After having released it just a couple of weeks back at CES 2017, NVIDIA have officially made the new SHIELD TV Android set-top-box available for purchase at major online and local retailers.
NVIDIA recently revealed an all new version of its SHIELD streaming box that includes some impressive upgrades (NVIDIA)
It will be available at stores that include Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s and B&H Photo. The TV Box will be retailing for $200 and will come with a slimmer profile than the last generation. It’ll also come with the reliable Tegra X1 processor, with 3GB of RAM and 16GB storage that’s expandable. Bundled with the box as standard will be a new remote controller as well as a new video game controller. NVIDIA has designed the box to suit games as well as general TV viewing – a direction which other makers haven’t yet taken.
According to a report by Android Police, the SHIELD box will come with an HDMI Port, two USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, as well as an IR receiver, with the controllers also having an IR blaster each. This time around, the SHIELD will come with Nougat out of the box. Google Assistant will also come preloaded to make life easier, enabling them to control their other smart home gadgets. Should users wish, they can also buy the separate SHIELD Spot accessory that lets the Assistant’s voice commands be projected across different parts of the house.
But if users find that the current offering of the SHIELD isn’t sufficient enough to satiate their needs, they can pre-order the 500GB SHIELD Pro for $300. That should solve the storage problem. And if users want to make their SHIELD the family entertainment hub, they can order an extra controller for $60, an extra remote for $50 and also a vertical stand for $20.
For those who have already got the original SHIELD TV with them, upgrading is a matter of choice. They will still get the software upgrade as the current generation does. Apart from a new design language for the controllers, the SHIELD retains all of its other physical features on the outside. It’s going to cause quite a riot, when people draw comparisons from its counterparts.