tiktokape Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Extracted from http://www.anandtech.com/show/9677/nvidia-shield-android-tv-ota-update-improves-htpc-credentials The NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV was launched back in May with the intent to dominate the over-the-top set-top-box (OTT STB) landscape. Premium features such as full HDMI 2.0a support and HEVC Main10 decoding enabled the coveted Netflix 4K certification. No other set top box (including the recently announced 2015 Apple TV and the Amazon 4K Fire TV) has anything close to the SHIELD Android TV in terms of advertised hardware and software capabilities. Our review, however, pointed out a few missed opportunities. Aside from the experience with Android TV as a software platform (something for which NVIDIA is not directly responsible), we had indicated that NVIDIA could have done a better job of codec licensing and configurability to cater to HTPC enthusiasts. Today, NVIDIA is announcing an OTA update to address some of those issues. Today's OTA update (v2.0) brings a notable set of features for local media streaming Expanded codec and container support: Adds pass-through support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless audio* Adds MPEG2, VC-1, and WMV9 hardware-acceleration Adds M2TS, ASF, and WMV container support for VC-1 Adds WMA audio support (including WMA Pro, and WMA Lossless) Currently, the above set of features are available for use in the native Android Video and Photo apps. NVIDIA is working closely with third-party app developers (including Kodi and MX Player) to ensure that these media players will also be able to take advantage of the newly added features. The other important feature that is being made available is the ability to set the display refresh rate to 23.976 Hz. Currently, it is a static setting available under Settings > Device > HDMI > Resolution. Only 60 Hz (US) / 50 Hz (Europe) and 23.976 Hz are currently available, and the UI is also set to the selected refresh rate. However, NVIDIA expects third-party app developers to be able to dynamically alter the display refresh rate based on the content frame rate using the new APIs. This will be important since consumers should not be playing games or actually be navigating the user interface at 23.976 Hz. Syncing up the display refresh rate to the content frame rate should hopefully turn out to be a transparent exercise with the third-party apps. The new firmware also brings support for overscan adjustment (particularly useful for display sinks that tend to overscan, resulting in a cropped view of the interface). Most TVs don't need this. Other enhancements include native 4K rendering for select Android games (Beach Buggy Racing, Bombsquad, Hardwood Solitaire IV, Riptide GP 2, Kosmik Revenge, Video Poker Duel, Leo's Fortune, Machinarium, Meltdown, Never Alone, Samurai II, and Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders), ability to transfer data between USB storage and a microSD card, ability to manually turn off the SHIELD controller and lowering the audio latency by as much as 40ms compared to standard Android. The last aspect is especially important for gaming, and it will be one of the prime reasons to pick up the update before checking out the GeForce NOW cloud game streaming service that is getting launched today. NVIDIA has also updated the table comparing the SHIELD Android TV to the competition. The latest version is reproduced below. As usual, these are NVIDIA's claims and need to be taken with a pinch of salt. We did go through the various aspects with concrete 'yes' or 'no' answers and the table seems to line up well with the actual specifications of the competitors' products. The SHIELD Android TV continues to justify the premium flagship tag despite recent entrants such as the 2015 Apple TV and the Amazon 4K Fire TV. NVIDIA's willingness to also focus on local media playback is good news for the general consumers as well as HTPC enthusiasts. For this reason alone, we can and do recommend the SHIELD Android TV over competing OTT STBs. NVIDIA SHIELD(US$199.99)/NVIDIA SHIELD + Remote(US$249.98)/NVIDIA SHIELD Pro(US$299.99)/NVIDIA SHIELD Pro + Remote(US$349.98): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U33Q940/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyD1624705734 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Sounds like something Audio will hoot ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeravks Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Why would somebody with an existing Apple TV upgrade to new Apple TV when options such as NVIDIA Shield are present. The specs on paper seem to blow Apple out of water. But nevertheless, most likely Apple will sell more units in 1 day on launch, than NVIDIA has ever sold. But it looks a extremely competent product. Anybody tried earlier versions before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyD1624705734 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 The reason I still want the new ATV is because I can access my central music database and I can airplay too. If Nvidia can do these tasks I am more than happy to give it a shot. But for pure Android box fans, this is probably the top end stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiktokape Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Got to buy and try it out, the price crawl me back though I'm tempted to cart out now. I have similar views with Dizzy over new ATV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiawoei Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 The willingness of Nvidia to work with Kodi Community(HTPC enthusiasts) is crucial as feedbacks had been taken to provide additional video and sound formats support for local media playback . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spells Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 hm....how much in sgd ? thought of buying to try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiawoei Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 hm....how much in sgd ? thought of buying to try http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U33Q940/ Direct Shipping from Amazon. Take note that you will have to pay GST if you select the Nvidia Shield TV Pro (with 500gb) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spells Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U33Q940/ Direct Shipping from Amazon. Take note that you will have to pay GST if you select the Nvidia Shield TV Pro (with 500gb) Bro the pro ver only diff is the 500gb ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagdpanzer Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 There is info whether it can play bdmv files. Mkv is ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiawoei Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Bro the pro ver only diff is the 500gb ? Yes. 500gb is good for those who will be using this box also to game. Android Games (Google Play) - http://shield.nvidia.com/games/android Nvidia Game Service - http://shield.nvidia.com/games/geforce-now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiawoei Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 There is info whether it can play bdmv files. Mkv is ok. Currently, not that I know of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiktokape Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 There is info whether it can play bdmv files. Mkv is ok. im searching for the info too, if got just buy! I believe Atmos pass through is easy to update. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagdpanzer Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Surprise no one post BDMV compatibility. If yes, it will be a Popcorn killer. Sent from my SM-T815Y using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highonthehog Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Bro the pro ver only diff is the 500gb ? Bro Spells, another media player for you? ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiktokape Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 The 500gb is not a MUST imo, I believe can stream your files from NAS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spells Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Bro Spells, another media player for you? ;D lol ya new toy to play play :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyD1624705734 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 If have ISO payback capability I will STAND UP and PAY ATTENTION...Sediya! ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeravks Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 The reason I still want the new ATV is because I can access my central music database and I can airplay too. If Nvidia can do these tasks I am more than happy to give it a shot. But for pure Android box fans, this is probably the top end stuff. So if you take out the Apple Music, there is nothing in the new ATV that challenges the NVIDIA shield. NVIDIA will support 4K streaming, which even the new ATV does not support. I am a apple guy and have 4 devices in my house, but just cant get my head around lot of features which ATV should have had in the new version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiktokape Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 So if you take out the Apple Music, there is nothing in the new ATV that challenges the NVIDIA shield. NVIDIA will support 4K streaming, which even the new ATV does not support. I am a apple guy and have 4 devices in my house, but just cant get my head around lot of features which ATV should have had in the new version. app ecosystem. Though one got to weigh the pros and cons of it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeravks Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 I meant, we can keep the current ATV and go and buy the NVIDIA Shield ..best of both worlds :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rage1624705821 Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Kodi 15.2 RC3 now supports the correct Auto framerate switching. http://kodi.tv/kodi-15-2-isengard-release-candidate-3/ But unfortunately, we have to wait for Kodi 16.0 final release if you want DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siaoboy Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Look interesting but the critical reviews on amazon seem consistent about the build quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rage1624705821 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I just got a discount code from Amazon for US$50 off for Sheild TV/Pro. I have put it in my checkout list and shipping is also free now. So basically I will only be paying US$150 for this item. You may want to check your email if you got this discount code as well. I think I put this item in my "Saved for later" list. Will be confirming the purchase later in the afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiktokape Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 Yes I had that offer too. Received mine last week. Yet to spend some time to play with it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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