How to Check Upload Pending on Nvidia Shield 4k
Our Verdict
The Nvidia Shield is a powerful fix-top box with 4K streaming and fluid gameplay, only this expensive Android TV device needs more apps.
For
- Gorgeous picture quality
- Great interface and vocalism search
- Easy to play your own video content
Against
- Game-streaming's pick needs work
- Pocket-size choice of video apps
- Expensive
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Nvidia Shield is a powerful ready-top box with 4K streaming and fluid gameplay, but this expensive Android TV device needs more apps.
Pros
- +
Gorgeous picture quality
- +
Great interface and vocalisation search
- +
Easy to play your own video content
Cons
- -
Game-streaming's selection needs work
- -
Small choice of video apps
- -
Expensive
If yous've bought a smart Television set or gaming panel inside the last few years, a streaming device like a Roku or an Amazon Fire TV is a tough sell, since you lot already have another device that fills the same part. The Nvidia Shield ($200-$300, based on features) tries to stake its claim to the living room by combining a streaming box with a gaming panel, which combine in a format that'south evolved into one of the best streaming devices.
The Tegra X1 processor within this Android Boob tube device makes it the fastest streaming box on the planet, enabling 4K Netflix and YouTube streaming and high-quality graphics. You likewise get accurate voice search and a slick interface. Still, we'd expect more apps and a more complete gaming experience for the high price.
Design: Slick, with Plentiful Ports
The Shield is a rather attractive gadget, and feels surprisingly sturdy, to kicking. The rectangular device is covered in triangular motifs, some of which light up green once the device starts up. The rest of it is black, gray and asymmetrical, like a modern art piece that tin can also play Borderlands. This is one streaming box you probably won't want to hide behind your TV — although you shouldn't, anyhow, since it'south useful to access the ports in the dorsum.
Compared to something similar the Google Nexus Player (run across review), which offers almost no ports, the Shield is a refreshing alter. In improver to HDMI, you get two USB ports (which you can use for more than only charging controllers), a microUSB port, a microSD card slot and an Ethernet port. In an era where streaming boxes and mobile devices alike are cut dorsum on how they let users connect, the Shield's preponderance of ports represents a welcome respite.
A xvi GB version of the Shield will run you $200, while a 500 GB model raises the price to $300, and both come with a capable controller (more on that later).
More than: Best Streaming Players: Chromecast, Roku, Apple Television set & More
Setup: Easy, Upwards to a Point
Android Television set is a straightforward operating system. Equally such, all y'all'll need to go the Shield upwardly and running — on a basic level — is a Google business relationship. Simply choose your linguistic communication, enter your Wi-Fi countersign (or connect via Ethernet), log in to your account, and you're ready to go. The Shield will automatically update software and apps, so initial setup is both quick and relatively foolproof.
Where things get a petty more complicated is signing into apps yous've downloaded beyond the basic Google suite. The Shield is a gaming arrangement as well as a streaming box, and Nvidia currently offers three main ways of playing games: buying through the Google Play store, streaming through GeForce Now or downloading them from Shield Games.
I'll explain exactly how GeForce Now works later, but in terms of setup, you lot'll need a separate account for information technology. Information technology's not difficult or fourth dimension-consuming to become an Nvidia business relationship, simply information technology is one more thing to take care of and manage when y'all probably just want to sit down and sentry some videos or play some games.
Interface: One of the Best
Since the Google Nexus Histrion came out, Android Television receiver has non changed very much. This is fine, because Android Tv is one of the cleanest and most navigable streaming device interfaces on the market place. Getting where you need to go on the Shield is admirably uncomplicated, and compromised only somewhat by the fact that you can't pin your ain content or preferred apps to the primary menu screen.
The Shield displays recommended content right upwards top from both Hulu Plus and YouTube, based on your browsing history, recently watched programs and Android TV'southward personalization algorithms. After a few days, the Shield knew my tastes pretty well, offering me a steady stream of blithe sitcoms, Star Trek marginalia and Baroque music.
Beyond that, you lot tin roll downward to find the entertainment apps you've downloaded, in add-on to separate links for the Play Store'southward Movies & Television receiver, Music, and Games storefronts. Being able to put your favorite apps front and center, like on the standard Android Os, would have been nice, just Android Boob tube is still a reasonable way to get around.
