Nvidia Shield Tv is the Exception to the Disposable Technology Rule

Nvidia shield tv, shorter release cycles have never been more common in the history of technology. Affordability and incredible bonuses entice us to stay on the cutting edge of smartphone technology. Each year, Amazon updates its TV dongles with minor performance upgrades. With no content to support their claims, television companies encourage users to upgrade their devices. There are exceptions to this rule, however. Seven years ago, I purchased a purpose-built device that was both ridiculously overpowered for the task at hand and incredibly well-tuned to do one thing. And it’s still going strong as of this writing. The Nvidia Shield TV is what I’m referring to here.

Nvidia shield tv

Nvidia shield tv

As a replacement for my Chromecast, I purchased the original Nvidia Shield TV on a blustery New York morning in 2015. For the past five years, it has been the focal point of my media consumption. I’ve used it to stream Netflix, run some of the best retro gaming emulators, and even as a server for Plex. In spite of its futuristic appearance, the device was able to keep up with whatever I threw its way.

Dongles

One of a select few tech products, the Shield TV, has confirmed my long-held belief that it is sometimes worthwhile to aim high and spend money on a high-end item. In comparison to other TV dongles, this one was and remains prohibitively expensive at $200. On the other hand, you’ll get a product that’s still being supported seven years after you buy it. That’s a first for any Android-powered device. Over time, Nvidia can take advantage of economies of scale and avoid problems like hardware obsolescence by creating a product that is both future-proof and admittedly overpowered. There aren’t nearly enough examples of this in the world.

Existing customers

This should not be evicted in order to accommodate new ones. As if Nvidia’s hardware hasn’t improved over time. Smaller form factor updates came in 2017 and 2019; AI-based upscaling provided a minor performance boost. This does not imply that the original has been relegated to the dustbin of history, however. As a result of starting with a solid foundation, Nvidia has been able to keep all of its models up to date at all times.

Nvidia shield tv

Dolby Vision

Since my original Shield TV didn’t support Dolby Vision content and the Shield isn’t sold in India, I switched to a Fire Stick 4K a few years ago. That stick, on the other hand, is already feeling sluggish and halting. Shield TV, on the other hand, continues to be lightning fast when it comes to downloading the most recent updates. Security patches alone do not account for this. While Google’s Chromecast with Google TV runs Android 10, the 2015 Nvidia Shield runs Android 11-based TV OS. The Android 5.1 operating system came pre-installed on my Nvidia Shield TV when I purchased it.

Conclusion:

The Shield’s customer base is a testament to Nvidia’s support cycle for the product, as they are both loyal and vociferous. And it’s for a good cause. As a consumer, I’d gladly pay a premium for a product that treats its customers fairly and provides value rather than shortchanging them on software updates. Contrast this with the smartphone industry, which is still grappling with the idea of long-term software support. There is a significant improvement in the situation, but even that isn’t enough in a world where smartphones are constantly being upgraded with new features. The original Nvidia Shield can’t compete with a modern mid-range device, but seven years of support is a pipe dream.

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Nvidia shield tv

FAQs:

Q1: Is there going to be a NVIDIA’s Shield TV?

To get the most out of your 4K TV, an NVIDIA Shield TV is a must. It’s pricey, but thanks to AI upscaling technology, it provides the best 4K streaming experience. If you’re an enthusiast or nerd, the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is the way to go.

Q2: What is NVIDIA Shield TV?

Upscale HD video to 4K using artificial intelligence and the latest NVIDIA Tegra X1+ processor. Improved video quality with real-time upscaling to 4K resolution.

Q3: Is the Nvidia Shield no longer available?

NVIDIA Shield TV is still available. In 2019, NVIDIA released a new Shield TV model, phasing out the older models from 2015 and 2017, and effectively discontinuing them.

Q4: Is the NVIDIA SHIELD a superior streaming media player to the Roku?

Shield is faster and more customizable, but in many cases it does exactly the same thing as the default app. Because Plex on Roku fails to display a properly scaled version of my full-screen video, I must use Plex on Shield instead.

Q5: Is NVIDIA SHIELD superior to Apple TV?

It is true that Apple’s upcoming TV 4K (2021) supports upscaling of 1080p content, but NVIDIA uses a proprietary method that has proven to be quite impressive. The price difference between the Shield TV Pro and the Apple TV 4K is the final factor to consider.

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