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NVIDIA's new Shield TV is more of the same, with a better gamepad
We expected NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang to introduce a revamped Shield TV at CES; what we didn't expect was for the new device to be practically a carbon copy of the original. Sure, it's a lot smaller, but inside, it's running all of the same hardware we saw in 2015. And yet NVIDIA claims it's still much more powerful than any other set-top box. That's a testament to how robust the company's X1 chip is, but it's a disappointment for anyone who was hoping for something fresh. On the bright side, the new $200 Shield comes with a new controller that's light-years ahead of the last one. It's not revolutionary, but you can think of it as a refined spin on NVIDIA's original set-top box concept.
NVIDIA's Shield can now stream your PC games when you're out of the house
People scoffed when NVIDIA first revealed the Shield (just check out these comments), but a slew of software updates are turning it into one of the best Android gaming gewgaws out there. Speaking of which, this month's update has just gone live and it's a doozy. Once installed, you can use your Shield to remotely play up to 100 supported games that live on your home PC (assuming you've got a solid network connection, that is) as well as stream games running on properly equipped laptops too. Throw in support for Bluetooth keyboards and mice for games that require plenty of precision (we're looking at you, Civ 5) and you've got yourself a hefty little package to install. Between all these updates and that temporary $50 price cut NVIDIA announced last month, it's clear that the company is committed to the Shield vision -- now we just need to see if consumers inundated with mobile gaming options finally take the plunge.
NVIDIA Shield gets temporary price drop, soon to support remote PC gaming
The GameStream technology that powers the NVIDIA Shield's PC streaming feature is neat, but it has its limitations. Games can only be streamed from desktop PCs running specific GPUs, and only to devices connected to a local network. That's about to change: Pending an update in early April, Shield owners will be able to stream their PC games not only from GeForce GTX-equipped laptops, but over the internet as well. Remote streaming has its own limitations, of course -- NVIDIA recommends a minimum upload/download speed of 5 Mbps -- but the new GameStream beta will let gamers remotely wake up, log in to and play games from their home PC from any location with a stable WiFi connection. NVIDIA is also making it a little easier to stream unofficially supported PC titles, and will update its GeForce Experience desktop software with tools that will push any PC application to the Shield's GameStream list. The spring update also adds Bluetooth keyboard and mouse support, as well as several tweaks to the Shield UI. Specifically, the TegraZone store will be getting categories (action, adventure, etc.) as well as a news section. Finally, NVIDIA will be selling the handheld at a $50 discount from now until the end of April. Already have one? Sit tight -- that update goes live on April 2nd.
NVIDIA certifies PCs and routers that can stream games to its Shield handheld
If you've ever tried to stream a game from a PC (or PS4) to a mobile device over WiFi, then you'll know the bandwidth requirements can be quite fussy. Attempt to remote play in high definition at 60 frames per second, as NVIDIA promises with its Shield handheld and recently upgraded GameStream service, and things start to get seriously pinnikity. So, to help you pick the right hardware to go with your Shield (which is now going for $250 at Amazon, by the way), NVIDIA has started a certification program to label PCs and routers that are GameStream-ready. Expect to see the green logo on pre-built machines from the likes of Digital Storm and Maingear that have the necessary GeForce GTX graphical guts, as well as a number of dual-band and wireless-AC routers from ASUS, Buffalo, D-Link and Netgear. (You'll find a full and current list of certified products over at the source link). Compatible routers will also support streaming from the cloud, via NVIDIA's alternative GRID service, although of course you'll also need a steady 10Mbps broadband connection before you even think about trying that.
