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For what it's worth, I bought an nvidia shield pro and use that. Just like how Roku started, they just make hardware. There are a few subtle adverts are the nvi

by doix 5y ago

For what it's worth, I bought an nvidia shield pro and use that. Just like how Roku started, they just make hardware. There are a few subtle adverts are the nvidia remote play stuff (preinstalled applications) but I hardly notice them. They don't have any skin in the streaming space so I find that comforting. My only slight worry is that it's running on Android TV, so there's always a chance google bans something.

paranoidrobot 5y ago
I can also recommend the nvidia shield. I used to run various PC based home theatre bits of software, but they're all inevitably a pain to manage, don't work right, and require fiddling. Got the Shield TV pro 2019(?) version, pointed Plex at my NAS, and it plays content flawlessly. Youtube, Amazon Prime, Netflix all work well too. In theory it also plays games - but Nvidia's game service isn't launched here in Australia, and I've not found a game on the Google Play store that's isn't outright terrible. Steam Link theoretically works, but none of the games in my Steam library are suited to play with a controller. Theoretically there's emulators for various consoles which I've seen people saying is excellent, but I've never been able to make any of them work. Like just about any modern device - it does need to be rebooted occasionally, but for the most part it's just turn on and go.
- BlueTemplar 5y ago
  I recommend Crypt of the Necrodancer.
- entropicdrifter 5y ago
  FWIW, the Steam Link app also accepts keyboard and mouse input. You can just them up to your shield and it should detect them in the Steam Link app and suddenly you can just go ahead and play Cities: Skylines or whatever on your TV
  - paranoidrobot 5y ago
    Ah, rightio. If I'm going to play those sort of games I'd rather just go sit at my desk. Not really a good way to use those on my lounge. I got a controller for the Shield with the idea that I could play more console-y type games.
rerx 5y ago
I switched from a Fire TV Stick and a Valve Stream Link to an Nvidia Shield Pro. Very happy as well. But to be honest I miss Amazon's voice search. It worked much better to find thing from the Netflix and Prime Video catalogs than Google assistant does now. And on the other hand I actually would like to get the new Google TV interface of the most recent Chromecast. It looks way prettier than the plain Shield home screen and its universal watch list sounds very useful.
aryonoco 5y ago
Another happy NVIDIA Shield owner here. I switched from Roku to Shield when the first Shield came out in 2015. That device is still going strong, still plays everything I throw at it, has excellent support with Kodi and Plex and every single catch up TV app is available for it. 6 years later, and NVIDIA is still issuing regular Android updates for it. The only Android device that's getting official support from OEM 6 years after release. highly recommend.
drunkpotato 5y ago
I also want to add on to the praise for the Nvidia Shield. After a frustrating experience with Roku, Roku stick, and Fire stick, the Shield experience has been great and I haven't regretted it.
christoph 5y ago
I've got a 2015 Shield and while you can't "Uninstall" all the pre-installed stuff, you can disable them through the global app settings. I've basically disabled everything on my Shield, just leaving Netflix, Disney+, etc. activated and it's made it much more responsive and stable. I had the feeling some of my slowdowns were occurring as apps polled back home to see what content they should be displaying on the home screen, downloading thumbnails, etc. and sure enough, it's now zipping along like the old days. Just to add to everybody else, I've had this box for nearly 6 years and it's as good as the day I bought it and has kept up with technology in an amazing way. 4K HDR with whatever surround format you throw at it is incredible. Especially as it acts as a Plex server in the background with no major power consumption. I seem to remember only paying £125 for it on an Amazon deal as well. One of my best tech purchases of all time.
jkestner 5y ago
If it has a screen and network access, the demand for growth will inevitably lead it to become an ad platform. Or more generally, a market for eyeballs.
- cosmie 5y ago
  Or at the very least it'll become a data collection platform, to be packaged and sold (whether for use with ads directly or for the many consumer intelligence[1] companies that charge gobs of money for aggregate reporting). [1] https://www.numerator.com/ https://www.numerator.com/
jbaber 5y ago
The shield advertises that it's got google assistant built in. Is there a version that's not a hot mic? Yours and responders' enthusiasm puts the shield on my list for if my roku stops seeing youtube.
- doix 5y ago
  The assistant is built into the remote, not the box. If you wanted, you could buy a different Bluetooth remote or use an old console controller. My PS3 controllers work fine, I use them to play Mario kart 64 and sometimes to control the entire interface if I can't find the main remote. But the assistant isn't always listening, you need to push a button to turn it on. Considering the remote runs off a couple of AAA batteries which last over a year, it would be impossible for it to be always listening.
  - jbaber 5y ago
    That's great to hear. A hardware button is all I've ever asked of these digital assistants. I'm the only person happy with the Bixby button.

