Nonetheless my favourite Android TV streamer

Take a go searching your own home. If you’ve constructed out an honest good dwelling setup, I’d wager you’ll discover one thing. I’m guessing that the majority, if not all, of your good dwelling equipment are from the previous couple of years — say 2023 on the earliest. Why? Well, good dwelling devices have improved sufficient just lately that something older struggles to remain related. I do know that’s the case in my residence on the very least.

And but, there’s one nearly unbelievable exception to the rule, one older gadget that I simply can’t flip away from. After seven years, I nonetheless belief the NVIDIA Shield TV for all my Android TV wants.

The most blatant motive to make use of one thing this lengthy after it’s come out is, effectively, it nonetheless works — and it really works effectively. Even although I’ve the much less highly effective tube-shaped Shield TV, I’ve but to note a hiccup or a stumble. The 2GB of onboard RAM continues to be lots for all my streaming wants, and I believe I’ve needed to clear up my storage solely as soon as within the a number of years since I adopted the Shield TV as my go-to streamer.

More importantly, although, NVIDIA is simply as decided to maintain its streaming platform feeling as recent as I’m. While that hasn’t manifested in new {hardware} in a number of years, the corporate continues to roll out software program updates each few months, with main patches yearly or so. For these conserving observe, we’re now at seven years for the reason that final NVIDIA Shield TV {hardware} got here out, however the firm continues to be bringing most of its updates to the older 2015 and 2017 {hardware}, too. That’s greater than a decade of assist — one thing I assure no different gadget in your good dwelling has acquired.

The most up-to-date replace, by the best way, was a serious one — not only a safety patch. It mounted a difficulty some customers had with Disney Plus, a number of issues with sleep mode, and a hiccup with Bluetooth connectivity on third-party remotes. Other low cost Android TV packing containers? Yeah, such points may have spelled the top, however not the Shield TV. I hadn’t observed any issues with my very own streaming tube, however I’m glad to have the patches both manner.

And, if we examine NVIDIA’s dedication to these of most Android flagships, the TV streamer seems even higher. Its seven-plus years is longer than what OnePlus and Motorola provide on most units, and ties guarantees from Samsung and Google on the very least. Compare it to different Android-based streaming packing containers from 2019, and there’s no contest — Google doesn’t even make the Chromecast anymore, it’s a relic type of like a movie digicam or a report participant (although I take advantage of each of these, too).

The greatest a part of NVIDIA’s continued software program assist, although, is that it’s going to maintain going. The firm apparently has no plans to cease updating its older {hardware}, having designed it to work proper up till its engineers retire (or die, in accordance with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang). Right now, I don’t actually have an incentive to exchange my streaming field, as a result of it’s nowhere close to giving up on me — and that guidelines.

Almost as necessary because the Shield TV’s software program assist is the {hardware} itself — extra particularly, the distant. Yes, the triangular design takes a minute or two to get used to, particularly to keep away from unintentionally urgent the Netflix button, but it surely’s simply my favourite of all of the streaming remotes available on the market. The triangular design rests comfortably within the hand, and there are few sufficient buttons that I can really feel my manner round with out ever trying down.

Honestly, I believe NVIDIA’s distant falls in simply the appropriate spot — not too massive, but not too small. Roku remotes really feel too small and cute by comparability, and Google’s TV Streamer places its most necessary button (the facility button) proper the place my thumb naturally rests, making it straightforward to unintentionally press. That stated, I’d love a Shield TV distant with a mute button — I can’t stand urgent the amount down button a dozen instances to get the identical impact.

Also, I completely admire that NVIDIA saved issues easy with only one shortcut button. Outside of the principle quantity and navigation controls, there’s a single button for Netflix, and that’s it. I don’t have Netflix, so I don’t use the button, but it surely beats the Fire TV strategy of getting buttons for Prime Video, Disney Plus, Netflix, and Hulu or Peacock. If I’m launching a kind of, I’ll simply use a voice command — don’t give me yet another factor to fret about urgent.

One final thing to like concerning the NVIDIA Shield TV’s distant is that it’s actually, actually laborious to lose. Unlike a skinny, flat distant that may simply slip between sofa cushions, the extensive entrance and angled again hold this distant sitting on prime like a wedge. It’s so easy, but so intelligent — I’d love extra oddly formed designs in the event that they had been all this handy.

As if I haven’t made it clear sufficient, the NVIDIA Shield TV guidelines. I nonetheless like it, and I’ve been utilizing it longer than absolutely anything else in my residence. However, I do agree with the voices on the web: it’s time for a brand new one. Smart houses and streaming units have modified lots in the previous couple of years, which signifies that the issues a streaming platform must assist have modified, too. Unfortunately, there are just a few issues that seven-year-old {hardware} can’t deal with.

For starters, it’s most likely about time NVIDIA adopted a brand new chipset. Yes, the Tegra X1 Plus processor continues to be fairly good, supporting AI-enhanced upscaling, GeForce Now gaming, and Dolby Vision and Atmos, but it surely’s beginning to fall behind. It can’t deal with the required codecs for HDR playback on YouTube, and I’ve had points opening the YouTube app itself in latest months.

More importantly, although, I’d like to see a hybrid model of the Shield TV launch — one thing that falls between the bottom and Pro variations. It could be good to have further ports to increase storage and additional RAM to work with whereas sustaining the handy tube design because it at present exists. Some of those {hardware} upgrades ought to assist to convey somewhat extra gaming punch again to the Shield TV, too, which is why NVIDIA designed and launched the streamer within the first place.

That’s a hope for the long run, although. In the meantime, you’ll be able to nonetheless seize the Shield TV and faucet into this long-term assist for your self. How cool is that?