The Shield also deserves props for its excellent vox search, which you can use with either the included game controller or the optional remote control. Unlike the Roku and Amazon Burn Idiot box voice searches, which can exist clunky and imprecise, the Android Idiot box vocalization search is incredibly accurate and parsed my voice perfectly well-nigh every fourth dimension. You can search for individual movies, shows, actors, directors or a category like "Oscar-Winning Movies 2015." The just problem is that the search does not include Netflix programming, which puts it at a flake of a disadvantage compared with competitors similar the Roku and the Wii U.
Peripherals: Stick with the Basics
The Shield comes with a game controller, and that's probably all you'll need. 2 optional peripherals don't add much value.
As Android controllers become, the Shield'southward is huge, but hard to criticize otherwise. Like most Bluetooth controllers, the Shield's resembles an Xbox controller, complete with two analog sticks, four face up buttons and 2 sets of shoulder buttons in a familiar layout.
The peripheral also sports a few extra affect buttons for Home, Back and Voice Search commands, also as a volume rocker on the bottom. The controller is much bigger than its competitors in order to facilitate the rocker, but the extra space gives the device a comfortable scrap of weight. That it'southward rechargeable also puts information technology miles ahead of most Android controllers.
On the other hand, don't expect much if you lot pick upwards the optional $thirty stand or $40 remote. The stand up helps go along the Shield vertical if horizontal space is really at a premium in your entertainment eye. Information technology's pretty, but for that corporeality of coin, you could almost buy a whole other streaming device, such as a $35 Chromecast.
The remote doesn't seem worth the splurge, either. While the device works just fine and offers both tactile navigation and vox search, information technology does much less than the game controller. The device resembles an elongated Apple Telly remote, with a central confirm push surrounded by a clickable directional pad. Below that, there'south a button that brings up vocalisation search, and volume controls on either side. It'south unimaginative, and probably should accept been included with the Shield, peculiarly the $300 model.
Apps: Missing a Few Streaming Services
Android Telly has about 50 apps, not counting games, although the number is slowly increasing. Right now you'll find such major services as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube, equally well as Sling Television set, which provides admission to live content from ESPN, CNN and other channels for $20 per month. Other services of notation include Crackle, Vevo and Plex.
There'southward no Amazon Instant Video and no Spotify at present, and the former is non likely to appear on a Google platform anytime soon. On the other hand, Android TV has been assiduous nearly adding network subscription channels, such as CBS All Admission, Start Anytime and HBO Now. All in all, though, the Android Telly selection falls well behind competitors such as Roku and the Amazon Fire Idiot box.
Streaming performance: Pinnacle notch
The Shield performs simply as well as whatsoever of its streaming-box brethren, with ane bonus: This device is 4K-compatible: the starting time of its kind, according to Nvidia. The Shield supports 4K streaming content from both Netflix and YouTube, and whatever users supply on their ain.
In that location's no denying that YouTube in 4K looks gorgeous, whether you lot're watching a movie trailer or footage of Costa Rican wildlife. I do wonder, though, who would need the Shield specifically for 4K video. The vast majority of 4K sets are smart TVs, and back up YouTube and Netflix, and their congenital-in apps tend to look just as good as the Shield'southward. The Shield is not powerful enough to support 4K games (for the most function), so gamers get no special do good from information technology.
On the other hand, supplying your own video — 4K or not — is i of the areas in which the Shield excels. Unlike the vast majority of other streaming boxes, yous can plug a USB drive into the back of the device and watch almost whatever kind of video file. (I recommend downloading the costless VLC media player app for this.) Although many smart TVs also allow file playback via USB, few have the versatility of a dedicated media player similar VLC.
Yous tin can also stream content via a PC from Plex. If you have a ton of content on your computer merely would rather lookout man information technology on the large screen, especially if the content exceeds 1080p, that alone might brand the Shield worth the price of access.
Gaming: Getting better
Gaming on the Shield TV has come a long fashion since we initially reviewed the product. Between Shield Games and the GeForce Now streaming service, the Shield TV is not yet a total replacement for a console or PC, merely for gaming, it's head-and-shoulders to a higher place what near prepare-elevation boxes will requite you.