by doix 5y ago

paranoidrobot 5y ago

I can also recommend the nvidia shield. I used to run various PC based home theatre bits of software, but they're all inevitably a pain to manage, don't work right, and require fiddling. Got the Shield TV pro 2019(?) version, pointed Plex at my NAS, and it plays content flawlessly. Youtube, Amazon Prime, Netflix all work well too. In theory it also plays games - but Nvidia's game service isn't launched here in Australia, and I've not found a game on the Google Play store that's isn't outright terrible. Steam Link theoretically works, but none of the games in my Steam library are suited to play with a controller. Theoretically there's emulators for various consoles which I've seen people saying is excellent, but I've never been able to make any of them work. Like just about any modern device - it does need to be rebooted occasionally, but for the most part it's just turn on and go.

BlueTemplar 5y ago
I recommend Crypt of the Necrodancer.
entropicdrifter 5y ago
FWIW, the Steam Link app also accepts keyboard and mouse input. You can just them up to your shield and it should detect them in the Steam Link app and suddenly you can just go ahead and play Cities: Skylines or whatever on your TV
- paranoidrobot 5y ago
  Ah, rightio. If I'm going to play those sort of games I'd rather just go sit at my desk. Not really a good way to use those on my lounge. I got a controller for the Shield with the idea that I could play more console-y type games.

rerx 5y ago

I switched from a Fire TV Stick and a Valve Stream Link to an Nvidia Shield Pro. Very happy as well. But to be honest I miss Amazon's voice search. It worked much better to find thing from the Netflix and Prime Video catalogs than Google assistant does now. And on the other hand I actually would like to get the new Google TV interface of the most recent Chromecast. It looks way prettier than the plain Shield home screen and its universal watch list sounds very useful.

aryonoco 5y ago

Another happy NVIDIA Shield owner here. I switched from Roku to Shield when the first Shield came out in 2015. That device is still going strong, still plays everything I throw at it, has excellent support with Kodi and Plex and every single catch up TV app is available for it. 6 years later, and NVIDIA is still issuing regular Android updates for it. The only Android device that's getting official support from OEM 6 years after release. highly recommend.

drunkpotato 5y ago

I also want to add on to the praise for the Nvidia Shield. After a frustrating experience with Roku, Roku stick, and Fire stick, the Shield experience has been great and I haven't regretted it.

christoph 5y ago

I've got a 2015 Shield and while you can't "Uninstall" all the pre-installed stuff, you can disable them through the global app settings. I've basically disabled everything on my Shield, just leaving Netflix, Disney+, etc. activated and it's made it much more responsive and stable. I had the feeling some of my slowdowns were occurring as apps polled back home to see what content they should be displaying on the home screen, downloading thumbnails, etc. and sure enough, it's now zipping along like the old days. Just to add to everybody else, I've had this box for nearly 6 years and it's as good as the day I bought it and has kept up with technology in an amazing way. 4K HDR with whatever surround format you throw at it is incredible. Especially as it acts as a Plex server in the background with no major power consumption. I seem to remember only paying £125 for it on an Amazon deal as well. One of my best tech purchases of all time.

jkestner 5y ago

If it has a screen and network access, the demand for growth will inevitably lead it to become an ad platform. Or more generally, a market for eyeballs.

cosmie 5y ago
Or at the very least it'll become a data collection platform, to be packaged and sold (whether for use with ads directly or for the many consumer intelligence[1] companies that charge gobs of money for aggregate reporting). [1] https://www.numerator.com/ https://www.numerator.com/

jbaber 5y ago

The shield advertises that it's got google assistant built in. Is there a version that's not a hot mic? Yours and responders' enthusiasm puts the shield on my list for if my roku stops seeing youtube.

doix 5y ago
The assistant is built into the remote, not the box. If you wanted, you could buy a different Bluetooth remote or use an old console controller. My PS3 controllers work fine, I use them to play Mario kart 64 and sometimes to control the entire interface if I can't find the main remote. But the assistant isn't always listening, you need to push a button to turn it on. Considering the remote runs off a couple of AAA batteries which last over a year, it would be impossible for it to be always listening.
- jbaber 5y ago
  That's great to hear. A hardware button is all I've ever asked of these digital assistants. I'm the only person happy with the Bixby button.