NVIDIA's Shield now streams PC games to your TV in 1080p, has new control mapping capabilities
It was just over a month ago when NVIDIA's handheld, Shield, got the ability to stream Android games to TVs at 1080p resolution via Console Mode. Today, it can now do the same for PC games thanks to a software update that also brings improvements to 720p streaming mode and its Gamepad Mapper feature, too. Of course, the Gamestream technology that powers Shield streaming officially supports a limited number of games at the moment, with Batman: Arkham Origins, Borderlands 2 and Assasin's Creed IV: Black Flag among the highlights. In all, 63 games are currently available to stream in full HD, with more titles scheduled to be added every week. With Gamepad Mapper, users can now map motion controls to physical ones. So, instead of tilting your handheld from side to side in the games designed to do so, you can map those gyro inputs to the Shield's thumbsticks instead. And, to better let folks know of all the custom control possibilities, NVIDIA is rolling out a community beta feature that lets folks share and rate different control map profiles. Lastly, if you have a Shield and live in Northern California, you can now get in on NVIDIA's GRID beta. For folks who aren't familiar, GRID is NVIDIA's cloud gaming technology, similar to Gaikai and OnLive. So, folks with a sub-40ms ping time to NVIDIA's San Jose, Calif., servers and a minimum 10 Mbps connection through a GameStream-ready router can get exclusive access to the service's library of games on their Shield. Looks like Christmas came early, folks, so head on down to the source for the info needed to grab all the goodies.
NVIDIA Shield update brings Android 4.3, Console Mode and official Gamestream support
NVIDIA promised that we'd see big upgrades to its Shield gaming system today, and it's delivering them in spades. A just-launched Android 4.3 update introduces Console Mode, which lets players steer a TV-connected Shield through a Bluetooth gamepad; NVIDIA supplies a button mapping utility that adds hardware controls to games which expect touch input. The release also takes Gamestream out of beta, providing official PC-to-Shield streaming for more than 50 titles. A few interface-level tweaks come with the new OS, including actionable notifications, restricted profiles and the option of moving app files to an SD card. The update should be rolling out now, but gamers who don't yet have a Shield now have an extra incentive to pick one up. NVIDIA is lopping $100 off the system's price as part of a bundle that includes a GeForce GTX graphics card as well as copies of Assassin's Creed 4, Batman: Arkham Origins and Splinter Cell: Blacklist.
Nvidia Shield adding 'console mode,' streaming leaves beta
The Nvidia Shield has been a solution in search of a problem, and this week the company began a justification campaign for the $300 device's existence with some interesting upgrades. This week the company announced Nvidia GameStream, due to launch on October 28, and the Shield "console mode." A big selling point of the Shield to begin with was the ability to stream PC games to the device. That will leave beta on the 28th. Initially it will support local PC streaming for "more than 50 top PC games," but the long-term plan is to support Nvidia's Grid cloud gaming service. Even more interesting is the "Shield Console Mode," which turns the device into a microconsole, similar to concepts like Ouya and PlayStation Vita TV. Attaching Shield to a TV via HDMI and then pairing it with a "Nyko PlayPad Pro Bluetooth controller," users can stream PC games, play Android games, browse the internets and "watch their favorite movies at native 1080p." The Shield will offer $100 off beginning October 28 with free copies of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Batman: Arkham Origins. The company plans to share details on participating retailers soon.
Daily Roundup: NVIDIA Gamestream, Playstation Vita review, an interview with Pebble and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
NVIDIA reveals Gamestream, a game streaming initiative powered by NVIDIA GPUs
NVIDIA announced Gamestream this morning, an initiative aimed at pairing the company's GPUs with streaming gaming via its Shield handheld game console. Company head Jen-Hsun Huang says the service takes NVIDIA's GeForce Experience software and pairs it with NVIDIA GPUs and the Shield to push streaming gaming to the living room. Huang said Gamestream's first stop is a re-branding of the Shield's streaming tech -- sounds like that PC streaming tech on Shield is coming out of beta. But Huang's not stopping there: he pulled NVIDIA's Ujesh Desai on-stage, and he showed Shield powering PC game streaming on a nearby LG 4K television. "What makes Gamestream special is the low-latency of it," Huang said. Desai used a Nyko wireless controller that he paired via Bluetooth with the Shield, and the Shield's Android OS ran on the television. Apparently the computer that powered the demo of Batman: Arkham Origins -- an unreleased WB game demoed via Steam's Big Picture Mode on Shield -- runs NVIDIA's $1,000 Titan GPU. The game sure looked snazzy running on a big 4K television, though we couldn't help but notice the same hitching issues with streaming that we encounter at home with our review Shield. Of course, the streaming will work on any old TV that has an HDMI-in. The Shield connected to the TV via its HDMI-out port -- something that previously made little sense. Huang said the game console mode of Shield will arrive in the coming months, as well as the update to GeForce Experience that enables streaming to televisions via Shield. Zach Honig contributed to this report.
