The new second generation Nvidia Shield is coming out later in January, and Cord Cutters News got to go hands-on with it last week at CES.
So here is our first look at the Nvidia Shield…
The New Game Controller & Remote
Nvidia has completely redone the game controller and remote from the ground up. The new remote now comes bundled in with the $199 edition of the Nvidia Shield. No longer will you have to pay $50 to add the remote to your Nvidia Shield. The best part is the new remote battery will last a year before you need to recharge it.
The big change is the new game controller, which is a step up in every way over the older version. The buttons have a smoother feel and are more responsive. The joysticks and dpad are new and just feel better. The controller is smaller and feels better in your hand over the older game controller.
However, we have yet to even get to the best parts. The new game controller boasts 60 hours of game play between recharging and an always-on voice control. (If you turn on the always-on voice control.) This means you can use Google’s voice assistant to do everything from launching Netflix to turning on your lights or changing the temperature on your nest thermostat.
Amazon Video
The main reason the first generation Nvidia Shield was not one of my most recommended streaming players was the lack of Amazon Video support. Amazon Video is the number 2 subscription service in the United States and rents more movies than Redbox, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu.
Starting later this month Nvidia Shield will have its own Amazon Video app. The app looks similar to the new Roku Amazon Video app. This marks the first time an Android TV player will have an official Amazon Video app helping it stand out from other Android TV players.
AI in the Home
In the coming months, SHIELD TV will be expanded with a series of AI capabilities that transform home entertainment:
- First hands-free Google assistant integration on TV. Google has optimized the assistant experience on TV by having the home’s largest screen show visual answers in addition to an audio reply. Use voice commands to replace clicking a remote for finding content, pausing, fast-forwarding, or rewinding. Plus, your Google assistant can better help find content and answer questions.
- SmartThings Hub technology integration, instantly turns the Nvidia Shield into a smart home hub that can connect to hundreds of smart home devices.
- NVIDIA SPOT™, an AI mic accessory that makes the Nvidia Shield the central backbone of the AI home, extending intelligent control throughout the house.
4K HDR Support
The new Shield delivers the richest visual experience with support for 4K HDR and three times the performance of any other streaming player on the market. With the addition of Amazon Video in 4K HDR, the Nvidia Shield offers the largest, most open catalog of media in stunning 4K—also supporting Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Movies, and VUDU.
YouTube’s flagship TV app will also be available for the Nvidia Shield soon, delivering immersive, 360-degree viewing experiences.
Now the Best Part
If you own a first generation Nvidia Shield you will have access to all of this. Amazon Video, HDR, AI in Home, and more will all come to current Nvidia Shield owners via an update later in January.
My Final Thoughts
The new updates to the Nvidia Shield make it a streaming player I recommend for cord cutters. The best part is if you already have a Nvidia Shield you can just buy the new game controller for all the features the second generation Nvidia Shield has to offer.
If you passed over the Nvidia Shield in the past it is time to give the Nvidia Shield a second look.
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