Andro App Stores: Review: Android console Nvidia Shield falls between two stools

Google has demonstrated with Chromecast that there is a need for ways to make “dumb” smart TVs. HDMI dongeltje of 39 euros selling well and offers an easy way to send videos to TV

Nvidia is going to shield a step further. The set-top box running on Android TV, the operating system by Google was designed to be included on televisions. Include Sony and Philips provide their new TV’s standard of this system

Android TV offers more features than the Chromecast, but the shield is therefore a much higher price tag. 199. For that you get a version with 16 GB of storage and a controller for gaming

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Video Stream

If smart operating system for TV’s the Shield generally works well. Android TV is not perfect yet, but makes it very easy and fast, for example, to launch a Netflix series. The app Plex, which makes it possible to stream video from other devices on your network, it works great.

Unfortunately, the range of applications is still somewhat disappointing. to send videos to a Chromecast most internationally known apps are now available, but Dutch video apps as NPO or RTL XL have no app for Android TV.

Fortunately, it is usually possible at these sites . That functionality is also present in the Shield and works well. But who are going to use Shield especially if Chromecast can better save 160 euros and purchase the Google dongle.

The Shield appears to have here and there still suffering from teething. In a test period of two weeks, it came several times before completely disappearing the wifi connection of the shield, while other devices are just working on the same network. Only restarting the Shield solved this problem

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Games

Gamers the core target group of Nvidia, a company best known for its graphics cards. The major addition to Android TV is also stream their own game store and game streaming service GeForce Now.

For a tenner a month, it is possible through this service for unlimited catalog of several dozen games. Games do not need to be downloaded, but won while playing, so they start up quickly.

The service is technologically very impressive. Graphic heavy games will be streamed smoothly and waiting times are reduced. But the catalog is still quite small and consists mainly of older games. Therefore GeForce Now few people will be worth ten euros per month.

The controller Nvidia flour evert is also nothing to write home about. He is not uncomfortable to hold, but he does ergonomically or under for Xbox and Playstation controllers. He is quite large and heavy, which is inconvenient if you use it as a remote control for TV functions.

Remote

Nvidia does offer a beautiful remote control for the Shield, which unfortunately release must be purchased for 49 euros. The design of this remote control is excellent: he is just big and heavy enough to use fine, without unnecessary buttons. Only the volume control via a type of touchpad at the bottom, could have been more precise

Both the controller and the remote control might make the best feature of the Shield:. You can get headphones stabbing to sound of the television therethrough to play. This works while gaming, but also when watching movies or other videos.

Because the headphones into the remote is picked, you can still walk through the house without being limited by the length of the cable. In fact, the function of each headset a great wireless headset.

Conclusion

Nvidia seems to see the Shield and its game streaming service GeForce Now as a long-term project. During the announcement of the device a spokesman at NU.nl said that “it took a long time to make the GeForce graphics cards popular, and it will again take long to make popular Shield”.

According to the employee Nvidia wants this year to add a game title on the day of its release on GeForce Now. If Nvidia can do more in the future, and if the app offer is extended on Android TV, the Shield is a really impressive device.

Now the Shield not interesting enough for its main target : gamers. For all others, the set-top box too expensive.

However, the Shield does offer an interesting glimpse into the future, as our TVs are smarter and we play games via a streaming subscription. If we actually arrive in the future, Nvidia already has a spot on the first row

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