Every bit mentioned earlier, there are three ways to go games: Download them through Google Play, download them through Shield Games, or stream them through GeForce Now. The first method remains the near straightforward.
Almost of the Android TV games are either casual titles, such as the Frogger-inspired Crossy Road, or copies of console games, like Dungeon Hunter 4. These and many other titles are free, but bombard you with paid upgrade options, also known as microtransactions. Still, they all run extremely well on the Shield. You also go occasional gems like Telltale's Game of Thrones chance game ($5 per episode) or the delightfully anarchic Goat Simulator ($5).
Between Google Play and the Shield Hub, there are hundreds of games available, including classics like Knights of the Former Republic ($10) and Portal ($ten). Bold you lot haven't played them already, they're nonetheless great, and the price is correct. There are some family-friendly titles to be constitute besides, such as the surprisingly solid Juju ($10): a charming platformer about adorable jungle animals.
Downloading games through the Shield Hub as well works well, although with ane significant advantage and one significant disadvantage over using the Play Store. The great matter about Shield Games is that you lot tin admission much more than technologically demanding games, such as Portal and (somewhen) Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The downside, though, is that you have to use your Nvidia account rather than your Play Store account, and then it's nevertheless another username, password and credit-card storage to manage.
Streaming games via GeForce Now (formerly the Filigree) has also come a long way. For $8 per calendar month, you can stream nigh 50 games at full 1080p resolution and either sixty or thirty frames per 2d, depending on the title. Subscription games tend to be a few years onetime, similar Lego Marvel Super Heroes or Batman: Arkham City. You can also buy additional games to stream, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which range up to $60.
Under ideal circumstances, the streaming works beautifully. On the other hand, facilitating those ideal circumstances tin can be quite expensive and inconvenient, as you'll demand an Nvidia-recommended router, an incredibly fast broadband connection and a wired Ethernet cablevision.
To larn more near GeForce Now, check out the Tom's Guide review, only the bottom line is that GeForce At present is a skillful service that borders on becoming a great one. Information technology'southward not worth picking up a Shield Television past itself, only if you already take one, it's a very sensible addition.
Players can also stream games direct from a computer, provided it has a contempo plenty Nvidia graphics menu (generally GeForce GTX 700 and above). How well this characteristic works depends on your reckoner and network setup, but if you've used it before on the Nvidia Shield Tablet, then you know what to expect.
Casting and Live HDTV: Still Some Work to Do
In addition to beingness a streaming box, the Shield also has full Chromecast support built-in, like the Nexus Player before it. This means that you can control apps like Netflix and Plex through your mobile device or computer and stream them to the large screen, or simply mirror your unabridged screen from whatsoever Android device.
The Shield handles casting just as well every bit a Chromecast, meaning that apps work wonderfully, and screen casting is a mixed bag. Even on steady Wi-Fi connections, there's usually some lag between the two screens. Gaming via screen casting is as well not platonic, since you'll need to keep your optics glued to your touch screen anyway.
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The Shield also supports live circulate TV via external tuners from companies similar SiliconDust and HDHomeRun, although these devices practice not appear to exist widely available, and user experience with them is decidedly varied.
Lesser Line
Starting at $199, the Nvidia Shield costs a lot more than the $100 Roku 3 and $69 Apple Idiot box, just it also does a lot more. The powerful X1 processor makes smooth 4K video streaming possible and delivers a fairly strong gaming experience, albeit with a limited option at present. GeForce Now is ane of the start serious game-streaming services, and gets much more right than wrong. In addition, letting users provide their ain video content is a step in the correct direction. And while Android TV is in its infancy, I found the interface and voice search to exist intuitive.
On the other manus, Android Tv set doesn't offer as many entertainment apps every bit Roku, and information technology'southward missing such heavy hitters every bit Amazon Instant Video and HBO Go. And then you have pure gaming consoles like the PS4 and Xbox 1, which cost more than the Shield but offer more than robust gaming libraries forth with a healthy dose of entertainment and streaming apps. This leaves the Shield fighting for that middle basis of customers looking for a streaming device beginning and a gaming device 2d. It remains to be seen how large a niche this will exist, but overall Nvidia has created a box that shows the truthful potential of Android TV.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/nvidia-shield-android-tv,review-2837.html
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