart locks, vacuums, and blinds
Becoming a more powerful smart home command center
Google's Nest Hubs and third-party Assistant Smart Displays have been receiving an update that vastly improves their smart home controls. Among the changes we spotted are live light status and scenes for Philips Hue and Lifx, new Shield controls, the ability to unlock your smart lock, plus controls for blinds, air fresheners, and vacuums. Other product categories may be updated too, but we don't have everything on hand to test with.
Google Assistant adds native support for TVs, set-top boxes, and media remotes
Many have already implemented it, but it's now available for all device makers
Google Assistant already supports more than 60 device types, from smart lights and thermostats to more eccentric ones like dehydrators, pergolas, or fireplaces. Now it's officially adding three new ones: TVs, media remotes, and set-top boxes.
The brand new 2019 Shield TV and Shield TV Pro are now available and awaiting all of those people that have been patiently waiting for a true refresh. Thankfully, the remote has gone through some substantial improvements, including the addition of several new buttons. While most of them contribute to navigation and playback, there is that one Netflix button that's not for everyone. If you count yourself as a non-Netflixer, or even just want to use the button for something even more useful, it's actually very easy to remap.
To nobody's surprise, Nvidia's extensively-leaked new Shield lineup is now official. There are two devices: the tube-shaped "dongle" simply called the Shield TV and a higher-end model that more closely resembles prior models named the Shield TV Pro. Both are available now from Nvidia.
Nvidia is gearing up to launch two brand new Shield TV products, and in preparation, the company has now revamped its remote control phone app. If you have a Shield TV, you'll find a lot more here than what the standard Android TV Remote Control app provides.
Last month, a new version of the Nvidia Shield TV was spotted in the Play Console device catalog. Aside from running Android 9 Pie straight out of the box, the new revision — codenamed "mdarcy" to the previous iteration's "darcy" — didn't seem drastically different. What seems to be that refreshed version passed the FCC's certification process today.
A new variant of the Nvidia Shield has popped up on the Google Play Developer console. The new hardware goes by the hardware codename "mdarcy," in contrast to the current model's "darcy," and it will run Android 9 Pie.
Nvidia news and rumors are always exciting, even here in the Android space. The company best known for its graphics cards earned a lot of positive vibes in our neck of the woods with the Shield (Portable), Shield Tablets, and of course, the Shield TV. Because of this good reputation, whenever news about a new Shield product emerge, people (read: me) get excited. XDA found in some digging that Nvidia could possibly be working on a 2-in-1 tablet.
With every update, small or big, Nvidia's Shield TV gets better and better. Three years on, it's still easily the best standalone Android TV box you can buy. Today's update to Shield Software Experience 7.2.3 isn't a major one by any means, but it brings a feature I've wanted since the start: the option to restart WiFi and re-scan for networks.
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android TV apps and games that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the the last ten months. It's been a while since our last ATV roundup, but ATV titles are still trickling out in enough numbers that we finally have some competent apps and games to throw together for a roundup of the more intriguing releases. In particular, there is finally an Amazon music app for the Nvidia Shield, plus there are plenty of new video streaming services from the likes on AMC and A&E. So without further ado, here are the most notable apps and games released for Android TV in the last ten months.
Following its failed venture in video streaming with the ill-fated Go90 service, Verizon is moving on to new streaming pastures. According to The Verge, the telecom giant is currently testing a cloud gaming service called Verizon Gaming with a small group of Nvidia Shield users.
The device we currently know as the "NVIDIA SHIELD" is not the first one to carry the name. That honor goes to the handheld device launched in 2013, later renamed SHIELD Portable. After that came the SHIELD Tablet, and finally the SHIELD Android TV in 2015. It was not the only way to get Android TV, but NVIDIA's box is the only one that had any staying power. Three years on, this device has gotten 20 updates across three major Android versions. I can't think of another Android device that offers so much value after more than three years of use. That's why we're taking another look at the SHIELD—it's changed quite a lot.NVIDIA has added integrations with services like Plex and SmartThings, and there's the ever-evolving GeForce Now streaming service. While NVIDIA has launched a revamped, smaller SHIELD, the original hardware gets all the same updates and features. The Android TV implementation looks and works much differently than it did in 2015, not always for the best, though. If you want a powerful Android TV box, there's simply no other choice. For all intents and purposes, the SHIELD is Android TV, but that's not all it is.Note: For this re-review, I have been using the revamped 2017 model. However, most of this is equally true of the original 2015 version.